Seattle is a hilly waterfront city of about 737,000 people between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, known for Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, its coffee and tech culture, ferries and views of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Seattle.
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1
Space Needle
Tip: Buy timed tickets online in advance; prices are usually lower than at the door. · Book the first slot of the day or a sunset slot for the best light and thinner crowds. · Check the Mount Rainier visibility on a webcam before choosing a date. · Ride the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake Center for $3 (USD) one way. · Combine with Chihuly Garden and Glass, which is next door, using a combination ticket if offered.
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2
Pike Place Market
Tip: Arrive on a weekday morning to avoid the heaviest crowds. · Bring a small amount of cash for smaller vendors, though most take cards. · Take light rail to Westlake or University Street rather than searching for parking. · Pair with the Seattle Aquarium and the waterfront, which are a short walk away. · Walk the Down Under levels for antiques and unusual shops that most visitors miss.
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3
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Tip: Buy tickets online ahead of time; they are usually a few dollars cheaper than at the door. · Arrive at opening or in late afternoon to avoid the busiest late-morning crowds. · Consider a combination ticket with the Space Needle if both are on the itinerary. · Photography is generally permitted for personal use; tripods and flash are typically restricted. · Check the venue site before visiting, since private events can close the Glasshouse for part of a day.
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4
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Tip: Buy tickets online ahead of time; pricing is dynamic and generally lowest when booked early. · Washington residents can receive a discount with ID. · Arrive on a weekday morning to avoid weekend and rainy-day crowds. · Check which special exhibitions are on before visiting, as they rotate through the year. · Consider pairing with Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Space Needle on the same day.
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5
Seattle Art Museum
Tip: Visit on a Thursday evening for extended hours and thinner crowds. · Children aged 14 and under are free, so bring family members. · Check the free-day schedule on the museum website before buying tickets. · Take Link light rail to University Street Station, right beside the museum. · Pair with the free Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront.
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6
Museum of Flight
Tip: Plan on three to four hours or a full day for a thorough visit. · First Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 PM offer free entry but draw larger crowds. · Arrive early on weekdays for easier access to the walk-through aircraft. · Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing since the Airpark is outdoors. · Check public transport connections in advance, as the museum is south of downtown and parking on site is limited.
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7
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Tip: Admission is free, so it fits easily into a Pioneer Square walking day. · Check the posted schedule for ranger talks and films. · Allow about an hour, and combine with the Seattle Underground Tour nearby. · Take Link light rail to Pioneer Square Station for the shortest walk. · Confirm hours on the National Park Service site, as they can change by season.
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8
Seattle Aquarium
Tip: Arrive early on a weekday to avoid crowds around the underwater dome. · Buy tickets online, as dynamic pricing is usually cheaper in advance. · Check the daily schedule for diver and keeper talks. · Washington residents and children receive discounted admission. · Combine with Pike Place Market, which is a short walk uphill.
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9
Kerry Park
Tip: Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before sunset to secure a good spot for photos. · Check the forecast; haze or cloud can hide Mount Rainier. · Street parking is limited, so consider the bus or rideshare. · Keep noise low, as the park is in a residential area. · Bring a wide-angle lens for the skyline and a telephoto for the mountain.
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10
Gas Works Park
Tip: Stay on marked paths and out of fenced industrial areas. · Arrive hours early on the Fourth of July to claim space on the hill. · Cycle the Burke-Gilman Trail for an easy approach. · Bring a picnic and a kite on breezy days. · Come at sunset for the best skyline photographs.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmark
Space Needle
Observation deck and glass-floor revolving Loupe with 360-degree views of the skyline, Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier.
Seattle Great Wheel
175-foot Ferris wheel at the end of Pier 57 with enclosed gondolas over Elliott Bay.
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks)
1917 US Army Corps of Engineers locks with boats rising and falling, a fish ladder with underwater windows and a botanical garden.
Gum Wall
Brick alley wall covered in chewed gum, a quirky Pike Place Market landmark.
Market
Pike Place Market
Open since 1907, the working public market with fish throwers, farm produce, crafts and the first Starbucks.
Art
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Gallery, glasshouse and garden showing the large-scale glass sculpture of Dale Chihuly.
Olympic Sculpture Park
Free nine-acre waterfront sculpture park run by the Seattle Art Museum, with views across Elliott Bay.
Fremont Troll
Giant 1990 concrete troll sculpture clutching a Volkswagen Beetle under the Aurora Bridge.
Museum
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Frank Gehry-designed museum of music, science fiction, fantasy and popular culture, with Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana exhibits.
Seattle Art Museum
Downtown art museum with Northwest Coast Native American, African, European and contemporary collections.
Museum of Flight
One of the largest independent air and space museums in the world, with a Concorde, Air Force One and a Space Shuttle trainer.
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
Seattle's history museum, housed in the 1942 Naval Reserve Armory on Lake Union.
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Washington State's natural history museum on the University of Washington campus, with dinosaur fossils and Northwest Native art.
Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
Smithsonian-affiliated museum of Asian Pacific American history in the Chinatown-International District, with a historic hotel tour.
Pacific Science Center
Hands-on science museum with a butterfly house, planetarium and IMAX theaters, built for the 1962 World's Fair.
Frye Art Museum
Free museum of 19th-century European and American painting plus contemporary exhibitions.
Historic
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
National Park Service museum on Seattle's role as the outfitting port for the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush.
Seattle Underground Tour
Guided walking tour of the buried street level left after Seattle raised its streets following the 1889 fire.
Outdoors
Seattle Aquarium
Pier 59 aquarium of Puget Sound marine life, sea otters and the Ocean Pavilion with tropical Pacific exhibits.
Gas Works Park
Former coal gasification plant turned public park with preserved industrial towers and a hilltop view of Lake Union.
Woodland Park Zoo
92-acre zoo with naturalistic habitats including the Northern Trail, tropical Asian and African savanna exhibits.
Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park, 534 acres of forest, meadow and beach with the West Point Lighthouse and Olympic Mountain views.
Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island (Colman Dock)
35-minute ferry crossing of Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island with skyline and mountain views.
Alki Beach
Two-and-a-half-mile sand beach and promenade where Seattle's first settlers landed in 1851, facing the skyline.
Viewpoint
Kerry Park
Small hillside park with the classic postcard view of the Space Needle, skyline and Mount Rainier.
Garden
Washington Park Arboretum
230-acre University of Washington arboretum with maples, magnolias, Azalea Way and the Foster Island trail.
Volunteer Park Conservatory
1912 Victorian glasshouse with palms, ferns, orchids and cacti.
Seattle Japanese Garden
3.5-acre traditional stroll garden with a pond, tea house and Japanese maples.
Architecture
Seattle Central Library
Rem Koolhaas-designed 2004 central library of glass and steel with a free tenth-floor viewing deck.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums open 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and several close Monday-Tuesday; Pike Place Market opens around 9:00 AM; Washington State ferries run from about 5:30 AM. Confirm hours on each venue website before traveling.
- Fees
- Many highlights are free: Pike Place Market entry, Kerry Park, Gas Works Park, Discovery Park, the Ballard Locks, the Olympic Sculpture Park, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Seattle Central Library and the Frye Art Museum. Paid highlights include the Space Needle (about $35-$55), Chihuly Garden and Glass (about $35), the Museum of Flight (about $29), MoPOP (about $26-$36) and the Seattle Aquarium (about $35-$45), all USD and subject to dynamic pricing.
- Best Times
- July through September is the driest and sunniest period, with highs near 75-80 F; October to April is cool and rainy, which suits museums. Mount Rainier is most often visible on clear summer mornings.
- Booking
- Buy timed tickets online for the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPOP and the Seattle Aquarium; online prices are usually lower. Pay Link light rail and bus fares with an ORCA card (orcacard.com); a single bus ride is about $2.75 (USD) and the Seattle Center Monorail is about $3 (USD) each way.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Seattle is hilly: group sights by area (Seattle Center, Waterfront and Pike Place, Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill, Fremont and Ballard) and use Link light rail to cover distances.
Pack a light rain jacket year-round; showers are frequent from October to May, and locals rarely use umbrellas.
Leave nothing visible in parked cars near viewpoints and trailheads; vehicle break-ins are common in the city.
Link light rail connects Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Westlake Station downtown in about 40 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free attractions in Seattle?
Pike Place Market, Kerry Park, Gas Works Park, Discovery Park, the Ballard Locks, the Olympic Sculpture Park, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Seattle Central Library and the Frye Art Museum are all free.
Is the Space Needle worth it?
The observation deck costs about $35-$55 (USD) and gives 360-degree views on clear days. Visitors on a tight budget often use Kerry Park for a free view of the Space Needle and skyline instead.
How many days are needed to see Seattle?
Three days covers Seattle Center, Pike Place Market, the waterfront, Pioneer Square and a neighborhood such as Fremont or Ballard; a fourth day allows a ferry trip to Bainbridge Island.
Can Seattle be explored without a car?
Yes. Link light rail, buses, the monorail, streetcars and the ferries reach most major sights; a car is mainly useful for trips to Mount Rainier or the Olympic Peninsula.