Seattle is a special city in Washington state, in the northwestern part of the United States. I have visited this city several times over the years (see most recent Instagram stories here) and I always enjoy returning there. In addition to fame Grey's Anatomy, Frasier en Starbucks Seattle is a nice city to visit. There is a lot to see and do and although the city itself is quite large, the city center can largely be explored on foot. In this article I give you 19 tips for sights in the city, so that you can choose which ones you want to see and do when you visit the city.
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Things to do and do in Seattle
1. Space Needle (Sky View Observatory)
De Space needle is the eye-catcher of the city. The special building is 184 meters high and has an observation platform at a height of 160 meters. You look up from the observation platform Downtown Seattle, the surrounding mountains of Olympic en Mount Rainier National Park, Elliot Bay and the various islets located in Puget Sound.
I visited the observation platform and you can see the view in the photo below. I have also added two short videos so that you get a good idea of this attraction.
Who would you like to walk with on the glass platform to look down?
It is best to buy your tickets for the Space Needle well in advance book online, because it is a popular attraction. Especially if you want to go up in the hours around sunset, you will have to reserve your time slot well in advance. Booking your ticket in advance can also save you a lot of time, because you do not have to stand in long lines on site. A ticket costs approximately 38 to 41 euros per person.
Tip:: with the Seattle City Pass you can save money - a visit to the Space Needle is included.
2. Seattle Center
The area surrounding the Space Needle is also worth a visit. The Seattle Center is actually a large park that also contains museums, a fountain, a cinema and event locations. It is pleasantly busy here, especially on sunny days.
3. Pike Place Market
This iconic market is also an essential part of a visit to Seattle. It is located on the waterfront of Elliot Bay and is one of the oldest agricultural markets in the USA. The market was opened in 1907 and is visited by around ten million (!) people every year.
The building consists of several floors, where you will find unique shops. Fish, flowers and other fresh products can be found on the top floor. Often you will also see street musicians at work. The building and atmosphere is incredibly unique and cosy.
Tip:: You can also use a foodtour do in and around Pike Place Market. Recommended!!
4. The very first Starbucks
In Pike Place Market, you will also find the very first Starbucks. This was established in 1971. Starbucks is one of the largest chains of coffee houses in the world, whether or not the largest. What you will notice most about this Starbucks is the exterior facade, the original logo and most likely the long line in front of the store. Everything in the store is still exactly as it was 52 years ago.
In 1987, two Starbucks were opened outside for the first time Seattle opened, in Vancouver en Chicago. In 1996, a Starbucks opened for the first time outside the North American continent, in Tokyo. There are now Starbucks branches in 75 countries around the world.
Tip:: You can come in for a cup of coffee and a selfie. However, if you want to know more about the coffee chain and how everything works behind the scenes, book a tour of the Starbucks Roastery at another location in the city.
5.Kerry Park
Although it is only a small park, it offers Kerry park (Location here) a great view of the city. It is located on a steep hill south of the district Queen Anne. You can see the Skyline of the city, the Space Needle, Elliot Bay and on a clear day, Mount Rainier from here. The perfect place to shoot a photo.
6. Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is another beautiful part of Seattle. It is a historic district and the oldest neighborhood in the city. It is known for its Victorian architecture, historic buildings and monuments. The district is home to many galleries, boutiques, restaurants and bars. You will find old buildings such as the SmithTower, Seattle's oldest skyscraper, and Pioneer Building.
Pioneer Square is also known for Pioneer Square Pergola en Fountain, a beautiful open-air structure from the 1890s. Other points of interest in the district include it Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the Western Park.
7. Volunteer Park
Volunteer Park (Location here) is located in the district Capitol Hill. The park has a number of large green areas with lawns, flower meadows and a beautiful view of the city from a hill.
There are many attractions in the park, including it Volunteer Park Conservatory, a historic greenhouse from the 1900s with a large number of tropical plants and flowers. Also the Seattle Asian Art Museum is worth visiting. There is also a viewpoint at a water tower. The area is perfect for a walk or bike ride.
8. Chinatown - International District
Chinatown-International District is a historically and culturally important area. It covers several neighborhoods including Chinatown, Japantown en Little Saigon, which together form a unique and diverse community.
The International District is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood where visitors can enjoy the many cultural and historical sights, food, shopping, and festivals the area has to offer.
Chinatown is Seattle's oldest Chinese neighborhood and is known for its Chinese architecture, shopping, dining and cultural events. You will find many historical sites, such as the Chinese pagoda and the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.
9.Food tour
Since your mouth will water when you talk about it Pike Place Market is running, a visit can easily be combined with a food tour. There are different tours offered where a local guide will tell you everything about the market and let you taste the delicacies.
The menu includes fruit, waffles, clam chowder, chocolate, meat, pizza and more… A food tour of Pike Place Market costs about 50 euros per person. Not necessarily cheap, but it is a nice experience and after such a tour you certainly don't have to have breakfast or lunch anymore!
10. Starbucks Roastery Tour
With this unique Starbucks location (location here), you can do tastings and tours. During the tour you can enjoy the Experience Bar and a rich assortment of food. Of course there is also plenty of Starbucks Merchandise for sale. Even if you are not planning to do an activity and just want to taste the atmosphere, a simple visit to this beautiful Roastery is also a nice experience.
11. Football game Seahawks
For sports enthusiasts, there is no better way to experience the local atmosphere. The Seahawks, Seattle's American football team is very popular and you can see the team's banner all over the city. The Lumen Field Stadium is their home.
The football season runs from approximately September to February. The cost of tickets depends on the popularity of the match. Via the website of Seatgeek you can see which matches are scheduled and what ticket prices are.
Also read: The Biggest Sports Games in America in 2023
12. Museums
Seattle has a lot of museums. Every first Thursday of the month is free museum day and some museums are open until 9 pm. Below is a description of three museums in the city.
If you plan to visit several museums, you can save a lot with one Seattle City Pass. More information about the Citypass, which hotels you can stay in and more can be found in the article Practical information for Seattle.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass (Location here) is a museum dedicated to the work of the famous American glass artist Dale Chihuly. The museum contains a combination of exhibitions of Chihuly's work, as well as a beautiful garden with specially designed landscapes. The museum offers a unique look at Chihuly's colorful and sculptural work.
Online tickets costs 35 euros per person. If you want to combine your visit with the observation platform of the Space Needle, you will receive a discount of more than 10 euros. A combination ticket costs about 60 euros.
Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum (location here) focuses on the history and influence of popular culture. The museum has a large collection of objects and works of art related to music, film, television, science fiction, fantasy, fashion and video games. There are also temporary exhibitions, events and educational programs that focus on popular culture and its impact on society.
The museum was founded by Microsoft founder Paul Allen. The building itself was designed by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry and has a striking and eye-catching design.
Entrance tickets cost between 25 and 32 euros. You can also gain access to the museum with a Seattle City Pass.
Museum of Flight
Although the museum is not located in the center (location here), it is still a special and noteworthy museum. It is an air and space museum, where you will find a large collection of historical and modern aircraft and spacecraft.
The museum has some impressive pieces in its collection, including a Concorde supersonic airliner, a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, a Space Shuttle Trainer, and a number of historic military aircraft.
Entrance tickets cost 26 euros for an adult.
Tips from Locals
After we visited Seattle, I met Ryan and Naveen, real Seattle locals. Of course we talked about the city and they gave me very good tips. Although we have not been able to discover all these tips, we do not want to withhold them from you!
13. The best coffee
It's always a tough question where to find the best coffee, because Seattle's coffee scene is big as well as delicious. Everyone should be able to find their taste of coffee in Seattle. A good starting point is the most established companies.
As stated earlier in this article Starbucks its first location opened at Pike Place Market. There is always a long line here. The Roastery is a good alternative. Here you get a good idea of how the coffee is made and you can try it out.
Other good options are:
- Monorail Espresso (Location here)
- Café Allegro (Location here)
- Espresso Vivace (Location here)
- Cafe Vita (multiple locations)
- Thief (multiple locations)
- Cafe Umbria (multiple locations)
- Victrola Coffee roasters (multiple locations)
If you love Espresso then Espresso Vivace is the best option, with the best tasting Espresso in the area! For filter coffee lovers, Victrola is the best option in Seattle. If you are near UniversityDistrict, then Cafe Allegro has a nice atmosphere to linger.
14. A night out
The district Capitol Hill (Location here) is known for its nightlife (and coffee, but more on that later). There are two popular places: Pike/Pine Corridor en Olive Way. You can find everything from karaoke, dive bars, vinyl spinning, cocktails on tap, speakeasies behind inconspicuous doors, dance clubs, drag shows, boutique cocktails and a bar that was once a morgue. So all these places have something for everyone. Many of them serve a 'hangover brunch' on Saturdays and Sundays.
Some recommendations for going out are:
- Blade & Timber (Location here), a bar where you can throw axes.
- JupiterBar (Location here).
- Flat Stick Pub (several locations), a pub with miniature golf. Flatstick at Pioneer Square (Location here) is the best of these.
15. Pacific Science Centers Laser Dome
Be every night here performed several shows, about an hour long, where an artist combines laser images with music from a particular artist. Ryan's favorite are the midnight shows. Before you go to the show, it is also a nice area (the area around the Space Needle) to walk around. Ryan also recommends bringing blankets if you want to lie on the floor while enjoying the show. It's like looking at the stars. Of course sitting on chairs is also possible in the auditorium, but lying down adds to the experience.
16. Concerts
If you're in the mood for a concert, but not a big one, you can find it in the district Ballard (Location here). There are many bars where local and small bands perform in different types of bars. Concerts here are often very accessible with low prices, a perfect option to add that little bit extra to your Seattle visit.
17. Eating and shopping
The International District (Location here) has the most delicious and variety of food and is a nice place to walk around or do some shopping.
18. Hiking and a good view
Kerry park (Location here) has the most photogenic view of the Seattle skyline. The Washington Park Arboretum (Location here), a botanical garden, is a nice place to walk. As well as the nature reserve Union Bay (Location here).
19. Day trip to Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is located in the northwest of the USA, about a 2,5-hour drive from Seattle. The national park offers a beautiful mix of nature and adventure. With its mountains, forests and lakes, it's a great day trip destination from Seattle.
You can take some short walks during a day trip, such as De Klahhane Ridge Trail, which starts from Hurricane Ridge. During our walk of just two hours, we saw a lot of wildlife including black bears and the American Bald Eagle.
Tip:: Read the blog with tips for Olympic National Park to find out more.
Practical information and tips
For practical information and tips, we would like to refer you to our article Practical Information and Tips for Seattle. In this article you will find information about cheap flights to Seattle, accommodations and stays in Seattle, the climate, history and number of inhabitants of the city.
Closing comments
Seattle is a city that, in my opinion, doesn't feel very much like an American city. Not only in terms of safety but also in terms of openness and culture, it is almost un-American. There is also a lot of greenery and you are surrounded by water, volcanoes and mountains. No wonder people enjoy living in this city!
Seattle is unfortunately too far for us Dutch people for just one city trip. Although that is a great pity, it is still a great plan to visit this city. So don't miss it if you're making a tour in the north-west of the USA or if, for example, you are allowed on a business trip in this area.
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