The largest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle offers it all. Surrounded by mountains and water, it’s home to a wealth of cultural and historical attractions, as well as being a popular spot for outdoor activities. Whether you have a weekend, a week, or longer, it will be easy to fill with all sorts of fun, well beyond its iconic spots like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, although those landmarks are definitely worth a visit.
To help you narrow down the countless options and create an especially memorable itinerary, we’ve included a little of something for everyone.
With so much to explore, you might want to book one of the hotels with hot tub in room in Seattle for your stay. While there are many options, one of our favorites is Silver Cloud Hotel, as it’s right on Lake Union and showcases beautiful views of the lake and even the Space Needle.
Shop, People Watch & More at Pike Place Market
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While Pike Place Market is one of the most famous attractions in Seattle, it’s popular among locals and visitors alike. Many Seattleites head here on weekends or after work to pick up fresh seafood and various produce, while visitors enjoy watching the fishmongers toss the fresh catch of the day among themselves as they crack jokes with their audience. In addition to all the food for sale, Pike Place has a lot more than your typical market, with vendors selling handcrafted works of art and vintage items that are always fun to browse.
On nearly any given day, there are numerous buskers providing entertainment, from talented musicians and other performers to the more bizarre, like an accordion player wearing a cat costume. Don’t miss the chance to grab a cup at the original Starbucks, which is located right here at 1st & Pike.
Marvel at a 360-Degree View from the Space Needle
Continuing with another one of Seattle’s most iconic attractions, the 605-foot-high Space Needle has an observation deck at 520 feet, providing a 360-degree panoramic view. Built in 1961 as the centerpiece of the World’s Fair, you’ll be able to look out over the city, the Elliott Bay waterfront, and the mountains that surround it on nearly every side, including Mount Rainier on a clear day. Make your visit extra special by dining at The Lounge, which includes the world’s first revolving glass floor, sitting 500 feet above the city for dining with an ever-changing vista.
Insider tip: If you book a table at the restaurant, you won’t have to pay to take in that 360-view as it’s included in your reservation, which is required. Complimentary access to the observation deck and upper level, VIP entry, two craft cocktails, a preselected multi-course culinary tower, and dessert are all part of the package.
Explore the Seattle Art Museum
The world-class Seattle Art Museum displays global collections from antiquity to the present, with over 25,000 pieces. There are works from across America, Asia, and Europe, along with contemporary and modern pieces like the giant Hammering Man sculpture that can’t be missed when exploring downtown near the waterfront.
One of the most significant assemblages of the work of Alexander Calder on the West Coast can be seen here, focused on the evolution of his vision through wire sculptures, mobiles, and stabiles. Visitors can trace the development of kinetic art through the masterful and innovative pieces. The Olympic Sculpture Park is also part of the museum and includes outdoor works with views of the Puget Sound.
Experience the Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), located at the Seattle Center campus adjacent to the Space Needle, is sure to please with its fascinating exhibits that span a diverse array of pop-related topics, including music, video games, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, sports, and fashion. Many come to learn more about music legends from the area, like Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, but there’s a lot more to experience. That includes iconic movie props such as Dorothy’s dress from “The Wizard of Oz,” part of the vast collection of artifacts from film and television. Originally founded by Paul Allen, it’s all dedicated to the enduring impact of gaming, film, and music, with many interactive displays.
Enhance your visit by arriving via the Seattle Monorail. It travels right through the belly of the Frank O. Gehry-designed building.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Another attraction next to the Space Needle at the Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass, is a museum featuring an exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s famous glass art. Step into a world of color with a stroll through the kaleidoscope of blown glass while natural light beams in from above. It shines through the intricate works, creating a truly eye-popping experience, filling 45,000 square feet of galleries.
Discover the Underground in Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is the original downtown area and one of the most interesting areas of Seattle. It was first settled in the mid-19th century, but about 40 years later, a fire destroyed much of it, including the waterfront. As a result, the city was rebuilt on top of the ruins. Today, the maze of streets, alleyways, and buildings still lies beneath and can be explored on an underground tour. Entertaining and educational, it’s like a time capsule of the past with historic storefronts and the stories of Seattle’s early pioneers. If you appreciate a good ghost tale, there are special ghost tours that will take you into the purported haunted underbelly after dark, complete with the expertise and equipment to do your own investigating.
Capture a Selfie with the Fremont Troll
The Fremont neighborhood just north of downtown is home to an 18-foot-tall, one-eyed troll. He lives under the Aurora Bridge and oddly clutches a Volkswagen Bug. A two-ton sculpture created in 1990, it’s made of wire, steel, and concrete, with a hubcap used for his one good eye. The Fremont troll is the result of a competition that a team of local artists entered to promote urban renewal. The judges dismissed it, calling him a “hideous fiend,” but the locals loved it, ultimately winning the right for the troll to lurk in this odd space beneath the bridge for eternity. Today, many come to take a selfie with it, capturing the quirkiness of the neighborhood for a fun souvenir.
Browse or Buy at the Fremont Sunday Market
Pike Place is famous, but few visitors know about the Fremont Sunday Market. Not far from the Fremont Troll, it’s more than a farmers’ market; it’s a place where locals mingle, perfect for those who want to experience a more authentic side of the city. In addition to the usual fresh produce, some of Seattle’s best food trucks are parked here on Sundays, and there’s also an indoor market with vintage clothing, flea market-type finds, antiques, and much more. Plus, the entertainment is often impressive, whether it’s a busker plunking a sitar or a talented local band.
Close Encounters with Pacific Northwest Sea Creatures at the Seattle Aquarium
Located along the waterfront at Pier 59, the Seattle Aquarium provides the chance to view marine life that inhabits the Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Although a temporary resident, the Giant Pacific octopus is a highlight, changing color at will to express mood, comfort level, and more. The octopuses typically stay at the aquarium for about a year before being returned to the water to complete their lifecycle and reproduce. Visitors can also watch adorable sea otters and peek into tidepools to touch creatures like starfish and sea anemones. There are also interactive exhibits focused on a variety of topics, such as ocean science and resident orcas, along with a cafe and gift shop.
Relive Your Childhood at the Seattle Pinball Museum
If you played pinball machines as a kid, this museum is one you won’t want to miss. The Seattle Pinball Museum isn’t just something with displays to look at. You can play the pinball machines as long as you’d like, with your paid admission. The machines are grouped by decade, with the oldest dating to the early 1960s. While you test your skills, you can also sip an excellent selection of vintage sodas, or local and regional craft brews and ciders.
Take a Spin on the Seattle Great Wheel After Dark
Another popular attraction on the downtown waterfront can be found at Pier 57. The Seattle Great Wheel spins around, reaching a peak height of 175 feet, providing amazing views of your surrounds towering high above the city. It’s worth the spin day or night, but if you’ve taken in the view from the Space Needle, consider riding after dark when tourist crowds have significantly thinned and you can gaze out at the endless twinkling lights across the city.
If you go late at night, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to hop in one of the enclosed gondolas and have it all to yourself, an especially romantic experience with the one you love.
Paddle Around UDub’s Backyard
If you want to get active while taking in views from the water, you can paddle right in the backyard of Husky Stadium at the University of Washington (UDub). Union Bay is right behind the stadium, where you’ll also find the Waterfront Activities Center (WAC). The general public can rent canoes and kayaks to explore the Washington Park Arboretum, Union Bay, and Lake Washington, seven days a week from March through October. Glide through the lily pads and pass ducks and geese while surrounded by beautiful views.
Go Sailing For Free
While renting a kayak or canoe is relatively affordable through the WAC at UDub, if you’re on a tight budget, you can go sailing for free on Sundays, year-round, rain or shine, through the Center for Wooden Boats on Lake Union. It’s been a long-time Seattle tradition with sign-ups beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday – you’ll just need to arrive early, especially if you’re visiting on a holiday weekend or the sun is out. Volunteer skippers and crew will take you out on one of multiple vessels, which can include steamboats, spirit boats, electric boats, schooners, or even yachts.
Join a Boat Tour or Cruise
With so much water, many things to do in Seattle revolve around it, including a wide range of options for cruising Elliott Bay and beyond. You might take a dinner cruise, a whale watching boat tour for the chance to see orcas, humpback whales, gray whales, and all sorts of other wildlife, or the popular short scenery tour via Argosy Cruises departing from Pier 56. The company also hosts scenic cruises that will bring you to Tillicum Village on Blake Island, which includes a traditional dinner and entertainment.
A full-day trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island in Canada is possible on the Victoria Clipper too. Once in this city with a British vibe, you might head to the iconic Fairmont Empress for its famous afternoon tea and visit one of the world’s most famous botanical gardens, Butchart.
Picnic at Golden Gardens Park
Ballard is one of Seattle’s most popular neighborhoods, located in its northwest region just east of Shilshole Bay, north of the Lake Washington Ship Canal on the Puget Sound. Golden Gardens Park is located in this community includes forested trails for nature walks, along with one of the few sandy beaches in Seattle. While the water is a bit chilly, on a warm summer day, it’s great for a refreshing dip. Bring food to grill as there are BBQ pits, or supplies for a picnic and some firewood, ideal for a feast next to the warmth, right at the edge of the Sound with a gorgeous view.
Grab a Water Taxi to West Seattle
The West Seattle Water Taxi offers one of the best entertainment values around. The 12-minute trip across to Seacrest Park showcases breathtaking views of the Seattle skyline as it takes a more southern route across the bay. Once there, you might dine at one of the area’s most popular seafood eateries, Salty’s, with a sweeping Puget Sound view. Afterward, take a walk along the Alki Trail path following Alki Beach. Jack Block Park is only a 5-minute stroll south, a true hidden treasure that only the rare visitor makes it out to. It has a 45-foot observation tower and provides public beach access with amazing views of Puget Sound, Alki, downtown Seattle, and beyond.
See the Really Bad Art at OBAMA
For the anti-art snob and those who appreciate the absurd, don’t miss the Official Bad Art Museum of Art, AKA OBAMA. Hosted at Junior’s in Belltown, here you’ll see paint-by-number pieces, black velvet paintings, and the famous portrait of dogs playing poker, among the multitude of tacky art displayed across an interior painted in a shade that looks oddly similar to a Cheeto.
Bonus Day Trips from Seattle
Some of our favorites include:
- 268-foot-high Snoqualmie Falls in Snoqualmie (30 minutes) – featured in multiple films and TV series, including “The Vanishing” and “Twin Peaks”
- Mount Rainier National Park (2 hours)
- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville (90 minutes)
- Snohomish for antique shopping (40 minutes)
- Scenic ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for the chance to watch for whales and other wildlife (35 minutes each way)
