Seattle is a vibrant city located on the west coast of the United States in the state of Washington. Seattle has relatively mild temperatures throughout the year, with cool winters and comfortable summers. It is known for frequent cloudy and rainy days, especially from fall through spring, although summers are often much drier.
In Seattle, you can explore a mix of technology history, aviation history, music culture, local food, waterfront scenery, and nearby natural landscapes. The city works well for both urban sightseeing and outdoor-focused side trips.
When visiting Seattle, you can visit several major downtown attractions within the city, and then you can drive around the city to many attractions outside the city center. There are many attractions to visit in Seattle, so you can organize your itinerary according to your preferences, or refer to our recommended itinerary.
While visiting Seattle, you may want to consider visiting two of Seattle’s national parks: Rocky Mountain National Park and Olympic National Park. Seattle is also close to Vancouver, Canada, which is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive away.
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Table of Contents
Points of Interest of Seattle
In Seattle, you can visit a variety of elemental attractions.
Iconic Seattle attractions that can’t be missed are:
- Space Needle
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Pike Place Marke (Pike Place Marke)
- The Seattle Great Wheel
If you are more interested in history, art and culture, you can visit:
- Museum of Pop Culture
- St. James Cathedral
- Pioneer Square Historic District
- Olympic Sculpture Park
If you are more interested in natural landscapes, you can visit:
- Discovery Park
- Amazon Spheres
- Woodland Park Zoo
If you’re interested in industrial history, head on over:
- Starbucks Reserve Roastery
- Gas Works Park
- The Museum of Flight (Seattle)
Seattle can be explored primarily by foot and car, but if the weather is favorable, you can also experience the local boat tour program, Argosy Harbor Cruise.
There are several large parks or iconic attractions in Seattle’s neighborhood, including:
- Olympic National Park
- Mount Rainier National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- German Town (Leavenworth)
- Boeing Airliner Factory (The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour)
The Best Time to Visit Seattle
Seattle receives rainfall for most of the year, with June, July, and August being the least rainy periods, making it more physically comfortable to visit during this time and more convenient for the entire trip.
But a trip to Seattle in April will allow you to see a lot of cherry blossoms in full bloom there, and Seattle in September and October, in the fall, boasts some very stunning fall scenery.
Traveling to Seattle in the winter is not recommended because of the high rainfall, low temperatures, and overall poorer experience.
Which planes fly directly to Seattle?
Seattle’s main airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, airport code SEA, and it takes about 20 minutes to rent a car from the airport and drive downtown.
Below are the flight times and airlines that offer direct flights to SEA from several popular cities within the United States.
| Direct Flight City (Airport Code) | Flight Time | Direct Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas, Texas (DFW) | 4 hours and 09 minutes | American Alaska |
| Houston, Texas (IAH) | 4 hours and 40 minutes | Alaska United |
| Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | 2 hours and 50 minutes | American Alaska Delta JetBlue United |
| San Francisco, CA (SFO) | 2 hours and 10 minutes. | Alaska Delta United |
| San Diego, CA (SAN) | 2 hours and 56 minutes | Alaska Delta |
| New York, NY (EWR) | 6 hours 07 minutes | Alaska United |
| New York, NY (JFK) | 6 hours and 15 minutes | Alaska Delta JetBlue |
| Boston, MA (BOS) | 6 hours and 23 minutes | Alaska Delta JetBlue |
| Philadelphia, PA (PHL) | 6 hours and 20 minutes | American Alaska |
| Miami, FL (MIA) | 6 hours and 45 minutes | American Alaska |
| Atlanta, GA (ATL) | 5 hours and 20 minutes | Alaska Delta |
| Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | 2 hours and 42 minutes | Alaska Delta Frontier Southwest Spirit |
| Phoenix, AZ (PHX) | 3 hours, 11 minutes. | American Alaska Delta Southwest United |
| Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) | 3 hours and 52 minutes | Alaska |
| Chicago, IL (ORD) | 4 hours. | American Alaska Delta United |
| St. Lous, MO (STL) | 4 hours and 28 minutes | Alaska Southwest |
| Portland, OR (PDX) | 1 hour | Alaska Delta |
| Denver, CO (DEN) | 2 hours 55 minutes | Alaska Delta Frontier Southwest United |
| Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 2 hours and 12 minutes. | Alaska Delta |
What are the traffic and road conditions in Seattle?
Seattle is located in the northwest corner of Washington State and is accessible by several freeways around the area, such as Highway 5, Highway 90, and Highway 99.
The Seattle metropolitan area has a relatively convenient public transportation system, and you can choose from a variety of public streetcars and bus routes such as Link Light Rail, King County Metro Transit, Seattle Streetcars, and Seattle Center Monorail, and purchasing an ORCA card makes it easy to ride these modes of transportation. Purchase an ORCA card for easy access to these modes of transportation.
Attractions around Seattle can be accessed by driving, and the roads are basically paved highways in good condition.
How are accommodations in Seattle organized?
Seattle has a wide range of upscale hotels, as well as many different types of other travel accommodations to choose from, with the Downtown area having the largest selection of hotels and easier access to transportation, as well as a higher level of safety, comparatively speaking.
#1. The Mediterranean Inn ⭐⭐⭐ 8.7/10.0 2,108条评价
#2. Hotel Theodore ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.6/10.0 687 reviews
#3. Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Stadium ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.4/10.0 1,258 reviews
#4. Belltown Inn ⭐⭐⭐ 8.3/10.0 2,485条评价
#5. Crowne Plaza Seattle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.3/10.0 2,439 reviews
#6. Hyatt House Seattle Downtown ⭐⭐⭐ 8.5/10.0 1,003条评价
#7. The Paramount Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.5/10.0 1,258 reviews
#8. Mayflower Park Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.9/10.0 1,258 reviews
#9. MarQueen Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.1/10.0 618 reviews
#10. Palihotel Seattle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.4/10.0 883 reviews
#11. The State Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.8/10.0 229 reviews
#12. Motif Seattle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.3/10.0 764 reviews
#13. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.4/10.0 158 reviews
#14. citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.6/10.0 253 reviews
#15. Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.2/10.0 668 reviews
#16. MOXY Seattle Downtown ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.4/10.0 315 reviews
#17. Staybridge Suites Seattle – Fremont ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.5/10.0 375 reviews
#18. W Seattle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.3/10.0 325 reviews
#19. Renaissance Seattle Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.4/10.0 310 reviews
#20. Seattle Gaslight Inn ⭐⭐⭐ 9.3/10.0 162条评价
#21. Lotte Hotel Seattle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.3/10.0 203 reviews
#22. The Sound Hotel Seattle Belltown, Tapestry Collection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.2/10.0 289 reviews
What are some good restaurants in Seattle?
Seattle not only embraces many cultural elements from around the globe but also offers a diverse range of food cultures. You can sample a wide variety of specialties from the following recommended quality restaurants for your culinary enjoyment on the go.
#1. Cafe Munir 4.6/5.0 (429 reviews) map
#2. Off the Rez Cafe 4.6/5.0 (164 reviews) map
#3. Kamonegi 4.6/5.0 (673 reviews) map
#4. Canlis 4.6/5.0 (1,914 reviews) map
#5. Spinasse 4.6/5.0 (1,022 reviews) map
#6. Stateside 4.5/5.0 (826 reviews) Map
#7. Bateau 4.5/5.0 (586 reviews) map
#8. Cafe Campagne 4.5/5.0 (1,009 reviews) map
#9. Piroshky Piroshky 4.6/5.0 (4,165 reviews) map
#10. The Grill From Ipanema 4.5/5.0 (1,971 reviews) map
#11. The Capital Grille 4.6/5.0 (1,348 reviews) map
#12. Yard House 4.4/5.0 (4,256 reviews) map
#13. Le Pichet 4.5/5.0 (1,143 reviews) map
#14. ROCCO’S 4.5/5.0 (3,162 reviews) map
#15. Tilikum Place Cafe 4.6/5.0 (1,398 reviews) map
#16. Bangrak Market 4.4/5.0 (1,096 reviews) Map
#17. The Pink Door 4.6/5.0 (4,450 reviews) map
#18. Serious Pie Downtown 4.4/5.0 (3,433 reviews) map
#19. Umi Sake House 4.6/5.0 (3,119 reviews) map
#20. El Gaucho 4.6/5.0 (1,380 reviews) map
#21. Lola 4.4/5.0 (3,153 reviews) map
#22. Petra Mediterranean Bistro 4.4/5.0 (1,104 reviews) map
#23. Assaggio Ristorante 4.5/5.0 (1,142 reviews) map
#24. Shaker + Spear 4.6/5.0 (1,055 reviews) map
#25. Six Seven Restaurant 4.5/5.0 (1,447 reviews) map
#26. Seatown Rub Shack & FishFry 4.2/5.0 (1,271 reviews) map
#27. Kells Irish Restaurant & Bar 4.3/5.0 (1,447 reviews) map
Tips
- Medical Insurance: Medical care in the United States is expensive, and it is recommended that you purchase travel medical insurance before traveling.
- Rain gear: Seattle can get rain in all seasons, so it’s a good idea to bring a lightweight raincoat with you.
- Citypass: Seattle offers a CityPass card for visitors that provides direct access to popular attractions including the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, MoPOP, Woodland Park Zoo, and Chihuly Garden and Glass, as well as boat tours. Park Zoo, and the Chihuly Garden and Glass, as well as the Argosy Harbor Cruise program. Check out the CityPass website for details and to purchase online.
What equipment do I need to bring to tour Seattle?
- Lightweight raincoat: Seattle has a high probability of rainfall, so carrying a lightweight raincoat will allow you to use it promptly if needed.
- Light jacket: The temperature difference between day and night in Los Angeles is quite big, so it is convenient to bring a light jacket.
- Comfortable shoes: many of the sights require getting out of the car and walking around, so wearing comfortable shoes is more appropriate.
- Camera: There are so many photo-worthy attractions in Los Angeles, but moderate photography is recommended at museums, and when encountering celebrities on the road.
Seattle Travel Itinerary
Attractions within the Seattle metropolitan area are relatively concentrated and can generally be explored in one day. To the north of Seattle, there are several parks spread out that focus on natural scenery, and to the south is the Seattle Museum of Flight, so you can generally arrange a three-day, two-night trip.
first day
Start with the Space Needle, then follow the sequence of the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of Pop Culture, and the Olympic Sculpture Park. The tour begins at the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of Pop Culture and the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Eat at Pike Place Marke for lunch, then follow a tour of St. James Cathedral, Pioneer Square Historic District, Starbucks Reserve Roastery and the Amazon Spheres.
Return to Pike Place Market in the evening for dinner and a sunset cruise on The Seattle Great Wheel.
the morrow
Choose between Discovery Park and Woodland Park Zoo, with Discovery Park for those who prefer a more relaxed viewing experience and Woodland Park Zoo for those who want to get closer to the animals.
If the weather is nice, you can experience a boat tour (Argosy Harbor Cruise).
third day
For an industrial tour, visit Gas Works Park in the morning and The Museum of Flight in Seattle in the afternoon.
Adjacent are the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture.
Attractions you can’t miss in Seattle
Space Needle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (38,787 reviews)
Seattle’s landmark attraction, constructed during the 1962 Universal Exposition, is 184 meters high and has a 360-degree view deck at the top of the tower, offering panoramic views of all of Seattle and the surrounding ocean. The View Terrace was fitted with the world’s first rotating glass floor, providing a truly magical view of the landscape.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (16,325 reviews)
The glasswork-themed museum, founded by master glassware craftsman Dale Chihuly, contains eight galleries, an outdoor garden, and a souvenir store featuring many of Dale Chihuly’s beautiful glassworks.
Museum of Pop Culture
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (14,158 reviews)
The museum, or MoPOP for short, was originally established by Microsoft founder Paul Allen as a place to experience music, with the main body of the building designed by architect Frank Gehry and completed in 2000. As the cultural elements continued to be enriched, the venue was renamed the Museum of Pop Culture in 2016, which offers not only the dissemination of music and culture, but also tattoos, indie video games, horror movie exhibits, and many other elements, making it one of the most popular attractions in the area for young people.
Olympic Sculpture Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 5/ 5.0 (7,550 reviews)
Part of the outdoor exhibit section of The Seattle Art Museum (SAM), this free, bayfront exhibit features large, distinctive sculptures and is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.
Adjacent Pike Place Marke and The Seattle Great Wheel.
Pike Place Marke (Pike Place Marke)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (57,115 reviews)
First opened in August 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest farmers’ markets in the area, and in the nation, and has remained the busiest collection of farmers’ markets and specialty restaurants in the area since its opening. Also within the market, it now offers many other types of stores, such as craft stores, bookstores, and medicine prescriptions, making it one of the most popular must-see attractions for local tourists.
There is also The Gum Wall, a popular tourist attraction, where you can take photos.
The Seattle Great Wheel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 5/ 5.0 (8,554 reviews)
This is the largest Ferris wheel in the West Coast region of the United States, with a diameter of 53 meters, a tour can ride 3 laps on it, and at night you can enjoy the bustling night view of Seattle.
Meanwhile, next to the Ferris wheel, there is a small-scale Seattle Aquarium (Seattle Aquarium), that supports the use of CityPass, if you are very interested in marine life, you can go to visit, if you are not interested in small, you can pass by the card, after all, compared to the size of the other large-scale aquariums, the value of the visit is not too high.
St. James Cathedral
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (860 reviews)
Built in the early 1900s, the church is one of Seattle’s oldest religious buildings and is the most frequented place of worship for local congregations. Take a photo tour from the outside or go inside to see the many artistic murals, stained glass, and religious statues.
Pioneer Square Historic District
This is one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, where you can learn about Seattle in many eras.
You can visit Pioneer Square’s Totem Pole, a 60-foot totem pole constructed in the Victorian era and arguably the centerpiece of Seattle’s history. Also, from there you can learn about a special part of Seattle’s history, the first inhabitants of Seattle arrived in 1850 and initially built most of the buildings with wood, but after the Great Fire of 1889, which destroyed most of the buildings, people started to build houses with stone instead, and you can see the different houses, as well as a Firefighters’ Monument, which honors the firefighters who died trying to save the city from the Great Fire. You can see different houses, as well as a Firemen’s Monument, which honors the firemen who died saving the city during the fire.
You can also visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to see what it was like during the gold rush period around the 1900s.
Or, you can take Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, an attraction beneath the city streets for a different kind of Seattle.
Neighboring Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Amazon Spheres:
The first Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (13,406 reviews)
A must-visit attraction for Starbucks fans is the world’s first Starbucks Roastery, where you can see the super-sized coffee bean roasting facility and enjoy coffee brewed from freshly roasted beans, as well as a variety of freshly baked breads or desserts from Starbucks.
Amazon Spheres
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (2,267 reviews)
This is an artificial rainforest ecosystem that took 5 years to create. Within the Amazon Sphere, over 400 species of rainforest plants have been planted. You can take photos of the sphere from the outside, or you can go inside for a tour; admission is free, but reservations are required.
Three neighboring parks in north Seattle:
Discovery Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (6,738 reviews)
Discovery Park is one of the largest parks within Seattle, including forests, meadows, and beaches, with an iconic lighthouse attraction to tour and take photos, and several wooded trails within the park for a restful setting on the edge of the city.
Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (17,575 reviews)
One of the most popular attractions for locals and tourists alike, it covers an area of over 92 acres and houses a wide variety of animals from all over the world, including Asian elephants, grizzly bears, snow leopards, jaguars, and African elephants, as well as many threatened and endangered species. Perfect for animal lovers.
Gas Works Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 7/ 5.0 (10,136 reviews)
The industrial gasification plants in the past after the exhaust, after the reconstruction trips are now popular tourist attractions. The interior retains a lot of large buildings of the gas plant, full of heavy industrial style, where you can get a lot of photo effects that can not be taken at other attractions.
There is also a lake inside the park where you can take a nap or have a picnic, and in the evening, when the setting sun is reflected on the lake, it makes a marvelous scene with the surrounding mountain scenery and industrial facilities, which is worth watching.
The Museum of Flight (Seattle)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (11,863 reviews)
Built in 1929, the museum is a must-see for aerospace enthusiasts with a large number of airplanes and flight-related historical exhibits, including a variety of historical military and civilian aircraft models, personal stories of famous historical pilots, and flight simulation activities.
Boat Cruise (Argosy Harbor Cruise)
The embarkation pier is located about 10 minutes or so walking distance from Pike Place Market and offers several daily excursions out to the sea, which takes about an hour and gives good views when the weather conditions are favorable.
What’s fun to do around Seattle?
There are several national parks near Seattle, so if interested, schedule a few days or several days to visit.
Olympic National Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (9,036 reviews)
Olympic National Park is a mega national park that allows you to visit a variety of ecosystems at the same time when you visit, see the Olympic National Park guide for more information.
Mount Rainier National Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (14,621 reviews)
Mount Rainier National Park is a national park built around a volcano, where you can enjoy a variety of volcanic geological landscapes, as well as colorful and rambunctious wildflower scenery, etc. For more information, please refer to the Rainier Volcano National Park guide.
North Cascades National Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (956 reviews)
North Falls State Park, a park featuring a variety of water features, has a relatively small number of visitors, so you can enjoy a quiet and leisurely visit.
German Town (Leavenworth)
You can enjoy iconic German architecture, taste authentic German food, and more, especially on festive occasions such as Christmas.
Boeing Airliner Factory (The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (96,153 reviews)
A factory tour program is offered where you can see the assembly process of airliners on the ground, etc. It is recommended for aircraft enthusiasts.
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