Seattle, the largest city in Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest, offers a plethora of attractions and experiences, some worthy of revisiting again and again. Following my second trip to Seattle last fall, I compiled my list of the best things to see, do, and experience there to help others with their trip planning. I had looked forward to spending time at Pike Place Market again and to finally being able to go to the top of the Space Needle, which was undergoing renovation on my 2018 visit. I was not only able to do those things but had new experiences and added others to the list of things I look forward to discovering on a future visit.
Best Thing #1 – Pike Place Market
I cannot imagine going to Seattle and not visiting its number one tourist destination—Pike Place Market! Unless you’re there on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, its 500 shops, restaurants, and other businesses will be open starting at 7 am. Billed as the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in the country (since 1907), it has grown over the years and now covers nine acres. You can explore more specialty shops and restaurants across from the main market along Western Avenue.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll most likely notice a crowd forming near the world famous Pike Place Fish market. Located in the same spot since 1930, it has become known for its “fish throwing.” Watch the fishmongers throw fish to the person behind the counter for weighing, packing, and shipping. The freshest fish and shellfish—salmon, halibut, black cod, tuna, lobster, prawns, crab, oysters, mussels, and more—are on display, ready to pack, and either deliver locally or ship throughout the United States.
Fans of Sleepless in Seattle, the 1993 romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, will want to stop in the Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar, located in Pike Place Market. Grab a seat at one of the bar stools where Sam (Tom Hanks) and Jay (Rob Reiner) had their infamous tiramisu banter and pick up a t-shirt.
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE: Foodie Alert! Don’t leave without booking a Chef’s Tour of Pike Place Market with Eat Seattle Tours. Throughout the two-hour tour, you’ll receive tastes from each of nine vendors. Your guide will also fill you in on the history of the market.
And…Check out the Gum Wall
Sure, it’s quirky, but before you leave Pike Place Market, find the flight of stairs near the fish market that will lead you down to Post Alley. What you’ll find is a colorful, gum-covered wall that, since the 1990s, has become an unusual tourist attraction. The Gum Wall’s gummy beginnings go back to a time when patrons of Market Theatre stuck their gum on the wall while waiting to attend one of the productions.
Tip: Take the Monorail to the Seattle Center –Three of Seattle’s top attractions — the Seattle Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) are located at the Seattle Center.
Best Thing #2 – The Space Needle
The Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is Seattle’s most recognizable landmark. It has undergone a major renovation since my first visit to Seattle in May 2018. Visitors can once again take a 43-second elevator ride to the saucer-shaped top level outdoor observation deck with its open-air glass walls, tilting glass benches that lean out over the city, and the world’s first and only revolving glass floor. Visit later in the day to watch the sun set over Elliott Bay.
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE: If time allows, reserve a cocktail or wine experience in The Loupe Lounge, guaranteed to have the best views of Seattle. I’d like to try the “Taste of Washington,” featuring local wines paired with small bites.
Best Thing #3 – Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass, located in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle, is another must-do. The incredibly beautiful glass art of Dale Chihuly, a Tacoma native, can be found in more than 200 museums worldwide.
This is the premier long-term exhibition of his glass sculpture, well worth visiting again and again. Schedule a 45-minute guided tour or tour on your own. Weather permitting, you can watch a live glassblowing demonstration in the Art Plaza. Be sure to check out Dale Chihuly’s personal collections in the Collections Café.
Best Thing #4 – The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) was opened in 2000 by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen as the Experience Music Project. It now also houses exhibits covering science fiction and fantasy, horror films, and Marvel Superheroes, as well as local music icons Jimi Hendrix, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. As you approach MoPop, you’ll be awestruck by its exterior, designed by Frank Gehry, described as a fusion of textures and myriad colors to convey all the energy and fluidity of music.
Best Thing #5 – The Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium, ninth largest in the U.S., is another of my top reasons to put Seattle on your bucket list. It sits on the waterfront at Pier 69, and the Window on Washington Waters exhibit will awe you as you enter. Its 20 x 40 foot main viewing window allows visitors to view aquatic animals native to the area in a 120,000 gallon tank. Spend time observing the giant Pacific octopus (my personal favorite) and become mesmerized by the 360-degree view of Puget Sound fish in the 400,000 gallon Underwater Dome.
Best Thing #6 – Harbor Tour with Argosy Cruises
Argosy Cruises’ Harbor Tour is Seattle’s original harbor cruise and has been in operation for over 70 years. Make your way to the top deck to take in the views and snap photos from the city skyline to the shipping port, including the Olympic Mountains and Mt. Rainier. It departs at Pier 55, with five one-hour narrated tours daily.
Best Thing #7 – Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel, billed as the tallest Ferris wheel on the West Coast at 175 feet tall, is another waterfront must-do, weather permitting. It’s just a short walk from the Aquarium at Miner’s Landing on Pier 57. The ride lasts 15-20 minutes and offers more wonderful photo opportunities.
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE: Parties of four can even book a private dining experience on the Great Wheel, including a four-course dinner from The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar.
Best Thing #8 – Starbucks Reserve – Seattle Roastery
Coffee lovers most likely know that Starbucks originated in Seattle in 1971, and they will want to visit the original Starbucks store at Pike Place. However, nine blocks away, in the Capital Hill neighborhood at 1124 Pike Street is the 15,000-square-foot Starbucks Reserve – Seattle Roastery. It opened in 2014 and is now one of six worldwide. Other U.S. locations are in Chicago and New York City. It’s much more than a coffee shop and is well worth seeking out.
Observe the entire coffee-making process, then settle in at the bar area for a latte, a coffee flight, or other special roastery creation. Pastries, sandwiches, and desserts are available, too.
Get the Seattle CityPASS
The best, most economical way to take in up to six of Seattle’s top attractions is to pre-purchase the Seattle CityPASS before you arrive. You’ll save almost half off admission to five of the city’s top six attractions, and it’s valid for nine consecutive days. Included are:
- Space Needle
- Seattle Aquarium
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
- Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour
- Woodland Park Zoo
Next Time! Things I still want to do and see in Seattle
Visit Amazon Headquarters
Yes, you can take a guided tour of Amazon’s Seattle headquarters! The 90-minute tour is offered most Tuesdays and Thursdays while the Spheres indoor gardens are open to visitors the first and third Saturdays by reservation. Check out the details and schedule your tour.
Book the Seattle Underground Tour
Billed as Seattle’s most unusual attraction, Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour includes a 75-minute guided walking tour through interconnecting tunnels beneath the city. Storefronts and sidewalks were entombed when the city was rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889. I’ve heard good things about this tour and will be sure to do it next time!
Take Photos at Kerry Park
Kerry Park, a small public park and viewpoint on the south slope of Queen Anne Hill, is one of the best places to get amazing views of the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier in the distance…on a clear day, that is! Maybe on my next visit, I’ll be able to photograph this view myself.
When to Go
Everyone knows Seattle has a reputation for being a rainy city, and its rainiest months are from October to April. During my mid-October visit, we experienced little rain, but gray skies prevailed. When my husband and I visited in May 2018, we had sunny blue-sky days, so some photos are from that trip.
Getting Around
There is very little need for a car if you stay in the downtown area. From the Sea-Tac airport, ride the Light Rail into the city, or call a cab or ridesharing service (Uber or Lyft). Within the downtown area, you can walk, call a ridesharing service, or take the Seattle Center Monorail. It runs from the Seattle Center (near the Space Needle) to the Westlake Center Mall, a few blocks from Pike Place Market.
Where I’ve Stayed
I loved staying at Hotel Sorrento on my most recent visit. It is a seven-story historic boutique hotel with Italian Renaissance architecture, open since 1909. Located in the First Hill neighborhood, it has 76 spacious rooms and suites. It was ranked in the top 16 Seattle hotels by Conde Nast Traveler. Relax with a drink in the Fireside Room or the bar just off the lobby, and don’t miss dining at Stella for coastal Italian inspired cuisine.
Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle, a wine-themed 11-story hotel built in 1922, was a wonderful base for my 2018 stay. It was built in 1922 and became a part of Kimpton Hotels in 2014. All 126 rooms are pet-friendly. Guests enjoy nightly hosted wine tastings in the lobby. Dine in the hotel at the highly-recommended Tulio, which was recognized by Travel + Leisure as one of the best Italian restaurants in the U.S.
Disclosure: I was hosted on my October 2021 stay by Visit Seattle, as part of an International Food Wine Travel Writers Association press trip. Opinions are all my own.
