When planning a trip to Seattle, it’s important to know what the city has to offer so you can make the most of your time there.
Seattle is a beautiful and vibrant city with plenty to see and do, from its iconic Space Needle to its sprawling parks and museums.
There’s something for everyone in Seattle, so whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or an action-packed vacation, you’ll find it all here.
Things To Do In Seattle
1. Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is a giant Ferris wheel on the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington.
It is one of the largest Ferris wheels in North America, and the tallest in the world at 175 feet (53 m).
The Great Wheel has 42 gondolas, each of which can accommodate up to six people.
It operates year-round, and offers stunning views of the city skyline, Mount Rainier, and Elliott Bay.
The Great Wheel was built by Amusement Development Group LLC, and opened to the public on June 29, 2012. It cost $20 million to build.
The Great Wheel has been very popular since it opened, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Seattle.
It has been featured in numerous TV shows and movies, including The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Sleepless in Seattle, and 10 Things I Hate About You.
If you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to see Seattle, the Great Wheel is definitely worth a visit!
Address: Seattle Great Wheel, 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101
2. Space Needle
Space Needle is a tower at 605 feet (184 m) tall and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its base.
Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, which drew over 2.3 million visitors to the city.
Since its completion, the Space Needle has become an internationally recognized symbol of Seattle, and has been featured in numerous movies and television shows.
The Space Needle is also the site of the revolving SkyCity restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding area.
The Space Needle was designed by Puget Sound-based architect John Graham Jr, who also designed Seattle’s Denny Regrade neighborhood and the Space Needle-inspired Pacific Science Center. Graham drew inspiration for the Space Needle from a television antenna in St. Louis, Missouri, which he saw during a cross-country drive in 1959.
Address: Space Needle, 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
3. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Inspired by the gardens of glass created by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly, Chihuly Garden and Glass is a permanent exhibition located in Seattle.
The exhibition features three indoor galleries and an outdoor garden, all of which showcase Chihuly’s signature hand-blown glass sculptures.
The indoor galleries feature a wide variety of Chihuly’s work, from his early drawings and experiments with glass to his large-scale installations.
The first gallery focuses on Chihuly’s use of color, while the second gallery explores his use of light and space. The third gallery contains a selection of Chihuly’s most recent work, including his massive “Mille Fiori” sculpture.
The outdoor garden is a beautiful setting for Chihuly’s glass sculptures, which seem to come alive when surrounded by nature.
The garden also features a number of interactive elements, such as a “flame room” where visitors can control the color and intensity of the flames that dance around the glass sculptures.
Address: Chihuly Garden and Glass, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
4. Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is a historic public market and one of the oldest continuously operated public markets in the United States.
It features a wide variety of vendors selling fresh seafood, produce, flowers, and handcrafted goods.
The market also houses numerous restaurants, cafes, and food stalls, as well as a number of unique shops.
Pike Place Market is a popular tourist destination, and attracts more than 10 million visitors each year.
The market was founded in 1907 by seven local farmers who wanted to sell their produce directly to consumers.
The market quickly became successful, and was soon expanded to include additional vendors selling meat, dairy products, and other goods.
Today, Pike Place Market covers nine acres of land and includes more than 350 businesses. The market is open every day of the year, and is located just a few blocks from Seattle’s waterfront.
Pike Place Market is home to a number of iconic landmarks, including the “Original Starbucks” coffee shop, which opened in 1971.
The market also features a number of public art installations, including the “Gum Wall” and the “Market Ghost.”
Pike Place Market is a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike, and is considered one of the most vibrant and unique places in Seattle.
Address: Pike Place Market, 85 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
5. Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo is a world-renowned zoo located in Seattle, Washington.
The zoo has been rated one of the top zoos in the world by multiple organizations, and is a leader in animal conservation.
The zoo was founded in 1899, and today is home to over 1,000 animals from more than 300 species.
The zoo’s mission is to “inspire all people to connect with nature and take action to protect our shared planet.”
Some of the highlights of Woodland Park Zoo include the award-winning African Savanna exhibit, which allows visitors to see lions, giraffes, zebras, and other animals roaming freely.
The Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, which features an indoor rainforest with free-flying birds and butterflies.
And the Northern Trail exhibit, which features animals from the Arctic tundra, such as polar bears, wolves, and foxes.
Address: Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
6. Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is one of 3 incredible national parks in Washington state.
A day trip from Seattle is a must as you can stroll through a temperate inland rainforest .
It’s less than 60 miles from downtown Seattle to the summit of Mount Rainier as the crow flies
The highest point in the National park reachable by car is where visitors can admire Mount Rainier and other nearby volcanoes, including Mount Adams.
Address: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State
7. Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square has a rich history, stretching from the earliest habitation to the establishment of Seattle.
The emerald city oldest neighborhood, Pioneer Square boasts some incredible architecture, local art galleries, cafés and bookstores.
Pioneer Square is one of the best places for soaking up Seattle history.
Address: Pioneer Square, 800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
8. The Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a public aquarium located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront.
The facility opened on October 4, 1977 and was designed by Pacific Northwest architect Johnpaul Jones.
The building’s exterior is buttressed by massive concrete fins meant to evoke rays or whale flukes in motion.
Its interior spaces are organized around a central cylinder which houses a large circular tank for viewing marine life from below and an underwater dome theater.
A 120-meter (400 ft) pedestrian promenade alongside the facility offers views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and downtown Seattle.
The aquarium maintains three major exhibits: Window on Washington Waters, Life on the Edge, and Underwater Dome.
In addition, it operates two floating exhibits: a research vessel named T/S Sea Lion and a yacht named Ocean Explorer.
The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As of 2016, the facility housed more than 13,000 specimens representing 380 species of aquatic animals from the Pacific Northwest region. These include fish, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, and marine mammals.
Address: The Seattle Aquarium 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101
9. Museum of Pop Culture
When visiting Seattle a trip to the Museum of Pop Culture, one of the most popular attractions in Seattle, is a must.
Located at 325 5th Avenue N at Seattle Center, it houses some of the world’s most legendary pop culture artefacts.
Celebrating pop culture and science fiction, the exhibition’s permanent collection features more than 80,000 objects.
Learn about the area’s illustrious rock history while playing your own virtual rock band, or delve into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Address: Museum of Pop Culture, 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
10. Kerry Park
Kerry Park is a beautiful and popular park that offers stunning views of the cityscape, Elliott Bay, and Mount Rainier.
Kerry Park is also a great place to enjoy a picnic, take a walk, or simply relax and take in the scenery.
The park is located in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, just a short drive or bus ride from downtown.
Kerry Park is open daily from dawn to dusk and is free to the public.
11. The Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is a world-renowned art museum founded in 1933.
The museum houses a collection of over 25,000 works of art from around the world. SAM also regularly features temporary exhibitions from some of the world’s most renowned artists.
Some of the highlights of SAM’s permanent collection include works by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Jackson Pollock. The museum also has an extensive collection of Native American art and artifacts.
In addition to its world-class collections, SAM is also home to a variety of educational programs and public events.
The museum offers classes for all ages, as well as public lectures, films, and performances. SAM also hosts a number of special events throughout the year, such as its popular First Thursday lecture series.
With its commitment to excellence in art and education, the Seattle Art Museum is one of the city’s most beloved cultural institutions.
Address: The Seattle Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
12. Chinatown international district
The Chinatown International District in Seattle is one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in the city.
It is home to a large community of Chinese immigrants and their descendants, as well as a significant Vietnamese population.
The neighborhood is also home to a number of other Asian immigrant groups, including Koreans, Filipinos, and Japanese.
The Chinatown International District has a long history of cultural and economic contributions to the city of Seattle.
The first Chinese immigrants arrived in the area during the 1850s, working as laborers on the city’s waterfront.
In the 1880s, the construction of the transcontinental railroad brought even more Chinese immigrants to Seattle. These new arrivals began to settle in the area now known as Chinatown.
The Chinatown International District was officially established in 1910.
The neighborhood boundaries were roughly defined as follows: 4th Avenue to the north, 12th Avenue to the south, Dearborn Street to the east, and Lane Street to the west.
The Chinatown International District has undergone many changes over the years. Today, it is a vibrant and thriving community that is home to a variety of businesses, cultural organizations, and religious institutions.
Despite the changes that have taken place in the neighborhood over the years, the Chinatown International District remains an important part of Seattle’s history and culture. It is a place where people of all backgrounds can come together to celebrate their shared heritage and traditions.
13. T Mobile Park
T Mobile Park is a stadium located in downtown Seattle, that is the home field of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners.
This immense stadium with a retractable roof is certainly one of the most interesting things to do in Seattle.
You can take a tour of T Mobile Park to visit areas not normally accessible to the public which lasts approximately one hour.
Explore the field, dugouts, press box, visitors’ clubhouse, and private suites.
The park is also used as one of many live music venues in Seattle.
Address: T Mobile Park, 1250 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
14. Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay Waterfront is a must-see if you’re visiting Seattle.
It is the water front entertainment space complete with restaurants, a Ferris wheel, a sculpture park, coffee shops and retail areas. It’s popular with locals and tourists alike.
Elliott Bay is home to the Port of Seattle, the center for shipping and commerce.
If you want to get out on the water, take a Seattle Harbor Cruise and you can admire the Seattle skyline from the water, including stunning views of Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, and the Seattle Great Wheel.
15. The Olympic Sculpture Park
The Olympic Sculpture Park (OSP) is a public park and sculpture garden that opened on January 20, 2007, and is operated by the Seattle Art Museum.
The park is built on the former site of an oil terminal on the city’s waterfront on the Puget Sound. It was designed by renowned architect Charles Anderson and landscape architect Gwathmey Siegel & Associates.
The park contains a broad variety of contemporary sculptures, features a 700-foot (210 m) pedestrian path that meanders through the site, and offers spectacular views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and downtown Seattle.
In addition to housing a collection of permanent sculptures, the park also serves as a venue for a variety of special events and temporary exhibitions. It is the largest public open space in Seattle’s downtown core.
Address: Olympic Sculpture Park, 2901 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
FAQ
What is a good place for nightlife in Seattle?
Capitol Hill is packed with hip bars, eateries and clubs. It’s also one of the hottest nightlife neighborhoods and has a long list of things to do. Capitol Hill city streets have some of the most diverse dining options in the city.
Is there a hidden city under Seattle?
Seattle, Washington, has a secret underground city that burned down in the great Seattle fire of 1889. The city was then rebuilt on top of the underground Seattle old ruins, which are still open for tours today.
Can you visit the Boeing factory in Seattle?
You can go behind-the-scenes at the Boeing factory where the famous Boeing aircrafts are made and tested. There are 98 acres, and it’s the place where Boeing developed the Dreamliner.
What is the Fremont Troll known for?
In 1989, the city asked the Council to launch an art competition to rehabilitate the area under the bridge. The Fremont Troll is located under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge in Seattle.
Is there a Seattle monorail?
The Seattle Monorail provides a fun, quick, and convenient link between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center.
