Things to Do in Seattle

The best things to do in Seattle include visiting Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum.

The Seattle Waterfront

There's so much to see and do in Seattle that it's hard to choose the best, but some of our favorites are...

Pike Place Market

Every city has a market, but nothing quite like Seattle's century-old Pike Place Market. It began in 1907 as a farmers market, but has expanded over the years so that today there are over 300 stalls in 13 buildings spread across 9 acres near the waterfront. Plenty of fish stalls, then, but flower stalls, bakeries, chilli sellers, cheese-makers, candy stores, ceramics, antiques, jewelry, books, clothes, toys, games... you name it.

The Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

You should see the whole waterfront area, especially on a fine day, but also make time to visit Seattle Aquarium. The highlight here is probably the Window on Washington Waters exhibit, an amazing 120,000 gallon tank with foot-thick glass. It shows what's going on beneath the waves in Puget Sound, and check the times of the daily dive shows because special masks enable the divers to talk to you, an unusual feature. Needless to say there's a great deal more here, and children will love the hands-on Discovery Lab.

Our Pick of the Guides

Seattle Art Museum

Quite simply the best art museum in the whole Pacific Northwest, with so much quality work on display it's hard to know where to begin. The Native American collection? The 20th century art by Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Gilbert and George? The fascinating 19th century American landscape paintings? The collection of work by modern local artists? Put the museum high on your Seattle 'top things to do' list.

The Experience Music Project in Seattle, repinned from https://www.pacific-coast-highway-travel.com/Things-to-Do-in-Seattle.html

Museum of Pop Culture

Seattle Center and Space Needle

The Space Needle has become a symbol for Seattle, and though it dates back to the 1962 World's Fair it's become timeless, in a way. You have to go to the top, of course. It would be like going to Paris without going up the Eiffel Tower. It isn't cheap, as is usual with this kind of thing, but the elevator ride that whisks you to the top in just 43 seconds (give or take a nano-second), and the awesome views from the observation deck just have to be experienced.

Seattle Space Needle

Allow plenty of time for the whole Seattle Center too, as this complex includes things like the Children's Museum, the Pacific Science Center, and for rock music fans the unmissable Museum of Pop Culture.

More Information

For further information on things to do in Seattle, where to stay and where to eat, visit the website of Visit Seattle.

Other Seattle pages

Seattle
Seattle is a great city break vacation destination and also the perfect start for the Pacific Coast Highway drive, and the gateway to Washington wine country.
Frommer's Guide to Seattle
The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.
Cheap Flights to Seattle
Cheap flights to Seattle with Southwest Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Frontier, Horizon, JetBlue, and other carriers from San Diego, and other destinations.
Seattle Hotels
Downtown Seattle hotels are near attractions and the waterfront. Hotel Vintage Park, Edgewater Inn, and Inn at Harbor Steps are tops for travelers.
Best Time to Visit Seattle
Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s advice on the best time to visit Seattle, covering the weather and climate from month to month and season by season.
Best Museums in Seattle
Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best museums in Seattle, including art, science and children’s museums, for that inevitable rainy day!