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Top things to do when visiting Seattle

Top things to do when visiting Seattle

Posted on September 15, 2021July 12, 2022
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Seattle is a really fun city to visit in the USA. In the North West of the country on the Pacific ocean, Seattle is great for a long weekend. Here are the top things to do when visiting Seattle.

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How long should I spend in Seattle?

There are some really fun things to do in Seattle, and some great options for day trips as well. You could probably see most of the main sights in the city and the top things to do when visiting Seattle in 2-3 days. However, I’d recommend staying a bit longer so you can take some time to take a day trip or two outside of the city. There’s some beautiful scenery in this part of the world that’s just waiting for you to explore.

You can visit Seattle as part of a trip to the USA by train – check out the best Amtrak train routes here to start planning your trip.

When is the best time of year to visit Seattle?

The North West of the USA can have cold, wet winters with short daylight hours and possible snow. If you’re planning to visit at this time of the year, it’s worth planning your trip to take into account the weather. Make sure you’ve got plenty of options of indoor activities if the weather is bad, and pack some warm and waterproof clothes. You’ll still be able to enjoy some outdoor activities, as long as you’ve got the appropriate clothing.

I enjoy visiting Seattle in the spring or autumn. The weather is a bit warmer than the winter, but there are fewer crowds and less heat than in the summer months. The shoulder seasons can also be great for getting good deals on some of the nicer hotels in the area, so you can enjoy the luxury of a nice hotel without the high prices.

Top things to do when visiting Seattle

If you’re looking for a great travel guide to take with you on your trip to Seattle, I’d recommend this travel guide to Seattle (affiliate). There are some great recommendations of places to stay and restaurants, and also some helpful maps of the main sights.

1. Pike Place Market

One of the top things to do when visiting Seattle is to visit the Pike Place Market. There are a huge variety of stalls in the market – the ones selling fresh fish are particularly impressive. There are also lots of restaurants, where you can eat looking out over the bay. And don’t forget to say hello to Rachel the Pig as well, one of the famous things in the market.

Pike Place market in Seattle
Top things to do when visiting Seattle
Rachel the Pig in Pike Place market, Seattle

2. Space Needle

No trip to Seattle is complete without visiting one of Seattle’s most famous sights, the Space Needle. At over 600 feet tall, the views from the top of the observation deck are just amazing.

View from the Space Needle, Seattle

If you’re lucky to visit on a clear day, you might be able to see across the city to Mount Rainier in the distance. It’s often too cloudy in Seattle to see it, but you might get lucky.

Top things to do when visiting Seattle

Visiting the Space Needle at sunset can also give amazing views. Check the opening times and prices of the Space Needle here.

Sunset from the Space Needle, Seattle
Top things to do when visiting Seattle

3. Original Starbucks

One of the most famous coffee shops around the world originated in the city of Seattle. The original Starbucks coffee shop was here, just outside of the Pike Place Market. You can buy a coffee here and marvel at how this chain has managed to spread around the whole world.

Original Starbucks in Seattle

4. Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium is another of the top things to do when visiting Seattle. There are some amazing displays here – the otters were some of my favourite. The touching pool was great as well, where you could interact with starfish. The aquarium was really educational as well, with lots of information about the sea lie in the area.

Seattle aquarium

5. Boat trip

The best way to appreciate the beautiful city skyline of Seattle is to take a boat trip around the harbour. Argosy Cruises offer great sightseeing boat cruises. It’s best to do this on a sunny day if possible, so you can sit outside on the boat and enjoy the views. The view of the Space Needle from the water is just amazing, and you really get a sense of just how vast this city is. Check out the times and prices of the boat trips here.

Boat trip around Seattle Harbour

6. Seattle Waterfront attractions

The Seattle Waterfront is a great area to spend a couple of hours for a fun afternoon. The Seattle Great Wheel gives great views across the Seattle harbour and Puget Sound. There are some fun shops here as well across the piers, and some stalls selling food as well.

Top things to do when visiting Seattle

7. Enjoy the seafood at Elliott’s Oyster House

Seattle has some of the best fresh seafood of any city I’ve visited. You can really get the sense that the fish was caught in the pacific ocean just earlier that day. One of my favourite restaurants in Seattle was Elliott’s Oyster House, which was just along the Seattle Waterfront. The food was just amazing, with a range of options of other fish if you don’t want oysters. It’s in a great location for a beautiful after-dinner walk along the waterfront as well.

The best seafood in Seattle
Top things to do when visiting Seattle

8. Bubble Gum wall

One of the more unusual attractions in Seattle is the Market Theater Gum Wall, situated in an alley just underneath Pike Place Market. It’s just a colourful mass of bubble gum stuck over the wall. It’s probably a bit unhygienic, but it’s kind of cool as well.

Bubble Gum wall Seattle

9. Museum of Pop Culture

The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle is a great museum if you like films and music. It’s organised into different genres, with sections on things like fantasy or science-fiction. There are some displays of props from films in each of the sections. Ones from the Terminator film and Lord of the Rings trilogies really stood out for me, but there were loads more. It was a really fun museum and definitely worth visiting.

Pop culture museum in Seattle
Pop culture museum in Seattle

10. Pacific Science Center

Another museum in Seattle that’s worth visiting is the Pacific Science Center. This museum starts with a great display about dinosaurs, with some great models, fossils and skeletons. There’s also a great section on space and the planets, and a butterfly garden as well with exotic butterflies from around the world.

Pacific Science Center in Seattle
Top things to do when visiting Seattle

11. Take a day trip to Discovery Park

The North West pacific coast and Puget Sound has some amazing scenery, and it’s worth taking some time when you’re in Seattle to explore outside the city centre a bit. I’d recommend visiting Discovery Park, just outside the city of Seattle. There are beautiful walks through the forest, where you can see some of the wildlife this area has. I was lucky to see an American Robin, a Hummingbird and also a young Bald Eagle.

Wildlife in Discovery Park Seattle
Hummingbird in Discovery Park, Seattle
Top things to do when visiting Seattle

There are also beaches, where you can see across the water to the Olympic Mountains. Take some time to explore the beaches, as you never know what you might find. I found a skeleton washed up which was fascinating.

Discovery Park in Seattle

There’s also a lighthouse here as well. Access to the West Point Lighthouse is restritced, but you can still get a good view of it. Just make sure you take a warm coat if you’re exploring around here – it can be a lot colder than the city, especially on the exposed rocks around the lighthouse. The views across to the mountains were still beautiful despite the cold.

Top things to do when visiting Seattle

12. Explore the Olympic Mountains and Mount St Helens

If you’ve got a bit more time for your trip, I’d recommend taking some time to explore more of Washington state. Hire a car and drive into the Olympic Mountains, or visit the famous Mount St Helens. Road trips into the mountains are just amazing in this state. Check out my blog here for more details about exploring Washington’s mountains.

Olympic Mountains in Washington

Enjoy the top things to do when visiting Seattle! Remember to check out this great travel guide to Seattle (affiliate). The USA has so many more amazing places to visit. For some beautiful scenery near Seattle, visit the Olympic Mountains or Juneau, Alaska. Or why not head down the coast to enjoy the best experiences in California, including San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

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14 thoughts on “Top things to do when visiting Seattle”

  1. Catherine - Savvy Family Travel says:
    September 27, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    I have fond memories of visiting Mount St. Helens and the aquarium as a teenager myself (somehow that’s now 20 years ago!) and would love to visit again with my kids. I can’t decide if I’m disgusted or amazed by the bubble gum wall. =]

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      It’s a great area, and I’m sure there will be loads of things for kids to enjoy there as well.

      Reply
  2. Denise says:
    September 26, 2021 at 10:51 am

    I need to get back to Seattle! Yum the seafood!

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      The seafood was definitely a highlight for me, and definitely a good reason to go back!

      Reply
  3. Hannah says:
    September 26, 2021 at 6:13 am

    Oh I love Seattle! I’ve visited several times but only ever on work trips so I usually only get a day or so to explore. I love the atmosphere at Pike Place Market! It is such a fun place! And the view from the Space Needle is incredible! I’d love to explore the mountains on one trip, I’ve not had an opportunity to do that yet! Thanks for the great guide!

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      Yeah the Space Needle is one of my favourite places! I hope you’re able to explore the mountains on one of your trips, the views are just amazing.

      Reply
  4. Krista says:
    September 26, 2021 at 4:24 am

    I had no idea that Starbucks originated in Seattle – so cool! I haven’t made it to this part of the states before, but Seattle is definitely on my list for when I do as it looks like a great city to spend a few days in!

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:34 pm

      It was great to visit the original Starbucks! I hope you’re able to visit Seattle soon, it’s a great city to visit.

      Reply
  5. Lindajane says:
    September 25, 2021 at 10:46 pm

    Seattle looks like a great place to visit with lots to see & do. The market & the space needle are especailly appealing. Thanks for sharing your tips!

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:35 pm

      Thanks! I’d definitely recommend the Space Needle for the great views. Seattle is a great city.

      Reply
  6. Linnea says:
    September 25, 2021 at 9:53 pm

    This is a great list! I love Seattle! I’ll have to try Elliott’s Oyster House when I go!

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:36 pm

      Thanks! It was a great option to try out Seattle’s amazing seafood.

      Reply
  7. Monica says:
    September 25, 2021 at 8:22 pm

    Love this list! Seattle is auch a great city, can’t wait to go back soon.

    Reply
    1. Rays of Adventure says:
      October 7, 2021 at 8:36 pm

      Seattle was a great city, I really enjoyed my time there.

      Reply

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Rays of Adventure

Hi, I’m Rachel. UK based Travel Blogger and Solo Female Traveller. Blogging about solo travel and traveling with chronic health issues. Read my blogs for loads of travel guides and travel tips for destinations around the world.

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