Seattle Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Seattle
Seattle
Pike Place Market featuring signage, a city and night scenes
Seattle
Seattle

Seattle Travel Guide Video

From the limitless outdoor experiences in the nearby Cascade and Olympic mountains to the artistic and musical opportunities downtown, adventure awaits in Seattle.

Take advantage of Seattle’s blend of eclectic neighbourhoods, lakes, hills and sparkling waterfront. Within one day, you can experience the bustle of daily life or slip away for quiet time in a pocket park or on a peaceful stretch of rocky shoreline.

Built around two lakes, various canals and the Puget Sound, Seattle provides plenty of opportunities to play on the water. Kayak or paddleboard past idyllic houseboats on Lake Union. Watch fishing boats pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard or visit the salmon ladder during spawning season. Or head to the revitalized downtown waterfront for popular tourist attractions, including the Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium. Don’t miss Pike Place Market, where fishmongers sling salmon and street performers liven up the atmosphere. Get there early in the day to avoid crowds and grab a coffee at the original Starbucks.

Wander over to the Seattle Art Museum, with its stunning collection of art and artifacts from around the world. Music enthusiasts can watch the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall or check out the lineup at The Crocodile.

A quick monorail ride zips you to Seattle Centre, where you’ll find the 520-foot-tall (160-metre) Space Needle. Take the elevator up for 360-degree views encompassing Puget Sound, Mount Rainier to the south and the greater Seattle area. Stay for a drink at the rotating restaurant.

Beneath the Space Needle, check out the vibrant Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum and the Museum of Pop Culture. Let the kids loose at the Artists at Play playground with its ADA-accessible carousel, labyrinth, massive climbing tower and more.

Seattle makes the best of its unique geography with a robust public bus system (kids 18 and under ride free) and a light rail system. Hop on Sound Transit’s Link light rail at SeaTac Airport and you’ll be in downtown Seattle in about 40 minutes. Car shares, as well as scooter and bike homes, are readily available.

Where to stay in Seattle

Downtown Seattle showing street scenes and central business district

Downtown Seattle

4.5/5(119 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums, great live music and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Downtown Seattle. Top attractions like Pike Place Market and Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 are major draws. Catch the metro at Westlake Station or University Street Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Seattle
Capitol Hill featuring heritage architecture as well as an individual male

Capitol Hill

4.5/5(5 area reviews)

Spend some time visiting places like Lake View Cemetery - Bruce Lee's Grave while getting to know Capitol Hill, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Capitol Hill Station or Broadway & Denny Stop to see more of the area.

Capitol Hill
Belltown which includes street scenes

Belltown

Belltown is known for its popular shops, and you can see some sights area like Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 and Moore Theatre.

Belltown
South Lake Union featuring a coastal town, a bay or harbour and boating

South Lake Union

4/5(9 area reviews)

Known for its panoramic lake views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in South Lake Union. Check out top attractions like Amazon Corporate Headquarters and El Corazón, and jump on the metro at Lake Union Park Station or Terry Av- Mercer St Station to see more of the city.

South Lake Union
Default Image

University District

5/5(2 area reviews)

Spend some time visiting places like Neptune Theater while getting to know University District, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at U District Station or University of Washington Station to see more of the area.

University District
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks showing a river or creek and boating as well as a small group of people

Ballard

Gardens, bars and shopping are some highlights of Ballard. Make a stop by National Nordic Museum or Shilshole Bay Marina while you're exploring.

Ballard
Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA
Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA
4 out of 5
1301 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA
The price is NZ$198 per night from 26 May to 27 May
NZ$198
26 May - 27 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Seattle. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,305 reviews)
"Adding lounge access with the room was very worth it. During check-in, I was told to sign a "pet" policy for the service animal that my veteran fiancé has, which was strange, but I was too tired to correct them. Also, only one of the two elevators connecting to the parking lot were working. At least ..."

Reviewed on 9 May 2025

Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA
Mediterranean Inn
Mediterranean Inn
3 out of 5
425 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$360 per night from 27 May to 28 May
NZ$360
27 May - 28 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Seattle. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (5,176 reviews)
"Great location. Clean. Friendly and helpful staff. Very nice, walkable neighborhood. Easy parking on the lower level."

Reviewed on 10 May 2025

Mediterranean Inn
Coast Gateway Hotel
Coast Gateway Hotel
3.5 out of 5
18415 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA
The price is NZ$272 per night from 26 May to 27 May
NZ$272
26 May - 27 May
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in SeaTac. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (7,234 reviews)
"Very convenient, clean, great staff."

Reviewed on 12 May 2025

Coast Gateway Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Renton
Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Renton
3 out of 5
1701 E Valley Rd, Renton, WA
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Renton. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (4,161 reviews)
Nice but with issues.
"Pleasant staff and a nice room. Older furnishings. My main problem was with the key card. The staff worked on it and it helped a little. It took 3-5 swipes of the card to get it to let me in. Breakfast was mostly packaged food but there were fresh bagels. It all tasted good."

Reviewed on 13 May 2025

Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Renton
Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Bellevue
Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Bellevue
3 out of 5
15805 SE 37th St, Bellevue, WA
Book a stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Bellevue. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
7.6/10 Good! (3,401 reviews)
"Liked the full size refrigerator and rooms the Duda bed was very uncomfortable though."

Reviewed on 7 May 2025

Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Bellevue
Sonder RailSpur
Sonder RailSpur
3.5 out of 5
417 Occidental Avenue South, Seattle, WA
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Seattle. Enjoy laundry facilities, concierge services, and housekeeping. Popular attractions Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park ...
9/10 Wonderful! (177 reviews)
"Great spot. Only drawbacks were a very poor mattress for the pull out couch, and some steep ladder steps up to the loft."

Reviewed on 11 May 2025

Sonder RailSpur
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Activities

Reviews of Seattle

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
52
5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
40
4 - Good 39%
3 - Okay
11
3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

A city of paradoxes. Obviously wealthy, but so many homeless and disturbed people on the streets. Perhaps because of the virus situation, there are fewer tourists and locals around and so the sad people are more obvious, but a sad reflection anyway

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Quite liked it but some issues

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Rains most time during winter.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Love it!

5/5 - Excellent

Alex

Cheap lobster and geoduck. Mount Rainier National Park is so beautiful.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Charming city.

Cities near Seattle