There are so many great things to do in Seattle and you could spend weeks exploring the city’s many unique attractions. However, Seattle is also a great city to visit for a couple days or a long weekend. In just a couple days you can easily see most of the major sites and really get a feel for the Emerald City. Ready for six awesome things to do if you visit Seattle? Keep reading for the top can’t-miss experiences!
Six Awesome Things to do if You Visit Seattle
1: Explore the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum
The Chihuly Garden and Glass museum are by far the most impressive thing I saw while in Seattle!
This museum is dedicated to the incredible glasswork made by Dale Chihuly. Chihuly has been creating glass artwork since 1965 when he was studying at the University of Washington. His works are beautiful, unique and certainly very impressive.
The museum isn’t huge, so I would expect to spend under an hour exploring the galleries, glasshouse and outdoor garden.
2: Take in the Views from the Space Needle
Is the Space Needle touristy? Yes. Is it expensive? Yes, it is. However, I still think it’s worth a visit if it’s in your budget.
The Space Needle is an observation tower that was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair. Now, many years later, it’s an iconic sight in the city. Checking out the views from the 520 foot observation deck, on the 605 foot tower, is a definitely a cool experience!
You can combine your visit to the Space Needle with the Chihuly Garden and GlassMuseum right next door. Doing this will save you a little bit money on tickets and they are absolutely both worth visiting.
3: Eat Your Way Through Pike Place Market
You’ll find Pike Place Market in just about every Seattle guide, and for good reason, it’s one of the best places to check out in Seattle! Wandering around Pike Place, trying all of the delicious food and shopping for fresh flowers and souvenirs is the perfect way to spend a few hours.
There are so many great eats to try while visiting Pike Place, but a few of my favorites include:
- Beecher’s Handmade Cheese for the mac and cheese.
- Piroshky Piroshky for the piroshkis (a hand pie, kind of like an empanada.)
- The Pink Door for great Italian food. This is a sit-down restaurant and you’ll definitely need a reservation.
- Rachel’s Ginger Beer for their ginger beer and ginger beer cocktails.
- The Crumpet Shop for sweet and savory crumpets.
If you want to make sure you hit all of the best food stops in the market, I definitely recommend taking a food tour. There are a bunch to choose from and they’re a great way to learn more about the market and its history all while eating great food!
Pike Place Food Tours
- Pike Place Market Tasting Tour
- Taste Pike Place Walking Food Tour
- Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market
- Plant Based Food Tour in Pike Place Market
4: Visit the Historic Smith Tower
The Smith Tower opened in 1914 and was the first skyscraper in Seattle! Although the Smith Tower is no longer the tallest building in Seattle, it’s absolutely still worth a visit.
The Smith Tower retains much of its historic charm and really makes you feel like you’re going back in time. On your way to the observation deck, you’ll have the opportunity to walk through a small museum with artifacts that show what the building was like when it originally opened.
The Observatory, on the 35th floor, not only offers beautiful views of Seattle, but also houses a speakeasy style bar and restaurant. I recommend going for happy hour to enjoy some drinks and take in the city views!
5: Watch the Sunset from Kerry Park
If you’re looking for a free viewpoint or an excellent place to watch the sunset, then Kerry Park should definitely be on your list. Located in the Queen Anne neighborhood, this park offers beautiful views of Mount Rainier and downtown Seattle.
To get to Kerry Park, you can Uber, drive or walk. From the Space Needle, for example, the walk is about 25 minutes, but the last portion of the walk is very steep. It’s definitely doable for most people, but it’s certainly something to consider. If you choose to drive, there is parking nearby to Kerry Park.
After taking in the views at Kerry Park, I recommend taking the 5 minute walk to Molly Moon for delicious homemade ice cream!
6: Go on a Sunset Sail
One of my absolute favorite things I did in Seattle was going on a sunset cruise on the Puget Sound.
Many of these cruises pick up at the Bell Harbor Marina, which is easily walkable from downtown Seattle. Some cruises are from Lake Union, which is equally as beautiful.
Watching the sunset, enjoying a drink on the water, and maybe seeing some ocean life (like seals and dolphins) is such a great evening activity! The views of downtown Seattle and the Space Needle from the boat make the trip extra special.
Seattle Sunset Sails:
- Evening Colors Sunset Sail Tour in Seattle
- Seattle’s Favorite Sightseeing and Cocktail Cruise
- Seattle: Pacific Northwest Sailing Experience
BONUS: Take the Ferry to Bainbridge Island
One of the best parts of visiting Seattle is its close proximity to beautiful nearby islands. Bainbridge Island, specifically, is a great one to visit as it’s close by and walkable if you don’t have a car.
Ferries to Bainbridge island leave about once an hour, but definitely check the ferry schedule for exact times. You can purchase tickets at the ferry terminal, located at Colman Dock/Pier 52. The fare to Bainbridge island is under $10 for adults and free for kids under 18. The return, Bainbridge to Seattle, is free of charge.
Once you arrive at Bainbridge Island, you can walk (about 15 minutes) into town and check out the restaurants, shops and art museum. If you’re short on time, simply riding the ferry to Bainbridge Island and back is a fun activity itself.
Fun Tours in Seattle if You Have Extra Time
If you’re visiting Seattle for more than a couple days, I definitely recommend adding in some fun and unique tours and activities. There are a wide variety of interesting tours in Seattle as well as day trips that take you out of the city to see more of the area’s natural beauty!
Tours in Seattle
Day Tours Outside of the City
- Mt. Rainier Day Trip from Seattle
- Leavenworth Tour from Seattle
- Forest Hike to Gorgeous Twin and Snoqualmie Falls
- Day Trip from Seattle to Victoria on the Victoria Clipper
- Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour
Things to Skip When You Visit Seattle
Sky View Observatory
The Sky View Observatory is the tallest building in Seattle, meaning the views are pretty nice. However, I do not recommend this observation tower for a few reasons.
To start, the windows are not that clean – I get that it’s hard to clean them that many stories up – but dirty windows aren’t helping to make the view any better. Additionally, the space isn’t decorated or set up in a way that’s inviting for tourists. More than anything, this just feels like an empty office space on the top floor of a tall building.
I would recommend saving yourself the $30+ and visiting the Space Needle or the Smith Tower.
The Original Starbucks
The original Starbucks coffee shop is located at Pike Place Market and it’s definitely a popular spot for visitors. This coffee shop opened in 1971 and has been popular ever since! Because of this, at most times of the day, you can expect long lines.
While it may be worth visiting if you’re a huge Starbucks fan, instead of waiting in line here, I recommend heading to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for a more unique experience.
Walking around Capitol Hill afterwards and checking out The Elliott Bay Book Company is a great way to spend the afternoon.
The Gum Wall
This is probably a controversial opinion, but I really dislike the gum wall. Located in Pike Place Market, in Post Alley, this outdoor wall is covered in chewed gum.
Personally, I really didn’t like the smell and the thought of accidentally touching the wall stressed me out. However, lots of people like to come take pictures here and see the wall for themselves!
Things to do in Seattle Q&A
- Is 3 days enough to see Seattle?
- For a first trip, yes! 2-3 days in Seattle is great for a first trip.
- Is Seattle a walkable city?
- Yes, Seattle is a very walkable city, especially in the downtown areas. There is also good public transportation available.
- What streets should you avoid in downtown Seattle?
- 3rd Avenue in downtown Seattle has a sizable and visible un-housed population as well as a very visible drug abuse problem. While 3rd Avenue isn’t necessarily dangerous during the day, and there is often a large police presence, I would avoid this street after dark. Personally, I didn’t feel super comfortable walking down this street in the daytime either.
- As a young, female traveler, I didn’t walk around downtown Seattle by myself after dark as it didn’t feel very safe.
- Is it better to walk or drive in Seattle?
- Walking around downtown is possible, but in order to explore the many neighborhoods and areas around Seattle, a car is very helpful.
A Note on Safety in Seattle
Downtown Seattle has a sizable and visible un-housed population. It also has a very visible substance abuse problem. This doesn’t necessarily make Seattle dangerous, however, you need to be prepared for the fact that it is almost impossible not to see drug use in public areas – like on the sidewalks in busy downtown areas.
In super-touristy areas like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, substance abuse is less visible. However, you will see it while walking around almost all downtown areas – especially 3rd Avenue and Pioneer Square.
As a young female traveler, I didn’t feel overly comfortable walking around downtown Seattle alone at any time of day. In a group I definitely felt more comfortable, but still was uneasy at night. There are exceptions to this though, as neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Madison Park will be quieter and safer.
Ready to visit the Emerald City? I hope you found this guide to the best things to do if you visit Seattle to be helpful! For more recommendations and tips, be sure to check out my post all about how to spend the perfect 24 hours in Seattle.
If you have any questions, or any things to do in Seattle to add to this post, let me know in the comments.
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♡Kate
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Love your site seeing tips on Seattle. We went last year and was so disappointed at the downtown area. My girlfriend and 6 year old did not feel comfortable so we actually cancelled our hotel and left after a day. We had so many great plans set up and the clear crime and drug abuse in public was heartbreaking. I pray they change there political views and clean the city up. So where are you headed next? I totally love your pictures and advice ❤️
Hi Chris! I totally understand that. Seattle definitely isn’t one of the cities I’ve felt most comfortable in, but overall, I definitely found fun things to do and see. I totally agree that the drug abuse is so sad and heartbreaking. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts!