Seattle
Famed for its Space Needle tower and coffee culture with Starbucks coming from the city, Seattle is a haven with chilled atmosphere and outdoor fun to be had!
Seattle in a nutshell
The largest city in the state of Washington, Seattle is best known for its iconic Space Needle and t legendary Pike Place Market. It’s also renowned as being a paradise for coffee lovers with an unsurpassed coffee culture seen in numerous coffee bars all over the city.
It’s a cosmopolitan place forward-thinking, laidback and cultured with a touch of grunge. Located between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, Seattle offers numerous waterside attractions.
Within driving distance you’ll find both Mount Rainier, Washington’s highest peak, as well as Mount Baker, where snow is usually seen on its tips.
Seattle is known as a tech haven, home to both Amazon.com and Microsoft, and the massive Boeing factory is also located here. The city is also home to the Museum of Flight, which offers insight into aviation and space history.
Other popular activities include whale watching, wine tasting at local wineries, scouring art galleries, enjoying the legendary music scene and exploring a variety of extremely diverse neighborhoods.
Best time to visit: Visit in late June or early September, when the city is less crowded and prices for accommodation are cheaper. It may be rainy, so take an umbrella along. July and August are the busiest – and driest – months of the year.
Best Area for Sightseeing: You’ll find plenty to see and do. Take a look below at Things to do in Seattle for some inspiration.
Shopping in Seattle: There are numerous great shopping districts, including Downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market and historic Pioneer Square, filled with quirky stores and boutiques. There’s also the diverse Chinatown-International District, with its mix of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Southeast Asian and Vietnamese influences.
Food & Restaurants in Seattle: Seattle offers an extremely varied selection of restaurants and cuisines, including a wide selection of Asian food, superb seafood and other Pacific Northwest specialties. Head to Pike Place Market for a fascinating walking tour that includes experiencing the market’s many flavors.
Nightlife: There are more local bars, lounges, clubs and pubs than you’ll be able to visit during your stay, so have fun.
Things to do in Seattle:
- Visit the city’s iconic Space Needle’s rotating SkyCity Restaurant or go even higher and enjoy panoramic city views from the observation deck.
- Take a cruise of Seattle Harbor from Elliot Bay.
- Explore the Pacific Science Center, renowned for its interactive offerings, IMAX theater, planetarium and live science shows.
- Learn all about aviation and space travel at the fascinating Museum of Flight.
- See enthralling works of art at the Seattle Art Museum.
- Visit the Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum, home to various displays that cover rock music, science fiction and popular culture.
- Discover a world of creativity at the Olympic Sculpture Park.
- Don’t miss a baseball match at Safeco Field.
- See one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Sky View Observatory, twice as tall as the Space Needle!
Best way to get around: Rent a car if you plan on exploring outside of the city.