With great shops, bars and restaurants, as well as plenty of open green space, Downtown Seattle is a beautiful area of the city in which to pass the time.

With glittering tall buildings towering over pleasant urban parks and plazas, countless bars and restaurants offering everything you could imagine and plenty of great shops, Downtown Seattle is always abuzz with energy. With the Puget Sound and the waterfront in the background, it is a delightful place to spend some time on your visit to the city.

Head first for the Visitor Information Centre in the entrance of the Washington State Convention Centre located on Seventh Avenue and Pike Street. Here you can collect a map to navigate your way around town and see what's happening.

All sorts of festivals are held here throughout the year. Among them is the country’s largest urban arts festival Bumbershoot, as well as the Seattle International Film Festival. Make sure that you visit Benaroya Hall where great musical performances are held. Or go and watch an outdoor concert on the waterfront – all kinds of music are played there during the summer.

Downtown Seattle is a shopper’s heaven, with big outlets like Nordstrom, Macy’s and REI located here, along with many small boutiques. Head for the modern Pacific Palace to watch a film at the multi-screen cinema. If you visit in winter, check out the Westlake Centre at the Seattle Monorail’s downtown terminal to ride the carousel and enjoy the festive fun. Pike Place Market also is another great spot, a food lover’s paradise offering fresh produce from across the region.

For a more cultural experience, head for the Seattle Art Museum, or board the Monorail and take the kids to see the Space Needle, about 1.6 kilometres to the north of Downtown Seattle. Then at the end of the day, you’ll be spoilt for choice with around 150 great places to eat in the heart of town.

An ideal place to stay when you visit the city, Downtown Seattle is located to the north of Pioneer Square, south of Belltown and Capitol Hill, and lies alongside the waterfront area to the west.