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 Broadway 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
The Paramount Hotel
The Paramount Hotel
3.5 out of 5
724 Pine St, Seattle, WA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$344 per night from 30 June to 1 July
NZ$344
30 June - 1 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Seattle. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the restaurant and the ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,960 reviews)
"Very convenient to Pier 91. Clean hotel. Friendly staff."

Reviewed on 17 Jun. 2025

The Paramount Hotel
citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square
citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square
4 out of 5
60 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA
The price is NZ$334 per night from 29 June to 30 June
NZ$334
29 June - 30 June
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Seattle. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk, and satellite TV channels. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,367 reviews)
"We always try to stay here"

Reviewed on 15 Jun. 2025

citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square
Hyatt Regency Seattle
Hyatt Regency Seattle
4 out of 5
808 Howell St, Seattle, WA
The price is NZ$448 per night from 2 July to 3 July
NZ$448
2 July - 3 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Seattle. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (4,344 reviews)
"Good"

Reviewed on 18 Jun. 2025

Hyatt Regency Seattle
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 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! (3,462 reviews)
"Great"

Reviewed on 15 Jun. 2025

Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Bellevue
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! (4,245 reviews)
"Very convenient"

Reviewed on 17 Jun. 2025

Larkspur Landing Extended Stay Suites Renton
Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy RailSpur Apartments Pioneer Square
Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy RailSpur Apartments Pioneer Square
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! (185 reviews)
"Easy access to the stadiums with endless options for food and coffee. Parking isn't ideal, as most of the streets nearby close for events. While the suggestion was to choose a street-level lot a few blocks away, it was i credibly expensive. We found a cheaper parking garage even closer, that should ..."

Reviewed on 16 Jun. 2025

Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy RailSpur Apartments Pioneer Square
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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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