Amazing Seattle Travel Guide 2026
In this Seattle travel guide, you will uncover the most unforgettable things to do in Seattle; explore the music culture which crowned Seattle the Grunge music capital of the world and get lost in one of the most impressive and longest running market in the United States.
This travel guide will give you a quick glimpse into what you can fill you Seattle itinerary with and a short overview of what to expect while exploring this incredibly city. If you are needing further explanation of things to do in Seattle, I have provided links to other articles I have written about the area. The purpose of this Seattle travel guide is to introduce you to the area and inspire you for your next trip to the United States.
There is no shortage of things to do in Seattle and this Seattle travel guide will try and cover them all!
Best Time to Visit Seattle
- Summer (Late June – Early September): More sunshine and less rain, but highest prices and more crowds.
- Fall (September – October): Mild temperatures and beautiful fall foliage, particularly in October.
- Spring (March – May): Mild with blooming flowers, though rain is still possible.
- Winter (November – February): Cold, grey, and rainy, but lowest prices, no crowds, and great for cozy indoor activities like visiting museums.
Seattle Travel Tips
- Unfortunately, you will see a lot of drug use in Seattle. Exercise general safety precautions like you would in any large city (traveling in pairs, wallet in front pocket etc)
- Research neighbourhoods where you are potentially looking to stay. Some neighbourhoods have better reputations than others.
Seattle Public Transport Guide
Seattle has multiple public transport options to choose from. For more information on Seattles public transport guide, visit their official website here.
- Link Light Rail – $3 flat rate for all trips
- King County Metro Transit – Adult fare is $2.75
- Seattle Street Cars – Adult fare is $2.25
- Seattle Centre Monorail – $4 fare
- Metered taxis, Uber, Lyft are all available
Where to Stay in Seattle
During our 2-night stay in Seattle we booked a room at the MarQueen Hotel. Located in the heart of Seattle’s oldest neighbourhood, Uptown. Stepping back in time, the MarQueen Hotel exudes eclectic elegance from the roaring 1920’s. This one-of-a-kind hotel was built in 1918 and was originally called home for Henry Fords students while developing the first affordable car.
So if you’re a fan of Fords, history, or simply love the design of prohibition era buildings then the MarQueen Hotel is right up your alley.
Located walking distance to the Seattle Space Needle and Museum of Pop Culture, the MarQueen Hotel offers a great location for short stays where you will primarily be exploring the city on foot.
If you’re looking for Seattle hotel deals then look no further than Airbnb or Booking.com. Booking.com has plenty of great deals that you can’t miss out on.
Best Restaurants in Seattle
There are many great places to eat in Seattle, from dining at any of the bars at Pike Place Market and Seattle seafood restaurants to great little eateries hidden away near main tourist centers. I have also written an article about 8 of the best places to eat in Seattle if the following two restaurants don’t tickle your fancy.
Ozzie’s Dive Bar
Ozzies is Seattles original 5 Star Dive Bar, offering hearty meals, plenty of beer, karaoke every night, bingo, trivia and live DJ’s. Located on West Mercer Street, this popular bar in Seattle is a 15-minute walk from the Seattle Space Needle and the Pop Culture Museum.
Old Stove Brewing Co.
This pub located in Pike Place Market is the perfect Seattle pub to rest your legs and refresh during a busy day of sight-seeing. Grab a pint, and relax at the bar with a snack or breath in the fresh air outside on the deck.
Popular Seattle Attractions
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is where you can find anything your heart desires, from fresh flowers and fish, to antique jewellery and Playboy magazines, Pike Place Market has it all!
We hadn’t done much research on Pike Place Market before we arrived, so were left in amazement when the market just kept going. We moved through different hallways, two different levels, wondered through antique shops with uranium glowing glass and ended up having a break at a fantastic bar within the market. Pike Place Market is definitely one of the best things to do in Seattle.
The First Starbucks
There are two types of Seattle tourists in the world; the first group visit Seattle for its grunge roots and music history, the second group visit because Seattle is the home of Starbucks coffee. Some say the Seattle coffee culture began when Starbucks was born, and honestly I could probably believe them. Opposite Pike Place Market you will find the first Starbucks café to open, however you will only notice it because of the queue of people that trail out the door and down the street.
As much I am a coffee lover myself, there is a Starbucks café on almost every block so there was no need to wait 30 minutes for a delicious brew.
Seattle Gum Wall
The Seattle Gum Wall is one of the most disgusting things to do in Seattle, and it is exactly what it sounds like. Located under Pike Place Market is a wide brick alleyway which is covered floor to ceiling in used chewing gum. It’s free to visit, draws in crowds by the thousands every week and sits alongside the Paris lock bridge as one of a few art installations around the world that anyone can add to, just less romantic and more unhygienic. The Seattle gum wall makes for a great backdrop for photos, but I highly suggest avoiding any physical contact with the wall, after all every piece of gum has been in someone else’s mouth.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Seattle. This Seattle Museum is dedicated to pop culture young and old; featuring interactive exhibits ranging from various music artists, movie props and computer gaming. You will find a giant sculpture made up of thousands of guitars, the world largest collection of hand-written lyrics, instruments and photographs celebrating the music of Seattle bred Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Explore education resources with workshops and contests for kids or creep yourself out with the horror dungeon dedicated to horror and thriller films throughout the years.
Seattle Space Needle
Not going up the Seattle Space Needle is the one regret I have from our trip to America, so do me a favour and allow me to live vicariously through your experiences…
The Seattle Space Needle is a 184m observation tower that allows 360 degree views across Seattle. The Seattle Needke has the worlds only revolving glass floor and has an interior that scream mid-century style. Visit the Seattle Space Needle for sunrise or sunset, or indulge in a few cocktails at the Loupe Lounge.
Free Things to do in Seattle
Everyone loves a bit of a budget travel guide because we all know travelling isn’t the most affordable thing to do in the world, and majority of travelers love to experience the different cultures and religions that inhabit this amazing planet we call home. So, a Seattle travel guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of the amazing free things to do in Seattle.
Seattle Art Museum
Free entry on first Thursday of every month; the Seattle Art Museum operates three major facilities around Seattle; the main museum is located in downtown Seattle, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is found at Volunteer Park, Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park (as mentioned below) is located on the central Seattle waterfront. The Seattle Art Museum is a great thing to do in Seattle to keep the kids busy or to hideaway from terrible weather.
Museum of Flight
Free entry between 5pm – 9pm; If you are any little bit of a plane nerd then The Museum of Flight is where you want to be for a free day out in Seattle. This Seattle museum is a private non for profit air and space museum in the Seattle. It’s located at the southern end of King County International Airport in the city of Tukwila, immediately south of Seattle.
Olympic Sculpture Park
The Olympic Sculpture Park is a public park scattered with modern sculptures in downtown Seattle. The park is operated by the Seattle Art Museum and makes for a great child friendly activity in Seattle. The park consists of a 9-acre outdoor sculpture museum, an indoor pavilion, and a beach on Puget Sound.
Fremont Troll
A giant 18-foot-tall sculpture located under the Aurora Bridge. Created in 1990, this ‘troll’ is made from rebar and concrete and is crushing a real VW Beetle. Visitors are encouraged to climb on the sculpture making it one of the best free things to do in Seattle with children.
Day Trips from Seattle
A Seattle itinerary is not complete without making mention of some of the incredible day trips or road trips you can take out of Seattle. If you’re spending more than a few days in Seattle I would recommend considering a day trip to any of these incredibly beautiful places surrounding the grunge capital of the world. Explore the National Parks encompassing Seattle or go further afield to Canada for the day.
Vancouver
Seattle is your gateway to North America making for the perfect day trip from Seattle to Vancouver. Get on an early morning train with Amtrak Cascades for a scenic 4-hour journey to Vancouver for around $55 (or less). Explore the vibrant Granville Island for boutique shopping or hire a bicycle and enjoy the crisp air and beautiful scenery of Stanley Park.
Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge is a scenic island in Washington’s Puget sound. The island is thick with forests and well-known for its small-town charm. Bainbridge Island is where you can overindulge at various wineries, exercise on the various walking trails and view incredible sights of the Cascade Mountains. Bainbridge Island is a 35-minute ferry ride from Downtown Seattle which makes it the perfect day trip from Seattle.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is another great option for a road trip from Seattle. Featuring wildflower meadows, forests, 26 major glaciers and extensive hiking trails and scenic views. This National Park near Seattle features the active volcano centrepiece of Mount Rainier. The park is open year-round and draws in over a million visitors every year, this incredibly beautiful national park id 1.5-hour drive from Seattle.
More Experiences for your Seattle Travel Guide
Seattle is full of wonderful experiences but of course I haven’t been able to experience them all. The following list of things to do in Seattle are worth adding to your Seattle travel guide, but be sure to check reviews and do your own research beforehand as I am not lucky enough to share in my own personal experiences!
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Kerry Park
- The Seattle Great Wheel
- T-Mobile Park (Softball)
- Discovery Park
