The 14 best things to do in Seattle
Seattle's famous drizzle feels like an afterthought when you're soaking up the view from aboard a sailing hot tub, and the dampness barely registers while looking up at a spectacular waterfall from an Indigenous cultural centre. Getting outdoors all year round, and in any weather, is part of the culture in a city where gardens of colourful glass, giant wooden trolls, and world-class sculptures complement lush parks and tree-lined streets. Puget Sound panoramas unfold all around, from the top of the remodelled Space Needle, to the Marketfront Pavilion addition to iconic Pike Place Market to a ferry ride across Elliott Bay (usually for a great restaurant).
But the beauty extends to the indoors, too: Look down from the pinnacle of the city's most famous tourist attraction, the Space Needle, at the patchwork of neighbourhoods hosting museums and galleries that show off the city's deep cultural roots – and, of course, the incredible food scene that comes with Seattle's diversity. Here are the best things to do in Seattle, no matter what time of year you're visiting.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
gregobagel/Getty ImagesDiscovery Park
Discovery park offers 534 acres of lush urban respite. Set on the quiet shores of the Puget Sound in Seattle's Magnolia neighbourhood, this is the city's biggest park. Twelve miles of walking trails leading to coastal bluffs, tidal beaches, serene meadows, and wooded groves, but if you're short on time, the 2.8-mile Loop Trail offers a best-hits list (it's also one of the easier to accomplish hikes in the area).
Chihuly Studio. Photo: Nathaniel WillsonChihuly Garden and Glass
Seattle's Chihuly Garden and Glass showcases the oeuvre of glass from world-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly. This forward-thinking museum inspires creativity and imagination as much as it pays tribute to the artist, through a surreal landscape of colourful glass sculptures that interact with the natural environment. The magnum opus of the museum is arguably the Glasshouse. This towering 40-foot-tall work of art is the result of Chihuly’s fondness for conservatories. The centrepiece inside is a massive 100-foot-long sculpture, which is one of Chihuly’s largest suspended sculptures. The artwork takes on different qualities throughout the day, as the natural light changes it. The Garden is also a must. Strangely beautiful handmade glass artwork sits amid ferns, vines, and perennials.
Matt MornickPike Place Market
One of Seattle’s most iconic destinations, this century-old public market houses dozens of stalls and shops for farmers, restaurants, purveyors, and artisans, all overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront. The bustle is non-stop here. From locals buying fresh seafood and flowers to visitors eating their way through the different gourmet food stalls, there’s an endless array of movement and chatter. Showing up without a game plan can be overwhelming, but you can find a fully customisable planner with suggested itineraries on the market’s website.
Benjamin BenschneiderSeattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum’s sleek and contemporary digs are as artful as the works that inhabit it. As an institution of Seattle’s art scene, it’s a must-see for any visiting art lover. And while it's not uncommon that a museum’s exhibits play second-fiddle to the permanent collections, here they are one of the main attractions. Spanning topics like, "Who authors history?" to extreme landscape paintings, each exhibit is well-curated and beautifully positioned at a nice pace throughout the museum.
JaimePharr/Getty ImagesKubota Garden
Hidden fountains, bright-red bridges, koi darting about elegant ponds. At Kubota Garden, 20 acres of gorgeous Japanese gardens await visitors willing to make the trip to the Rainier Beach neighborhood in South Seattle. First started in 1927 by Fujitaro Kubota, the complex is now part of Seattle’s public park system. Make time to wander; an incredible number of native Northwest flowers, shrubs, and trees grow amid the interweaving paths. Just know that the 15 minute drive each way can grow to 30 or more minutes in traffic.
Inye WokomaWa Na Wari
Wa Na Wari features Black art as part of the organisation's mission to promote Black ownership (of land, culture, and joy) in Seattle's historically red-lined Central District. Works of all types, from local artists' to international pieces, hang around the living room and bedrooms of the converted house. The use of a house as a gallery means the downstairs exhibits in the main rooms offer plenty of space for grand ideas, while the smaller bedroom exhibits upstairs give an intimate feel. Bright lights and a multi-space setup make it easy to explore at your own pace. Friendly staff greet visitors from the porch, but do little more than a welcome. This is a must-stop for anyone who cares about how history, art, and urban geography converge.
Benjamin BenschneiderOlympic Sculpture Park
An offshoot of the Seattle Art Museum perched on the northern edge of downtown, this park's paths winds down toward Elliott Bay through nine acres of artwork from local and internationally renowned artists. Alexander Calder's "Eagle" overlooking the water provides one of the city's most iconic views, particularly during the sunset. Teresita Fernandez's “Seattle Cloud Cover” beautifully links the natural atmosphere of the park to the man-made art, and Jaume Plensa's waterfront “Echo” is simply mesmerising. Smooth paths and ample ramps make it easy to navigate. While little information is provided at the various sculptures, the downloadable map and guide on the park's website helps with context. Admission is free and a visit can be a quick stop for a few photos, or a more leisurely stay for a picnic.
Visit SeattleSpace Needle
The Space Needle is undoubtedly one of Seattle's (and America's) most iconic landmarks. Built for the 1962 World's Fair, it's a futuristic observation tower and the most prominent building in the Seattle skyline. Visitors can reach the top of the Space Needle by elevator for unparalleled 360-degree views of the area: the $100 million renovation that debuted in 2018 gives visitors both an enclosed view level with a glass floor and an open-air deck level above.
Courtesy National Nordic MuseumNational Nordic Museum
The region has one of the largest populations of nordic peoples in the United States, and this museum gives a deep dive into their history. The thought-provoking collection is primarily built from textiles, archival ephemera, and artwork brought from Nordic countries through generations that emigrated to the United States from 1840 to the present day. Temporary exhibits showcase a wide range of works from artists of nordic descent. Freya, the museum restaurant, isn't just an afterthought like some museum cafes – it's destination dining highlighting the best of Nordic cuisine, and the menu offers a litany of savoury smørrebrød.
Alabastro PhotographyWing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
This 60,000-square-foot facility focuses on the confluence of Asian and Pacific American history. The permanent collections include a tribute to the museum's namesake, Councilman Wing Luke (the first Asian American elected to public office in the Pacific Northwest), and other exhibits exploring the cultural heritage of pan-Asian Pacific American immigrants, addressing topics like local history, working conditions, and social justice. It's a great place to begin exploring the stories of Seattle's under-represented communities, especially if you can schedule in one of the Chinatown Discovery Tours – including the Friday afternoon food one.
Thomas DanboNorthwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King
Over the course of 2023, five large wooden trolls landed in the greater Seattle area (plus a sixth in Portland), all designed by Danish artist Thomas Dambo from recycled materials, and each with its own backstory. Part outdoor art and part play structure, they are designed for exploration and to encourage curiosity. While three of the trolls live in suburbs that require a ferry, car, or both to access (Issaquah, Bainbridge Island, and Vashon Island), Frankie Feetsplinters outside of Ballard's National Nordic Museum and Bruun Idun, who sings to orcas near Colman Pool in West Seattle, are the easiest to find and visit.
Getty ImagesSnoqualmie Falls, Gift Shop and Visitor Center
The magnificent 270-foot waterfall just east of Seattle and the short walk to its base alone makes for a wonderful half-day trip. But since the ancestral caretakers of the land, the Snoqualmie Tribe, purchased their land back, they have made it even more meaningful in adding more to see. In 2023, the Snoqualmie added a visitors center that tells the story of the Snoqualmie (both the tribe and the falls) through cultural resources, including Indigenous art, with a gift shop that sells art by minority and women artists. This is the fastest way to get an idea of the Pacific Northwest's splendor without having to drive too far from the city or stay too long.
Getty ImagesGreen Lake Park
When the Olmstead Brothers planned Seattle's system of connected parks throughout the city, Green Lake quickly became one of the focal points. More than a century later, the crowds walking or rolling the three-mile path around the lake rarely subside, the sports fields and facilities bring people from all over the city, and the beaches attract crowds throughout the summer. A walk around Green Lake introduces anyone to staples of Seattle culture, mostly through the people one passes: the walkers, the fishermen, the picnicking families, and the soccer players. But also through the buildings, including historic bathhouse and aqua theatre.
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Hot Tub BoatsHot Tub Boats
See the city from a different angle: staring out from the comfort of a private hot tub as you motor around Lake Union with up to five friends. Anyone can rent these floating spas by the hour, year-round, from two different companies that offer slightly differing styles of boat, and each one fits up to six people. The small boats come with lights for nighttime floats, bluetooth speakers, and room for a cooler to keep everyone entertained and hydrated as you tour the waterway. Look up at the Space Needle towering above, watch seaplanes come in to land, and take a self-guided tour of the local houseboats. Lake Union is one of the city's aquatic playgrounds; depending on the day and time of year you might weave among sailboat lessons, kayak commuters, and competitive canoers. Plus you'll get a close-up look at the Museum of History and Industry, the Centre for Wooden Boats, and the Steamship Virginia V which dodging big boats and pricey yachts as they ply the canal from Puget Sound to Lake Washington and Gasworks Park.