Things to do in Seattle

Why go to Seattle

• Pike Place Market

  Watch fishmongers hurl salmon at the country's oldest continuously operated public market, packed with local produce, flowers, and street performers.

• Space Needle

  The city's iconic 605-foot tower offers jaw-dropping 360° views of Puget Sound, the Cascades, and Mount Rainier from its revolving glass floor.

• Chihuly Garden and Glass

  An otherworldly exhibition of Dale Chihuly's massive, luminous glass sculptures set against the backdrop of the Space Needle.

• Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

  An immersive shrine to music, sci-fi, and pop culture housed in Frank Gehry's wildly sculptural building at Seattle Center.

• Olympic Sculpture Park

  A free, sweeping nine-acre outdoor museum on the waterfront featuring monumental works by Calder, Serra, and more.

Good to know in Seattle

• King County Metro buses and Link Light Rail are $2.75-3.25 per ride; buy an ORCA card to save on transfers and avoid cash fumbling across bus and rail lines.
• Tipping 18-20% is standard at sit-down restaurants; tip screens at counter-service spots are common but optional, 0-10% is fine for a drip coffee.
• Seattle tap water comes from the Cascades and is consistently ranked among the cleanest in the US, carry a reusable bottle and skip buying water entirely.
• The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) offers free First Thursday admission the first Thursday of each month, and the Olympic Sculpture Park is always free year-round.

Trip essentials