Seattle is a seaport city in Washington, 15th largest city in the United States. It is situated on the Isthmus between Puget Sound (a part of Pacific Ocean) and Lake Washington. What makes it attractive among travelers is that it has got enough to explore for both nature lovers and technology freaks. Let me put it this way; if you are on a cruise in Seattle, you’ll see a 53- meter tall giant Ferris Wheel & 605 feet tall Space Needle on your one side and sky kissing Mt. Rainier and Olympic on your other.

If Seattle hasn’t been in your bucket list, it’s time to re-think!

Seattle is a very vibrant and multi-cultural place, it’s packed with lot of tourist attractions. We have explored Seattle as residents starting 2021 and we are here to help you Smart Plan your vacation.

Consider getting Seattle City Pass for a budget and bundled experience. It provides entry to Seattle’s five attractions and is valid for next 9 days from the day you start your first booking. Here is the complete guide for exploring Seattle and making your memories last forever.

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TOP ATTRACTIONS OF SEATTLE:

1. Space Needle
2. Museum of Pop Culture
3. Seattle Aquarium
4. Woodland Park Zoo
5. Seattle Cruise
6. Pike Place Market

UNIQUE RESTAURANTS IN SEATTLE which you should not miss!

• Loupe Lounge
• Seattle Aquarium Cafe
• Ray’s Boathouse
• Maximilien Restaurant

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Space needle is an observation tower and a famous landmark in Seattle. It features an observation deck 520 ft. above the ground to get amazing views of the Seattle downtown sky, Olympic and Cascade Mountains and Mt. Rainier.

You can buy a ticket either directly or through Space Needle website.

Hours: 10am – 9pm, closes at 10pm on Fridays.

Entry fee: $35 for Adults

Time required: 1.5 hour or less

Best time to arrive: Between 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm to get experience views of both day and night.

Watch a beautiful sunset and then the city lights making the land glow. Enjoy lunch/ dinner with a rotating view at Loupe Lounge, the rotating restaurant on the top floor of Space Needle.

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MoPOP is a museum dedicated to pop culture and is a heaven to music lovers! It houses world’s largest collection of artifacts, hand-written lyrics, personal instruments and original photographs of the famous musician Jimi Hendrix and the band Nirvana. Due to MoPOP’s irregular shape and combination of vibrant colors, it is often compared to a smashed guitar.

MoPOP features one of the largest indoor LED screens in the world. It also provides an experiential taste through Sound Lab and On Stage where you can perform music before a virtual audience. There are exhibits of different kinds like Fantasy, Horror cinema, video games to science fiction literature and real costumes from screen and stage! We were too thrilled to see the costume of one of our favorite character, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Hours: 10am – 5pm.

Entry fee: $25- $25 per Adult

Time required: 2-3 hours

We suggest you to keep this on the first half day of your day as you need to walk a lot and it is less crowded during the morning, so you can finish the entire museum tour without getting too exhausted.

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Seattle Aquarium offers an amazing introduction to northwestern sea life. Some unforgettable experiences include a coral reef tank where you can shake hands with different kinds of starfish and sea cucumbers.

Also, there is an underwater observation dome to provide you breathtaking views of aquatic animals. The top highlights are Jelly fish, Octopus, Sea otters, seals and many more.

Hours: 9:30am – 6pm.

Entry fee: $35 per Adult. $4 off for State Residents.

Time required: 2- 2.5 hours

Tickets are available at Aquarium website.

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Woodland Park Zoo is a great option if you love exploring wildlife. There are multiple exhibits including Tropical Asia, African Savanna, Australasia, Northwest trail, Tropical Rainforest, Butterfly Garden and Penguin enclosures.

If you wished to stand beside a dinosaur, that could be partially true here through Dinosaur Discovery experience offered inside the zoo. We planned an entire day to explore the zoo but you can pick and choose if you’re interested in only specific exhibits. Buy your tickets directly through Woodland Park Zoo website or use your City Pass. Also don’t forget to enjoy Snow Cones while in the zoo.

Hours: 9:30am – 4pm.

Entry fee: $19.95 per Adult.

Time required: One day (too long walks)

We could not even find one day enough!

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Seattle is even more stunning by the sea. Catch breathtaking views of dynamic city skyline, Olympic Mountain ranges & Seattle landmarks- Seattle Ferris Wheel and Space Needle while enjoying live narration of Seattle history and it’s fun facts on a cruise!

Hours: 10am – 4:05pm.

Entry fee: Starts from $35 per person

Time required: 1 hour

The Harbor Cruise offers tour with snacks available to buy on board, as well as a fully serviced bar with local beer, wine, specialty cocktails and soft drinks available for purchase. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis. The best view is offered at the top right side of the deck.

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Pike Place Market is Seattle’s most popular tourist destination and the 33rd most visited tourist attraction in the world, with more than 10 million annual visitors. Pike Place Market is like a vintage visit to Seattle. Find goods ranging from handmade jewelry, toys and sculptures to street- stall shops offering vintage finds, collectible and even magic tricks. If you are a coffee lover, enjoy your coffee at the world’s first Starbucks in it’s original look and location.

Hours: 10:30am – 4:45pm.

Entry fee: No fee

Time required: Half day to 1 day.

Pike Place Market has more than 30 restaurants offering a grab and go to serving fine dining. There are many restaurants offering a waterfront view; a perfect location to enjoy lunch/ dinner with a view.

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What makes a vacation complete is finger-licking good food and with a view is the best kind! There are numerous restaurants to choose when you are in Seattle and we have sorted out some great options for you to enjoy your food with a jaw-dropping view.

It’s the Space Needle’s bar known for its rotating floor and views of the city 500-feet above the ground. If you crave for fine dining, it should serve your taste. The meals start at a lofty $200 per person. The booking includes entry to Space Needle, a table reservation for two hours, food, drinks, and parking.

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If you’re visiting Seattle Aquarium, add this place as a snack-stop. This is one of the best options for quickie meals if you don’t want to overspend your time at one place but still want to enjoy your food with a view. Also, it provides jaw dropping background of Puget Sound and Seattle Ferris Wheel for your Instagram photos!

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If sea food is your taste-bud buddy, you definitely need to try this place. It offers one of a kind ambience like dining on a fancy boat and classic sea food with a deckside view of Puget Sound and a beautiful sunset down the Olympic Mountains.

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If you are a sucker for unique ambience, you must not skip this place. It is structured in the shape of an igloo, known as as Le Igloo. It’s private and perfect if you are planning for a romantic date night. Enjoy it with a beautiful view of Elliot Bay.

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• Buy City Pass. It provides different packages at discounted prices to get entry to all the top attractions. Starts at $115 per adult.
• Use ‘Best Parking’ app to find parking options according to price, hours and location.
• For cruise, arrive 30 minutes before departure to reserve a perfect spot for yourself!
• Carry water and chocolates for quick breaks.
• In summer it gets too hot so don’t forget to wear sunscreen and carry your sun glasses and hats.
• In rainy reason, wear waterproof shoes and carry an umbrella.

We tried to include all the details you need to plan your fun- filled vacation to Seattle. If you have any questions, you can post them in comments on our Facebook page or email us and we will try to answer as soon as we can. Happy Exploring!! 🙂