Seattle

Pike Place mornings, Fremont oddities, and Capitol Hill live music — the local picks for eating, exploring, and staying in Seattle.

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Seattle is one of the most rewarding US cities to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Pike Place Market, the view from the Space Needle and the waterfront on Elliott Bay, with strong coffee and fresh seafood at every turn. Below you will find a set of hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Seattle at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: July to September
Highlights: Pike Place Market and the Space Needle
Where to stay: Downtown or Capitol Hill
Local picks: hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable core, plus light rail and the monorail

Where to stay in Seattle

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Wallingford

Archie McPhee

This gloriously weird Wallingford institution has been peddling rubber chickens, absurd toys and oddball gifts for decades, and even houses a free Rubber Chicken Museum. It’s the place for gag gifts,

Waterfront

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

Argosy’s one-hour narrated cruise on Elliott Bay is a relaxed way to see Seattle from the water, with the skyline, the working port and Olympic Mountains in view. The onboard commentary covers the cit

Pioneer Square

Beneath the Streets

A smaller, locally run alternative for exploring Seattle’s underground, Beneath the Streets keeps its groups intimate and its history well-researched. You’ll descend below Pioneer Square to walk the p

Pioneer Square

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour

Started in 1965, this is the original tour through the buried storefronts and sidewalks of old Seattle, sealed beneath Pioneer Square after the Great Fire of 1889. Guides lean into the bawdy, funny si

Queen Anne

Canlis

A Seattle institution run by the same family since 1950, Canlis sits on the edge of Queen Anne with floor-to-ceiling views over Lake Union. The multi-course tasting menu and famous Canlis salad make i

★ 4.6

Seattle Center

Chihuly Garden and Glass

This exhibition at the foot of the Space Needle showcases the vivid, otherworldly glass sculptures of Tacoma-born artist Dale Chihuly. The centerpiece Glasshouse and the outdoor garden, where glass fo

Central District

Communion Restaurant & Bar

Why it matters: Communion is the restaurant of Black chef Kristi Brown, opened in the historically Black Central District as a gathering place for a community reshaped by displacement. Her ‘Seattle So

★ 4.4

Capitol Hill

Elliott Bay Book Company

Founded in 1973 and now on Capitol Hill, Elliott Bay is Seattle’s flagship independent bookstore, with warm cedar shelves, handwritten staff recommendations and a strong events calendar of author read

Central District

Estelita’s Library

Why it matters: Estelita’s Library is a justice-focused, Black-owned community bookstore and free lending library founded by Edwin Lindo, built around social justice, ethnic studies and liberation lit

Denny Triangle

FareStart Restaurant

Why it matters: FareStart is a Seattle nonprofit that runs its downtown restaurant as a hands-on culinary job-training program for people who have faced homelessness, poverty or other barriers to work

★ 4.6

Fremont

Fremont Troll

Lurking under the north end of the Aurora Bridge, this 18-foot concrete troll clutches a real Volkswagen Beetle in one hand and has become Fremont’s unofficial mascot. Installed in 1990, it’s a quick,

Wallingford

Gas Works Park

Built on the site of a former coal gasification plant, Gas Works keeps the rusted industrial towers as public art surrounded by green lawns on the north shore of Lake Union. Locals come to fly kites f

Downtown / Pike Place

Green Tortoise Hostel

Right across from Pike Place Market, the Green Tortoise is a sociable, backpacker-friendly hostel with dorms, a few private rooms and free breakfast. It’s the best-value bed in the heart of downtown a

First Hill

Hotel Sorrento

Opened in 1909, the Sorrento is Seattle’s oldest boutique hotel, an Italianate landmark on First Hill with a wood-paneled Fireside Room that hosts jazz and literary readings. Rooms are individually sh

Queen Anne

Kerry Park

This small hillside park on Queen Anne offers the postcard view of Seattle: the downtown skyline, the Space Needle and, on clear days, Mount Rainier looming behind. It’s free and takes five minutes to

Downtown

Mayflower Park Hotel

A family-owned 1927 hotel in the middle of downtown, the Mayflower Park blends antique charm with a handy location steps from Pike Place and Westlake shopping. Its bar, Oliver’s, is a longtime local f

Beacon Hill

Musang

Why it matters: Chef Melissa Miranda’s Musang is a Filipina-owned Beacon Hill kitchen that doubled as a free community kitchen during the pandemic, and it stays rooted in feeding and educating its nei

★ 4.5

Seattle Center

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Housed in a swooping Frank Gehry building at Seattle Center, MoPOP dives deep into music, sci-fi, horror and gaming, with strong exhibits on hometown legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. It’s hands-

Before you go

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Book your trip to Seattle

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

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Seattle travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Seattle?

Two to three days covers Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and the waterfront, with time for a neighbourhood or two.

Where is the best area to stay in Seattle?

Downtown keeps you near Pike Place and the waterfront, while Capitol Hill offers a lively base for food and nightlife.

What are the best things to do in Seattle?

Browse the local picks above, from Pike Place Market and the Space Needle to the waterfront, restaurants and where to stay.

What is the best time to visit Seattle?

July to September brings the driest, sunniest weather, though Seattle is worth visiting year-round.