Seattle, Washington is a vibrant city that is definitely worth visiting! I flew to Seattle to leave out of the Seattle port for a cruise, but I arrived early to explore the city, and I am so glad that I did. Get your walking shoes and camera ready! If you are planning your first trip to explore the city, this is a guide with the touristy must-see places to add to your itinerary! The must-do activities below are not organized by location. Instead, they are organized with my favorite activities on the top.

Must-Do Activities

Pike Place market

Pike Place Market is an iconic destination that you definitely can not miss on your visit to Seattle! It is not just a famous farmer’s market, it is a whole travel experience. The market vendors wind up and down the streets boasting of beautiful artwork, stunning rows of flowers, locally sourced household items, fresh produce, fish and other seafood. Pike Place Market even takes you underground during certain sections. The market is such a bright and bustling center, so it makes for the perfect start to your morning! Take pictures by the famous Pike Place Market sign, watch the guys throwing fish back and forth, listen to the live music performed by talented musicians, and support the local businesses. If I ever find myself in Seattle again, this will be the first place I head back to.

Space Needle

Another famous sight or stop in Seattle is the Space Needle. If you are downtown Seattle, you can’t miss it! I saw it when first ubering from the airport to my hotel, from my hotel’s rooftop, and while walking around downtown. If you have watched Grey’s Anatomy like me, you have seen the Space Needle many times on TV, but it is time to see it in person!

If you want to go up in the Space Needle, you can purchase tickets from their website. They have different ticket bundles, but a regular general admission ticket costs $49 per person to see the 360 degree views. Check their website for updated prices, but as of now, general admission tickets for seniors (65+ years) and youth (5-12 years) are going for $44.

First starbucks location ever

If you are a Starbucks drinker, the first Starbucks location ever is located in Seattle. It’s in the heart of Pike Place Market. It opened in 1971. Prepare to wait in a line outside, but hey, you can say you have been to the first Starbucks ever! While you wait in line, there are employees who can tell you about the history of the Starbucks location. They also offer free samples of drip coffee while you are waiting inside. This location offers a couple unique drink options that can’t be found elsewhere. They have some adorable Pike Place Market and Seattle Starbucks coffee mugs as well that were really tempting souvenirs.

walk the waterfront

Downtown Seattle is situated along the waterfront with beautiful views as you meander through Pike Place Market and explore the rest of the city. Waterfront Park is a good spot for water views and snapping some pictures. When walking along the waterfront, Pier 57 houses the giant ferris wheel, the Seattle Great Wheel. If you want to ride the ferris wheel, check their website for updated prices. At the time this blog was written, adult tickets (12-64 years) were going for $25, senior tickets (65+ years) were $21, and youth tickets (3-11 years) were $18.

Sunset in kerry park

For a view of the entire city skyline and Mount Rainier, head to Kerry Park for sunset. The views are stunning! There was even a guy playing relaxing piano music at the park while we overlooked the city, so it is a cute memory. Get there early, as Kerry Park is a popular spot for sunsets with tourists and locals alike. If you have a rental car, people parallel parked on both sides of the street. If you are traveling by foot around the city like I was, expect a rewarding hike. You literally walk straight uphill to get to Kerry Park! If you are not very stable on your feet, this is not a good hike for you. My friend and I were huffing and puffing. We couldn’t help but laugh because the walk was a bit crazy, but the view is worth it!

Donna’s

Seattle offers all kinds of cuisine options and countless restaurants to try. Since my stay was short, I only went to one restaurant, so I don’t have many recommendations regarding the food scene of Seattle. The one restaurant I visited is worth mentioning though. I visited Donna’s, which is an Instagram-famous trendy bar and restaurant that is known for their happy hour deals. During happy hour, they offer discounts on appetizers and cocktails and all pasta dishes are $10. I love budget-friendly options, so come on! And the pasta was incredible! I ordered the bolognese pasta, and it was delicious! Remember, this place is Instagram-famous, so it is not a hidden secret! People line up outside of the small bar and restaurant before it even opens. There is very limited seating that is first come first serve, so prepare yourself for a bit of chaos when trying to find a seat and ordering.

gum wall

Maybe you have heard of the gum wall in Seattle… It is just that, an alleyway with brick walls covered in a whole lot of gum. It is located near Pike Place Market. Don’t question it… Just join the crowd and stick your gum up there too.

pioneer square

If you’re looking for another neighborhood to walk around in that is separated from the waterfront and Pike Place Market section of Seattle, consider Pioneer Square. There are a couple peaceful parks here, cobblestone alleyways, cute coffee shops, and art galleries located here. When visiting a new city, I enjoy exploring a couple neighborhoods or districts to get a better feel of the city.

additional activity options

There were a couple other activity ideas I had for Seattle that I didn’t end up doing, but I figured I would include them still for you to consider. You may have heard of an underground city in Seattle that has been buried after a fire in 1889. This is a popular excursion or tour you may consider for your trip. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is a popular excursion company for this experience. Their company is located in Pioneer Square. If you want to get out of downtown Seattle, consider Alki Beach, Capitol Hill, the Ballard Locks area, Fremont Village Market, or Washington Park Arboretum for pretty trails. There are countless activity options to find in Seattle, so if you have other ideas of must-do items, comment them below to share!

Travel Tips for Seattle

transportation around seattle

Seattle has a train system to consider that travels through downtown Seattle and commutes to and from the SEA airport. My friend and I didn’t use the train system and did not rent a car, so we relied on Ubers and taxis. Because of the flat prices with taxis, we took a taxi from the airport as it was our cheaper option. Our hotel was located in downtown Seattle. Just to give you an idea of prices, an Uber from the airport was going to be about $70 plus tip while the taxi was $55 plus tip. The taxis were lined outside of the airport waiting for customers, so we didn’t even have to wait. From our hotel, we walked around to all the major sights and attractions.

good walking shoes

If you are planning on getting your steps in while traveling, good walking shoes are a must! There are some steep hills scattered throughout the city. I knew Seattle was located near the mountains, but I did not expect the heart of downtown to have such crazy elevation changes. Obviously Seattle is known for its rainy weather, but I got really lucky with beautiful weather during my stay. It was the perfect May weather to explore by foot!

safety awareness

As with most big downtown city centers, you should either travel in pairs or just remain alert of your surroundings. There were plenty of people on drugs and some people yelling and making a scene. I will say, around popular attractions such as Pike Place Market, they had a pretty good security presence following a couple select individuals. The city is beautiful, but my friend and I both agreed that we would not feel very comfortable going around on our own.

rooftop views

Rooftop views of an expansive city like Seattle is highly recommended! I stayed at Element Seattle Downtown Marriott Hotel, and they had a rooftop with wonderful views of the city and the Space Needle. If you are staying at a hotel, check to see if they have rooftop views! Otherwise, there are plenty of rooftop restaurants and bars that you can indulge in for the views.

Conclusion

Seattle is an artsy and bustling city worth exploring. I recommend the visit and would return in the future. If you have been to Seattle and have other activities or restaurants to recommend, please put them in the comment section below!

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to visiting Pike Place Market and making connections around the world! To check out my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website.