Author: 
Seattle, or Emerald City as it’s affectionately known, is a gem of a location in Washington State. Surrounded by lush forests, dramatic mountains, and vast expanses of water, and with a vibrant culture and arts scene, there’s something for everyone in this dynamic part of the Pacific Northwest.
Whether you’re planning to visit Seattle as a day trip from nearby or you have longer to explore, here are the 18 must-see attractions in Seattle.
1. Space Needle
- Website: spaceneedle.com
- Address: 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 9 am – 11 pm Tuesday to Thursday / 9 am – 12 pm Friday to Monday
Seattle’s Space Needle is one of the top attractions in the city. Built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, this 184-meter tower provides the most incredible panoramic views from the observation deck. Look to the east for a glimpse of the Cascade Mountains and to the west for Elliott Bay and the Olympic mountain range. It’s even possible to see Mount Rainier on a clear day.
Tip: Grab a CityPASS to enjoy discounted access to Seattle’s most famous sightseeing destinations.
2. Seattle Center Monorail
- Website: seattlemonorail.com
- Address: Westlake Center Station: 400 Pine Street, 3rd Floor, Seattle, WA / Seattle Center Station: 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 7.30 am – 11.00 pm Monday to Friday / 8.30 am – 11.00 pm Saturday and Sunday
The Seattle Center Monorail was also built for the World’s Fair and links Seattle Center to the Westlake Center. In addition to being an interesting experience, this is also a practical way to see many of the city’s best attractions, including the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Chihuly Gardens and Glass, and the Pacific Science Center.
3. Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
- Website: mopop.org
- Address: 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) combines science fiction, music, and pop culture to create a fun day out for all the family. Explore over 80,000 objects that tell the fascinating tale of the origins of rock music. Additional exhibits cover indie video games, horror films, hip-hop, and more.
4. Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Website: chihulygardenandglass.com
- Address: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 9.00 am – 9.00 pm daily
Chihuly Garden and Glass is a museum dedicated to the work of local glassblower Dale Chihuly. This world-famous artist was introduced to glassblowing while studying at the University of Washington, and some of his best-known works can be seen here. Don’t miss the glasshouse where a dramatic 30-meter-long sculpture hangs from the ceiling.
5. Pike Place Market
- Website: pikeplacemarket.org
- Address: 85 Pike Street, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily, with some restaurants staying open until midnight or later
Pike Place Market was established in 1907 and hosts independent businesses of all kinds. From wines from local wineries to handmade arts and crafts, you can find it all right here. Don’t miss a visit to the gross but interesting gum wall and the original Starbucks.
The market continues to evolve, and in 2017 the MarketFront expansion took place which features an open-air plaza and incredible views of Elliott Bay. You’ll find Pike Place Market located between downtown Seattle and Puget Sound.
6. Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) dates back to the 1930s and is the city’s largest museum. SAM has three locations, and each is well worth a visit while you’re in town.
Seattle Art Museum (Downtown)
- Website: seattleartmuseum.org/visit/seattle-art-museum
- Address: 1300 First Ave, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Wednesday to Sunday
Head here to see temporary and permanent exhibits filled with works from different countries, cultures, and periods. This impressive gallery features African, Meso-American, Islamic, and Aboriginal collections, to name just a few.
Olympic Sculpture Park
- Website: seattleartmuseum.org/visit/olympic-sculpture-park
- Address: 2901 Western Avenue, Settle, WA
- Opening hours: Opens 30 minutes prior to sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset
Be sure to make time to explore this impressive nine-acre sculpture park just one mile north of the Seattle Art Museum. Wander among this award-winning green space to discover works by some of America’s best sculptors, such as Alexander Calder and Ginny Ruffner.
Seattle Asian Art Museum
- Website: seattleartmuseum.org/visit/seattle-asian-art-museum#hou
- Address: Volunteer Park, 1400 East Prospect Street, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Thursday to Sunday
Set in a 1930s Art Deco building in Volunteer Park just east of Capitol Hill is the Seattle Asian Art Museum. This was the original home of the Seattle Art Museum and is now a much-loved museum hosting a diverse collection of Asian artwork.
7. Fremont Troll
- Website: fremont.com/troll
- Address: North 36th Street, Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 24 hours
For a wackier approach to art, don’t miss the Fremont Troll. This 5.5-meter-tall cement creature chowing down on a Volkswagen Beetle resides under the George Washington Memorial Bridge and is a fun place to take a selfie or two.
8. Smith Tower
- Website: smithtower.com
- Address: 506 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 12.00 pm – 7.00 pm Monday & Tuesday / 12.00 pm – 9.00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday / 12.00 pm – 10.00 pm Friday & Saturday
This iconic highrise in the Pioneer Square neighborhood is the oldest skyscraper in Seattle. When it was completed in 1914, it was the fourth tallest building in the world and is now a popular place to visit. Hop in the manually operated elevator to the observation deck on the 35th floor to enjoy 360-degree views of the Seattle skyline.
9. Washington State Ferries
- Website: wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries
- Address: 2901 3rd Ave #500, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 4.45 am – 7.30 pm Monday to Friday / 7.45 am – 8.00 pm Saturday & Sunday
No trip to Seattle is complete without taking a ride across Puget Sound aboard a Washington State Ferry. The iconic green and white vessels connect smaller communities like Bainbridge Island and Bremerton to downtown, and whether you choose a short jaunt or one of the longer routes, this is a classic Pacific Northwest approach to sightseeing in Seattle.
10. Seattle Aquarium
- Website: seattleaquarium.org
- Address: 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 6.00 pm daily
Head down to Pier 59 to meet sea otters, octopuses, and more at Seattle Aquarium. There’s a captivating program of animal feedings and daily diver shows, and the incredible 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters is where you can watch local sea life swim around in their natural habitat.
11. The Museum of Flight
- Website: www.museumofflight.org
- Address: 9404 East Marginal Way, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily
As one of the largest air and space collections in the country, The Museum of Flight is a must-see for anyone with an interest in aviation. Here, you can see more than 175 air and spacecraft including a Boeing lunar rover and an Eisenhower-era Air Force One. You can also test your skills on the flight deck with interactive displays and flight simulators.
12. Pioneer Square
- Website: pioneersquare.org
- Address: 612 Second Ave, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 24 hours
Pioneer Square is known as the birthplace of Seattle because this is where white settlers built the first downtown area. There’s plenty to do here, including joining art-focused walking tours, spotting Renaissance Revival architecture, and dining and shopping in independent boutiques and restaurants.
13. Woodland Park Zoo
- Website: zoo.org
- Address: 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 6.00 pm daily
Woodland Park Zoo frequently makes the list of the top ten zoos in the country, and with good reason — this is one of the first zoos in the US to swap restrictive cages for ecosystem enclosures that replicate the animals’ natural surroundings. The zoo is now one of the city’s top tourist attractions and features two gorilla exhibits, an Indian rhino reserve, and a tropical rainforest.
14. Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
- Website: mohai.org
- Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily
This historic institution is located in the South Lake Union neighborhood and is home to a mind-boggling four million photographs, artifacts, and archival materials. This fascinating collection gives visitors a glimpse into the rich history of the greater Puget Sound region and is a must-see for history buffs.
15. Gas Works Park
- Website: seattle.gov/parks/allparks/gas-works-park
- Address: 2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 6.00 am – 10.00 pm daily
This former power station produced gas in the first half of the 20th century. It was eventually shut down due to environmental concerns, but rather than being torn down, it was transformed into a public outdoor space. Gas Works Park now rivals Kerry Park as the most popular place to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
16. Ballard Locks
- Website: ballardlocks.org
- Address: 3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 7.00 am – 7.00 pm
The Ballard Locks are a fascinating feature of Lake Washington’s Ship Canal and a top tourist attraction. Constructed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, tourists flock here to watch the water levels rise and fall as the “boat elevator” allows sailboats, yachts, and kayaks to pass from the freshwater lakes to the salt waters of Puget Sound. While you’re here, don’t miss the fish ladder, which helps fish, including endangered salmon pass through the lock.
17. The Seattle Great Wheel
- Website: seattlegreatwheel.com
- Address: 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA
- Opening hours: 11.00 am – 10.00 pm Sunday to Saturday / 11.00 am – 11.00 pm Friday & Saturday
Climb aboard an air-conditioned gondola on Seattle’s famous Ferris wheel for an unbeatable bird’s eye view of the city. The wheel is the only one of its kind to be built over water, and for a unique experience, book ahead to secure your spot in the glass-bottom gondola.
18. Chinatown-International District
- Website: visitseattle.org/neighborhoods/international-district
- Location: Roughly bounded by Yesler, Rainier, Dearborn, and Fourth
- Opening hours: 24 hours, but museums, shops, and attraction hours vary
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) comprises Japantown, Chinatown, Manilatown, and Little Saigon, and there’s plenty to do here. Fill up on authentic Japanese sushi, test out your pinball skills at the Seattle Pinball Museum, and learn about the Asian American experience at the Wing Luke Museum. The best way to explore this neighborhood is via an organized walking tour, of which there are many available.
Which Must-see Seattle Attractions Will You Discover
With so many exciting attractions on offer in sensational Seattle, it can be difficult to fit everything into one trip — you’re sure to find yourself planning your return visit in no time! Which attraction is at the top of your list of places to visit in Emerald City?
