25 Great Things To Do In Seattle If You’re Visiting For The First Time
So you’re visiting Seattle for the first time? How exciting! Seattle is a wonderful city full of cultural places, scenic viewpoints, delicious breweries and chocolate shops, and one oh-so-cool market full of food that will happily fill your belly.
But, in a city as big as Seattle, where do you start if you’re visiting for the first time? It can be overwhelming that’s for sure. How do you see everything and do everything? The likelihood is, on your first visit, you won’t be able to see everything and do everything. I know I couldn’t when I visited in September – I already want to go back and see more! There’s also some things I want to do all over again.
Read More: The Pacific NorthWest On Film. A Journey From Seattle To The Oregon Coast Via Eugene
Now, as I’ve only visited Seattle once, and I only spent 5 days there, there’s no way this is going to be an exhaustive list of all the things to do in Seattle. Rather, it’s a list of the main places, the main attractions, and the main activities you can do when taking a city break in Seattle. It’s a list of the big hitters and yes there are some super tourist-y attractions on here. But these places are usually popular for a reason, because they’re fun/interesting/pretty/unique to that destination.
So if you’re planning on visiting Seattle for the first time, take this list as a starting point for your trip to Seattle and you’ll have a blast!
Here’s 25 Things To Do In Seattle On Your First Visit:
- Space Needle
- Chihuly Gardens
- The Gum Wall
- Pike Place Market Food Tour
- Sunset Over Puget Sound
- Visit The Original Starbucks
- Spend The Day In Fremont
- Visit The Fremont Troll
- Gasworks Park
- Fremont Brewing
- Aslan Brewing Seattle
- Theo Chocolate
- Icecream from Salt and Straw
- Ramen from Ooink
- Day Trip To Mount Rainier National Park
- See The Skyline from Kerry Park
- Coffee In Seattle
- Go Brewery Hopping
- Gig At Wamu Theatre
- Seattle Ferris Wheel
- See A Seattle Mariners Baseball Game
- Go Whale Watching
- Spend A Day On The Olympic National Park
- Take A Tour Of The Boeing Factory
- Explore Seattle’s Underground Tunnels
Go Up The Space Needle
Number 1 on the list is The Space Needle. Yes, I know, it’s one of the main things to do and I’m sure you’ve read (I certainly did while doing my research) that it’s over rated or going up to the top isn’t worth your money. Well, while I can understand it may not be the best view of Seattle – I’d argue that accolade belongs to the viewpoint from Kerry Park – it’s one of the main attractions in Seattle for a reason.
Firstly, there’s the history – did you know that this building was built in just 8 months? As part of a big project for the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, the Space Needle was a huge feat of engineering which towers to a height of 605 feet.
Secondly, there are the cool lifts that whizz you from ground level to the top level at 520 feet in just 43 seconds. Not only do these lifts look unique but you get to see the skyline of Seattle appear in front of your eyes thanks to the glass panels in the lift wall.
Thirdly, there’s the main attraction: the viewing platform. There are two levels to the viewing platform at The Space Needle. The first one has an outdoor area (don’t worry, it’s totally safe with glass panels enabling you to look out clearly over neighbouring areas of Seattle) with Skyriser benches.
Not only does this viewing platform provide some incredible views – if you’re lucky you’ll be able to see Mount Rainier on a clear day. There are also some cool spots where you can get your photo taken, which you can then download, for free!
One of my favourite photo spots is where you stand looking out at the view, some camera from a faraway point zooms in and captures a video of you and your friends/partner/whoever you’re with, waving like an idiot at nothing. It’s a novelty that makes the experience a little more than just a view.
Once you’ve made the 360 degree journey around the top level once, or maybe even twice, head down the Oculus Staircase to what I think is the best part of all: The Loupe, the world’s first and only rotating glass platform.
If you’re brave and daring enough, step onto the glass floor to see Seattle right under your feet. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a head for heights, not all of the floor is glass so you have the option to stay on ‘dry land’ if you want to.
One thing we did when we were on the revolving platform, and I’d recommend it if you have the time, is we grabbed a drink at The Loupe Lounge. There’s a selection of beers, wines, sparkling wines, cocktails and soft drinks to choose from. That way you can literally watch the world go by while enjoying a drink and some quality time with your loved ones. When I say enjoying a drink here was one of my favourite moments in Seattle, I mean it.
When you’re ready to get back down to earth, make sure you stop by the gift shop to pick up a couple of souvenirs. My favourites were a couple of stickers and a pack of playing cards but this gift shop has so much to choose from!
Tickets for the Space Needle start from $35 for an adult ticket.
Opening hours for the Space Needle do change throughout the year and are posted on the website around 1 month in advance. Definitely check before your visit and it’s worth keeping in mind if you want to be on the viewing platform for a certain time, like sunset.
Space Needle Address: 400 Broad St., Seattle, WA 98109
Top Tip: To save some money, book a combined ticket starting at $44.50 so that you can visit Chihuly Gardens as well. This will save up to $15 and you get to see some spectacular glass art which is really popular in Seattle. We didn’t visit Chihuly Gardens, although we could’ve easily fitted it into our 5 day trip, but it’s right next to the Space Needle and is on the list for next time!
Stick Some Gum On The Gum Wall
From one of the classier things to do in Seattle to one of the most weird. And gross. Hidden around Post Alley under Pike Place Market is the Gum Wall. And it’s exactly what it sounds like, a wall full of gum. Blue gum, white gum, pink gum, red gum, green gum, sticky gum, dried old gum… you name a kind of gum, it’ll be on this wall. Is it gross? Yes. Is it unhygienic? Yes. Is it something you should go see anyway? Yes. It’s not out of the way so you might as well take a wander down this alleyway full of chewed gum stuck to a wall.
The Gum Wall started because theatre patrons used to stick their chewed pieces of gum to the wall. These pieces would get removed, but then they would reappear, and the cycle would repeat with the wall being declared a tourist attraction in 1999.
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In 2015, this wall did get cleaned up with over 1 ton of gum being removed from over 15 metres of wall. Almost immediately, the gum started to reappear thanks to residents and tourist filling the bricks again with chewed gum. There’s no getting rid of it and so what started as someone sticking gum on a wall during a theatre intermission, has soon become one of the most famous things to see in Seattle.
Go prepared with your own gum if you want to make a contribution, but also be prepared for the smell which is a weird sweet aroma in the air…
Gum Wall Address: 1428 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
Do A Food Tour Around Pike Place Market
One of the best value things we did in Seattle was a 2 hour Chef’s Guided Food Tour around Pike Place Market. If you’re thinking of going to Pike Place Market, and you’ve done a bit of research, you’ll have noticed this place looks huge. And it is. There are hundreds of places to eat, drink and shop. You could spend a whole afternoon wandering around – and I recommend you do if you have the time. But a good place to start is by doing a food tour.
The best time to do this is at the start of your trip. That way you can get your bearings, and it’s a great way to get recommendations of places to eat and drink on your trip. Our guide, Chef Sean, was really great at this, pointing out places in the market as we walked around and telling us about other places in Seattle.
Not only is the 2-hour chef’s guided tour a way to get acquainted with Pike Place Market, you also get to skip the queue to try some of the best food this market has to offer.
Of the many things we tried, some favourites were the seafood chowder from Pike Place Chowder, cultured gelato from Hellenika Cultured Cream and the BBQ from Pike’s Pit Bar-B-Que. Chef Sean was so knowledgeable about the area, talking about the history of the market and explaining why different parts of the market had different names.
Book Your 2 Hour Chef’s Guided Food Tour around Pike Place Market via Get Your Guide! You won’t regret it!
Top tip: If you are going to Pike Place Market under your own steam, be aware that the market shuts around 5pm. Lunch time is when to go if you’re wanting to sample loads of different things!
Pike Place Market Address: 85 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm
Watch Sunset Over Puget Sound
Something we did, but didn’t plan on doing during our trip to Seattle was watch the sunset over Puget Sound. You can do this by going on a special sunset cruise, or even catching one of the commuter ferries over to a neighbouring island.
We saw sunset though straight from one of the decks at the back of Pike Place Market. It was lovely, the atmosphere was great and the platform was full of people that, like us, had probably stumbled across a lovely sunset completely by accident.
Visit The Original Starbucks Store
One thing I nearly didn’t do but I’m glad I did was visit the original Starbucks store at Pike Place Market. There’s no way you can miss this place. The giant Starbucks written across the top of the store, along with the original siren logo are a giveaway. And then there’s the queue that lines up outside to get in.
On the morning we walked past, the queue was short. We weren’t in a rush to be anywhere, so we thought “Why not?” and waited for about 10 minutes to get in. I’m glad we did decide to go in too. If we didn’t, it’d (almost) be like not seeing Buckingham Palace when in London.
Just so you know what to expect, this Starbucks isn’t somewhere to sit in and enjoy a coffee with a book. It’s a slick, well-oiled system where you get to experience where Starbucks began.
Join ‘The Line’ (get there early if you don’t want to be standing a long time) which can often snake down the street. When you reach the entrance of the store, there’s someone to show you what souvenirs are available, or not available, inside.
Inside, you can order a drink from the varied menu to takeaway, but don’t leave before getting a photo with the original siren sign outside!
Starbucks Address: 1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101, United States
Opening Times: Monday to Sunday, 6am to 8pm
Spend The Day In Fremont
Fremont is a cool neighbourhood on the northern shores of Lake Union. With offices for tech companies such as Adobe, Google and Tableau, you could easily think Fremont is just a place for workers. It’s not though, it’s a district full of independent shops, breweries and restaurants and you could easily spend a day enjoying a place that feels world’s away from Seattle but is only a 15 minute bus ride from Downtown. Here’s a few things I recommend doing in Fremont…
Enjoy The Sun At Gasworks Park
One of the best places to hang out when there’s good weather in Seattle, is Gasworks Park. Fans of the film ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ will recognise this place from the scene when Kat and Patrick go paintballing in the sun. If you’re not a fan of ‘10 Things I Hate About You’, this place is still a great place to relax with plenty of green space and play area.
Gasworks park is a Seattle Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Places listed park. The Great Mound, where you can regularly see people flying kites, opened to the public on August 31, 1973. The whole park was then fully open to the public in July 1976.
Although you can’t paintball here, you can enjoy a picnic, watch the water planes land, go paddleboarding on the water or just take in the view of the skyline.
Take A Picture With The Fremont Troll
While in Fremont, stop at the Fremont Troll. If you get the bus to Fremont from Downtown Seattle, hop off 1 block before N 35th Street. Then walk up the hill and turn left on N 36th Street. Keep going until you see the Fremont Troll. You can’t miss it.
This weird and wonderful attraction is exactly what it sounds like, a troll. A giant rock carving of a troll. Like Gasworks Park, it’s another feature of the film ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ but again, if you haven’t watched the film, it’s still a great place to grab a fun picture. You might have to queue for a photo but if it is busy, take a walk through the Troll’s Knoll Park where you can make a wish on the Moss Turtle.
From the Fremont Troll, take a walk down the hill through the archways under the bridge towards Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden and Gasworks Park.
Drink Beer At Fremont Brewing
Whether the sun is shining or not, Fremont Brewing is a great place for a refreshing drink. Take a break from exploring and enjoy a pint or two in the spacious inside, or on the outside terrace. As in most breweries in Seattle, if you can’t decide on one beverage, you can get a flight of beers. That way you can try 6 different drinks and decide which one is your favourite! Then, all there is to do is relax with good conversation, or Fremont Brewing also has plenty of board games if one takes your fancy!
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm Sunday-Wednesday, 11am -10pm Thursday-Saturday
Address: URBAN BEER GARDEN™, Tasting Room , 1050 N 34th St , Seattle, WA 98103
Top tip: Another cool brewery in Fremont is Aslan Brewing Seattle. As well as beer they have delicious cider and while one half feels very much like a bar, the other half equally relaxed, slightly more homey vibes. I can imagine it’s a great spot in the evening!
Opening Hours: Closed Mondays. Tuesday-Sunday 12pm – Late
Aslan Brewing Seattle Address: 401 N 36th St. STE. 102, Seattle, WA 9810
Aslan Brewing Seattle is just around the corner from Theo Chocolate where you can take a chocolate making class and enjoy free tastings. You will come away with some to take home though and if the weather’s nice, go down by the river and enjoy a few – there’s a lemon flavoured one which is VERY good.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10:30am – 6pm
Theo Chocolate Address: 3400 Phinney Avenue North,Seattle, WA 98103
Get A Giant Scoop Of Ice Cream From Salt and Straw
Before I went to Seattle, I had a whole load of pins saved on my Google Maps. A fair amount of these pins were places to go get ice cream, or coffee. Did I go to all of these ice cream places? No. Do I regret it? No. Because the icecream from Salt and Straw was amazing and the scoops are HUGE.
The Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was my flavour of choice, and it was SO GOOD. But there are loads of other flavours including Double Fold Vanilla, Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons. For something a bit different, why not try the more unusual Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, Honey Lavender, or Pear and Blue Cheese.
With locations in Capitol Hill, Ballard and Totem Lake, you’ll definitely have an opportunity to try a scoop or two from Salt and Straw when you’re in Seattle!
Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm
Salt and Straw Address: 714 E Pike St, Suite A, Seattle, WA
Read More: 12 Fun Things To Do In Portland, Oregon: A Guide For First Time Visitors
Eat Ramen In Capitol Hill
Before you enjoy the ice cream from Salt and Lick, go to Ooink in Capitol Hill. This casual eatery is a small and popular place so you might have to wait for a table. It’s worth it though. The ramen from Ooink is divine and a great way to enjoy a laid back, filling dinner which has been named the best ramen in Seattle.
On the top of a small shopping centre, the team at Ooink aim to bring Seattle a ramen that gives guests nourishment, comfort and memories. The same feelings the staff have from eating noodles and ramen as kids.
I went for the Shoyu Ramen which was just the hug in a bowl I was after. If you choose the Mala Ramen or the Mala Kotteri Ramen, you can choose a spice level from 1 – 4. Go for 4 at your own risk! It’s meant to be face-numbingly spicy.
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm
Ooink Address: 1416 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
Take A Day Tour To Mount Rainier National Park
Fancy getting out of the city for a day? Take a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park. We booked this tour through Get Your Guide and it was such a great way to experience the countryside outside of Seattle.
Our guide Amy met us and around 8 other people outside MoPop and our day into Mount Rainier National Park began. We learnt a lot about the surrounding areas of Seattle, along with its history, en route to Mount Rainier. Amy was especially knowledgeable about the wildlife and funghi that can be found in the countryside and her personal anecdotes were entertaining.
The main point of this trip is to spot the elusive peak of Mount Rainier. But, along the way you stop at Longmire, a historic district that used to be the headquarters of the park, before getting to Paradise. You’ll spend a couple of hours here so there’s plenty of time to take a walk to explore this hub of Mount Rainier National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for that mountain as well.
This trip is a full day out of the city so expect an early start but you’ll be back in the city for dinner. To keep you going on the journey back, you’ll stop at Wapiti Woolies for some Huckleberry ice cream.
Book your Day Trip To Mount Rainier National Park
See The Skyline Of Seattle From Kerry Park
If you know it’s going to be a nice evening, take the bus, or the steep hill walk, up to Kerry Park. This free viewpoint is where you’ll see that classic skyline view of Seattle. You know, the one with the Space Needle against the backdrop of downtown skyscrapers and Mount Rainier.
This is a great spot any time of day but if you time your visit for sunset, the city glows with some wonderful colours. Take a jacket though as it can get windy and when the sun disappears behind the hill it can get chilly!
Top tip: On a map, it looks like the park is 1 square block, which it is. However, to get the view of the classic skyline of Seattle, head to the top part for an unobscured vista..
Start Your Day With Coffee In Seattle
Seattle is known for being a coffee loving city. Starbucks started here of course and hot on its heels, a lot of other coffee roasters and cafes have opened to serve the city its caffeine fix.
We sampled lattes and mochas from Seattle Coffee Company, Starbucks and Victrola Coffee Roasters as well as a few others. One we didn’t try out though was Artly, a unique place as the coffee there is served by ‘barista bots’. These machines have learnt how to make the perfect brew using deep learning AI so that you’re served the best coffee every time. There’s only one way to find out, right? It might just be the best coffee you’ve ever had.
Go Brewery Hopping
One thing the Pacific North West does well is beer. And there are no shortage of breweries here in Seattle. You may have already tested out Fremont Brewery but why not sample other beers from Old Stove Brewing Co, Seattle Beer Co, Cloudburst Brewing and Pike Brewing Company. All these places are relatively close to each other so you can enjoy a day going between them, grabbing food at the market on the way!
Again, all these places do flights of beer so there’s no need to choose just one to try. If you’re not a fan of beer, grab a soft drink, or at Old Stove Brewing Co you can try one of their cocktails. The Pink Panther is especially delicious!
Go To A Gig At Wamu Theatre
Seattle is a city with a strong musical heritage. Bands such as Fleet Foxes and the world famous Nirvana are from this very city.
There’s no surprise then that you can see great live music here year round. Check out local spots to see what new or upcoming bands are playing. Alternatively head to the Wamu Theatre to see a show.
Easily reached via the Light Rail Link that you might use to get from Seattle Airport to the City, Wamu Theatre is next to T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field. We went to see Jungle (because we love Jungle and also needed to try and beat the jetlag!) while we were there and it’s a great venue. I was really impressed with how quick it is to get back to the city too. Even with a baseball game finishing around the same time as the gig, we were back at our downtown hotel within 45 minutes.
It’s also worth taking a look at who is playing at Lumen Field too – Beyonce was playing the evening before we landed so you might just happen to drop on a huge concert while you’re in town!
Other Things To Add On To Your List For Your First Visit To Seattle
Go On The Seattle Ferris Wheel
For another perspective of Seattle’s skyline, take a ride on Seattle’s Great Wheel. Based on the waterfront at Pier 57, the wheel is a striking point on Seattle’s skyline.
Watch A Seattle Mariners Baseball Game
While I was visiting Seattle, the Seattle Mariners baseball team were playing the LA Dodgers. The city was full of fans of both teams and there were 3 games over the weekend. Sadly we couldn’t get tickets but when we went to see Jungle, we walked past the T-Mobile Stadium where baseball games are played. The atmosphere sounded like a party and fireworks were shooting from the top of the stadium. So I reckon if you get the chance, even if you have no clue what’s going on, it’ll be a really fun experience!
Go Whale Watching
We didn’t go whale watching while in Seattle. However, we did get chatting to a lady on our food tour who had and she showed us pictures of orca whales she’d seen the day before. Imagine, seeing orca whales in the wild. What a dream. You can do a whale watching tour straight from Seattle and not only will you have the chance to see orca whales, there’s also humpback whales, grey whales and minke whales swimming around the waters near Seattle.
Spend A Day On The Olympic National Park
Another day trip you could do from Seattle, is a trip to the Olympic National Park. One of my friend’s uni friends we met in Eugene said this was by far his favourite National Park and I’m gutted we missed out on it. Another reason to go back to Seattle though, right? This day trip to Olympic National Park will take you to fern draped waterfalls, vast meadows, forest trails and viewpoints where you can spot marine wildlife. No two tours are the same thanks to the knowledgeable guides who know the area well and take into account weather conditions, group interest and season. I wish we’d had 6 days in Seattle now to include this!
Take A Tour Of The Boeing Factory
If you’re a fan of anything aviation related, then you might be interested in going on a tour of the Boeing Everett Factory. 25 miles north of downtown Seattle, you can go for a behind the scenes look at how Boeing 777s are made and the 80 minute guided tour will give you a front row seat to the assembly line of these great jets.
Explore Seattle’s Underground Tunnels
There’s more to Seattle than what you can see on the surface. Underneath Pioneer Square, covering over 4 city blocks, this tour will take you on a journey through the tunnels and passageways underneath the city of Seattle. Constructed in the 1890s, you’ll learn about Seattle’s history, tragedy and the great Seattle Fire.
Which if these things to do in Seattle are you adding to your list for your first visit? Let me know if you found any other great things to do in the city!
Hey, I’m Emma!
