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Find the perfect itinerary for you
Whether you’re a solo explorer hunting for the perfect espresso in Capitol Hill, a family discovering the massive jellyfish sculptures at Pier 58, or a history buff diving into the underground mysteries of Pioneer Square, we’ve curated an ideal Seattle itinerary that will bring a spark of joy to your Emerald City adventure. Pack your layers and grab your camera; we’re skipping the fluff to bring you the gritty stories, local flavors, and hidden gems that make Seattle truly shine.
For families
For history buffs
For solo travelers
Day 1
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Start your day at Tilikum Place Cafe, a charming neighborhood bistro, where you should try their famous Dutch Baby, a light, fluffy, oven-baked pancake served in a cast-iron skillet.
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a waterfront escape that brings the mysteries of the Puget Sound and the tropical Pacific to life. If you’re with kids, this is the ultimate way to kick off your adventure. Here is where high-energy animal sightings meet hands-on play zones that keep kids of all ages completely enthralled.
Nearest stop: Edgewater Hotel
Highlights:
- Your kids can dive into an interactive play space where they can dig through simulated coral and see digital reef creatures at eye level.
- Visit the Life on the Edge touch pools so your children can gently touch squishy anemones and prickly sea stars under expert care.
- Keep your eyes peeled for a feeding session to see the otters show off their tricks.
Pro tip: Look out for concealed step stools near tanks, so even the smallest toddlers can see everything without being picked up.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: Walk 5 minutes to your next stop.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Head to Ivar's Acres of Clams for a waterfront dining experience. Enjoy classic fish and chips while watching the ferries come and go.
Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is a towering 175-foot Ferris wheel at the end of Pier 57, extending out over the waters of Elliott Bay. These climate-controlled gondolas are like private bubbles, so your kids can safely admire the city views from above without getting scared by the wind or how high they are.
Nearest stop: Pier 55 & Argosy Cruises
Highlights:
- Enjoy a smooth ride that circles three full times, giving you plenty of chances to spot the Space Needle and the Olympic Mountains in the distance.
- After the wheel, let your kids loose in the Klondike Arcade to play classic games and win prizes.
- Head into Miner's Landing for a spin on the charming, hand-carved indoor carousel that kids absolutely adore.
Pro tip: Visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night to see over 500,000 glowing LED lights illuminate the wheel.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Hop on a 30-minute ride to your next stop.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Seattle Children's Museum
The Seattle Children’s Museum is an interactive wonderland located in the heart of the Seattle Center. It’s a dream for families, offering a safe, hands-on environment where your kids can burn off energy through imaginative play while you take a breather and watch them explore curiously.
Nearest stop: Space Needle & Seattle Center
Highlights:
- Your kids can step inside Japanese, Ghanaian, and Filipino homes, cook traditional meals, and hop on international transit like a Japanese subway.
- Let your kids dive into clay, paint, and various art supplies to create a masterpiece to take home.
- Little performers can raid the costume trunk, apply makeup, and step into the spotlight for a spontaneous play.
Pro tip: The Seattle Center Monorail departs from right above the museum, and is a quick, 2-minute thrill ride that acts as the perfect incentive to get your kids away from the fun stuff and back on track to your itinerary.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 5-minute walk to dinner, depending on where you are in the museum.
Late Night (8pm–12am)
Dinner: Head to the Armory Food & Event Hall for dinner. You can grab artisan pizzas from MOD Pizza, savory Mediterranean bowls at KABAB, or crispy seafood baskets from Matt’s Fish Basket.
Day 2
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Enjoy a family-friendly breakfast at Portage Bay Cafe. The breakfast bar is a hit with kids, offering fresh fruits and toppings.
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market has a bustling energy that makes it a sensory playground where you and your kids can graze through world-class snacks, chat with passionate local artisans, and people-watch to your heart’s content.
Nearest stop: Pike Place Market
Highlights:
- Watch the world-famous fishmongers toss giant salmon across the counter. This is a high-energy dinner theater that your kids will marvel at.
- Head down to Post Alley and leave your mark on Seattle by sticking a piece of chewed gum onto the world’s stickiest urban art installation.
- Treat your kids to some Smoked Salmon Pate piroshky. The flaky pastry is a Seattle rite of passage that’s absolutely worth every dime.
Pro tip: When the main thoroughfare gets too crowded, head to the rooftop of the LaSalle Building for a bit of tucked-away quiet.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: Take a 5-minute walk to your next stop.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Dine at Pike Brewing Company for a taste of local flavors and brews. Help yourself to their famous fish and chips before setting off for the afternoon.
Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is a space where you can linger in front of a single masterpiece for twenty minutes or breeze through entire galleries at your own speed, completely immersed in your own creative thoughts.
Nearest stop: Seattle Art Museum
Highlights:
- Admire the large collection of Northwest Coast art, featuring towering totem poles and intricate masks that tell the ancestral stories of the region’s Indigenous peoples.
- Bring a small sketchbook and some colors along for your kids. They can find a quiet corner to make art, inspired by all they see around them.
- Marvel at the floor-to-ceiling jewelry-box-like room of over 1,000 pieces of European and Asian porcelain.
Pro tip: If you’re traveling on a budget, visit on the first Thursday of every month, when admission is free for everyone.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: Hop on a 10-minute bus ride to your next stop.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Amazon Spheres
The Amazon Spheres are a trio of spectacular glass domes that house a high-tech urban rainforest with over 40,000 plants from around the globe. It offers a lush, humidity-controlled escape where you and your kids can wander through, admiring local and foreign plants.
Nearest stop: Amazon Spheres
Highlights:
- Walk across the wooden suspension bridge through the upper layers of the forest, which offers a unique bird’s-eye view of the greenery below.
- Visit the visitor center at the base to learn more about the incredible engineering and horticulture behind the domes through interactive exhibits.
- Grab a seat in the iconic, woven wooden meeting space tucked high in the canopy. It’s the ultimate cozy spot for a family to nestle in.
Pro tip: If you’re lucky with your timing, you might see the rare titan arum, a massive, stinky flower that only blooms once every few years.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Dinner is a minute’s walk away.
Late Night (8pm–12am)
Dinner: Right beside the futuristic Amazon Spheres is Willmott’s Ghost, a bright and beautiful spot located inside the Spheres' building that’s perfect for a stylish yet family-friendly Italian dinner. Enjoy Roman-style square pizzas with crispy crusts, savory fried gnocchi, and their famous focaccia with magic salt.
Day 1
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Start your day at The Crumpet Shop in Pike Place Market, where you can enjoy traditional English crumpets with a variety of toppings.
Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is Seattle’s original downtown, a historic district established in 1852 featuring beautiful Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in the country. It’s a living museum, where you can literally walk through the city’s timeline, from its pioneer roots to the madness of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Nearest stop: Pioneer & Occidental Square
Highlights:
- Take an Underground Tour, which descends below the city’s sidewalks, to explore the original 19th-century storefronts and alleys that were buried when the city was rebuilt after the Great Fire.
- Ride up Seattle’s first skyscraper on a vintage, manually operated elevator to the 35th-floor observatory, where you can get Prohibition-inspired cocktails and stunning views of the city.
- Take pictures of the Victorian-style glass pergola and the massive Tlingit totem pole at the center of the square, which serve as iconic symbols of Seattle's early history.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the Sinking Ship, a unique triangular design of art that looks like a boat disappearing into the pavement. This is one of the quirky, local secrets in the neighborhood.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: Your next destination is a 10-minute bus ride away.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Dine at E. Smith Mercantile, a unique spot combining the vibes of a cocktail bar with those of a general store.
Seattle Central Library
The Seattle Central Library is an 11-story glass mountain that redefines modern architecture since it opened its doors in the heart of downtown. It houses an incredible Genealogy Center and a vast collection of rare Seattle photographs tracing the city's evolution from a pioneer settlement to a high-speed tech hub.
Nearest stop: Seattle Central Library
Highlights:
- Follow your own history at the Genealogy Center using their massive database and expert help to track down your ancestors.
- Walk the Books Spiral, a gentle, continuous 4-floor ramp, with a unique architectural design that ensures that the nonfiction collection can grow without ever moving a single book.
- Relax in the massive, light-filled Living Room on the third floor. Its towering glass walls and comfy chairs make it Seattle's ultimate hangout spot.
Pro tip: Head to the Red Floor (Level 4), stand in the center of the rounded hallways, and whisper to a friend at the other end. The curved architecture creates a whispering gallery effect so your voice travels perfectly along the wall to reach your friend.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: The next stop is a 6-minute walk away.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Sky View Observatory
The Sky View Observatory is Seattle’s highest public viewpoint, perched nearly 1,000 feet up in the air, on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center. It offers a peaceful retreat from the bustling city below so you can sit with your thoughts before resuming your adventure.
Nearest stop: Seattle Sky View Observatory
Highlights:
- Bring your best camera along! On clear days, you can spot Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Mount St. Helens, the Olympics, and the Cascades, all of which are visible from one floor.
- Since the structure is a full circle, you can slowly wander the entire perimeter to see the stadiums, the industrial shipping ports, and the sparkling Puget Sound.
- You can use the massive touchscreens to zoom into nearby neighborhoods and virtually explore your next stops at Pike Place or the Waterfront.
Pro tip: Head to the Sky View Cafe and grab some local craft beer or a mug of coffee to enjoy the view.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Dinner is a 5-minute walk away.
Late Night (8pm–12am)
Dinner: Head right downstairs to Elemental Pizza, located on the third floor of the Columbia Center, for dinner. You can grab a wood-fired artisan pizza or a fresh prosciutto and arugula pie while you people-watch through their massive windows!
Day 2
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Kick off your day with breakfast at Café Campagne, a charming spot offering French-inspired morning fare.
Museum of History & Industry
The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is a vibrant museum located in a historic naval armory on the shores of Lake Union. It traces Seattle's journey from a timber town to a global tech powerhouse.
Nearest stop: Space Needle & Seattle Center
Highlights:
- Head to the top floor’s maritime gallery and look through a real World War II submarine periscope, offering a 360-degree spy view of the city and Lake Union.
- Discover how Seattle became a hub for world-changing ideas during a visit to the Idea Lab. You can brainstorm your own inventions and solve modern-day challenges.
- Settle down to enjoy a quirky musical performance where actual charred artifacts from the 1889 fire come to life to sing the story of Seattle’s dramatic destruction and rebirth.
Pro tip: Check out the True Northwest Exhibit, where you will journey through 22 chronological sections detailing Seattle’s history.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: Ride the bus for 25 minutes to head to your next stop.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Enjoy a leisurely lunch at The Pink Door, known for its Italian cuisine and live entertainment offerings.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass is a breathtaking exhibition at the Seattle Center that showcases Dale Chihuly’s world-renowned glass art through eight immersive indoor galleries, a majestic Glasshouse, and an outdoor garden.
Nearest stop: Space Needle & Seattle Center
Highlights:
- Walk the outdoor paths and spot glass reeds and crystals tucked perfectly among real trees and flowers, creating a seamless blend of man-made art and nature.
- Stand beneath the 100-foot-long suspended sculpture of fiery reds and oranges, the museum’s centerpiece, offering a stunning view of the Space Needle when you peer through the glass roof.
- Clap eyes on the ceiling, covered in hundreds of vibrant, backlit glass Persians, making it look like a shimmering, jewel-toned ocean.
Pro tip: Professional staff photographers are available throughout the galleries to take high-quality photos of you for free. Don’t hesitate to ask them to take one of you.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: Your next stop is a 22-minute ride away.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Smith Tower
The Smith Tower is Seattle’s original skyscraper, a stunning 1914 neoclassical icon that reigned as the tallest building west of the Mississippi for nearly 40 years. You get to explore its beautifully preserved Otis elevators and the Legends of Smith Tower exhibits chronicling the city's colorful era of rum-runners, typewriter tycoons, and underground speakeasies.
Nearest stop: Pioneer & Occidental Square
Highlights:
- Visit the ground-floor museum to see an authentic 1910s telephone switchboard and discover how Aunt Vivian used bedtime stories to broadcast secret codes to bootleggers.
- Sit in the Wishing Chair. According to local legends, any single person who sits in this intricately carved Chinese teakwood chair will be married within a year!
- Bravely step out onto the 35th-floor balcony for a 360-degree view of the city. This is the only observation deck in Seattle where you can feel the actual wind on your face.
Pro tip: Head out on a clear day, when the South view offers an unobstructed look at Washington’s massive volcano towering over the industrial docks and the city’s sports stadiums.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Walk for 6 minutes to reach your restaurant.
Late Night (8pm–12am)
Dinner: Just a few steps from the historic Smith Tower is 13 Coins, a legendary Seattle institution that's famous for its high-backed booths, Dungeness crab cakes, or a sizzling New York steak.
Day 1
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Start your solo adventure by grabbing breakfast at Moore Coffee Shop, known for its latte art and cozy atmosphere.
Space Needle
The Space Needle is one of the top attractions to visit when in Seattle. Soak in 360-degree views of the Emerald City at your own pace without anyone rushing your photos.
Nearest stop: Space Needle & Seattle Center
Highlights:
- Use the high-tech kiosks to take a professional-quality photo with the Needle as your backdrop. You can also have them sent straight to your phone for free.
- Head 520 feet into the air in just 41 seconds while you watch the city shrink beneath you.
- Brave ‘The Loupe’, the world's only revolving glass floor. You can look straight down through your feet to see the structure’s inner mechanics and the ground far below.
Pro tip: Book your entry for about 45 minutes before sunset so you have enough time to explore the history exhibits, ride the elevator, and snag a prime spot on the glass benches just as the sky begins to turn pink.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: Your next stop is a 30-minute bus ride away.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Enjoy a solo lunch at Tat's Delicatessen, known for its hearty sandwiches and relaxed vibe.
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a stunning waterfront window into the marine life of the Pacific Northwest and the tropical Pacific. It features everything from playful sea otters to the brand-new, immersive Ocean Pavilion.
Nearest stop: Edgewater Hotel
Highlights:
- Stand before the massive 120,000-gallon tank and wave as local salmon and rockfish glide by.
- Walk under a glowing archway filled with translucent, pulsing moon jellies. It can be an incredibly calming sensation and makes for one of the most ethereal photo ops in the entire building.
- Check out the outdoor habitats to watch otters float on their backs, groom themselves, and indulge in high-energy tricks.
Pro tip: If you find yourself alone at the Northern fur seal habitat, try moving your arm in a slow, large circle against the glass. They might mirror your movement and might spin in circles right back at you.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Hop on a 20-minute bus ride to your next spot.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Amazon Spheres
The Amazon Spheres are a trio of spectacular glass domes that house a high-tech urban rainforest with over 40,000 plants from around the globe. It offers a lush, humidity-controlled escape where you can wander through exotic flora or find some space to people-watch, all while surrounded by the most futuristic architecture in the city.
Nearest stop: Amazon Spheres
Highlights:
- Visit the visitor center at the base to learn about the engineering and horticulture behind the domes through interactive exhibits.
- Feel the gentle bounce of the wooden suspension bridge as you walk through the upper layers of the forest. From there, you get a unique bird’s-eye view of the scenes below.
- Grab a seat at the iconic, woven wooden meeting space tucked high in the canopy. It’s the ultimate cozy spot for a solo traveler to soak in the serene atmosphere of the place.
Pro tip: If you’re lucky with your timing, you may get to see and smell the rare titan arum, a massive, stinky flower that only blooms once every few years.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Dinner is a 2-minute walk away.
Late Night (8pm–12am)
Dinner: Right beside the futuristic Amazon Spheres is 2120, a vibrant, family-owned spot that offers fresh Pacific Northwest salmon, juicy wagyu burgers, or house-made pasta with seasonal veggies.
Day 2
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Begin your day with a coffee and pastries at Storyville Coffee Pike Place, a cozy spot perfect for solo travelers.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass is a breathtaking exhibition at the Seattle Center showcasing Dale Chihuly’s world-renowned glass art through eight immersive indoor galleries, a lush outdoor garden, and a majestic Glasshouse.
Nearest stop: Space Needle & Seattle Center
Highlights:
- Tilt your head back to view the ceiling covered in hundreds of backlit glass Persians, making it look like a shimmering, jewel-toned ocean.
- Stroll through the outdoor paths where glass reeds and crystals are tucked among real trees and flowers, creating a seamless blend of man-made art and nature.
- Stand beneath the museum’s centerpiece, a 100-foot-long suspended sculpture of fiery reds and oranges, offering a magnificent view of the Space Needle when you peer through the glass roof.
Pro tip: Ask the professional staff photographers available throughout the galleries to take high-quality photos of you for free.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: Your next destination is a 20-minute bus ride away.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Break for lunch at Serious Pie, famous for its artisanal pizzas and laid-back atmosphere.
Seattle Central Library
The Seattle Central Library is a jaw-dropping architectural masterpiece designed by Rem Koolhaas, featuring a futuristic glass-and-steel diamond skin that floods the interior with natural light. It offers a quiet, inspiring sanctuary where you can explore 11 floors of high-tech design and endless books at your own pace.
Nearest stop: Seattle Central Library
Highlights:
- Wander up the continuous ramp of the nonfiction collection, designed so you can browse the Dewey Decimal System without ever using a stairwell.
- Head to the very top for the Betty Jane Narver Reading Room, where the 40-foot glass ceilings offer a peaceful cloud-high view of the downtown skyline.
- Hop on the vibrant, glowing escalators that feel like a ride from a futuristic sci-fi movie. They will whisk you through the building's massive open-air atrium.
Pro tip: Look for the small, unassuming viewing platform on the 4th floor to find a unique perch that lets you look straight down into the Living Room and out toward the city at a much more intimate angle.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: Your next destination is a 10-minute walk away.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is a space where you can linger in front of a single masterpiece for twenty minutes or breeze through entire galleries at your own speed, while getting lost in your own thoughts.
Nearest stop: Seattle Art Museum
Highlights:
- Step into a floor-to-ceiling jewelry-box-like room with over 1,000 pieces of gleaming European and Asian porcelain.
- Explore the stunning collection of Northwest Coast art, featuring towering totem poles and intricate masks that tell the stories of the region’s Indigenous peoples.
- Bring a sketchbook and some pencils with you. Many visitors find a quiet corner to draw what they see, drawing inspiration from the work they see around them.
Pro tip: If you’re traveling on a budget, visit on the first Thursday of every month, when admission is free for everyone. Also note that during the first Friday of every month, seniors (65+) can enter for free.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: Your dinner is a 4-minute walk away.
Late Night (8pm–12am)
Dinner: Just a few steps from the Seattle Art Museum is Wild Ginger, a legendary Seattle staple that’s perfect for an upbeat, flavorful dinner in a stylish and bustling atmosphere. You can feast on their iconic fragrant duck, seven-flavor beef, or zesty Siam lettuce cups.