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City in Washington, United States
Photo: Jamies, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City.
Seattle's commercial and financial core, home to the waterfront, the Pike Place Market, and some of the most stunning architecture in the city. The northern area of Belltown has a collection of many of the city's best, if not most expensive, restaurants and bars.
The oldest neighborhoods of Seattle, containing classic buildings, art galleries, innumerable restaurants, and the Chinatown.
Perched on the hills northwest of Downtown, here you will find wealthy neighborhoods peppered with panoramic parks. On the area's south is the newly developed commercial center of South Lake Union (home of the rapidly growing Amazon headquarters), and the Seattle Center with its Space Needle.
The nightlife and retail core of Pike-Pine at the west meets the quiet, diverse residences of Madison Park at the east. This area is also the gay capital of Seattle.
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A discount pass that includes admission to five attractions for half the normal fee combined. You are entitled to up to two visits (within 24 hours) to the Space Needle and a visit to the Seattle Aquarium. You also get three choices of an Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, admission to the Museum of Pop Culture, the Woodland Park Zoo, the Pacific Science Center the Museum of Flight, or Chihuly Garden & Glass. A CityPASS is valid for 9 consecutive days starting with the use of your first ticket. Transportation and parking are not included.
20 minute plane tours over Seattle that are narrated by the pilot, with spectacular views of the city. Tours begin and end at the west side of Lake Union. Reservations required.
Boat tour company with special dinner and sightseeing cruises. The most common tour is the hour-long Harbor Cruise on Elliott Bay, which offers excellent views of the Space Needle, Downtown skyline, freight harbor, and usually some sea lions, with a barrage of informative commentary about local history or interesting ships or cargo passing through that day. The Locks Cruise is a 2-hour one-way trip (in alternating directions) through the locks separating Elliot Bay and Lake Union, with an optional bus ride if you prefer a round trip. Seasonal cruises include the Summer Views Cruise with a sunset on Puget Sound, and Husky Football Cruises on Lake Washington before the games. Most cruises offer a decent full-service bar with large drinks and some snacks.
Luxury dining cruises touring Lake Union and Lake Washington. Regular cruises include 2-hour weekend brunch and Sunday supper buffets, and a 2½-hour four-course dinner (business casual attire).
Numerous stalls and performances, and don't forget to partake in all the cheap food!
SIFF
One of the largest film festivals in North America, showing international cinema. Watch indie films at Seattle area screens and vote for your favorite; each category winner receives a Golden Space Needle trophy. SIFF also screens films year-round at its venues.
A more low-key and local version of Bumbershoot, mainly family-friendly.
Home of the Solstice Parade (including the nude bike ride), and a really fun drunken time all over Fremont. Vendors, bad live music and eclectic crowds at the bars make for an interesting time. Friends who live in Fremont become especially valuable for a place to crash during the fair.
One of the biggest gay pride festivals in the country. Food carts, beer gardens, adult theme performances, and the eagerly anticipated Pride Parade.
Part of Seafair festivities. Enjoy some of the best delicacies of Seattle.
Yearly live music event held on Capitol Hill over a weekend in mid-summer (usually the end of July). Consists primarily of local independent bands of various styles, coupled with some bigger name independent label acts.
Seattle's biggest festival, signifying the arrival of summer. Neighborhood events such as parades and street fairs run throughout the festival, with the downtown Torchlight Parade in late July. Seafair culminates in early August when hydroplane races and the Blue Angels bring loud, fast boats and planes to Lake Washington.
Seattle's largest music and arts festival, featuring dozens of local and world-class musical acts.
Chinese festival of food and outdoor market.
A festival of lights at Green Lake, including a procession from the old Aqua Theatre to a clearing about 3/4 mile north.
Celebrate the world with festivals from about 25 countries represented, one country nearly every 2 weeks.
By train
By car
Interstate 5 (I-5) is the major north-south roadway entering the city and the most direct way to drive from Vancouver or Portland.
By bus
Except for Greyhound Lines, there is no designated long-distance bus terminal in Seattle, so all bus services have their own stops in different parts of the city.
By public transit
The public transit networks of surrounding suburbs and rural communities in surrounding counties run routes into Seattle, the transit hub of the entire region.
By boat
Ferries are the primary mode for commuters living on the opposite sides of the Puget Sound from Tacoma/S Vashon Island (in the south) through Seattle/Kitsap Peninsula to Anacortes/San Juan Islands…
Orientation
Seattle's street designations are generally easy to remember once you understand them. Most of the city is laid out in a grid, with north-south roads called Avenues and east-west roads being Streets.
On foot
Walking is highly encouraged for short trips, especially if your destination is within Downtown or Capitol Hill.
By public transit
The ORCA card is a contactless fare card that enables you to ride and transfer seamlessly across most Puget Sound public transit agencies, including: King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community…
By car
Cars are not typically the best option for transportation within the city proper, especially in Downtown, Capitol Hill and Queen Anne. Many streets are one-way, and a few are restricted to buses.
By taxi
You can call or hail a taxi from any major street in Seattle or most hotels will call them for you.
By ride-hailing service
If your destination is miles away and you don't have a car, yet public transportation seems inconvenient for you, you can use ride-hailing services like those provided by Uber or Lyft.
By motorcycle
The rainy weather makes motorcycling difficult but not impossible.
By bicycle
Cycling is better in Seattle than in most American cities. In fact, during rush hour, it's often faster to bike than to drive!
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