29 Incredible Things to Do in Seattle: Complete Travel Guide

Let’s be real. Most people who come to Seattle know what to expect. The Space Needle towering over the skyline, the flying fish at Pike Place Market, and maybe a rainy day or two. But after living there for a year, we realized this city has so many layers you don’t see at first glance.

Seattle isn’t the kind of place where one attraction defines your trip. It’s a mix of experiences. Biking along the waterfront at sunset, stumbling upon quirky art installations, or just escaping into one of the city’s parks.

After living in Seattle for 1 year, we’ve put together this guide to our favorite things to do in Seattle. From the iconic highlights to the local gems, this list will help you experience the city in a way that’s both unique and memorable.

29 Incredible Things to Do in Seattle

Ballard Locks

The Ballard Locks (officially the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) are one of Seattle’s most unique attractions. It was built to control the water levels of Lake Washington and Lake Union, and serves as a gateway for boats traveling between the freshwater lakes and the saltwater of Puget Sound.

Think of the locks as a mini–Panama Canal: boats enter a chamber, the gates close, and the water level rises or falls to match the side they’re heading toward. It’s fun to watch the whole process play out.

But in my opinion, the most interesting part of the locks is its fish ladder. It’s a literal underwater window where you can watch salmon make their epic journey back upstream to spawn. I’ve seen some massive salmon swim through, and it never gets old. But you need to time your visit right by checking the daily salmon counts, since the salmon only come through during the summer and early fall.

The locks are adjacent to the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, a beautifully landscaped green space. One of our favorite things to do is pack a picnic, spread out under the shade, and just enjoy a lazy afternoon there watching the boats go by.

Elliot Bay Trail

The Elliott Bay Trail is a scenic and convenient bike path in Seattle. It starts at Olympic Sculpture Park on the north end of the waterfront and goes about 3 miles along the bay before ending at Smith Cove. It’s the easiest bike trail to access from downtown, and coupled with its epic sunset views of Seattle, it’s quite popular, especially in the afternoons and evenings.

The first stretch of the trail takes you right along the water, weaving through Sculpture Park with views across Elliott Bay. Then the path winds behind the Expedia headquarters and skirts the edge of a working railroad yard, so you get to see a bit of the industrial side of Seattle.

If you don’t have a bicycle, you have a few options. You can rent from shops like Evo Seattle or Mello Fellos for a full-day ride, but my recommendation is to just grab a Lime e-bike. The best part is you can leave your Lime bike pretty much anywhere when you’re done. It makes hopping on and off the trail easy.

Washington Park Arboretum

Seattle has a TON of public parks, but the undisputed crown jewel of the city’s public park system is the Washington Park Arboretum. It’s a massive 230-acre park with an incredible collection of plants, some of which can’t be found anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest.

The park is covered with walking and cycling trails that go through its forests, gardens, and wetlands. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re deep in the woods, even though you’re still well within the city.

The Arboretum really comes alive during the spring and fall. Spring brings flowers when the rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias bloom. Autumn transforms the park into hues of orange and red. Especially in the Japanese Maples area, which was where the photo below was taken.

Seattle Japanese Garden

Tucked inside the Washington Park Arboretum is a smaller, more intimate space, the Seattle Japanese Garden. It’s not huge, but every inch of it was perfectly designed and meticulously maintained, with every rock, tree, and bridge existing with intention.

The garden follows the style of a “stroll garden,” meaning it’s designed to be experienced as a walking journey. A walking path loops around a central Koi pond, leading you through areas that represent distinct landscapes – mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and the sea.

There’s a small entrance fee, but it’s worth it, especially since so much care is put into maintaining the space. It’s easily one of the most beautiful places in Seattle.

Pike Place Market

As one of the top attractions in Seattle, the Pike Place Market needs no introduction. It’s one of the city’s most famous landmarks, but there is a lot more to this market than flying fish and colorful flowers.

What many people don’t realize is that the marketplace actually extends far below street level into a labyrinth of quirky shops, restaurants, and bars. The place is a literal maze, and every time I visit, I end up stumbling into a new store I’ve never noticed before.

The crowds at Pike Place Market can get intense, so I recommend going right when it opens at 8 AM. If you’re visiting with family or friends, I encourage you to split up and explore on your own to be fully immersed in the market. You never know what you might find.

Seattle Central Library

It may seem odd to include a library on a list of places to visit. But the Seattle Central Library is no ordinary library. It’s a massive, polygonal-shaped building wrapped in glass and steel. It’s hard to go by the building and not wonder exactly what it is. And best yet, since it’s a library, anyone can walk right in.

Once you’re inside the library, it’s just as incredible. Large diagonal glass walls trace toward the building’s ceiling, like you’re inside a modern pyramid. As sunlight filters in, it creates patterns on the walls and floors. And the library invites you to wander around. Post up with a book in one of its reading areas, ride the escalators between levels to admire the views, or just explore the space as a piece of living art.

But don’t miss the “Red Floor” on the fourth floor. It’s a hallway where every surface is painted in 13 different shades of red. It’s a quiet space with rounded corners and curved walls, and while that might sound overwhelming, the effect was oddly soothing. I guess some things you need to experience in person to understand.

Space Needle

Rising high above Seattle’s uptown, you can spot the Space Needle from just about anywhere in town. But the best way to enjoy the Space Needle is to take an elevator ride to the top of it for one of the finest vantage points anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

On a clear day, the views are incredible. You can trace the skyline, watch ferries cut across the Puget Sound, and see the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges framing the city. To the south, Mount Rainier towers on the horizon, and on exceptionally clear days, Mount Baker peeks out in the north.

But some people don’t even realize that the Space Needle has two levels. Head downstairs to find the world’s first rotating glass floor. You can look straight down at the ground 500 feet below or just let it slowly carry you around for a full 360-degree panorama without even moving your feet.

Laser Dome

I’ve been to my fair share of concerts, so I went into the Laser Dome expecting it to be just okay. But once the music kicked in and the lasers lit up, I was completely awestruck.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill lasers from any old nightclub. They’re multicolored beams that twist and morph into intricate patterns across the dome. I’ve never seen anything like them. But what’s even better is that there are nine separate laser projectors spaced around the perimeter of the dome, which means the entire experience surrounds you in a full 360 degrees.

Each laser show runs about 45 minutes, and during the entire time, the lasers are controlled live by an artist. Every show is unique. The result is immersive, hypnotic, and honestly way more entertaining than most movies I’ve seen.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Glass art has exploded in popularity recently, and no name is more closely tied to the movement than Washington native Dale Chihuly. His massive, colorful installations blur the line between sculpture and architecture, creating immersive environments that transport you into a different world.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass lets you step directly into that world. The exhibition flows between indoor galleries with smaller intricate pieces, and an outdoor garden where glass installations blend in with living plants. It’s an unforgettable spot that pairs perfectly with a visit to the Space Needle.

Ride the Monorail

If you’re staying downtown and wondering how to get to all the cool things at Seattle Center, like the Space Needle and the glass museum, then I have great news for you. The monorail is a transportation system that does just that.

Built for the 1962 World’s Fair (just like the Space Needle), it was originally meant to be the first piece of a city-wide transit network. That expansion did not pan out, but the single monorail line that goes barely a mile has become a quirky symbol of the city.

The ride itself is short. Only about two minutes. But it’s super fun. On a busy day, there’s nothing more satisfying than watching the traffic from above while you zip right over it in the monorail.

But I won’t lie, when the ride ends, you will think to yourself, “Wait, that was it?” It’s short but sweet, and more of a novelty than a solid means of transportation through the city. Still totally worth the bus fare to get on it, so I ride the monorail every chance I get.

Gas Works Park

Whether it is kite flying, fire dancing, drum circles, musicians performing, or just kids playing, there is always something going on at Gas Works Park.

The park is built on the site of the old Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant, which is why there are massive pieces of old, rusted-out coal industrial equipment amongst the park’s grassy hills. Some people call it “the strangest park in Seattle,” which is quite an achievement in a city full of strange things.

One of our favorite things to do at Gas Works is have a picnic. We usually swing by PCC in Fremont for some prepared food, then head to the park, spread out a blanket on the hill, and settle in for the sunset. From there, you can watch boats and kayaks drift across the lake while seaplanes land amongst the Space Needle and downtown skyline in the background. In my opinion, it’s the perfect way to cap off a summer day in Seattle.

Day trip to Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Island is one of our favorite quick getaways. It’s just a short 30-minute ferry ride from Seattle, and watching the city’s skyline drift into the distance makes the trip there a moment in itself.

Bainbridge has a ton of unique things to do. You can wander through its seaside parks, find a wooden troll, or stroll through a 140-acre botanical garden.

Every time we go there, we end up discovering something new.

Fremont Troll

Seattle has no shortage of quirky public art, but none of them are as memorable as the Fremont Troll. It is quite literally a troll that lives under a bridge, and you might have even driven over the bridge without ever realizing what was hiding below.

The troll has become one of Seattle’s most photographed oddities, and it’s a fun stop if you’re already exploring the Fremont neighborhood or Gas Works Park. It’s more of a quick photo op than a full destination. But if you’re in the area, it’s absolutely worth a visit to climb on its head or snap a picture with this Seattle icon.

Olympic Sculpture Park

The north end of Seattle’s busy waterfront fades into the open-air Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s a vibey oceanside park with paved walking and biking paths that wind through a collection of large-scale art installations set against the backdrop of Elliott Bay.

The park is free to visit and makes for a great stop if you enjoy long walks with interesting scenery. Or just finding a bench and watching the sunset. The mix of modern art, grassy lawns, and coastline makes for a relaxing break in the city.

Discovery Park

Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest park. It’s perched atop the Magnolia Bluff overlooking the Puget Sound, with views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier on a clear day.

The park has nearly 12 miles of trails, and is the perfect place for a quick hike in Seattle. The mix of forests, meadows, and sea cliffs makes it one of the city’s most diverse landscapes. It’s also easily the best place in Seattle to go birdwatching, as tons of species either pass through seasonally or live there year-round.

My recommendation is to walk the Discovery Park Loop Trail around sunset. As the golden light hits the cliffs and filters through the trees, the whole park glows. Watching the sun dip behind the Olympics while standing above the sea is a way to have a peaceful moment without even leaving the city.

Museum of Pop Culture

Most cities have an art museum and a history museum, but Seattle also has a museum that’s a little different: the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP.

The museum has a wide range of music, cinema, and literary genres represented, including fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. So no matter what kind of movies or books you’re into, there will definitely be something that will surprise you and find interesting.

Its exhibits are packed with pop culture artifacts, including original movie props, costumes, handwritten song lyrics, and instruments played by music legends.

And MoPOP is not just a place to look at things. It’s one you can interact with, too. The Sound Lab lets you try your hand at a musical instrument to make music or jam out with others. I had a blast playing guitar solos in one of the lab’s private soundproof rooms.

Seattle Aquarium

While you’re down on the waterfront, popping into the Seattle Aquarium is an experience in itself.

The aquarium is split between two main buildings.

One is dedicated to the native marine life of the Pacific Northwest, like kelp forests, tide pools, and cold-water species like sea otters and octopus. There’s even an exhibit where you can watch harbor seals swim around.

The newly opened expansion is more of a tropical environment. It’s full of color with coral reef systems and tropical fish. It has a more modern vibe with massive floor-to-ceiling tanks.

The Spheres

If you’ve been to Seattle recently, you may have seen the weird glass domes in the middle of the city. The building is officially called The Spheres, but is dubbed by locals as “Bezos’ Balls”.

Whether or not you are fond of Amazon, the architecture of these glass domes is no doubt incredible. But as impressive as they look on the outside, they are even more mind-blowing on the inside.

The Spheres are home to over 40,000 plants from 50 different countries, all kept in a carefully controlled environment of 72 degrees and 60% humidity. Stepping into The Spheres feels like teleporting from Seattle straight into a tropical rainforest, with ferns and hanging gardens surrounding you.

But visiting The Spheres comes with a catch. They are first and foremost reserved as a workspace for Amazon employees. They’re only open to the public on the first and third Saturday of each month, and you’ll need to reserve an entry ticket in advance if you want to go inside.

Volunteer Park Conservatory

If you’re a plants and parks type of person, the Volunteer Park Conservatory is easily one of the best things to do on your trip to Seattle. The Victorian-style greenhouse is divided into five zones, each with its own climate and plant collection. It houses all sorts of plants. From towering palms, tropical bromeliads, desert cacti, and a rotating seasonal display that’s always changing.

I’ve been to the conservatory four times, and I see something new every time. Partly because the seasonal section is always rotating, but also because there are so many details to take in.

Besides the conservatory, Volunteer Park itself is worth exploring. During the summer, the Volunteer Park Amphitheater hosts all kinds of music shows, so it’s always worth stopping by to check out the vibe.

Beneath the Streets Tour

Most people walking through downtown Seattle have no idea there’s an entire hidden city just below their feet. The original street level from the 1800s now lies underground, buried beneath today’s skyscrapers and sidewalks. What remains is a maze of tunnels and passageways that are normally off-limits to the public. But there’s one way to gain access to the infamous underground, and that’s by taking a guided tour.

The Beneath the Streets Tour kicks off with a crash course in Seattle’s early days. Once you’ve got the backstory, the guide leads you down into the tunnels themselves. Suddenly, you’re walking where shopfronts and sidewalks once bustled with life. But now they’re quiet, dark, and dusty.

My favorite part of the tour was looking up at the streets above through the glass tiles set into the sidewalk. People were walking right over me, oblivious to my presence. It goes to show how much hidden engineering goes into building a city.

Explore the waterfront

Seattle’s waterfront is the best walking street in the city. No matter the time of year, there’s always activity there, whether it’s street performers, live music, or just people hanging out and chatting.

The waterfront is also home to a few of Seattle’s biggest attractions: the ferry terminal, the Seattle Aquarium, the massive waterfront Ferris wheel, and the new public space at Pier 62. Even better, the recently built Overlook Walk now connects Pike Place Market directly to the waterfront, so you can stroll down there without even having to cross a street.

One of my favorite stops along the waterfront is Ye Olde Curiosity Shop at Pier 54. It’s a bizarre store, jam-packed with a collection of oddities such as two-headed taxidermy animals, shrunken heads, ancient weapons, and even mummies. Every time I go, I notice something I hadn’t seen before. Best of all, it’s free to visit.

Great Wheel

The Seattle Great Wheel is an icon of the city’s waterfront, standing there in the background of countless photos. But even better than admiring it from afar is riding it yourself. It’s a smooth, clean, comfortable modern Ferris wheel, perfect to see Seattle’s skyline from a different perspective.

When we rode the great wheel, I was surprised at how smooth it was. The gondolas are fully enclosed and climate-controlled, so it’s comfortable inside no matter the weather. The wheel made three full rotations, giving us plenty of time to take in the views. We watched a ferry leave the port, and saw the Space Needle pop in and out of the skyline as the wheel turned.

Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is located right in downtown and has a little bit of everything. It’s not overwhelming like some massive art museums can be, but it still has lots to see in its galleries. The SAM has everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts and Islamic art to African sculptures, European renaissance paintings, modern installations, and American masterpieces.

My favorite part about the SAM is how it ties art to the history of the Pacific Northwest. The museum displays Indigenous art from local tribes, alongside pieces reflecting Seattle’s early colonial days and Japanese American internment.

It’s the kind of place you can get through in a couple of hours, but it’s best if you slow down a bit. Some of the American paintings made me pause for a moment to try to visualize what it was like to live in the artist’s world during a time so long ago.

Kerry Park

Kerry Park is, without a doubt, the most famous view of Seattle. If you’ve ever seen a skyline shot on a postcard of Seattle, chances are it was taken from there.

It sits on a hillside overlooking the Space Needle in front of downtown Seattle, with Mount Rainier perfectly framed in the background on clear days.

In my opinion, the best time to visit Kerry Park is at sunset, when the sun casts a glow over the city, making its buildings shimmer in golden light. The whole skyline transforms into something magical. Photographers flock there on clear days, but even if you’re not taking pictures, it’s worth just soaking in the view.

If you visit Kerry Park, I also recommend walking a few minutes down the street to the Betty Bowen Viewpoint at Marshall Park. It provides a completely different westward view across Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains. It’s quieter, less crowded, and while it doesn’t top Kerry Park’s iconic skyline angle, it’s still worth the short side trip.

Museum of History & Industry

The Museum of History & Industry, better known as MOHAI, is basically Seattle’s history museum. The exhibits trace Seattle’s story from its roots with Native tribes, through the arrival of settlers and the city’s industrial boom, all the way to the high-tech era defined by companies like Microsoft and Boeing.

Overall, MOHAI is an awesome museum for both adults and children. Adults will appreciate the deep dives into Seattle’s cultural and industrial growth, while kids get plenty of hands-on fun with the interactive exhibits. I especially loved the scaled sawmill model, where I cranked a handle and watched it “cut” through a log. A simple but clever way to bring one of the city’s early industries to life.

Beyond history, the museum highlights the many inventions and innovations that have come out of Seattle. It’s a reminder that the city’s reputation for pushing boundaries didn’t start with modern tech. It’s been a hub for creativity and industry for well over a century.

Woodland Park Zoo

I usually prefer spotting animals in the wild, but the Woodland Park Zoo is the next best thing. It’s spread across 70 acres, so the grounds are spacious and well-maintained. It has large, thoughtfully designed habitats so the animals have a bit more room to roam.

One of my favorite moments was watching the sea otters dart around their pond. The zoo also has several aviaries you can walk through, where birds fly freely overhead. In one rainforest-themed aviary, it started raining indoors while I was there! Fair warning!

It’s easy to spend a couple of hours wandering around the zoo, and it’s home to a wide range of animals, from gorillas to insects to penguins. Like most zoos, the best time to visit is right when it opens, when the animals are most active.

Burke-Gilman Trail

Seattle has a few different bicycle paths, but the longest and most popular is the Burke-Gilman Trail. It spans a huge section of North Seattle, from Ballard through Fremont, the University District, and along Lake Washington before curving northeast to end in Bothell. It’s fully paved and mostly separated from traffic, making it one of the best ways to experience Seattle in a way that no other tourists do.

National Nordic Museum

The National Nordic Museum might seem a little out of place in Seattle at first, but once you understand the history of Nordic immigration to the Pacific Northwest, it makes perfect sense. For over a century, Nordic peoples played a huge role in Washington’s logging and fishing industries, and this museum tells that story.

The museum’s permanent exhibits include centuries-old artifacts, from prehistoric Nordic tools and Viking-era relics to the belongings of Nordic immigrants who settled in America. I especially enjoyed the timeline of Nordic culture going back from prehistory to the modern day.

The museum itself is also a work of art. While walking through, I found myself constantly looking up at how sunlight filtered in from the outside, casting shadows on sculptures and the hanging bird installations that float in the main hall.

That said, compared to some of Seattle’s bigger museums, the Nordic Museum does feel a bit quiet and underwhelming at times. But that’s also part of its appeal since it’s rarely crowded, so it has a relaxed atmosphere. If you’re already exploring Ballard, it’s definitely worth stopping by since it’s just overall a chill experience, with plenty of places in the museum to sit and relax.

Burke Museum

If you’re a nerd like me who enjoys science, anthropology, and archaeology, then you will love the Burke Museum. The museum’s exhibits showcase the art and traditions of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, alongside galleries devoted to paleontology, biology, and geology.

Yeah, the museum has dinosaur stuff, but it doesn’t feel like a kids-only attraction. The exhibits are thoughtfully presented, so both children and adults can learn and stay engaged.

One of the coolest things about the Burke is that it’s a “working museum.” Many of its labs are open to view, so you can actually watch its scientists at work. It adds a behind-the-scenes element that makes the museum feel alive, not just a static display.

Are You Following Our Seattle Blog Series?

We’re based in Seattle and have done so many awesome things in this city. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.

• Our Seattle travel guide: 29 Incredible Things to Do in Seattle
• Our Seattle hiking guide: 11 Incredible Hikes Near Seattle
• Best day trip from Seattle: 11 Awesome Things to Do on Bainbridge Island
• Best Space Needle photo spots: 8 Incredible Views of the Space Needle
• Best national park near Seattle: 12 Unique Things to Do in Mount Rainier
• Best winter weekend trip from Seattle: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Leavenworth in Winter

I hope you enjoyed our guide to things to do in Seattle. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸