Seattle travel guide

About Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 784,777 in 2025, while the Seattle metropolitan area at over 4.15 million residents is the 15th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of King County, the most populous county in Washington. Seattle's growth rate of 21.1% between 2010 and 2020 made it one of the country's fastest-growing large cities.

Cheap flights to Seattle

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $570 from London, travelling 16 Dec – 20 Jan. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

• LON London to Seattle16 Dec – 20 Jan · SEA from$570
• DUB Dublin to Seattle30 Jan – 6 Feb · SEA from$715
• MAN Manchester to Seattle6 May – 13 May · SEA from$1,105
• EDI Edinburgh to Seattle3 Jul – 27 Jul · SEA from$986
• PRG Prague to Seattle25 Apr – 3 May · SEA from$1,309
• CPH Copenhagen to Seattle21 Nov – 27 Nov · SEA from$934
• HEL Helsinki to Seattle31 May – 7 Jun · SEA from$1,155
• BHX Birmingham to Seattle4 May – 11 May · SEA from$1,106

Cheapest month to fly

Airlines travellers compared most often: Finnair, Aer Lingus, American Airlines.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

Places to visit in Seattle

1. 

   Pike Place Market

   Market

   Seattle's historic public market overlooking Elliott Bay is packed with produce stalls, fishmongers famous for tossing salmon, craft vendors and small eateries spread across several levels.

2. 

   Space Needle

   Landmark · 1 mi from centre

   The city's signature tower at Seattle Center has an observation deck with a rotating glass floor and wide views of downtown, Puget Sound, and on clear days Mount Rainier.

3. 

   Chihuly Garden and Glass

   Museum · 1 mi from centre

   Right beside the Space Needle, this exhibition showcases the colorful blown-glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly in galleries, a soaring glasshouse and an outdoor garden where artwork blends with plants.

4. 

   Pioneer Square

   Neighborhood

   Seattle's oldest neighborhood features Romanesque brick buildings, art galleries and cafes, plus the popular underground tour that explores buried storefronts and sidewalks from the city's early days.

5. 

   Museum of Pop Culture

   Museum

   Housed in a striking Frank Gehry building at Seattle Center, this museum covers music, science fiction, film and gaming, with notable exhibits on Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana.

6. 

   Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

   Landmark · 5 mi from centre

   Known locally as the Ballard Locks, this spot lets you watch boats move between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, and in season see salmon climbing the fish ladder through underwater windows.

7. 

   Olympic Sculpture Park

   Park · 1 mi from centre

   A free waterfront park run by the Seattle Art Museum, displaying large modern sculptures along zigzagging paths with views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains.

8. 

   Discovery Park

   Park · 6 mi from centre

   The city's largest park covers forest, meadows, sea cliffs and beaches in the Magnolia area, with loop trails leading to the West Point Lighthouse and wide views of Puget Sound.

Things to do in Seattle by type

20 tours, tickets and experiences across 5 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.

• City tours 7 experiences City Sightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
• Tickets & Attraction Passes 5 experiences City Sightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
• Shows, sports and special events 3 experiences Major League Baseball: Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park - Ticket
• Travel Services 2 experiences SmartSIM USA - eSIM All Access Pass
• Gastronomy & nightlife 2 experiences Seattle Coffee Culture - Small Group Tour

Top experiences in Seattle

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 20 available.

Tickets & Attraction Passes

Seattle CityPASS® - Access to 5 Attractions

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $123 per adult

Tickets & Attraction Passes

CityPASS: Seattle C3®

• 9 days
• Free cancellation

From $106 per adult

City tours

Travel Curious: Private Walking Tour of Seattle - Highlights of the Pacific Northwest

• 3.5 hours

From $505 per adult

City tours

Travel Curious: The Bavarian Village of Leavenworth - Full-Day Driving Private Tour

• 9 hours
• Free cancellation

From $1,242 per adult

City tours

Seattle Capitol Hill Pride Walk

• 2 hours
• Free cancellation

From $84 per adult

Travel Services

SmartSIM USA - eSIM All Access Pass

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $10 per adult

Shows, sports and special events

NHL Game: Seattle Kraken Ice Hockey Game at Climate Pledge Arena - Ticket

• 3 hours

From $159 per adult

City tours

Downtown Seattle Donut Tour

• 2 hours
• Free cancellation

From $57 per adult

Art & culture

National Nordic Museum: Entry Ticket

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $18 per adult

Zoo, Aquarium & Nature

Seattle Aquarium: Entry Ticket

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $46 per adult

City tours

Seattle Center & Space Needle: Guided Walking Tour

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $124 per adult

Tickets & Attraction Passes

Sky View Observatory: Standard Admission

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $25 per adult

Where to stay in Seattle

Popular hotels in Seattle, out of 379 properties you can book.

Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel By Apa

• Downtown

From $196 per night

Hyatt House Seattle Downtown

• Downtown

From $175 per night

Comfort Inn & Suites Sea-Tac Airport

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

From $73 per night

Crowne Plaza Seattle-Downtown

• Downtown

From $309 per night

Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle

• Downtown

From $276 per night

Travelodge by Wyndham Seattle By The Space Needle

• Downtown

From $114 per night

1 Hotel Seattle

• Downtown

From $371 per night

The Dylan a Baymont by Wyndham

• Downtown

From $75 per night

SpringHill Suites Seattle Downtown/South LakeUnion

• Downtown

From $215 per night

Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown - Lake Union

• Downtown

From $133 per night

Sleep Inn SeaTac Airport

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

From $68 per night

Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown

• Downtown

From $344 per night

Best time to visit Seattle

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Seattle is July to September, when average daytime highs are around 70–78°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Seattle weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 65° 45° 2%
• Thu 22 Oct 59° 45° 29%
• Fri 23 Oct 56° 44° 13%
• Sat 24 Oct 56° 41° 51%
• Sun 25 Oct 58° 46° 39%
• Mon 26 Oct 60° 43° 12%

Know before you go

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English

Calling code

+1

Driving

On the right

Time zone

America/Los_AngelesUTC−7

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

• Wed 11 NovVeterans Day
• Thu 26 NovThanksgiving Day
• Fri 25 DecChristmas Day
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day
• Mon 18 JanMartin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mon 15 FebPresidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Seattle

These are the airports closest to central Seattle. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• LKE Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base2 mi (3 km) from the city centre
• BFI Boeing Field5 mi (9 km) from the city centre
• SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport11 mi (17 km) from the city centre
• KEH Kenmore Air Harbor11 mi (18 km) from the city centre

Getting around Seattle

Seattle's public transportation system, while no rival for Chicago or New York City, is the most convenient and simple way to get around most of the city. While public transportation is also good in suburbs such as Bothell and Everett, if you plan on visiting those areas you may wish to use a car. Driving a car in Seattle is possible, but the frequent and awful traffic congestion can leave you frustrated.

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. There are occasional irregularities: Ways are long roads that don't always conform to the grid, Drives are long, circuitous routes, and there's the occasional very short Place or Court.

On foot

Walking is highly encouraged for short trips, especially if your destination is within Downtown or Capitol Hill. While the streets and drivers are generally friendly for pedestrians, do keep your street smarts and avoid walking alone in the southern part of Downtown, International District, or the SoDo neighborhood at night. For more information about street safety, look at the "Stay Safe" section.

ORCA Card

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 Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Washington State Ferries. The card is $3, and you must put in a minimum of $5 in your e-purse to start using it. Day passes are available for $8 and can be used for all bus and train services. Monthly passes are also available.

Seattle travel FAQ