Seattle: 20 Things to Do & See in the Emerald City

Updated On: November 08, 2023 by   Ahmed Samir

Seattle is one of the largest cities in the northern part of the United States of America, specifically in the state of Washington, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city of Seattle was founded in the middle of the 19th century as a settlement along the Strait of Puget and later became its location on the shores of Elliot Bay.

The city is known for its large green area, that’s why it was called the Emerald City. In 2006, it was ranked 6th in the world in terms of natural areas and one of the best cities in terms of safety, living, and cleanliness. 

There are many important facilities located in Seattle, such as the University of Washington, which is one of the largest universities in the United States of America. In addition to the beautiful parks and renowned museums, Seattle is the home to the headquarters of many important companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks coffee company. 

In addition to this, it is an important economic corridor linking Washington to Alaska. The city is close to the Canadian border, which facilitates the movement of trade. The Seattle port is the main engine of the economy of the city.

Seattle is one of the main tourist cities in America and is dependent on tourism as a source of income. It is characterized by being a natural city surrounded by many lakes and rivers.

Weather in Seattle

The city of Seattle has a mild and warm climate. The summer is usually mild and dry, and the winter is cold. The minimum temperature reaches 9^o degrees below zero, with heavy rainfall, and it is sunny on 127 days of the year in the city.

The Best Time to Visit Seattle

The best time for visitors to visit the city is between May and October. During these five months, the sky gets clear and you can enjoy more outdoor festivals. Keep in mind that July and August are the driest and sunniest months, and they are usually very crowdy. The summer season begins in Seattle in July. The summer months are the best for going to outdoor spaces like Mount Rainer and Olympic National Park.

One of the best months to be there is in September due to the perfect weather. The air during September is filled with coffee aroma from the coffee shops in Seattle, and annual, cultural events like Bumbershoot. 

Things to do in Seattle

The city has many important and interesting landmarks, and most of the buildings in the city are well preserved with the old traditional shape without changing. This made Seattle a historical city that attracts tourists from every nook and cranny.

One of the most important tourist attractions in Seattle is Seattle Center and Space Needle, which is distinguished by its unique shape, and we will know more about it in this article.

There are also ancient art museums that are characterized by the shape of their buildings, which bears the Victorian character. There is the popular market, which is one of the oldest areas in Seattle and preserves the old style from 1907.

Seattle is nicknamed the Emerald City for the limitless greenery spaces it has. A vacation in this city would definitely be the haven that every nature lover would need. In addition to all of that, there are multiple beaches that extend over a long space.

Now, we will get to know more about one of the amazing cities in the US, things to do there, and where to stay on your vacation. You will enjoy it all and discover all its attractions, so pack your bags and let us start our journey in Seattle. Let’s Go!

Seattle Center & the Space Needle

The Seattle Center and the Space Needle were built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, and since that date, they have been one of the top attractions to visit in Seattle. Since then, they have been turned into a large complex and park area full of restaurants, theatres, and sports facilities.

You can go to the top of the Space Needle by elevator, to see a 360-degree view from the Needle Observation Deck of the city and Elliot Bay. The best time to go to the top is in summer when the clouds of winter vanish. If you are planning to go in winter, then the Seattle Center is one of the best places to visit at that time, where many events are held like Winterfest.

The Museum of History & Industry

The Museum of History and Industry shows you the leading part of Seattle in industry, whereas the True Northwest exhibits give you more information about the history of Seattle from Native American culture till now. Tourists can experience the view of the city by using an authentic WWII-era Tang periscope in the Maritime exhibit.

In the museum, there is a gallery that shows you the inventor’s new technology, and many exhibits that you can explore that include invented products, historical objects, and vintage clothes.

Seattle Great Wheel

Another famous attraction in Seattle is the 175-foot-tall Ferris Wheel. It is located near the Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium. The ride takes about 20 minutes and it works all week with a wonderful view of Elliot Bay.

There are also other attractions nearby that you can visit on Pier 57 such as the flying theatre known as Wings over Washington, and you will find gift shops available there to buy some souvenirs. 

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium is located near the Seattle Great Wheel on Pier 57. This place gives you a lot of information about the animals that live there. When you enter the aquarium, you will see the Window on Washington’s Water Exhibit, with a 120,000-gallon tank and a 40-foot wide window.

There is also a pool that touches the tank that is located beside the aquarium and in this place kids can be closer to the invertebrates. Inside the aquarium lives many different kinds of marine mammals, such as seals.

The Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight in Seattle includes a large collection of historical objects, aeroplanes, and educational exhibits about planes. The museum gives you a lot of information and experience about planes. It is open from Thursday till Monday, and you can literally spend all day in the museum due to the many things there.

The large collections include the first jet Air Force One, Concorde, and many military planes. All of that that is located in the outdoor gallery, while in the indoor gallery, there are planes that are suspended in flight. The space gallery focuses on everything about space and the future.

Besides all that, you get to see the Personal Courage Wing, which is suitable for history lovers and was dedicated to the important role of aviation during WWII. This part contains about 28 planes that were restored, personal stories of pilots, and much more.

Washington Park Arboretum

Washington Park Arboretum is located northeast of downtown, covering over 230 acres in the Madison Park neighbourhood. It is the perfect place to get away from the crowded part of the city. The park is free to enter, and it is managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the city of Seattle.

Inside the park, there are paths that you can walk through like Rhododendron Glen and Azalea Way. There, you can see the Japanese maples and 2.5 acres of plot that was devoted to New Zealand native plants.

Woodland Park Zoo

The zoo is located on 92 acres with many species that are considered endangered from all around the world. It includes about 300 species from Asia and Africa, such as elephants, jaguars, snow leopards, bears, and more.

If you are an animal lover you will find many things to do in the Woodland Park Zoo like animal feeding, educational lectures, and many daily programs. You will have the opportunity to get closer to some animals at the zoo like giraffes and penguins.

Pike Place Market

The Pike Place Market is a famous place to visit in summer. It is located near the waterfront and there you will find everything you want to buy from fruits, fish, and vegetables. There are also about 200 shops that sell things from books, antiques, and more. Besides the market, there are other top attractions in the city located near it that you can visit after the market, such as Seattle Aquarium and Seattle Art Museum.

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Art Museum is one of the top attractions in the city. It is located near the Pike Place Market and is spread across four floors. The first three floors include exhibits and pieces from permanent collections such as Islamic Art, European Art, and Native American Art.

Besides that, there are collections of modern art. The museum oversees two art facilities, which are the Olympic Sculpture Park and Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Whale Watch 

It is one of the best things that you can do while you are on the shores of Seattle without using a boat. It is a unique experience to see these large mammals spending their time in the waters. The orcas are often the type of whales that are seen near the city. The summer is considered the best time to see the orcas, specifically from June to September.

The perfect places to watch the whales are on the western banks of Seattle like Alki Beach and Golden Gardens. There are also boat trips that are available if you want to take a closer look at the whales.

Olympic Sculpture Park

The Olympic Sculpture Park is located in Elliot Bay. It is a famous place for locals before tourists, where they go to the park to spend a great and relaxing time while taking many lovely photographs. There are a lot of magnificent sculptures that you would love to see like Seattle Cloud Cover and Eye Benches.

The park was environmentally transformed from an industrial site to a large green space that includes a salmon habitat. The entrance of the park is located on Western and Broad Street, and you will find there a trail as the letter Z takes you to the waterfront. There are many cafes there for you to enjoy your cup of joe.

Seattle Beaches

Seattle is one of the most beautiful places in the United States of America to spend a great time at its beaches. On the west, you can find Elliot Bay and Puget Sound, while on the east, there is Lake Washington. You can spend your time at Carkeek Park and Golden Gardens; they are famous among the locals due to the sandy beaches and the many activities you can do there.

Another famous place is Discovery Park, which includes a sand beach and a lovely lighthouse. At Lake Washington, there are many beaches that you will love to visit and spend a good time there like Matthews Beach Park in the northeast of Seattle. This beach is the largest one there with a swimming platform and a large green space.

Discovery Park

Discovery Park is one of the most famous places to visit in Seattle. It is considered the largest park in the city on an area of 550 acres and includes one of the best beaches there. The park also includes forests and coastlines, and it is located west of downtown.

One of the popular landmarks in the park is the West Point Lighthouse, which is located west of the park. It is a lovely place to take instagrammable pictures. The beautiful nature around you will make you love the place, with the beach, sand, and green space. You will also be able to see a nice view of the Olympic Mountains.

While you are in the park, you will find a learning centre that will give you all the information you need about the park and also education programs.

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is another well-known park in Seattle. It is located in the North Capitol Hill neighbourhood. The park includes walking trails, where you can walk and discover the place, playgrounds for children, places for a picnic, and sports facilities.

In the park, there is the Seattle Asian Art Museum, where you will find many art collections from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. Also, you will find a historic water tower with a circular staircase and from the top, you will see a beautiful view of the place.

Benaroya Hall

The Benaroya Hall is the main art spot located in Seattle. It is located downtown and can seat 2,500 people. When you enter the lobby, you will find a large glass art sculpture made by Dale Chihuly. The place held many performances and shows like folk, family concerts, and many more.

International District

The International District is located to the east of Pioneer Square. There, you will find many Japanese and Chinese shops and restaurants. The neighbourhood was originally created as Seattle’s Chinatown but eventually developed into a hybrid centre of many cultures. There are Filipino and Vietnamese cafes, and you can shop for Kenyan dresses and Lithuanian raincoats in this culturally blended district.

One of the famous attractions to visit is the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. It was named after a Chinese American, who was the first Asian American to be elected official in Washington. The museum displays the history of immigration through authentic works from the struggles of early Asian Pioneers and also Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander artists.

Museum of Pop Culture

This museum is a top attraction to visit in the city of Seattle. It is right next to the Space Needle. It is a place where you can know everything about the story of modern culture. The exhibits there are spread into three levels, displaying many artefacts, guitars and also costumes, and other collections related to horror movies, and the science fiction universe. The museum hosts many events there. It is open daily so it will be fun having a nice tour inside this wonderful museum.

Pioneer Square Historic District

The square is considered the historic part of the city. It is famous for its 60-foot totem pole among Victorian-era buildings. One of its known towers is the Smith Tower, with a height of 42 stories. If you go up to the 35th floor, you will see a beautiful view from there.

In the same neighbourhood, there is Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. You can have a tour at Bill Speidel’s Underground, which is 75 minutes, and the guide will inform you about the old city that is below the modern streets.

Gas Work Park

Gas Work Park is located on the north side of Lake Union. It gives you a beautiful view of the downtown towers and boats on the lake. It was a site of industrial coal gasification before becoming a park, and the structures in it are now public art pieces.

Some of these structures also turned into playground equipment. Besides that, you can watch the sunset as the sun reflects on the water giving you a magnificent view.

Green Lake

The Green Lake is located north of downtown, with an area of 260 acres, and about 2.8 miles of trail that circles the entire lake. East Green Lake Park is a famous spot there with a sandy shoreline and green space. You can go swimming, play volleyball, and rent a boat too. There is also West Green Lake Beach which offers the same activities.

Places to stay in while your visit to Seattle

Seattle is full of many top attractions, even more than what we’ve already covered. You would need a good hotel to rest in from all the sightseeing you are going to do in the city. Here are some of the best hotels in Seattle:

• Four Seasons Hotel Seattle: The hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. It is located near the market, and it includes a spa, gym, a rooftop swimming pool, and a terrace.
• Hotel Andra: Another great hotel to stay in, which is in Belltown with 119 rooms that are surrounded by history, art, and music.
• Inn at the Market: It is a luxury, boutique hotel, located near the Pike Place Market with a water view and a rooftop deck.
• The Maxwell Hotel: It is a mid-range hotel, with a lovely bar, indoor pool, and lovely décor in the rooms.