Seattle Bucket List - Top 50 Things To Do In Seattle
This is the ULTIMATE Seattle bucket list! We’ve listed the best 50 things to do in the emerald city of Seattle including popular tourist attractions, unusual things to do, best food and drink establishments, and day trip ideas from Seattle!
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and offers an astounding amount of attractions to see (whether natural or man-made), loads of fun things to do, and plenty of top notch restaurants. So much so, that you might be wondering where to begin.
Don’t panic though because this bucket list will cover Seattle’s highlights; the places to see and things to do that are non-negotiable on a first time visit. The attractions and activities mentioned in this guide are experiences you can only have, or things you’ll only ever see in Seattle.
Of course there is so much more than what is listed here but these recommendations are enough to cover at least a two or three day trip itinerary. Even if this isn’t your first time visiting, you may realize after reading this guide that there is so much of Seattle you still haven’t discovered.
Seattle Bucket List - 50 Things You Must Do In The Emerald City
TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN SEATTLE
1. Space Needle
The Space Needle is an iconic symbol of Seattle and featured in dozens of movies and TV shows such as Frasier, Grey’s Anatomy and Sleepless in Seattle.
This famous landmark draws visitors from around the world and has recently been updated to include an all-glass revolving floor. The very first of its kind in the world!
You should absolutely not miss seeing the Space Needle during your trip, even if you don’t make it up to the observatory. It is just as impressive viewing the structure from the base of the building and this won’t cost you a cent!
However if you do want to visit the Space Needle’s observatory, consider purchasing a Seattle City Pass which allows you to combine your Space Needle ticket with other top Seattle attractions such as the Seattle Aquarium or Chihuly Garden to save money.
2. The Original Starbucks
The original Starbucks in Seattle
Starbucks is the largest coffee house in the world but it first began as a small local roasting house in Seattle back in the late 1970’s. Today, coffee lovers turn up in droves to visit the original Starbucks located across the road from Pike Place Market.
3. Pike Place Market
Pike Place is iconic to Seattle (along with the Space Needle), and one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Even locals never get sick of wandering through the colorful market and sampling the delicious food on offer.
The biggest drawcard here is the fish throw at Pike Place Fish Market which seems to always delight visitors. Besides the fish market, there is plenty of local produce and specialty food from independent businesses with the majority offering free samples.
Also, be sure to wander through the array of flowers and stop to see the views of the Seattle waterfront from the outside balcony located midway.
4. Olympic Sculpture Park
Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle
Olympic Sculpture Park is a nine acre park that sits along Seattle’s waterfront. The park is the city’s largest downtown green space and features interesting monumental artwork. However, one of the best things about visiting this park are the sunsets seen from here which are just spectacular.
The Seattle Great Wheel sits on Seattle’s waterfront on Pier 57 near the Seattle Aquarium. The 175-foot tall Ferris wheel offers riders terrific views of the city and surrounding mountains inside its enclosed heated and air conditioned gondolas.
Even if you don’t ride this Ferris wheel, it is worth seeing, especially at night when the wheel displays its 500,000 LED lights. Going to see the Great Wheel is also a great excuse to wander the waterfront.
Get a glimpse of life under the surface of the Puget Sound through a gigantic exhibit filled with hundreds of marine species native to the Pacific Northwest. You can also find marine mammals here that include mischievous sea otters and cute harbor seals.
7. Chihuly Garden & Glass
Chihuly Garden & Glass
The Chihuly Garden & Glass exhibition holds eight galleries and three drawing walls that feature collections by world renown artist Dale Chihuly. The artwork demonstrates how he pushed the boundaries of glass as an art medium in concept, execution, and presentation.
The centerpiece is the Glasshouse, a 40-foot tall glass and steel structure covering 4,500 square feet of light-filled space which is a dedication to Chihuly’s appreciation for conservatories.
The star attraction inside this glasshouse is a monumental 100 foot long sculpture in vivid orange and yellow colors. This sculpture is the artist’s largest suspended sculpture in the world.
Besides the glass sculptures, you can meander garden paths lined with trees and other plants that have been chosen to complement the artwork here.
8. Seattle Central Library
Seattle Central Library
The Seattle Central Library stands out as an architectural masterpiece and attracts visitors from around the world.
Designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus, this incredible structure received an American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 2005, and made the associations list of 150 favorite structures in the U.S.
Be sure to stop in and view this masterpiece from inside and if you have time, take the elevator up to the building’s 10th floor for sweeping views of Elliot Bay.
Woodland Park Zoo is a not for profit zoo that has been around since 1899. The zoo’s 92 acres are divided into bio-climatic zones featuring different natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rain forests and coastal deserts to temperate rain forests like those of the Pacific Northwest.
Come and see cute penguins, magnificent brown bears, and baby giraffes. If you purchase your zoo tickets through Seattle City Pass you can upgrade so that you may feed the rhinos, giraffes and penguins for less then $10 each.
This zoo hosts a number of events throughout the year including a summer concert series so be sure to check the event calendar on their website.
10. Gum Wall
This sticky wall is on absolutely every tourist’s Seattle bucket list! Love it or hate it, you can’t come to Seattle without getting a gum wall selfie. At least just once anyway.
The sticky tradition began in the early 1990’s when guests waiting in line to get into clubs in the alley began sticking their chewing gum to the wall. A few decades later and the tradition still continues. In 2015, the city did completely scrape the wall of all the gum which took over 130 hours, however the very next day gum appeared back on the bricks.
You can find this quirky (and kinda gross) attraction in Post Alley which is right by the Pike Place entrance.
11. Sip Starbucks from the Columbia Center Tower
The Columbia Center Tower is Seattle’s tallest skyscraper reaching a height of 933 feet. From the top are expansive views of the Seattle waterfront and the Olympic mountains which visitors can enjoy from the building’s 73rd floor.
An elevator can whisk visitors to the top within seconds to enjoy the marvelous panoramic views from the observation deck which is actually much higher than the Space Needle.
Not many visitors are aware that there is a Starbucks located on the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower which also has some pretty great views. So for the price of a small coffee you won’t miss out if you don’t want to pay the extra to go all the way to the top. In fact, you don’t need to buy anything at all really.
12. Visit Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is the birthplace of Seattle laying claim to being the city’s ‘first neighborhood’. The historic area is known for its Romanesque Revival architecture which line the streets along with turn of the century lamp posts. At the center of the square is Pioneer Park which features a drinking fountain fitted with a bust of Chief Seattle.
There are a variety of boutique stores and eateries around here as well as several bars and clubs. A few notable attractions are also in the vicinity including Waterfall Garden Park, the Klondike Gold Rush Museum, and the Haunted History Ghost Tours of Seattle.
13. Fremont Troll
Fremont Troll
The Fremont Troll art installation was inspired by the classic folk tale Billy Goat’s Gruff and is built out of steel and over six tons of concrete!
You can find this Seattle road side attraction under the Aurora Bridge in the Fremont district.
14. Visit Bruce & Brandon Lee’s Grave
Through the gates of Lake View Cemetery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood lies a spot that is visited by 10,000 people every year.
This is where Bruce Lee, legendary martial artist and actor was laid to rest as well as his son Brandon Lee. Their graves are a national and global pilgrimage site for many.
15. Future Of Flight Aviation Museum & Tour
Experience the modern marvel of commercial jet production on this unique and one of a kind tour.
The Boeing Factory Tour is a visit inside a working assembly plant allowing you the opportunity to view 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliners on the assembly line before they take to the sky. Tours are available seven days a week.
16. Alki Beach
Many visitors to Seattle are shocked to learn there are beaches that can be visited within fifteen minutes from downtown. The nicest and most popular Seattle beach is Alki Beach. Obviously the beaches here aren’t your typical white sandy beaches however they are still an ideal spot to spend a sunny day.
Even in the winter months, Alki is still quite popular with residents because the city allows bonfires on the beach to stay warm. If you’re lucky you may see the occasional whale or orca traveling north or south in search of food.
17. Ride The Ferry To Bainbridge Island
The best way to see Seattle’s waterfront is by jumping on a ferry to Bainbridge Island. Even if you have no plans to visit Bainbridge Island it is worth taking the return trip to see the Seattle skyline from the water, the surrounding mountains and coastline. If you’re lucky you may even spot an orca or two on the way there or on return so keep your eyes peeled.
The ferry runs every 45 minutes and offers large windows so even on those cold and rainy winter days you’ll still be able to enjoy the ride.
The Washington Park Arboretum holds a world class collection of plants including some that are found nowhere else in the Northwest. This collection includes Giant Sequoias, Larches, Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Maples.
Visitors can wander through the 230 acre parkland which is set on the shores of Washington Lake for absolutely free!
The park is beautiful year round whether during the summer when the park is lush and green, during spring bloom, when the fall foliage comes, and in the dead of winter when there’s a chance of seeing the park blanketed in snowfall.
19. Kerry Park
Kerry Park is where most of the iconic Seattle city skyline photos you always see in magazines or on social media are taken.
From Kerry Park you can take in sweeping views of Elliot Bay, view the Space Needle, and on occasion see Mt Rainier in the background.
At night, the city lights twinkle and the brightly lit ferries glide across the waters.
20. Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park sits on the site of former Seattle Gas Light Company (a coal gasification plant) which was in operation between 1906 and 1956.
What remains now are some ruins from the old gas works as well as a number of old plant equipment that have been turned into play areas for children.
The Seattle Times says "Gas Works Park is easily the strangest park in Seattle and may rank among the strangest in the world". Indeed this is certainly different to most parks you usually come across.
21. Pay Tribute To Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain is the lead singer of Nirvana and is credited with starting the grunge sound and era. Although it is well known he grew up in Aberdeen, Washington, he spent a lot of his recent years and his last days in his Seattle home.
Fans still love to stop by his old house to pay tribute to this legendary artist. You can find the house on 171 Lake Washington Boulevard, East Seattle.
22. Take An Alaskan cruise
Okay, so technically this is not in Seattle, but the cruises do depart from Seattle.
An Alaskan cruise is a once in lifetime experience and if you come to Seattle and have time, this should definitely be on your bucket list!
The cruise takes you through Alaska’s southeast passage to small towns that you can only fly or cruise into. And to top it off, the ships spend a day at either Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm Fjord where you can watch glaciers being carved into the ocean. Spectacular!
ART & MUSEUMS IN SEATTLE
23. Museum Of Pop Culture
Explore some of the most significant moments in rock music, science fiction and popular culture with hands-on experiences, iconic artifacts and award-winning exhibitions that feature luminaries in the fields of music, literature, television, and video games.
Wander through global art collections, temporary installations and special exhibitions from around the world. There are over 25,000 pieces including modern, contemporary, African, Ancient Mediterranean, Islamic, Australian Aboriginal, Asian and Native American arts.
Explore living exhibits with rare animals and plants, travel through distant galaxies in the planetarium, and wander among fluttering butterflies in the Tropical Butterfly House.
26. Klondike Gold Rush Museum
This National Historic Park seeks to commemorate the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890’s. You can visit the interpetive center and museum in the Pioneer Square district of Seattle.
The Seattle Pinball Museum is dedicated to the preservation of pinball for future generations to come.
You can play over fifty pinball machines from the 1960's to present day games. This is a great place to spend on a rainy Seattle day.
BEST FOOD & DRINKS IN SEATTLE
28. Elysian Brewing
29. Pike Brewing
30. Pyramid Alehouse
31. Canon Bar
The Canon Bar over on 12th Avenue is consistently in the running for Best Cocktail Bar in America every year and boasts having the largest spirit collection in the western hemisphere.
They produce creative and cutting edge cocktails like the ‘Bright Idea’, which is a concoction of tequila, watermelon, pomegranate, lemon and… IPA! It comes served in a light bulb shaped glass of course.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese pride themselves in using locally sourced milk and keeping their cheese free from artificial ingredients.
They use traditional methods to make their cheese just as cheese-makers have done so for thousands of years. You can see their traditional methods in action at the Seattle store located across from Pike Place Market.
They serve lunch here and the best thing on the menu is their “World’s Best Mac & Cheese” as well as the cheese curds.
Piroshky is a very popular bakery in Seattle. What is a Piroshky you may ask? It is simply a hand held pie with fillings that depend on the culture and the people making them.
It is Russian in origin and the owners originally wanted to bring a taste of Russia to the Pacific Northwest, however they have since incorporated more western recipes into their baked goods such as cinnamon rolls and apricot turnover.
They have quite a few bakeries within walking distance of each other in downtown Seattle but the most popular one is across from Pike Place Market. Don’t be surprised to see a long line of people waiting to get in.
34. Biscuit Bitch
Get a whole day’s worth of calories at Biscuit Bitch who specialize in biscuits and gravy with southern inspired fixings!
35. Sample Clam Chowder
Clam chowder from Ivar’s
If you haven’t tried clam chowder, you need to! There is probably no better place to try it then in Seattle (except maybe Maine) and if you have already tried it, there are so many variations being served up just in the Seattle downtown area alone that you could probably spend a whole day sampling.
You could visit Pike Place Chowder, Lowell’s Restaurant, Duke’s Seafood & Chowder or Ivar’s to name a few.
Go for a stroll in the small alley across from Pike Place Market. You won’t be disappointed.
This always fun and lively oyster bar is located in Old Ballard. Stop by for icy cold piles of oysters, wine by the glass, or a Tallboy.
37. Try Alaskan King Crab
There is nowhere else outside of Alaska you will find fresh Alaskan King crab other than in Seattle! If you are a fan of seafood, you do not want to miss the opportunity to sample Seattle’s glorious seafood scene.
NIGHTLIFE IN SEATTLE
38. Unicorn Bar
The Unicorn Bar is a carnival themed bar located in Capitol Hill. They serve their version of carnival style food, such as the Unicorn Dog (corn dog with onions and sriracha cream cheese), colorful and creative cocktails, and the bar itself has an arcade and photo booth. In addition, they hold fun weekly events such as game nights, karaoke, and cabaret shows.
39. Maximilien
If you enjoy drinking with a view then head to Maximilien, a charming french restaurant and bar that sits behind the Pike Place Market featuring panoramic views of Elliot Bay.
Rain or shine, they have Le’igloos on the rooftop that visitors can enjoy the views from as walk-ins or reserved in advance.
40. MBar
MBar is a swanky rooftop bar with gorgeous views of Lake Union and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Join them for dinner or to listen to djs spin tracks on the weekends.
41. See A Show At The Showbox
The Showbox is a music venue in an old art deco building which you can find right across the road from Pike Place Market.
It first opened its doors in 1939 and has since been providing entertainment for music lovers from the jazz age to the grunge era.
You can check their calendar and see who is playing whilst you are visiting Seattle.
TOP TOURS IN SEATTLE
42. Take A Seattle Underground History Tour
The Seattle Underground Tour takes visitors on a tour of the interconnecting tunnels that lie beneath the area of the city known as Pioneer Square - the birthplace of Seattle.
You can stroll sidewalks and see storefronts that were built over 120 years ago and see what the Emerald City looked like in years gone by.
This is one of Seattle’s most popular tours and has almost always five star reviews!
43. Cruise Seattle’s Harbor
Admire the beauty of Seattle's vibrant and historic harbor on this narrated cruise that’s been impressing visitors since 1949.
Relax on the open deck and breathe in the fresh air as you enjoy the Seattle skyline and the most iconic spots in the city.
44. Haunted Walking Tour Of Seattle
Travel back in time to experience Seattle's tragic events, lawless characters, and spooky places on this haunted walking tour of the city.
Explore sights from the old Suquamish Burial Grounds to the Northwest's first mortuary and be transported to a darker time.
Dive deep into Seattle’s past to discover why these ghosts still walk their specific haunts. Expect to be spooked, fascinated, and entertained on this very interesting tour.
45. Killer Whale Watching
If you happen to be visiting Seattle between the months of April and October, you really must add a whale watching cruise to your Seattle bucket list. The resident Orcas (Killer Whales) are iconic to this region and they are simply incredible to watch in the ocean.
All whale watching cruises actually depart from Whidbey Island and not from Seattle. However, if you haven’t seen a killer whale in their natural habitat as of yet, you really should make it your goal to get up to Whidbey to experience seeing these magical creatures in the wild at least once in your life! Especially seeing as though population numbers are dwindling.
You can check Groupon for whale watching cruise deals to save money. Usually there are whale watching tours from as low as $59 leaving from Anacortes on the website.
DAY TRIPS FROM SEATTLE
46. Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqaulmie Falls
Washington state’s iconic Snoqualmie Falls is a popular day trip destination from Seattle and is only less than 30 minutes away.
This epic waterfall crashes 270 feet to the base and visitors can view it from the boardwalk above or hike to the bottom.
You can drive yourself out there or take a tour. Many tourists love opting for the Snoqualmie Falls half day tour which includes a tour of Seattle.
47. Mt Rainier National Park
Mt Rainier National Park
Mt Rainier National Park is a popular destination for those wishing to escape the city for hiking, backpacking and mountain climbing in some seriously stunning landscapes.
Mount Rainier National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the US and is best known for its glacier-capped volcano which stands in the center of the park rising 14,410 feet above sea level and is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48.
On a clear day you can easily see it from Seattle looming in the distance.
48. Mount St. Helens
Mt St Helens is best known as the volcano that erupted not too long ago back in 1980 and is still considered active as evidenced by the steam rising from the ever-growing caldera.
There is a Visitor’s Center where you can learn all about volcanoes and local geology through interactive exhibits as well as hiking trails that allow you to see the destruction caused and how quickly the vegetation has recovered up close.
If you enjoy adventure, the outdoors, nature, and geology, this day trip is right up your alley! If you would like to visit but don’t plan to rent a vehicle, you can take a guided small group tour which comes with snacks, coffee, and even lunch!!
49. Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is the image you probably have in mind when you think of the Pacific Northwest; temperate rainforests dripping in moss, snow-capped peaks, and driftwood strewn beaches.
Well you can easily visit Olympic National Park from Seattle as a day trip by taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island, however you will need your own car or you will need to rent a vehicle to get there.
Taking the ferry across allows you to avoid driving down to Olympia and over to the peninsula saving hours of drive time. There is a lot to see and do once you get over there so if possible try and allow for at least an overnight excursion. Find out where the best stops are on the Olympic Peninsula.
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