Seattle: travel tips and best time to visit

Seattle in the northwestern USA is the green harbor city on Puget Sound, framed by water and mountains. On a clear day the mighty Mount Rainier stands on the horizon. Seattle is the city of Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks, but above all a relaxed big city with a famous market, good food and coffee on every corner. Many count it among the most beautiful cities in the USA.

The skyline of Seattle with the Space Needle.

Pike Place Market

The heart is Pike Place Market, one of the oldest and liveliest markets in the country. Fishmongers toss the goods to each other, it smells of flowers and food, and this is also where the very first Starbucks stands.

Space Needle and viewpoints

The landmark is the Space Needle from the 1962 World's Fair, with a wide panorama. More beautiful and free is the view from Kerry Park of the skyline with Mount Rainier behind it.

Water, greenery and culture

Seattle lives on the water: ferries chug across the sound, the harbor is bustling. Add to that museums, the buzz around Pike Place and lots of greenery. Mount Rainier is about two and a half hours' drive away.

Die Höhepunkte von Seattle

What you shouldn't miss.

1

Pike Place Market

The famous, lively market with fishmongers, flowers and the first Starbucks.

Directions with Google Maps

2

Space Needle

The landmark from the 1962 World's Fair, with a wide panorama over city and mountains.

Directions with Google Maps

3

Kerry Park

The most beautiful, free view of the skyline with Mount Rainier in the background.

Directions with Google Maps

4

Harbor and ferries

The bustling life on Puget Sound, with ferry rides and water views.

The big questions from the forum

What was discussed most on USA-TALK.DE, with the community verdict.

Is one day enough for Seattle, or should you plan more?

Many find that a full day is enough for the city itself, then the surrounding nature calls. Two nights are recommended all the same, so that one truly complete day remains.

Pike Place Market and the waterfront, must-do or overrated?

Opinions are split here. For some, Pike Place is the finest market anywhere, others found it and the built-up waterfront rather grubby and without charm.

Practical tips from the forum

Concrete advice from travellers who were there.

For a full day, plan to arrive late in the evening, catch Kerry Park at night, and then start early the next morning at Pike Place.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Many people think the view from the Sky View Observatory in the Columbia Center beats the one from the Space Needle, and often with smaller crowds.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Stay central near Pike Place and leave the car in a parking garage. You can do a lot on foot or by monorail, which saves you the expensive parking fees.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

When it rains, the indoor spots are worth it. Chihuly Garden and Glass at the foot of the Space Needle is considered a must-see, as is the aquarium on the waterfront.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Pack rain gear. Seattle is one of the rainiest areas in the country, but when the weather is nice the city is all the more beautiful for it.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Voices from the community

What travellers experienced on the spot.

Seattle is very worthwhile, one of the most beautiful cities in the USA, especially the market halls are to be recommended.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

We liked Seattle, we were there several times.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Seattle is dreamily located between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, has many parks and beaches and great restaurants. Of all the cities I know, for me it is among the best.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

A full day in Seattle always sufficed for me, and I was there three times. The call of the wilderness all around was greater every time, I was never sad to get back out quickly.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

I found the waterfront disappointing, all built up with roads, a freight railway and a highway overhead, plus expensive parking. For me that had no charm.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Pike Place Market struck us as a bit run-down and grubby. Interesting, though, was the well-known shop Pike Place Fish, where the fish are thrown through the air.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

The view from Kerry Park of the skyline is unbeatable, whether at sunrise or after sunset when the lights come on. In the evening the photographers' tripods stand here shoulder to shoulder.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

For the Space Needle we bought tickets at midday and were only allowed up at 6 pm. Many were surprised by that and gave up, we had prepared for it beforehand.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Have you been here? Share your impression

Your experience helps other travellers more than any glossy brochure. Every post is briefly reviewed before publication.

Climate through the year

Average temperatures, day and night. Large value °C, small value °F.

8°46°F3°37°F

Jan

9°48°F3°37°F

Feb

12°54°F4°39°F

Mar

15°59°F6°43°F

Apr

19°66°F9°48°F

May

21°70°F12°54°F

Jun

25°77°F13°55°F

Jul

25°77°F14°57°F

Aug

21°70°F11°52°F

Sep

15°59°F8°46°F

Oct

10°50°F5°41°F

Nov

7°45°F3°37°F

Dec

Map with viewpoints

Park, entrances and the best viewpoints at a glance.

Loading the map transfers data (including your IP address) to OpenStreetMap.

Distances and driving times

How far it is to the key places nearby.

From	Distance	Drive time
Mount Rainier	95 mi (150 km)	approx. 2.5 hrs
Vancouver	145 mi (230 km)	approx. 3 hrs
Portland	175 mi (280 km)	approx. 3 hrs
Mount St. Helens	125 mi (200 km)	approx. 3 hrs

Where to stay

Right in the middle of things, or cheaper a bit further out.

Downtown and Pike Place

central

Right in the middle of things, close to the market, harbor and Space Needle.

Belltown

north of Pike Place

Lively neighborhood with restaurants and bars, walkable to downtown.

Capitol Hill

to the east

Colorful, young neighborhood with café and nightlife.

Insider tips and common mistakes

What was worth it and what to skip.

Insider tips

Experience Pike Place Market early in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
Head to Kerry Park for the best skyline view with Mount Rainier.
Take a short ferry ride across Puget Sound, cheap and with a great view.

Common mistakes

Coming in winter and the wet spring and being surprised by the constant rain.
Thinking the Space Needle is the only viewpoint, Kerry Park is more beautiful and free.
Missing Mount Rainier, the park is about two and a half hours' drive away.

Photos

Click to enlarge.

Videos

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to travel?

Summer, from July to September, when it is driest and clearest. The rest of the year it rains a lot.

What do I have to see?

Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and the view from Kerry Park, plus the life at the harbor.

Can Seattle be combined well with nature?

Very well. Mount Rainier lies about two and a half hours' drive south, Olympic National Park to the west across the sound.

Is Seattle expensive?

It is among the pricier US cities, but much of the appeal, market, harbor and views, is cheap or free.

Nearby

Easy to combine on a road trip.

Glacier volcano

Washington

Mount Rainier

A mighty, glacier-clad volcano with blooming alpine meadows.

Vancouver

Canada's beautiful Pacific metropolis between ocean and mountains.

San Francisco

Steep hills, rolling fog and the world's most famous bridge.

Seattle

Pike Place Market

Space Needle and viewpoints

Water, greenery and culture

Die Höhepunkte von Seattle

Pike Place Market

Space Needle

Kerry Park

Harbor and ferries

The big questions from the forum

Is one day enough for Seattle, or should you plan more?

Pike Place Market and the waterfront, must-do or overrated?

Practical tips from the forum

Voices from the community

Have you been here? Share your impression

Climate through the year

Map with viewpoints

Distances and driving times

Where to stay

Downtown and Pike Place

Belltown

Capitol Hill

Insider tips and common mistakes

Insider tips

Common mistakes

Photos

Videos

Seattle, your travel guide

Top attractions in Seattle 4K

Seattle, walking tour 4K

Seattle highlights

Frequently asked questions

Nearby

Mount Rainier

Vancouver

San Francisco