Growing up in Washington state, I have naturally visited Seattle many times. Between soccer tournaments, concerts, trips to the airport, and touring visitors around, I have learned my way around this city. Having hosted five exchange students, I have given the “Seattle tour” enough times I know exactly where you need to go. Here are the can’t-miss things to see and do in Seattle:
- Seattle Center
- Space Needle
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
- Pike Place Market
- Must-See At The Market
- The Pike Brewing Company
- The Wharf
- Seattle Aquarium
- The Seattle Great Wheel
- The Crab Pot
- Sporting Events
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Seattle Center
Space Needle
The Space Needle is the most obvious thing to visit as it is famous around the world. Currently, due to COVID, you have to purchase your tickets ahead of time if you want to ride up to the top. For general admission, tickets are $35 for adults, $26 for kids ages 5-12, and $30 for seniors. If you are a Washington State local, you get a discount for visiting.
When you get to the top of the Space Needle, make sure you visit both floors. The elevator drops you off on the top floor where you can walk around outside and grab something at the café. Next to the elevators is a staircase where you can walk down to the bottom floor. I personally think this level is really cool because of the glass floor. This is also the floor that rotates, so you can take a seat and get changing views of Seattle! When you are ready to leave, head back up to the top floor and take the next elevator back down.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass is a museum of glass art created by Dale Chihuly. This is the second most popular tourist attraction in Seattle – next to the Space Needle. Although I have never visited the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum myself, I have heard amazing things and it is definitely on my must-see list for my next trip to Seattle! I have seen bits and pieces of the artwork in the garden area, and what I have seen is really cool! If you plan on visiting both this museum and the Space Needle, you may want to consider purchasing the combo pass here.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, otherwise known as MoPOP, is hard to miss. Sitting right next to the Space Needle, this piece of art calls you to come explore! Learn more about legendary artists like Nirvana, then check out props from memorable movies in the sci-fi, horror, and fantasy rooms. The interactive elements really get you involved in learning more about pop culture! Be sure to check out their website to find out what special exhibit will be there during your visit. If you want to do all three of these main attractions in the Seattle Center, you may want to purchase a city pass to save some money. This pass will get you into the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden of Glass, MoPOP, the Seattle Aquarium (mentioned below), and the Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour.
Pike Place Market
Must-See At The Market
This enormous, year-round market is famous for its size, flowers, and flying fish! Many people also come here to see the gum wall beneath the market and the very first Starbucks which is located just outside the market. If you are going to Seattle for the first time, you need to put this on your must-see list. I couldn’t narrow down everything the market has to offer in just one paragraph, so I dedicated a post to it!
The Pike Brewing Company
Just down the street from Pike Place Market is an underground bar called The Pike Brewing Company. I stumbled upon this place on my last visit and I was happy I did! This place has a lot of character and a very homey feel. The drinks and food were great – perfect for warming up on a chilly night! My boyfriend especially loved the beer braised bratwurst while I was a fan of their burgers and soft pretzels with beer cheese.
The Wharf
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is another great place to visit – especially if you have kids! Growing up I always loved watching the octopus. There are plenty of cool creatures to observe during your stroll through the aquarium. If you decide to purchase a city pass, this aquarium is included, so why not check it out?
The Seattle Great Wheel
Right on the water you can’t miss this giant wheel. Some say the rides are overpriced at $14 for adults and $9 for kids 3-9, but the views are worth it! The Seattle Great Wheel is also fun to watch at night when the 500,000 lights are turned on! On the weekends you can watch light shows being displayed on the wheel, as well as special illuminations for game days. If you want a really memorable visit you can schedule your own message or special show to be displayed on the wheel! Check out their website for more information on these special bookings.
The Crab Pot
If you are looking for a unique, memorable dining experience, look no further! This restaurant may be known by out-of-towners after being featured on the show “man vs. food”. The Crab Pot is famous for its seafests. Parties of two or more can get out their bibs and clear their tables as a pot of seafood is dumped in front of them! It’s a fun experience, and the fresh seafood is amazing! Of course if this isn’t your style, they have a full menu of other great options as well.
Seahawks at Lumen Field 
Mariners at T-Mobile Park
Sporting Events
If you are lucky enough to be visiting while the Seahawks or Mariners are playing a home game, I highly recommend going! Any NFL game is a great experience, but visiting the loudest football stadium in the country is something special! Mariners games are just as great, especially on a warm evening. Check out Seahawks tickets here and Mariners tickets here.
Have you been to Seattle? Tell me about your experience in the comments!
Anna’s Pick of the Week
If you enjoy history, you may want to check out the Seattle underground tour! Many people may not know that the original streets are now underground. You can check out one of these tours here!
Booking.com
