Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Seattle?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Seattle?
Many visitors spend two to three days in Seattle during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the hiking, the big city activities, and the restaurant scene.
Located on the beautiful Puget Sound, Seattle is a quintessential Pacific Northwest city. It is filled with outdoor recreation, water activities, and an amazing restaurant scene. Pike Place Market is an iconic waterfront setting, but the famed Space Needle is the most recognizable sight of the city. Seattle is also at the heart of the country's tech industry, serving as the headquarters for large companies such as Microsoft and Amazon.
Do you have one or two days to visit Seattle? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Seattle?
With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, The popular city of Seattle has many activities and attractions for visitors. To fully embrace Seattle, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate two to three days to browse the museums, take a hike, enjoy the city's energy, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend a day in Seattle
When visiting Seattle, you can't miss the Space Needle as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The city has many diverse dining options that make it a popular foodie destination. The seafood is world-class with many restaurants offering fresh caught salmon and oysters. There are also many great Asian restaurants with Pho, sushi, and dim sum all being popular around town. Seattle is also famous as the birthplace of Starbucks coffee, and both chain and independent coffee shops are common. Finally, make sure you check out the donuts at Pike's Place Market.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Taste the Sea: Guided Seafood Tasting at Pike Place Ma ($72)
- Street Food Tour of South Lake Union- Area of Amazon Spheres ($77)
- Seattle Coffee Tour: Capitol Hill Cafes, Tastings & Local Stories ($59)
Seattle is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Many neighborhoods are very walkable, particularly in the downtown and major tourist areas.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Seattle?
As a popular city, Seattle offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. A weekend is probably not enough. You'd feel rushed to see the main attractions of Seattle such as the great museums and landmarks along with the terrific hiking. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more than just a 2 day trip. Most travelers schedule two to three days to fully experience this city. Nevertheless, if a weekend is all you can spare, we have some suggestions for your weekend getaway to Seattle below.
Seattle's Waterfront
How to spend 2 days in Seattle
With a weekend (two to three days) in Seattle, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Seattle a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The city's most iconic landmark is the Space Needle. There's also a zoo, aquarium, and a handful of nice museums. Several favorites include the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of History & Industry, and the Seattle Art Museum.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for The Museum of Flight, which is $25. It's great for families and is known for its extensive collection of historic aircraft and space artifacts, including rare and iconic planes.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Chihuly Garden and Glass. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its stunning and colorful glass sculptures displayed in indoor and outdoor garden settings. It's around $32 for adults, with discounted rates for seniors, youth, and children under 5 enter free..
It's worth around 2 hours for Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). Entry is around $28 for adults, with discounts available for seniors, youth, and children under 5 enter for free.. It's known for its extensive and interactive exhibits on music, sci-fi, and pop culture trends.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Seattle Art Museum, which is $25. It's great for any traveler and is known for its extensive and diverse art collections featuring works from Native American, African, Asian, and contemporary artists.
It's worth around 2 hours for Space Needle. Entry is around $35 for adults and discounted rates for children and seniors to access the observation deck; dining prices at the revolving restaurant are separate.. It's known for stunning 360-degree views of Seattle and its surroundings from an iconic observation tower.
Make sure to set aside around 1 hour for Ballard Locks (Hiram M. Chittenden Locks), which is free. It's great for families and is known for its unique engineering as a lock system connecting freshwater and saltwater, and the salmon fish ladder for migratory fish viewing.
It's worth around 1 hour for Fremont Troll. Entry is free. It's known for its massive size, quirky design, and being a famous public art installation under a bridge in Seattle.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bainbridge Island Serenity Forest Hike & Cultural Landmarks Tour ($235)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city is known for its breweries and eclectic nightlife scene. There is a thriving theater scene as well as many bars and trendy restaurants. The best neighborhoods for nightlife include Capitol Hill, Belltown, and Downtown.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Seattle Terrors Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl ($36)
Public transit in Seattle is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. There is a light rail system, a monorail, a street car, and buses.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Seattle, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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