Seattle’s Major Attractions

NEIGHBORHOODS & HISTORIC DISTRICTS

Capitol Hill

East of Downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill is a lively, walkable neighborhood known for its LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, trendy bars, brunch spots, and unique boutiques. Offering a promenade of shops and restaurants by day and a collection of bustling bars, nightclubs, and concert venues by night, Capitol Hill is a Seattle neighborhood that seamlessly blends historic charm with modern energy. The neighborhood is also home to Cal Anderson Park, the unofficial hub of the neighborhood, equipped with fountains, sports fields, and sport courts. Also in Capitol Hill is Volunteer Park, an urban oasis that is home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park Conservatory, and stunning views from the park’s historic water tower.  

Chinatown-International District (CID)

From the 1860s through much of the 20th century, immigrants from China came to Seattle and established a community just south of Pioneer Square that eventually grew into Seattle’s Chinatown and expanded to become the Chinatown-International District. Spanning 44 blocks, the CID remains a bustling, historic neighborhood home to Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Southeast Asian communities. Known for its diverse range of businesses, restaurants, and cultural institutions, the CID features landmarks such as the Wing Luke Museum, which showcases an exhibit about Bruce Lee, and Uwajimaya, one of the largest Asian grocery stores in the U.S. 

Contact Information: 

Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Association
Hing Hay Coworks
409B Maynard Ave. S.
Seattle, WA  98104
(206) 571-3436

Chinatown Discovery Tours
719 S. King St.
Seattle, WA  98104
(206) 623-5124

Uwajimaya
600 5th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA  98104
(206) 624-6248

 

Pike Place Market

With more than a century of history, Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the nation. The market attracts visitors and locals alike with its farm-fresh produce, butcher-paper–clad bouquets, and abundance of shops, vendors, restaurants, and bars. From fishmongers slinging salmon to street buskers playing for passersby, there’s always something going on at the Market. Pike Place Market is located between First and Western Avenues and is bound by Union and Stewart Streets in downtown Seattle. 

Contact Information:  

Pike Place Market
85 Pike St., Ste 500
Seattle, WA  98101
(206) 682-7453

Pike Place Market Foundation
[email protected]
93 Pike St. #310
Seattle, WA  98101
(206) 803-9803

 

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is Seattle’s oldest neighborhood, located on the southern edge of the downtown business core. Once a booming hub for the timber trade and the Klondike Gold Rush, the area is now known for its Victorian Romanesque architecture, art galleries, and lively restaurants and bars. Visitors can explore the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, take Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour to see remnants of the original streets, or enjoy stunning views from Smith Tower’s 35th-floor Observatory Bar.  

Contact Information: 

Alliance for Pioneer Square
105 S. Main St., Suite 201
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 667-0687

 

Seattle Center

The legacy of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair lives on at Seattle Center, a 74-acre urban park and home to the landmark Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Climate Pledge Arena, Pacific Science Center, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Children’s Museum, Artists At Play, and many other attractions. Seattle Center also hosts many of the city’s largest festivals, including Bumbershoot, Festál, Pride Fest, Day In Day Out, Northwest Folklife Festival, the Bite of Seattle, and the Seattle Christmas Market.  

Contact Information: 

Seattle Center
305 Harrison St.
Seattle, WA  98109
(206) 684-7200

 

Seattle Waterfront

The Seattle Waterfront offers a variety of ways for visitors to enjoy Elliott Bay, from the Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion to iconic attractions like the Seattle Great Wheel and Wings Over Washington. Harbor cruises, waterfront dining, and improved pedestrian spaces make it easy to explore and take in the sweeping views. The waterfront’s ongoing renovation is enhancing attractions, accessibility, and transportation. Highlights include a new pedestrian bridge at Colman Dock, the Ocean Pavilion at the Seattle Aquarium, and the Overlook Walk that connects Pike Place Market to Pier 62. 

Contact Information: 

Friends of the Waterfront Park
1201 Alaskan Way, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 499-8040

 

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS

The Burke Museum

One of the oldest natural history museums in the region, the Burke Museum features both natural and cultural artifacts from the Pacific Northwest and the Pacific Rim ranging from totem poles and hand-carved cedar canoes by Indigenous Coast Salish people, to dinosaur skeletons, fossils, gems, and minerals. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture opened a brand-new building on the University of Washington‘s campus in October 2019. 

Contact Information: 

The Burke Museum
University of Washington
4303 Memorial Way NE
Seattle, WA  98195
(206) 543-7907

 

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass is located below the Space Needle on Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus. The museum showcases the most comprehensive collection of Washington artist Dale Chihuly’s artwork ever assembled. It includes a collection of glass, sculpture, and other media displayed in both interior and exterior exhibits. The interior exhibit highlights the wide variety of Chihuly’s most popular works. The exterior features some of his large, signature works amid a lush garden. The exterior also includes a 40-foot Glass House structure with an impressive Chihuly installation flowing from the ceiling covering 4,500 square feet. The eight expansive galleries are accompanied by a bookstore and onsite restaurant, The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass.  

Contact Information: 

Chihuly Garden and Glass
305 Harrison St
Seattle, WAS 98109
(206) 753-4940

 

Seattle Children’s Museum

The Seattle Children’s Museum offers a fun, interactive learning environment for kids and families, featuring exhibits including Amazing Airways, Orca Cove, Raindrop Reading Room, Tribal Tales, Twists & Turns, and a traveling exhibit gallery.

Contact Information:    

Seattle Children’s Museum
Seattle Center
305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA  98109
(206) 441-1768

 

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

The brainchild of Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, MoPOP is dedicated to exploring creativity and innovation in American popular culture – such as rock ‘n’ roll music, science fiction, and television’s most memorable moments. Visitors to the Frank O. Gehry-designed, 140,000-square-foot museum can view rare artifacts and memorabilia while experiencing the creative process by listening to musicians, filmmakers, game developers, and authors tell their own stories. 

Contact Information: 

Museum of Pop Culture
Seattle Center
325 Fifth Ave. N.
Seattle, WA  98109
(206) 770-2700

 

Henry Art Gallery

The Henry Art Gallery is located on the west side of the University of Washington campus in a striking Charles Gwathmey-designed glass and textured steel building. One of the Pacific Northwest’s premier modern and contemporary art museums, the Henry Art Gallery showcases exhibitions and their related programs, which invite dialogue about contemporary culture, politics, aesthetics and the traditions of visual art and design of the last two centuries.

Contact Information: 

Henry Art Gallery
University of Washington
15^th Avenue Northeast and NE 41st Street
Seattle, WA  98195
(206) 543-2280

 

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, often called the Ballard Locks, lie at the western end of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle. They were constructed to raise and lower ships (between six and 26 feet depending on the tides) to allow them to pass between fresh water (Lake Union and Lake Washington) and saltwater (Puget Sound). Operated by the Army Corp of Engineers, the locks are one of Seattle’s most popular visitor attractions and offer a visitor center, a botanical garden, and a fish ladder used by salmon, steelhead, and other fish.   

Contact Information:    

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
3015 NW 54th St.
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 780-2500

 

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

This free national park museum in Seattle’s Pioneer Square commemorates Seattle’s role in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1899. The museum’s auditorium features short films on the Gold Rush and Seattle history.  

Contact Information: 

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
319 Second Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 220-4240

 

Museum of Flight

From the Wright brothers to outer space, the wonder of flight comes alive at one of the world’s largest air and space museums. With more than 175 historic air and spacecrafts on display, interactive exhibits, and activities for the whole family, the Museum of Flight offers an exciting experience for the aviation enthusiast and general visitor alike. Museum exhibits include a retired British Airways Concorde jetliner, Air Force One, NASA Space Shuttle Trainer, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Museum of Flight’s Aviation Pavilion, an open-air structure that extends the length of two football fields, displays more than 20 commercial and military airplanes that museum visitors can explore. 

Contact Information: 

Museum of Flight
[email protected]
9404 East Marginal Way S.
Seattle, WA  98108
(206) 764-5700

 

Boeing Future of Flight

Boeing Future of Flight in Mukilteo, just 25 miles north of Seattle near Boeing’s largest jet assembly plant, is a top aerospace and aviation attraction featuring interactive exhibits, a theater, and a rooftop observation deck overlooking Paine Field airstrip. Visitors experience the Everett Factory Tour, an 80-minute guided tour of the 777/777X assembly process.  

Contact Information: 

Boeing Future of Flight
8415 Paine Field Blvd.
Mukilteo, WA  98275
(800) 464-1476

Boeing Everett Factory Tour
(800) 464-1476

 

Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art

The Museum of Glass in Tacoma is dedicated to contemporary art with a focus on glassmaking and features the West Coast’s largest active glass studio. Visitors can explore 13,000 square feet of exhibition space and watch live glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop Amphitheater. The museum is connected to downtown Tacoma by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a 500-foot pedestrian overpass showcasing works by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.  

Contact Information: 

Museum of Glass
1801 Dock St
Tacoma, WA  98402
(253) 284-4750

 

Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)

Located on the shores of Lake Union, the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) showcases the rich history and culture of the Puget Sound region. As Seattle’s premier history museum, it features state-of-the-art exhibits, hands-on activities, and a collection of more than four million artifacts. MOHAI also offers award-winning programs for all ages and collaborates with the community to bring local history to life through special events. 

Contact Information: 

Museum of History & Industry
860 Terry Ave N
Seattle, WA  98109
(206) 324-1126

 

Olympic Sculpture Park

The nine-acre park connecting Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood and the waterfront features a 2,500-foot, zigzagging pedestrian path that descends to a beach. Along the path, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, as well as sculptures by renowned artists such as Richard Serra, Alexander Calder, and Mark di Suvero. The park is open daily, 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. 

Contact Information: 

Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 654-3100

 

Pacific Science Center

Pacific Science Center is a hands-on learning center for kids and families offering permanent and traveling exhibits. Permanent exhibits feature Professor Wellbody’s Academy of Health & Wellness, an interactive dinosaur display, Tropical Butterfly House, Insect Village, Puget Sound Model and Saltwater Tide Pool, plus other exhibits showcasing animals, technology and more.  Two IMAX theaters showcase the latest in big-screen and 3-D films; the Boeing IMAX Theatre features a screen six stories high and 80 feet wide, with the newest IMAX with Laser projection and sound system.

Contact Information: 

Pacific Science Center
Seattle Center
200 Second Ave N.
Seattle, WA  98109
(206) 443-2001

 

Seattle Aquarium

Located on Pier 59 along Elliott Bay, the Seattle Aquarium offers an engaging way to explore the region’s marine life. The aquarium connects the marine ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest to the vibrant Coral Triangle in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the shared, interconnected ocean.  

The Seattle Aquarium’s groundbreaking Ocean Pavilion, which opened Aug. 29, 2024, showcases tropical species from the Coral Triangle. Part of Seattle’s major waterfront redevelopment project, it connects Pike Place Market to the waterfront promenade with observation decks, stairways, and an oculus window offering views of sea life to passersby below. Featuring sustainable, next-generation design, the pavilion sets a national standard for regenerative construction in climate impact, energy, and water use.   

Contact Information: 

Seattle Aquarium
1483 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA  98101
(206) 386-4300

 

Seattle Art Museum

Located in downtown Seattle, Seattle Art Museum (SAM) features a striking Robert Venturi-designed building with notable exterior works like Jonathan Borofsky’s “Hammering Man”. Home to a collection of approximately 23,000 art pieces, SAM highlights Asian, African, Northwest Indigenous, and modern art alongside rotating exhibitions. The museum also showcases contemporary installations and European paintings, offering a diverse and dynamic art experience. Visitors can also enjoy Seattle Art Museum’s other locations: the Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park and the free Olympic Sculpture Park on Seattle’s waterfront.    

Contact Information: 

Seattle Art Museum
1300 First Ave.
Seattle, WA  98101

Seattle Asian Art Museum
1400 E. Prospect St.
Seattle, WA  98112

Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western Ave.
Seattle, WA  98121

 

Seattle Great Wheel

The Seattle Great Wheel is a 175-foot Ferris wheel located at the end of Pier 57 on the Seattle waterfront. The 42 Euro-designed gondolas are equipped with heating, air conditioning, and stunning views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and the Seattle city skyline. The structure extends nearly 40 feet out from the pier, hovering over Elliott Bay. Each 15-minute ride includes three full revolutions of the wheel with gondolas accommodating up to eight riders. For a VIP experience, book Cabin 42, featuring leather bucket seats, a stereo system, a glass bottom floor, and seating for up to four adults. The gondolas are also wheelchair accessible. 

Contact Information: 

Seattle Great Wheel
1301 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 623-8607

 

Smith Tower Observatory

Built in 1914 and restored in 1999, Smith Tower is a historic landmark and was once Seattle’s tallest building. Its 35th-floor observation deck offers stunning 360-degree views of the city, Puget Sound, and surrounding mountains. Visitors can also enjoy the speakeasy-inspired Observatory Bar, featuring local favorites and craft cocktails with a touch of Prohibition–era charm.  

Contact Information: 

Smith Tower Observatory
506 Second Ave.
Seattle, WA  98104
(206) 624-0414

 

Space Needle

Built as the centerpiece of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the 605-foot Space Needle remains a futuristic, iconic symbol and the centerpiece of Seattle. The Space Needle observation deck, located 520 feet above ground, offers indoor and outdoor 360-degree views of the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. The SpaceBase gift shop is on the ground level in the Space Needle lobby. 

Contact Information: 

Space Needle
400 Broad St.
Seattle, WA  98109
(206) 905-2100

 

Wings Over Washington

This multi-sensory “flying theater” is located at Pier 57 on Seattle’s waterfront and transports guests through a simulated aerial adventure high over Washington state. The 20-minute film features views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic National Forest and San Juan Islands, the Cascade Mountains, Snoqualmie Falls, the Tieton River, and the wonders of the Walla Walla Valley Balloon Stampede.   

Contact Information: 

Wings Over Washington
1301 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 623-8607

 

Woodland Park Zoo

Often ranked among the top zoos in the country, Woodland Park is famed for pioneering immersive, naturalistic exhibits for both animals and zoo visitors. The Banyan Wilds is a state-of-the-art exhibit for Malayan tigers, sloth bears, Asian small-clawed otters, and tropical birds. Award-winning exhibits include the Humboldt penguins, Jaguar Cove, Living Northwest Trail, Tropical Rain Forest, Trail of Vines, and African Savanna.  

Contact Information: 

Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave. N.
Seattle, WA  98103
(206) 548-2500

 

TOURS & CRUISES

Argosy Cruises

Argosy Cruises is Seattle’s largest water sightseeing tour operator, offering excursions of Seattle’s harbor, Lake Union, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, and Puget Sound. The one-hour, narrated Harbor Cruise departs from Pier 55 on the Seattle waterfront and cruises Elliott Bay (Seattle’s busy harbor) several times daily with hours changing seasonally. Argosy offers a two–hour Locks cruise which departs from either the Seattle waterfront or AGC Marina on Lake Union. This cruise ventures through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks where boats are raised and lowered between the fresh water of Lake Union and the saltwater of Puget Sound.  

Contact Information: 

Argosy Cruises
1101 Alaskan Way, Ste. 201
Seattle, WA  98101
(888) 623-1445

 

Kenmore Air

Kenmore Air, which started operating in Seattle in 1946, is one of the oldest and largest float plane operators in the world with a fleet of 25 aircraft flying around two million miles and carrying 125,000 passengers per year. Kenmore Air offers regularly scheduled flights between Seattle and Victoria, B.C., as well as Friday Harbor and other points in the San Juan Islands, Olympic Peninsula, and British Columbia’s Gulf Islands. Charters, fishing, and other packages – as well as 20-minute Seattle “flightseeing” excursions – are also offered.  Fares change seasonally and vary according to destination.  

Contact Information: 

Kenmore Air
(866) 435-9524

Kenmore Air Harbor
6321 NE 175^th St.
Kenmore, WA  98028

Lake Union Air Harbor
950 Westlake Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109

 

FRS Clipper

FRS Clipper operates several high-speed, passenger-only catamarans from the Seattle waterfront to Victoria, B.C. throughout the year with a two-to-three-hour crossing time depending on the vessel.  

Contact Information: 

FRS Clipper
Pier 69
2701 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA  98121
(800) 888-2535

 

Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries, the nation’s largest ferry system, carries 23 million passengers per year aboard 21 vessels serving ten routes. Ferries range in size from small, high-speed passenger-only boats to vessels that carry 2,500 passengers and 202 automobiles. Among the most popular and scenic routes are the ones leaving Seattle’s waterfront. These car ferries (also open to foot and bicycle passengers) travel to Bremerton (on the Olympic Peninsula) and Bainbridge Island. Several other routes operate on Puget Sound with comparable fares and regular sailings, including Mukilteo-Clinton (Whidbey Island), and Edmonds-Kingston (Olympic Peninsula). 

Washington State Ferries
801 Alaskan Way, Pier 52
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 464-6400
(888) 808-7977

 

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Media Contacts:

Kau’ilani Robinson – (206) 461-5839 | [email protected]

Cory O’Born – (206) 461-5805 | [email protected]

Jared Dionne – (206) 461-5807 | [email protected]

Sydney Martinez – (206) 461-5852 | [email protected]

Joey Thompson – (206) 903-0768 | [email protected]

(Updated 6/2025)