Seattle · Washington, USA
Things to Do in Seattle: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in Seattle, ranked by real traveller reviews: graze through Pike Place Market, go up the Space Needle, cruise Elliott Bay past the skyline, then head out to Mount Rainier, Snoqualmie Falls or the rainforests of Olympic National Park. Compare 510+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
528 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Seattle
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Seattle
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Seattle by interest
Whatever brings you to Seattle — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Pike Place & city
Market & sights.
ExploreMount Rainier
Iconic volcano.
ExploreHarbor cruises
Elliott Bay sails.
ExploreOlympic Park
Rainforest & coast.
ExploreBoeing & flight
Aviation heritage.
ExploreFalls & Leavenworth
Scenic day trips.
ExploreWhale watching
Orcas & whales.
ExploreSpace Needle
City icon.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Seattle
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Space Needle
City icon.
70+ toursView tours
Pike Place Market
Famous market.
110 toursView tours
Mount Rainier
Iconic volcano.
90 toursView tours
Olympic Park
Rainforest & coast.
70 toursView tours
Elliott Bay
Harbor cruises.
90 toursView tours
Boeing Factory
Future of Flight.
50 toursView tours
Underground Seattle
History tour.
40 toursView tours
San Juan Islands
Whale watching.
50 toursView tours
3 days
Seattle in 3 days
- 1Day 1: the city
- 2Day 2: Mount Rainier
- 3Day 3: Olympic Park
- 4Harbor cruise
Mountains
Seattle & Mount Rainier
- 1Drive to Rainier
- 2Guided hike
- 3Waterfalls & meadows
- 4Snoqualmie Falls
With kids
Seattle with kids
- 1Space Needle
- 2Pike Place Market
- 3Harbor cruise
- 4Whale watching
~2.5 hrs awayMount Rainier
Iconic volcano.
from $120View trips
~3 hrs awayOlympic Park
Rainforest & coast.
from $140View trips
~1 hr awayBoeing Factory
Future of Flight.
from $90View trips
~30 min awaySnoqualmie Falls
268-ft waterfall, half day.
from $67View trips
~2.5 hrs awayLeavenworth
Bavarian village in the Cascades.
from $163View trips
Full day awaySan Juan Islands
Orcas & whale watching.
from $136View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Seattle visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
The best time, with warm, dry, sunny days perfect for cruises, mountains and the islands.
Spring (Apr–May)
Fresh and green with blossoms and fewer crowds, though some mountain roads are still snowy.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Crisp, colourful and quieter, lovely for the city and lowland scenery.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Cool and rainy in the city, with skiing in the nearby Cascade Mountains.
Best for mountains
July to September is best for Mount Rainier, with clear roads and wildflower meadows.
Whale season
Roughly April to October is best for whale watching in the Salish Sea.
One day
Pike Place, the Space Needle and a cruise.
Three days
Add Mount Rainier and Olympic Park.
Five days
Add the islands, Vancouver and wine country.
Nature lovers
More time for mountains and rainforests.
Foodies
Pike Place and neighbourhood food tours.
With kids
Sights, cruises and whale watching.
On foot
Downtown, Pike Place, the waterfront and Seattle Center are easily explored on foot.
Light rail & monorail
The Link light rail connects the airport and downtown, and the monorail links to Seattle Center.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup are the easiest way to reach Mount Rainier, Olympic Park and the Boeing Factory.
Ferries
Washington State Ferries offer scenic crossings of Puget Sound to the islands and peninsula.
Rental car
A car helps for independent day trips, though downtown parking can be pricey.
Getting there
Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) International Airport is linked to downtown by the Link light rail.
US dollars
Seattle uses the US dollar; cards are accepted almost everywhere, with tipping customary.
Book ahead
Mount Rainier, Olympic Park and Boeing tours fill up in summer — reserve in advance.
Dress in layers
Weather can change quickly; bring layers and a rain jacket even in summer.
CityPASS
A Seattle CityPASS can save money if you plan to visit several top attractions.
Clear-day views
On clear days, Mount Rainier is visible from the city — a great photo backdrop.
Plan travel time
Day trips to the mountains and park are long; book full-day tours and start early.
Mount Rainier tours
Day tours sell out in summer — book ahead.
Olympic Park tours
Limited day tours fill up — reserve early.
Boeing Factory
Popular factory tours have limited places — book ahead.
Pike Place food tours
Small-group food tours sell out — reserve early.
Space Needle
Timed tickets are best booked ahead in peak season.
Whale watching
Summer cruises fill up — reserve early.
Pike Place food tour
Around $40–70 for a guided market food tour.
Space Needle
About $35–60 for a Space Needle ticket, more with Chihuly.
Harbor cruise
Roughly $40–70 for a harbor cruise or sunset sail.
Mount Rainier tour
Around $120–180 for a full-day Mount Rainier tour.
Olympic Park tour
About $140–200 for a full-day Olympic National Park tour.
How to save
Join group tours, use a CityPASS and travel midweek.
When to visit
Seattle through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- Mountains & sea.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
Spring (Apr–May)
Apr–May
- Best for
- Blossoms, green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some snow up high.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Oct–Nov
- Best for
- Colour, quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cooler, wetter.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Skiing nearby.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Rainy in city.
People also ask
Seattle travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Seattle?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) Pike Place Market and a food tour, 2) the Space Needle, 3) Chihuly Garden and Glass, 4) an Elliott Bay harbor cruise, 5) the Underground tour in Pioneer Square, 6) a Mount Rainier day trip, 7) Snoqualmie Falls, 8) the Museum of Pop Culture, 9) Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rainforest, 10) whale watching in the San Juan Islands.
How many days do you need in Seattle?
Two days for the city: Pike Place, the Space Needle, the waterfront and a cruise on day one, Fremont, Ballard Locks and a museum on day two. Add a day each for Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park. Most visitors are happy with three to five days.
What to do in Seattle for free?
Pike Place Market, Kerry Park’s postcard skyline view, the Olympic Sculpture Park, the Ballard Locks and salmon ladder, Discovery Park, Gas Works Park, the Fremont Troll and the Central Library. A Washington State Ferry ride to Bainbridge Island costs a few dollars and is the best-value cruise in the city.
What are the best day trips from Seattle?
Mount Rainier (about 2.5 hours, full day, wildflowers July–September), Snoqualmie Falls (30 minutes, half day, often combined with Woodinville wineries), Olympic National Park with the Hoh Rainforest and the coast (full day via ferry), Leavenworth’s Bavarian village (2.5 hours), whale watching from Anacortes or the San Juan Islands, and the Boeing Factory tour in Everett.
What is there to do in Seattle in winter?
The market, the Space Needle, Chihuly, MoPOP and the Underground tour are all indoor and quieter in winter. Snoqualmie Falls is at its thundering fullest, Leavenworth runs its Christmas lights from late November, and skiing at Snoqualmie Pass and Crystal Mountain is an hour away. Rainier and Olympic tours pause on the high roads until spring.
What to do in Seattle at night?
A sunset sail on Elliott Bay, the Space Needle after dark (tickets are valid for a day and night visit), live music in Capitol Hill and Ballard, a ghost tour of Pike Place Market or the Underground, and the view from Kerry Park once the lights come on.
What are the best things to do in Seattle with kids?
The Space Needle’s glass floor, the Seattle Aquarium on the waterfront, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Pacific Science Center, watching the fish fly at Pike Place, the Great Wheel, the Ballard Locks and a whale-watching cruise. The Underground tour suits kids from about age eight.
When is the best time to visit Seattle?
July to September is dry and warm, with mountain roads open and wildflowers on Rainier. Late spring and early autumn are quieter and still good for the city. Winter is grey and wet but cheap.
Is the Space Needle worth it?
Yes for a first visit — the open-air deck and rotating glass floor give the classic view of the city, Puget Sound and, on a clear day, Mount Rainier. Combine it with Chihuly Garden and Glass next door and go on a clear day or at sunset.
528 Seattle experiencesfrom $35 · free cancellation
Explore tours