The 20 best things to do in Seattle

Is it a weekend away in a new city if you didn’t spend hours people watching in a square? No, is the answer. And Seattle has just the thing. Pioneer Square is Seattle’s oldest neighbourhood, and features everything you need for the perfect afternoon – cafés, bookstores, and lovely architecture, to name a few. While you’re there, head to the  Klondike Gold Rush museum, and then check out the Smith Tower, which for a while was the tallest building on the West Coast, and boasts some pretty spectacular views. This is also the spot for the brilliant Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, where you can learn about Seattle’s underground passages, dark tunnels and subterranean passageways. 

Every city needs a freakishly tall structure with overpriced champagne, right? Well, this is Seattle’s. The space needle was originally constructed to be part of the 1962 World’s Fair, and boasts the most incredible views of the city. From here, you can see the Cascades, Olympic Mountains and more, and it’s had a number of renovations to make it really shine. Now, there’s tilting glass walls (called Skyrisers), which make you feel like you’re floating, and a revolving glass floor to make you dizzy. Plus, there’s that all important cafe. 

A unique visual experience, the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum showcases the epic work of Northwest glass artist Dale Chihuly with a series of mind- and glass-blowing indoor and outdoor installations. The sculptures range from the elegant to the extravagant, particularly in the garden, where plants and glass pieces tangle in a blaze of colors. Refraction means a completely different experience in different weather conditions—but permanent Instagram gold.

A famous market and a must-see, no matter the length of your trip. It is the most visited landmark in the city (impressive for a market, right?) and a fabulous place for foodies to indulge in tasty grub. Sleuth out the rosy entrance to hidden local favorite the Pink Door, which serves up deliciously fresh Italian grub. Other great options for sit-down lunch include Pike Place Chowder—serving some of the best clam chowders this side of Boston—and Lowell’s, where you can tick the Seattle Joe Scramble (sausage, spinach, and mushrooms) off of your gastronomical bucket list. Skip over to the other side, and you can discover another of Pike Place's secret foodie havens The Crumpet Shop, though they have been known to sell out by lunchtime. 

This nearby island is the antithesis of the skyscraper-stuffed city, with 150 acres of gardens, ponds, and meadows to explore in the beautiful Bloedel Reserve. Like NYC’s Staten Island Ferry, the Bainbridge Island Ferry is a splendid way to eyeball a significant amount of Seattle’s highlights swiftly—and cheaply. But before you take the 35-minute ride back, stop for a treat at one of the West Coast’s finest ice cream parlors, Mora Iced Creamery, where flavors include cheesecake with raspberry jam and mojito.

Located a short drive from downtown in Tukwila, the Seattle Barista Academy offers three-hour classes for javaholics. If you’re a fan of the black stuff, the epicenter of the North American coffee scene is the perfect place to get your hands dirty. Learn everything from beginner latte art to how to brew the perfect espresso in the span of an afternoon. Pro tip: Better book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Born from a popular food truck, Marination Ma Kai serves up mouthwatering Hawaiian-Korean fusion food at an ace location on the glistening waterfront. Board the West Seattle water taxi at Pier 50, and 15 minutes later, you’ll arrive in Seattle's take on the tropics. With jaw-dropping views from its patio, this restaurant makes you feel like you are on an island. For eats, opt for a pork katsu sandwich with kimchi (beware the spice, though) or say aloha to some sexy (their word, not ours) tofu tacos.

The Seattle Great Wheel, on Pier 57, is one of the largest of its kind in North America, and gondolas are fully enclosed for rain-or-shine rides. The views from this 175-foot-high Ferris wheel more than compensate for its corniness. From the top, you’ll enjoy a grand panorama of the city, the Pacific Ocean, and—if you’re lucky—the Olympic Mountains. First opened in 2012, the wheel isn't a particularly old landmark, but that hardly matters. Besides, not only can you expect fantastic views when you're going for a ride, but the wheel itself lights up, providing the Seattle skyline with a little razzle-dazzle.

This park covers all of the Bailey Peninsula, and its lush, old-growth forest (some of the trees are more than 250 years old) is a popular escape from the urban jungle. A forested 300-acre peninsula jutting out into Lake Washington, Seward Park is only a 20-minute drive (or taxi ride) from downtown Seattle, but it feels like a different world. With beaches, boating, tennis courts, and hiking trails, it’s an excellent day-trip option for all ages.

Washington prides itself on its wine—and Chateau Ste. Michelle (less than 20 miles from Seattle) is the state’s oldest and most celebrated winery. A turreted French-style mansion surrounded by 105-acre grounds, Ste. Michelle produces chardonnay, cabernet, merlot, riesling, and other varietals that visitors can taste in regular tasting sessions. If you visit during the warmer months, don't miss the popular summer concert series on the winery's pristine lawn.

“De libertas quirkas" (“the freedom to be quirky”), is the unofficial motto of Fremont, Seattle's indie enclave. Home of the Fremont Troll, the hip nabe has some of the best vintage stores and independent boutiques in the Northwest. Among the highlights are PIPE + ROW, an expertly curated boutique known for its unique accessories, and Show Pony, which champions local designers and is a mine of affordable fashion. If you are into record collecting, don't miss Jive Time, where you can pick up used vinyl for a fraction of the retail price. 

Officially named the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, these labyrinthine waterways linking the Puget Sound with Lake Washington and the Ship Canal are one of the city's most popular attractions. On sunny days, people flock to the waterside and the neighboring Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden—one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city. If the sun is out, many people will kick back dockside or stroll on the swinging walkways to watch the boats come and go.

Self-taught chef Tom Douglas remains MVP on Seattle’s restaurant scene, gracing the city with several fabulous restaurants. Whether you opt for thin-crust wood-fired pizzas at Serious Pie, Greek-influenced cuisine at Lola, or seafood at the Seatown Rub Shack and Fish Fry, you'll taste some seriously good grub. 

The Rainy City’s reputation may be exaggerated, but when the weather looks menacing, simply duck underground to roam forgotten subterranean passages with expert guides. For a sub-sidewalk circuit of the city, get on a Beneath the Streets tour. Setting off from Cherry Street, the one-hour walk snakes under Pioneer Square, past beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture, and into the earliest roots of Seattle. You can now explore underground Seattle in a new light by joining a Red Light District Tour. Expect to come face to face with Seattle's grimy underbelly, including discussions about prostitution, gambling, vice, and drinking.

MoPOP is Seattle’s tribute to the history of Northwest music, from Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana and much more. Celebrating all things pop culture and science fiction, the exhibition space is wrapped inside a fluid Frank Gehry design. Play in your own virtual rock band while learning about the region’s rich rock legacy, or geek out in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. 

The 90-minute Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour covers the past, present, and future of human flight in a state-of-the-art museum and gives you entry to the Boeing factory. You get to go behind the scenes at the facility where the famous Boeing aircraft are made and tested. At a sprawling 98 acres, this is officially the largest building in the world (measured by volume)—and the place where Boeing developed the Dreamliner.

Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry covers the region's heritage through a colossal collection of four million artifacts. In 2012, this Smithsonian affiliate relocated to its grand new home in the Naval Reserve Armory in Lake Union Park. The bigger premises allows the museum to display more of its collection, including outstanding pieces like the Petticoat Flag—an 1856 American flag sewn by women during the Battle of Seattle—and Boeing’s first commercial airplane (the 1919 Boeing B-1).

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM to its friends) is one of the city’s unmissable highlights. The extensive permanent collections of Native American and Pacific Northwest artwork are worth the visit alone, but the diverse, lively temporary exhibitions keep locals and visitors returning time and again. If you can, try to time your visit to include the first Thursday of the month, when entry is free, and leave time to check out the nearby outdoor art at Olympic Sculpture Park. 

Located on South King Street in the Chinatown-International District, the Wing Luke Museum is dedicated to exploring the culture, art, and history of Asian Pacific Americans. The museum is particularly strong on folk art and oral history but also curates many fascinating neighborhood walking tours. Of course, there’s plenty of love for Seattle’s most famous Asian Pacific son, the mighty Bruce Lee, in an exhibition that includes some of his poems and personal possessions.

Triple Door—a beautiful 1920s vaudeville theater with stints as a burlesque house and blue movie theater—is well worth checking out. Now one of the Northwest’s top live music venues, it combines world-class acts with an award-winning restaurant, Wild Ginger. If you don’t want to commit to a full concert experience, the no-cover Musicquarium Lounge is great for pre-dinner happy hour cocktails and a taste of local music before moving down Union Street.