Seattle walking tour & city guide

Pike Place Market and the waterfront

Pike Place Market, opened in 1907, is one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States. Under its famous neon 'Public Market Center' sign, fishmongers toss salmon through the air, and the lower levels hide quirky shops. Nearby is the original Starbucks store and the colorful, if slightly sticky, Gum Wall.

Below the market, Seattle's waterfront has been rebuilt with a new promenade along Elliott Bay, connecting the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Great Wheel and ferry terminals. A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island is one of the best and cheapest ways to see the skyline and the Olympic Mountains.

The Space Needle and neighborhoods

The Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair, rises over Seattle Center, alongside the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum and the Museum of Pop Culture. For the classic postcard view of the Needle with Mount Rainier behind, head to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill.

Pioneer Square, the city's oldest neighborhood, has Romanesque Revival buildings and an underground tour of the streets buried after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Capitol Hill is the lively nightlife district, and Fremont proudly calls itself the 'Center of the Universe', complete with a giant troll sculpture under a bridge.

Weather and tips

Seattle is famous for its drizzle, which is frequent from October to April but rarely heavy. Summers are dry, sunny and mild, the ideal time to visit. Pack a waterproof jacket at any time of year and do as locals do: walk anyway and warm up with a coffee.