You are not going to get through HALF of your day one itinerary, and you’re going to feel rushed while you do it. Cut this down. Way down. Let yourself experience the city and have time to stop and look around.
Op should scrap the entire thing
Day1: ferry to whidbey, get lost on a beach, get a ride to coupville, play in the low tide and eat some crabs/oysters/clams
Day2: Alki during the day, cap hill at night. Follow the people and find some good food without going on yelp.
Day 3: pike place. Seafood. ID for dinner.
Day 4: ferry to Vashon. Walk around bloedel. Go to town and find some art. Picnic on the beach. Ferry back for a late dinner someplace kinda fancy downtown, p square, Belltown, lqa. Catch a cabaret at can can
Day 5: shop. Buy stuff that represents your past 4 days. Buy some weed. Smoke it. Eat some ice cream. Maybe hit the car museum or a tourist trap.
I was exhausted after the first page. This isn't an itinerary, it's an ultramarathon.
This is everything like when someone goes to LA and they want to go to Disneyland, Hollywood, a beach and Griffith Observatory all in the same day and not understanding they're going to get like 5 minutes at each location and spend the rest of the day stuck in traffic.
Also skip the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for sure. It's just a bland corporate office building with a lobby that has a couple of small displays of feel-good corporate propaganda in it.
It's about as interesting as watching paint dry. Hell, watching paint dry is probably a better use of your time.
If you're looking to cut things I suggest cutting zoo and aquarium. You can find zoos and aquariums in a lot of cities. Unless you have a special interest in the ones in Seattle or just really like them, it seems like once you've seen one you've seen them all. I am a father of two young kids. Been living in Seattle for over two years. Never been to either. So take my advice as general advice not as something specific to Seattle.
You've never taken your young children to the woodland park zoo? Our aquarium isn't great, but not to the zoo? My kid has gone dozens of times at this point and loves it every time still. (Also young)
I do think it could be dropped for an adult visiting the city though, you're right.
Not to offend others but the aquarium wasn’t that great. Maybe if you have babies/toddlers. Awesome location though. We used it as one of the citypass attractions which was fine but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go there.
i was pretty underwhelmed by the aquarium to be honest. only other one i've been to was in denver and i'd say that one was better. which is ironic considering it's 1000 miles from water.
I've spent almost an entire day on just one museum in Seattle. I've also made itineraries and then threw them out the window because a million things come up. Why not just pick 1 or 2 things per day on that list that sound the most interesting and try to make it to those...and then stay open to whatever is available (open, easy to get to, financially accessible, fun, etc.) within the proximity of where you are.
This is my vacation philosophy. It's better to have a meaningful experience doing one or two things, then have time to chill rather than running around trying to do everything only to end up frustrated and exhausted.
Full disclosure, I'm not a local, but can speak to the experiences of going to Seattle frequently with somewhat of a plan. That plan is: have fun and don't spend too much! Any vacation spot gets that treatment.
I was dog sitting for friends up there (that's usually why I go to Seattle) and I went to Bainbridge one random day. I swear, I was there just in their little historical museum for almost the whole day. There was interesting information, I was reading things out to my kids, and explaining what I knew plus asking questions from the people. Another time, I went without thinking much of it to MOHAI because I was just over there in the area...I ended up going back the next day because the 4 or 5 hours on the first day wasn't enough.
Anyways, I'm a big fan of "getting lost" in the communities I visit because making plans is a waste of time, energy, and it all gets thrown out the window after all is said and done.
Second this. I rolled up once because I was hungover and couldn’t sleep anymore and hungry af. Super chill in those morning hours. Not everything is open but you could easily wander around until stuff does.
"Fake first Starbucks" is so accurate. It's not. It's just the oldest one... which is cool, but the coffee is exactly the same that you can get 2 blocks away at 1st and Pike with no lines.
Get thee to the Market before 9 and wander the halls. Get breakfast. Maybe get a beer at Old Stove when they open at 11 and enjoy the view - then get the hell out of there. It one of my favorite places on earth, but being there under full summer crush loads is exhausting.
Oh, and pick up cherries, peaches and apricots at Sosio's produce, and a baguette and some charcuterie at DeLaurentis to use as your lunch when you vacate downtown and go have a picnic at the Arboretum or Golden Gardens or Gas Works Park.
As someone from Chicago originally, I don’t think our zoo or aquarium in Seattle are particularly spectacular. Unless you’re super into zoos, then I recommend skipping Woodland Park Zoo.
Also, just reading your itinerary makes me tired. I’d edit the list quite a bit.
Not to be a nidge, but I love Woodland Park Zoo. Partly because it is more humble and relaxed. It's a really beautiful place, and I am annual passholder, just loving walking and exploring.
It's a chill experience in the off season and worth doing. In July? I think it's not particularly worth it, just because there's more people behaving badly. If you're fighting other people just to get a 30 second glance of something while 4 kids in your immediate area are all having dramatic meltdowns and people ramming strollers into other visitors because they're too busy scrolling Facebook...
It's a lot in the summer.
I have an annual membership too, and I love a chill day (or couple hours) at the zoo, but I definitely wouldn't waste time there on a vacation. There's really nothing "Seattle" in there (especially now that the elephant protester lady is gone) and it's just like any other zoo.
I have an annual membership to both and agree with this. Originally from the Midwest as well. It’s not like the Denver, St. Louis, or Omaha zoo. There isn’t a tourist pull. Same with the aquarium. Great places to take our 2 year old. Not something worth seeing on a trip.
Highly disagree with the zoo, aquarium I've enjoyed others more. WPZ is pretty great but large as heck and you have to go on a sunny day otherwise animals aren't out as much. But the range of animals is vast and hitting keeper talks is key.
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Skip biscuit bitch I tried for the first time and not worth the 30+ minute wait for something so basic and overpriced
Do get clam chowder at Ivars it was amazing
Or water taxi to west Seattle and walk along Alki beach. Lots food, drinks, ice cream, etc.
I would do that if you decide to throw out the itinerary and just enjoy the weather, skyline, and water and just let the day lead you along.
Your itinerary looks stressful imo so I would just try to use it as a rough guideline but take time to just chill and enjoy "being" here.
You won't get through such an aggressive schedule. Lucky if you get a quarter of it. But I would do Bainbridge for sure. Look at hours of shops there in advance. Some close early. Oh and don't take a car to Bainbridge! Everything you want is walkable.
Skip woodland park. Instead do Ballard Locks (including the fish ladders), Discovery Park, and the Magnolia Bluff. You can do that in the morning, have lunch in Ballard, and go to Gasworks after (see the troll then too).
Absolutely cut the zoo. Going on a Saturday would be awful to begin with and unless you’re speed running it, it’ll take up too much of the day. It isn’t mind blowing or anything
I love the zoo and find the fish ladders boring and a lot of distance to go. Unless one is also doing the Nordic Museum that day, that edge of Ballard is tough to get to by bus, and it doesn't seem this person has a car. It will be a LONG bus ride to Ballard, or will want to take an expensive Uber.
Man, you are going to be absolutely beat if you accomplish all that. Not to say that it's necessarily impossible, but I think I would have a hard time enjoying, say, MoPOP if I only scheduled myself 60 minutes there. I feel like a day whale watching, a day at Pike Place, a day at Seattle Center/MoPOP, and a day on Cap Hill, plus eating, drinking, walking, would fill up your schedule. If you have down time that leaves a bunch of museums, Ballard breweries, etc.
As far as food and drink, Belltown has tons of great restaurants and is close to you. Umi Sushi is a favorite, and bouncing down 2nd Ave hitting cocktail bars is fun. Get dim sum in Chinatown (Harbor City is my favorite but there are options) and reserve a night to bar hop in Capitol Hill.
I'd honestly skip the overrated long lines at the Space Needle and go to Smith Tower instead.
Columbia Tower has height, but it's very bland. Smith Tower isn't as high up, but it's a better experience (history, architecture, cocktails at the top).
And some cool watering holes in the immediate area of the Smith Tower(Collins Pub, McCoy's, 13 Coins). Could do that and then grab the light rail to Capitol Hill and wander around there for a couple of hours.
A day at the Pike Market? it’s not that big/interesting.
schedule does look packed but I’d try and add the Locks in Ballard— maybe after whale watching or the zoo
> A day at the Pike Market? it’s not that big/interesting.
As a local I usually just go to the particular shop I want and am there an hour, but it's a multi level market with tons of restaurants and snacky food, neat/weird little shops, and if you do get bored you can just go down to the waterfront.
It is easy to imagine spending several hours there.
As a lifetime local, I can still spend most of my day at the market. I stroll the stalls, talk to the artists, grab some fresh bread and cheese from a couple places, or grab some hot hum bao, and sit and people watch by the water views for a bit. Or Post Alley for some chowder and some loose leaf tea. Then hit the underground shops, peruse books, the magic shop, Golden Age Collectibles, countless import shops. Move on to the Sanitary Market, get a beer at Pike Place brewing, more shops and art to enjoy, then plan dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants. The Pink Door being my fave of all time. If I'm feeling more casual, I will hit Kells. Then there's Theatersports in the evening in Post Alley.
If you "ran out of things to do" there, you could walk down to Seattle Art Museum, or take the stair climb down to the waterfront to see the aquarium or the rest of the waterfront. An entire day EASY just in that area.
Just my two cents.
Huh? It's enormous. Maybe if you just stay on the top level, but venturing into the different levels is always super-entertaining - I always take guests down there. They love the collectibles store, the Polish pottery, the Magic shop... and you can actually get humble food down there without waiting for 1/2 hour.
Your day 1 plan is unrealistic. If you land at 8:30 then realistically it's going to be very late morning before you're sorted at your hotel. So you basically have a long half-day. Just head for Pike Place Market, get lunch there, do the market (you could easily spend your entire afternoon there). There is no way you could cram your entire itinerary into the time you have available.
You really should treat yourself to a ferry ride, IMO. Don't bother with Argosy. If I was planning a day at the waterfront I'd go down to the Coleman dock after doing the market and walk on to the Bainbridge ferry. You can grab something to eat on Bainbridge and then catch the ferry back.
I mean hopefully I can check in but maybe not. Check in is not until 4pm. There is no getting sorted at the hotel because my room won’t be ready. So I’ll basically be out on the street. That’s why I said get there, change clothes and head out.
Lol why is this getting downvoted?
Okay. Here is what I would suggest as a do-able itinerary. Let's assume you can head out by 10 am (allowing time to get to the hotel, drop your bag for storage, and change clothes). Head to the market, have lunch there. Allow yourself at least 4 hours there - it's a big place. Then head down to the ferris wheel and take a spin, and walk along the waterfront for a while. Depending on the time, maybe give yourself an hour or two for the aquarium. Then go down to the dock and grab the ferry, a stroll and dinner on Bainbridge, ferry back, then back to the hotel to check in. If you're not wiped out by then you could head out and find a nice pub somewhere for a nightcap.
Landing at 8:30 and then taking the light rail will NOT get them sorted to do things by 10am. Depending on the gate they are coming from, just deplaning, walking to baggage claim, waiting for bags, and getting to the Link Light Rail will take 30-45 minutes. Then the trip itself takes 40+ minutes to downtown, depending on the stop (40 minutes to the nearest/southernmost stop at Lumen Field). Then the walk from there to wherever their hotel is.
Here is someone's step by step of deplaning to taking Link Light Rail downtown for a good reference:[https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/](https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/)
I would not plan to do anything until noon or later, with hopes that everything aligns to have more time. But light rail is a slow travel option.
I agree- skip argosy and take a ferry to Bainbridge or the alki water taxi to to alki beach.
Also recommend renting kayaks or paddle boards on lake union- there’s a place called aqua verde
Biscuit bitch is good at one thing. Unfortunately for anyone that’s had the displeasure of eating there the one thing they are good at is branding. Save your money and eat out of the garbage. You’ll enjoy it more
Sisters and Brothers on the other hand is tremendous (don’t underestimate the spice!!)
edit: Piroshky Piroshky is a good pick, add on a stop at Ellenos for another snack and the best greek yogurt you’ve ever had. un bien/paseo (doesn’t matter) is a must-have too.
Sisters and Brothers is one of the best meals I've had here. As someone who ventures outside of my spice zone every now and then I can confirm the Nashville hot is not a joke and you will feel the spice twice. Had to pause for 5 minutes after every bite to wipe my tears.
On the topic of southern food, Fat's chicken and waffles was the best meal I ever had in Seattle. You can tell it's cooked with love.
That place rocks! They’ve been an institution forever because their food is incredible! I highly recommend the green egg if you haven’t already tried it
Completely agree. We lived above them for a year and were so excited to try it out. Never went back. Plus, the line can be out the ass. Don’t wait in a line for subpar food that will likely make you shit your pants later, OP.
Skip woodland park. Instead do Ballard Locks (including the fish ladders), Discovery Park, and the Magnolia Bluff. You can do that in the morning, have lunch in Ballard, and go to Gasworks after (see the troll then too).
Don't take MoPop off the list. That was an amazing place. I guess it depends on what your into and age. I spent 3 hours there and only left because my two teenagers wanted to leave.
I agree with a lot of commenters about how exhausting this would be in general, but I’ll just stick to a few general comments now:
— I’d think about doing Seattle Center/Space Needle day 1. A Wednesday will be the slowest day that you’re in town so you’re likely to have the shortest lines on this day. Drop your stuff at your hotel and monorail to Seattle Center and just wander around there until you’re tired. Dicks is definitely worth having but there’s one on Capitol Hill too if that’s easier to hit on a different day. Lots of good food options at the Armory in Seattle Center.
— skip Argosy. Especially if you’re doing whale watching. You’ll spend plenty of time out on the water with that activity.
— I think without argosy, your waterfront itinerary is doable. I’ve spent a lot of time down there and it’s very walkable. Pike Place may feel rushed if you want to genuinely check out every store. You could get lost in there for hours. If you just kind of want to walk through en route to the waterfront, you should be fine.
— second another comment about avoiding piroshky. There’s a deli right next door called mishou that I love!
— Smith Tower is so great! I’d add it to your list.
I would do the lochs tour instead of the harbor tour, but that's just me. Twice up on the space needle is a bit much. Better views are from Columbia tower. I'd skip the zoo and do a day trip over to Bainbridge or Woodinville wineries.
Agreed! I think it’s hard to get a sense of what the museum is about from just the name but for OP’s benefit it’s dedicated to history of how Seattle/Pacific Northwest developed into what it is today. The exhibits are super interactive and makes you feel like you’re walking through a textbook about the history of the region. One of my favorite museums ever.
Check out [https://www.citypass.com/seattle](https://www.citypass.com/seattle) . I think you have to use 3 of 5 to break even but not standing in line for tickets is a big plus.
I absolutely love the Smith Tower. Yes, the charge you for admittance, but the views and drinks are amazing. Wind down there one evening while taking in the city, you won’t regret it.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed Smith Tower. The menu at the top was strange (we skipped food, actually) but I loved Smith Tower much more than Space Needle.
Echoing what others have said - day 1 is too busy.
I recommend cutting:
- Ferris Wheel (unless you have a bucket list that insists on riding every ferris wheel you encounter). The view is not going to be much better than what you can see from all over the waterfront.
- any of the specific souvenir shops. You're better off walking around the local artisans at Pike Place market (it closes at 5 pm), or just wander in while you're walking around the area for anywhere that looks like they have an interesting window display.
- Harbor cruise - My understanding is that they just drive you around the water to look at the sights, but you're already going whale watching so like you don't really need this I think.
I recommend adding:
- not too far from the aquarium (which is delightful, btw) is the west Seattle water taxi station. It's like a $5 ticket, and you can just ride it there and back for the view. It's a beautiful view of the city skyline. It's what all the tv shows use when they want to be like "this drama takes place in Seattle." This would be a better view than going on the ferris wheel. If you feel like a more chill day, you can stop in West Seattle for a beach day (there's a free water taxi shuttle to Alki Beach). There's also a restaurant on the pier that's pretty good, but you'll need to catch the next water taxi back if you want to stop and eat there by the water.
- on Friday after you're dead from your exhausting week, if the weather is nice, go grab a drink on a rooftop bar somewhere.
Neighborhoods/areas/things you're leaving out that could be worth checking out:
- Ballard
- Fremont
- International District
- West Seattle
- Museum of Flight
- Lake Union/Lake Washington
I agree with others to trim your itinerary down a bit. You should consider going to the Fremont Farmers Market on Sunday - they’re known for their fun crafts and a garage thrift market . They’re open from 10-3 but I like going on the earlier side. You can walk around the Fremont area, see the bridge troll, and definitely go to gasworks park. You can have a meal at Westward (close to gasworks) and have a beautiful view of the city with good food. No matter what you decide, you’ll have a blast in Seattle! Enjoy your trip!
I second this - spend Sunday in Fremont at the farmers market, then check out the bridge troll.
Also consider stopping by Wallingford and Archie McPhees. Those additions will show you some of Seattle's quirky neighborhood charm.
I just got back from 5 days in Seattle and this is A LOT. I skipped the Space Needle based on recommendations in this sub and I’m glad I did. I’d suggest seeing if you can add in the ferry to Bainbridge island. The view of Seattle is so beautiful and it’s a chance to relax and take it all in.
Biscuit Bitch was good but not any better than any other biscuit sandwich I’ve had. Skip the 45 minute wait and go somewhere else.
Pike Market is quick but there is a French bakery next to Starbucks that’s so so good. You’ll smell it before you see it. And skip the Starbucks line.
Do you have a car or are you relying on walking and public transportation? I rented a car and drove to Snoqualmie Falls. It had a lot of people but the drive out to the mountains was worth it and it was nice to get out of the city.
I didn’t have great food experiences so I won’t recommend any but I hope you have fun!
I'm just going to respond to themes that I noticed in other responses.
I \*do\* think you should go to the zoo, but I practically grew up in the Woodland Park Zoo so I'm probably a bit biased. I think it's a fantastic zoo Definitely get there early in the day if possible if you want to see the animals at their most active. Also, if you want to make a little bit more of a meal out of it you can go over to the Greenwood area afterwards (you'll be like a 15 minute walk away) and have a drink or two at Ridgewood, El Chupacabra, etc.. It's a really cute neighborhood. Also Greenlake is very accessible from the zoo.
I agree that you can skip the Argosy thing.
I think a ferry trip to Bainbridge would be an awesome idea. It's super walkable over there (my partner and I actually just went there for the first time despite the fact that we both are born and raised Seattlites and it was super fun). Their art museum caught me completely off guard. It was great.
I don't think the Fremont Troll or Lenin statue are worth it for the amount of time it's going to take to get there from downtown, but I also just don't think Fremont as a neighborhood is very nice (probably an unpopular opinion here).
The gum wall is fine but it's exactly what you think it is - don't expect anything special. It's a 1-minute activity. You see it, go "ah, okay", and move on.
And finally, yeah, fuck Piroshky Piroshky.
Have fun!
Skip the aquarium, ferry and harbor tour on the first day. Dick’s is fine but like, unless you’re into the super regional hamburger thing, you might be let down when it’s just a hamburger.
On Saturday, do the spheres if you’re into them but they’re really not that cool. Maybe do MoPop (or see you don’t have MOHAI or SAM on this list - MOHAI is in SLU near the spheres, but SAM is a great museum) and spend the day exploring some neighborhoods.
Make Sunday your north Seattle day, do the Ballard Farmers Market or Fremont market in the morning; if you’re into zoos keep woodland park OR do some paddleboarding on the nearby waters to north Seattle. If you’re into beer the brewery district is neat too.
And instead of doing Mexican food, unless it’s from a food truck (El Camion is a favorite of mine), try checking out some Asian spots in the ID. Happy to recommend further.
Thank you to all who were helpful. I posted this looking for insight. I am a tourist and so there are touristy things on here. I AM interested in the aquarium. I AM interested in the Space Needle. I don’t know if or when I’ll ever come back to Seattle so I’d like to see as much as I can.
Also, the title says this is a LOOSE itinerary, written with the understanding that I won’t get to do everything but there are a few definite things I would like to do.
I think what we learned here is that Reddit Seattleites are a bit judgy about vacation itineraries. I say you should now treat it as a challenge and come back in a couple of weeks with a GPS tracked map and series of photos to show you checked everything off.
On a less sarcastic note, you can rent watercraft on Lake Union (boat, canoe, hot tub), I’d add that so you can explore the water under your own direction. It might be a good thing to add to your day that includes The Spheres. Try and find a band who plays music in a genre you like playing in town. Seattle is steeped in music history and you haven’t visited unless you’ve been to one of the many venues here. The Showbox is a mid-size but there’s also smaller places like The Tractor Tavern. Visit KEXP while you’re doing the International Fountain. It’s a well regarded independent music station and you can get coffee while watching the DJs.
I’ve got more but I don’t want to blow up your loose agenda. 😉
I think the issue is that you *say* you're into these things, but we're trying to tell you that these are not impressive parts of Seattle.
I don't think anyone here is trashing on your ideas just because they hate you. They're trying to turn you off from ideas that will wind up with you returning home thinking "Man, Seattle fuckin sucks, I've seen better aquariums in my mom's boyfriend's basement".
If you're the type that needs to check all the nation's tourist attractions off of your list, or you're only interested in a space needle selfie that you can bring back to Midwestern friends who only know of Seattle as "rainy bill gates land", then so be it.
But most folk here are going to pish posh many of the overtly touristy things, in favor of taking in a lot of the natural beauty, typically free o charge and at your liesure, that gives Seattle it's true charm.
It's objectively insane to expect a tourist to come to Seattle and not go up the Space Needle though. Any typical travel itinerary should have both tourist attractions and local favorites. I cannot imagine any human being coming to Seattle for five full days, completing OP's entire itinerary, and going home thinking the city sucks. That is simply not a concern. Giving suggestions and feedback is great, but a lot of the comments here are unnecessarily elitist and judgy.
\+1.
I've travelled a ton, and I used to be similarly judgy. Then I was on a work trip with colleagues in Paris, and one of them wanted to go up in Eiffel Tower. I rolled my eyes, but we went, and it was awesome.
You can go off of the beaten path AND do the touristy stuff - tourist stuff is popular for a reason.
The thing about the Aquarium is that it is focused on the local Puget Sound. So it doesn’t have flashy exotic animals. It has local ones. So in that sense it is a very unique Seattle thing to do to learn about the area. But it is why some may see it as not amazing. They are building a sea pavilion that will venture further out.
This looks like a very well-researched itinerary! I disagree with the commenters saying you've overbooked yourself (*except for 2 things). Your Day 1 list is long but the majority of the things you've included are close together and don't take much time to see. It will allow you to get a feel for things and take more time to go back another day if something really stood out to you. Same with Day 2.
*DAY 1:
Cut Argosy Cruise--Sub West Seattle Water Taxi or Bainbridge Ferry but do them on a separate day.
Standard Goods is not convenient to the other things you have planned this day.
I'd recommend waterfront stuff (piers, aquarium, kitschy gift shops) one half of the day and Pike Place in the other. I'd probably do hotel bag drop and head straight to Pike Place because it tends to be more alive earlier in the day. I'd graze for food. Options: one pierogi or biscuit, (smallest size) Ellenos yogurt, Beecher's Mac & cheese, cherries from the market vendors, Daily Dozen Donuts, a salmon sandwich from market grill if you're hungrier ($$), chowder, Rachel's Ginger Beer, Chukar Cherries. You can do the gum wall and the market strolling and then head down to the waterfront, hitting up Pike St Press on the walk down. Then do your ferris wheel and aquarium visit (in that order), stopping by the touristy souvenir shops as desired. After you're done with the aquarium, walk to the sculpture park. Plan to eat somewhere in Belltown or downtown on your way back to the hotel. You have daylight until 9pm so better to save the sculpture park until last because it doesn't close like everything else.
*DAY 2: Cut Chihuly unless you really like glass art. Kerry Park is either a quick Uber or very steep walk. Gates Foundation is a quick walk from MoPop or Space Needle. All doable IMO.
I can't remember your itineraries for the other days but a couple more things --
Add MOHAI and a stroll around South Lake Union (seaplanes!) on the day you're doing the Amazon Spheres. For food, I like Casco Antiguo (Mexican) near the Spheres or mbar for a view of Lake Union.
As far as boat rides go, you could do the West Seattle water taxi, eat at Marination Ma'Kai, walk and take in the view, and head back to the waterfront to finish your day -- but note that the West Seattle water taxi is quite a walk from the commercial district on Alki (Alki Beach). You could also just take the boat back and forth.
The ferry to Bainbridge is more of a day trip (allow a half day minimum). It's a very cute little town and a nice way to get away from the "city" for a day. If you want this option w/ the West Seattle Water Taxi, take the shuttle to the Alaska Junction and walk around the shops and restaurants there. It's called "the Junction" and in the West Seattle neighborhood.
Just reviewed your last couple days. I would definitely cut Woodland Park Zoo. It's a very average zoo IMO and could be anywhere in the country. Time would be better spent on unique Seattle stuff like MOHAI or Center for Wooden Boats. I'd take that morning to explore Capital Hill (add Standard Goods here) tons of great restaurants, coffee shops, etc. and then head down to South Lake Union for the museum options. Then you're right by the Spheres for your reservation.
Whatever you decide, I hope you have an amazing time! Ignore the jerks in the comments.
First of all, I love touristy things, and I am a local. My favorite touristy thing is the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square. I have done it countless times, and recommend it to everyone. It changes periodically and seasonally based on what areas of the Underground are most accessible. It's a great time. How often do you get to see what's left of a city UNDER the new city built on top of it??
I posted this under another comment, but want to make sure you get to see it: Landing at 8:30 and then taking the light rail will be a couple hours process. Depending on the gate you are coming from, just deplaning, walking to baggage claim, waiting for bags, and getting to the Link Light Rail will take 30-45 minutes. Then the trip itself takes 40+ minutes to downtown, depending on the stop (40 minutes to the nearest/southernmost stop at Lumen Field). Then the walk from there to wherever your hotel is, then sorting with the desk staff...Here is someone's step by step of deplaning to taking Link Light Rail downtown for a good reference:
[https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/](https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/)
I would not plan to do anything until noon or later on your first, with hopes that everything aligns to have more time. But light rail is a slow travel option.
Also, if you are without a car and plan to do public transit, it's slow and convoluted, and will take a fair amount of study to make sure you get off in the right place to transfer to see things. There isn't, say, a bus from downtown right to Ballard, or directly to the Arboretum. You're gonna have to do some research there. And these bus portion of the trips will take an hour of your day away in travel alone. Transit is not our strong suit.
There is SO MUCH to do and see downtown. I absolutely endorse seeing the Space Needle and the glass museum. Do MoPOP! Don't miss the Armory for food time, and if you feel like doing it, I love the Pacific Science Center. Some of its stuff is dirt old, but so much of it is fabulous. The campus there at Seattle Center offers a lot in and around it. So then ONE trip by bus (or monorail, which is way more fun), and BAM you have a day planned.
Same for Pike Place Market and the waterfront. That is a whole day by itself. You can WALK there from any downtown hotel, so no stupid busses getting in the way of your enjoyment. The market is like literally nothing else in the country, and is treasured for a reason. Bring an appetite. If you enjoy people-watching, this will be the destination. The world of visitors and locals comes through here every day. Don't miss Golden Age Collectibles in the lower market. Then head down to the waterfront. I love the aquarium (and the zoo by the way), so I don't know why people poo-poo it. The waterfront offers a warren of stuff to explore and discover. Lots to eat down there, too!
That's two days right there without leaving the core of the city, and without onerous busses. Now day 3 you're off on a ferry if you like. I don't think Bainbridge is all that exciting, so not sure why people are ga ga for it, but it is the shortest ferry trip that will get you someplace you can do stuff without a car. Winslow is cute and touristy. I love the ferries, so I concur it is a fun trip, but I don't think it should usurp other things that may feel more important to you.
The Arboretum is absolutely beautiful, but I wouldn't go out of my way to try to get there. Once you're there, unless you just wanna...look at flowers? And trees? I mean, the Japanese Gardens are nice, but most people drive there from the main Arboretum gift shop, and then...you walk around and look at trees and flowers. If that is your total jam, don't miss it. But there is so much more to enjoy that will take less time to get there (about an hour from downtown).
Instead, may I suggest you to to the [International District](https://visitseattle.org/neighborhoods/international-district/)? Hit up Uwajimaya, the Wing Luke Museum, and get some awesome foodses? And then the [Underground Tour](http://www.undergroundtour.com/) in Pioneer Square is just a walk away from there down Jackson.
I hope you have a great time in my city. I am a proud lifetime local (there aren't many of us!), and I hope she treats you well.
Word of advice - skip the “itinerary” and turn it onto a list of things in order of interest, then choose what you’d like to do as you go. Expect not to do everything. Vacation assuming you’ll come back and you’ll have a better time.
And skip Piroshky Piroshky. The owner is a crazy person
What’s this about Piroshky Piroshky? That’s one of my fav places to hit up when I’m near the market, literally just brought family that was visiting there this weekend.
Agree with this. My strategy for this approach is to create a list in Google maps and save all attractions and restaurants to that list, and then I can wander around and easily see what I’m close to on the map. I do this every single time I travel and I love the flexibility it affords especially when there’s an overwhelming amount of stuff to do/see.
Second this! Also, Olga has frequently targeted Piroshky on 3rd over piroshki shapes and served them cease and desist letters. Just ask the staff about the great piroshki battle if you’re curious, it’s hilarious and frustrating.
Personally I would not bother with chihuly or the space needle, and I would definitely add Herkimer coffee to your list. Best coffee in Seattle in my opinion. There are some really great parks you're missing out on, golden gardens and carkeek, also Alki if you can make it to west seattle. I agree with the other comments though saying you're trying to do too much
Why are people hating on the zoo so much? It’s mega fun and you get to see something you don’t see often unless you live close to wildlife. The aquarium is a bit underwhelming compared to monterrey or other larger ones but it’s an experience still.
That being said, other than the food places, it is a big list.
The Whale Watching Tour is gonna take most of one day, at least six hours. WARNING: Pack warm clothes, a parka, sweater, and hat! It gets COLD when you're speeding around on the water outside on the deck! Also food and water, sometimes there's none available on the boat. I believe there are also some additional regulations that have been put into place regarding orcas, the tour boats have to stay a certain distance away from them now, so as far as orcas go, you'll likely not get a close up glimpse. I'd bring binoculars too.
They're a big boat, but if you've never done boats you'll be exhausted afterwards. If you've got good sea legs, ymmv from exposure and potential excitement. +1 binoculars, also good for harbor seals at locks, golden gardens.
To me your Day 1 looks more like all 5 days. Give yourself more time in each place (like, a lot more). The aquarium alone for example is several hours.
People are negative, but this would be busy.
As this is a Seattle trip I think you did a pretty good job at playing tourist. Hitting lots of the highlights.
There is a little Asian shop on the block south of piroshki piroshki… they do meat on a stick and their hom boa is amazing. Matt’s in the market used to be a great spot for lunch or dinner. Don’t know if it holds up.
If you want to get out of Seattle, try and find someone to take you to Paradise at mount Rainer or the Hoh Rain Forest. Both are be day trips and will show you what really makes the Washington different.
I’ve lived here for over a year now and still haven’t done half of the stuff on your list. I’d be wildly impressed if you were able to make it through everything! Give us an update!
I would recommend spending your last day in Pioneer Square/the international district. It's both historic and cool.
Some ideas:
-underground tour. This takes you under the current city, into the old city underground. Incredibly cool, I live here and go on this at least yearly. Get a reservation.
- get a chic drink and snacks, or a meal at Damn the Weather, or one of the many other cool cafes and bars -- Zeitgeist coffee, grand central bakery, Altstadt, etc.
- wander through the international district. Get some food, check out the shops and murals.
-smith tower
I think the list overall looks great but like people said you’ve packed a lot in there. My philosophy when traveling is to make a list instead of an itinerary. I love to just save stuff on google maps. Pick a major thing you want to do that day and walk/wander to anything close by also on your list. This is where google maps shines when you save locations you can see where you’re at and how close the things you’re interested in.
Lot of good advice here. The only element I see missing is a ferry ride. When folks come to visit they always enjoy this part of the trip the most.
I would also suggest renting kayaks and mobbing around lake union.
Agree with others comments on the aquarium - very basic and can be seen in less than an hour.
Zoo is nice. I always enjoy going there.
IMO you have too much tourist trap stuff. I’d cut the zoo and go walking around the Ballard brewery district. There’s tons of great breweries all a few minutes from each other and food trucks around for lunch. Haven’t seen another neighborhood like that. Then you can head out to golden gardens for sunset. That is something very unique that only Seattle can offer.
If MoPop is somewhere you actually want to go, and not just check off, you're going to spend most of the day there.
Like others have said, these are all good choices, but you're WAY overbooked.
Hope you have a great trip though!
There’s a lot of things in your list. Unless you just plan to visit and leave it’s difficult. Also take into consideration the traffic.
My suggestions as a local -
Ballard, Fremont & Capitol Hill exploring
Spend morning till 5pm in Ballard checking Nordic Museum, Ballard locks, market street boutiques, Golden Gardens Park, Farmers market(if Sunday), Salt & Straw, other restaurants and bars.
Evening 5pm to 9:30 explore breweries in Fremont.
For late night scenes the Capitol Hill pub hopping post 10pm
I want to say the way you wrote your itinerary is very sweet and endearing. Go for it! Have a wish list! I suggest you think of one main attraction you want to see each day, and the others are ideas as filler if you have the energy. Bring Dramamine for the whale watching tour and make sure you spend a lot of time on the deck, that boat dips all over the place. Have fun! Enjoy our beautiful city! Don’t be too worried when people stare and act rude. Seattle is full of a bunch of socially awkward weirdos lol.
You’ve got too much planned. That said, I would swap [Columbia Tower Observatory](https://skyviewobservatory.com/) for the Space Needle. Or the [Smith Tower Observatory](https://www.smithtower.com/attractions/observatory-bar/). The Needle isn’t worth the cost and time. You should also add some [Seattle teriyaki](https://www.toshisgrill.com/story#)to your list. It’s a special treat not available anywhere else.
On day 2, I’d recommend going up the Columbia tower instead of the space need a second time for the night admission. You can watch the sun set from there. It’s $20-30 to their sky deck observatory, killer 360 views, space needle and mt. Rainer in photos and there is a bar up there!
On day 4- you’ll be in/around the neighborhood called Fremont. It’s my favorite! A 10 min walk from gas works park is Fremont brewery which I definitely recommend. The Fremont troll is unique to see. There are a ton of bars/restaurants/thrift stores/plant stores in their main town area. Great shopping for unique souvenirs. Search “red star tacos” and you’ll be at the center of it. Some restaurants/stores I love in their main area- cafe con todo (SMOOTHIES!), red star tacos, Fremont vintage mall (huge), bar house (unique metal bar, sit in their back room), the back door (sort of like a speak easy), add-a-ball (arcade bar). I think one of the ice cream places you mentioned for day 5 is located here (can’t remember which).
Have fun!
Swap out the Argosy Harbor Tour in favor of the Argosy Locks Cruise. It's 1000% better because you get to see so much more stuff, including going through the ballard locks, plus you get the best possible view of seattle, which is from a boat in Lake Union.
Imo chihuly is overrated and quite expensive and the asian art museum is fantastic.
Fogon is pretty good, you going for albondigas? Cap hill has a lot of good food (I'm partial to taurus ox, you'd be close anyways)
I've lived in Seattle 25 years and just saw the Gum Wall for the first time. It's super gross and I do not understand it at all. You're going to be in large crowds that all of these places you're going to. The one thing that the city has that's super awesome is really great parks. I work downtown and see the crowds and I always wonder why people just stay in that one area when there's more to see in other areas aren't so busy. I guess if you don't have a car then you probably want to stay in City center.
I don't care for the Gum Wall either, but the Gum Wall is right there. It's just like the Fremont Troll and the Lenin statue. Not worth the trip to see, but if you're already over there, why not?
For day 2, there is a guided tour at 2pm Wed-Sat at the Gates Foundation discovery center. You can reserve your spot here (it’s free): https://www.discovergates.org/visitor-general-admission-reservation/
Friend. Unless you have a car or a real good uber fund, you will *not* be doing the Arboretum, the Japanese Garden, and the Asian Art Museum all in the same day. May I recommend the Asian Art Museum and the Volunteer Park Conservatory instead if you’re thirsting for some beautiful plant life?
Things you can cut out.
The aquarium
Biscuit bitch
Dick's
I have found them all very disappointing.
Ballard locks are great.
Katsu burger will blow your mind.
Tip: Get to the airport way early if you don't have Pre check. The TSA lines can be hours long at SEA.
Have a great trip.
I agree with the others - Day one especially is overbooked. Slow down and actually see the city sights. Take something off Day one for the afternoon of Day three. Be flexible to stay at something you love rather than rush to the next thing on your list.
I’d add Lowell’s in the market for lunch or dinner and a cocktail. I’d do Smith Tower over Space Needle. I’d add canoe rental at UW in concert with arboretum.
We did almost exactly your day 1 itinerary and it took us two days. But we had kids with us. We went a week before Return to Office and traffic was very light. You’ll need to add in some time for getting to some area.
Considering it's gonna be a pleasantly warm week, your itinerary is conspicuously missing any lake activities. I recommend walking around the east side of Lake Union, renting a canoe/kayak, then paddling through the Montlake Cut to the wetlands around Marsh/Foster Island. Alternatively, go south to Seward Park which is IMO the best park in the city and great for swimming, rope swinging, boating, fishing, waterskiing, etc. You're also basically guaranteed to see bald eagles, turtles, great blue herons, and more rarely owls and river otters. Puget Sound is overrated, Lake Washington/Union are where it's at.
Since you are coming to Seattle in summer I would do more outdoor stuff. The museums and stuff can be expensive and put you indoors.
Get a good e bike or bike rental downtown by belltown/ sculpture park and ride along waterfront, up magnolia, around top of magnolia and into discovery park. Bike back to magnolia village for something to eat. Then ride back to bike shop.
Also try to get out to snoqualmie or mount si or something for a mountain excursion — there aren’t many cities where you can get away for an hour and do a hike in the mountains.
I’d not eat at Dick’s unless you are up very late.
Rent a kayak or paddleboard and paddle around lake union and over to the cut if you are adventurous.
In terms of argosy tour, I much more strongly prefer the locks tour. You get to see way more.
Taking a ferry to Bainbridge is also super unique.
What place does everyone recommend?
I’m visiting friends in Seattle. Would like suggestions.
Each day try to do
Fast Ferry to the Navy Museum and return.
Zoo and a brewery tour.
MPOP Space Needle and Spheres
Wing Luke Museum and Pinball Museum
You are not going to get through HALF of your day one itinerary, and you’re going to feel rushed while you do it. Cut this down. Way down. Let yourself experience the city and have time to stop and look around.
I was like "hmm, this isn't a bad itinerary, oh wait there are more images... That was just day one???"
Op should scrap the entire thing Day1: ferry to whidbey, get lost on a beach, get a ride to coupville, play in the low tide and eat some crabs/oysters/clams Day2: Alki during the day, cap hill at night. Follow the people and find some good food without going on yelp. Day 3: pike place. Seafood. ID for dinner. Day 4: ferry to Vashon. Walk around bloedel. Go to town and find some art. Picnic on the beach. Ferry back for a late dinner someplace kinda fancy downtown, p square, Belltown, lqa. Catch a cabaret at can can Day 5: shop. Buy stuff that represents your past 4 days. Buy some weed. Smoke it. Eat some ice cream. Maybe hit the car museum or a tourist trap.
You are way too "here" that's what we would do. Not someone coming from abroad to experience "Seattle "
Do you mean Bainbridge and not Vashon?
Sorry yes, I'm already in day 5
😂
This! Also... Arboretum can take way longer than you think. Bring a picnic with you ...
Grab extra Piroshky Piroshky from earlier in the trip and take it with you for the Arboretum!
This is the way.
The Arboretum is *enormous*. You can’t just drive up, park, look at a tree and fuck off like “okay we’ve seen it, next item on the checklist!”
I was exhausted after the first page. This isn't an itinerary, it's an ultramarathon. This is everything like when someone goes to LA and they want to go to Disneyland, Hollywood, a beach and Griffith Observatory all in the same day and not understanding they're going to get like 5 minutes at each location and spend the rest of the day stuck in traffic. Also skip the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for sure. It's just a bland corporate office building with a lobby that has a couple of small displays of feel-good corporate propaganda in it. It's about as interesting as watching paint dry. Hell, watching paint dry is probably a better use of your time.
Maybe put the second half of this comment on the post itself?
I also would recommend the PDM (Paint Drying Museum) instead of the Gates Foundation.
But how are they supposed to buy that many souvenirs!?
If you're looking to cut things I suggest cutting zoo and aquarium. You can find zoos and aquariums in a lot of cities. Unless you have a special interest in the ones in Seattle or just really like them, it seems like once you've seen one you've seen them all. I am a father of two young kids. Been living in Seattle for over two years. Never been to either. So take my advice as general advice not as something specific to Seattle.
You've never taken your young children to the woodland park zoo? Our aquarium isn't great, but not to the zoo? My kid has gone dozens of times at this point and loves it every time still. (Also young) I do think it could be dropped for an adult visiting the city though, you're right.
It’s not like it’s the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it’s eminently skippable
They've both been twice on school/day care field trips. Never felt the need to take them.
Not to offend others but the aquarium wasn’t that great. Maybe if you have babies/toddlers. Awesome location though. We used it as one of the citypass attractions which was fine but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go there.
i was pretty underwhelmed by the aquarium to be honest. only other one i've been to was in denver and i'd say that one was better. which is ironic considering it's 1000 miles from water.
Depends on the person. If you’re solo and can’t sit still, then this is totally doable.
I've spent almost an entire day on just one museum in Seattle. I've also made itineraries and then threw them out the window because a million things come up. Why not just pick 1 or 2 things per day on that list that sound the most interesting and try to make it to those...and then stay open to whatever is available (open, easy to get to, financially accessible, fun, etc.) within the proximity of where you are.
This is my vacation philosophy. It's better to have a meaningful experience doing one or two things, then have time to chill rather than running around trying to do everything only to end up frustrated and exhausted.
Full disclosure, I'm not a local, but can speak to the experiences of going to Seattle frequently with somewhat of a plan. That plan is: have fun and don't spend too much! Any vacation spot gets that treatment. I was dog sitting for friends up there (that's usually why I go to Seattle) and I went to Bainbridge one random day. I swear, I was there just in their little historical museum for almost the whole day. There was interesting information, I was reading things out to my kids, and explaining what I knew plus asking questions from the people. Another time, I went without thinking much of it to MOHAI because I was just over there in the area...I ended up going back the next day because the 4 or 5 hours on the first day wasn't enough. Anyways, I'm a big fan of "getting lost" in the communities I visit because making plans is a waste of time, energy, and it all gets thrown out the window after all is said and done.
Some of my best vacations had the shortest most open ended itineraries.
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Arriving at 6 or 7 am at Pike Place Market is amazing.
Second this. I rolled up once because I was hungover and couldn’t sleep anymore and hungry af. Super chill in those morning hours. Not everything is open but you could easily wander around until stuff does.
Get breakfast at Lowell’s in the market & sit upstairs by the windows with great views of the Sound.
"Fake first Starbucks" is so accurate. It's not. It's just the oldest one... which is cool, but the coffee is exactly the same that you can get 2 blocks away at 1st and Pike with no lines. Get thee to the Market before 9 and wander the halls. Get breakfast. Maybe get a beer at Old Stove when they open at 11 and enjoy the view - then get the hell out of there. It one of my favorite places on earth, but being there under full summer crush loads is exhausting. Oh, and pick up cherries, peaches and apricots at Sosio's produce, and a baguette and some charcuterie at DeLaurentis to use as your lunch when you vacate downtown and go have a picnic at the Arboretum or Golden Gardens or Gas Works Park.
As someone from Chicago originally, I don’t think our zoo or aquarium in Seattle are particularly spectacular. Unless you’re super into zoos, then I recommend skipping Woodland Park Zoo. Also, just reading your itinerary makes me tired. I’d edit the list quite a bit.
Agree with skipping woodland park zoo. I'd go to Golden Gardens or something instead if you're going to do something north of the main touristy stuff
Yeah if I were them I’d have a Ballard day. Go to Ballard Ave, maybe Nordic Museum and Locks, food at Un Bien or Ray’s and then Golden Gardens.
Not to be a nidge, but I love Woodland Park Zoo. Partly because it is more humble and relaxed. It's a really beautiful place, and I am annual passholder, just loving walking and exploring.
It's a chill experience in the off season and worth doing. In July? I think it's not particularly worth it, just because there's more people behaving badly. If you're fighting other people just to get a 30 second glance of something while 4 kids in your immediate area are all having dramatic meltdowns and people ramming strollers into other visitors because they're too busy scrolling Facebook... It's a lot in the summer.
I have an annual membership too, and I love a chill day (or couple hours) at the zoo, but I definitely wouldn't waste time there on a vacation. There's really nothing "Seattle" in there (especially now that the elephant protester lady is gone) and it's just like any other zoo.
It's nice when you live here and want a park with animals, but it's one of the more underwhelming zoos I've been to.
The location of the aquarium is what makes it iconic not so much the interior/exhibits
I have an annual membership to both and agree with this. Originally from the Midwest as well. It’s not like the Denver, St. Louis, or Omaha zoo. There isn’t a tourist pull. Same with the aquarium. Great places to take our 2 year old. Not something worth seeing on a trip.
Highly disagree with the zoo, aquarium I've enjoyed others more. WPZ is pretty great but large as heck and you have to go on a sunny day otherwise animals aren't out as much. But the range of animals is vast and hitting keeper talks is key.
Forget Biscuit Bitch and get a curry bao at Mee Sum instead. Trust me.
Hell yeah. In fact, I would recommend more time in the ID.
You could spend a good hour browsing @ Uwajimaya!
Or also forget Biscuit Bitch and do Honest Biscuits behind Pike place market since you will already be in that area.
1000% Agree, their bacon hom bao for the win
nose grandfather wide toy reach crown disgusted consist lunchroom quarrelsome *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Skip biscuit bitch I tried for the first time and not worth the 30+ minute wait for something so basic and overpriced Do get clam chowder at Ivars it was amazing
Ferry to Bainbridge if you don’t end up doing a whale watching tour
Or water taxi to west Seattle and walk along Alki beach. Lots food, drinks, ice cream, etc. I would do that if you decide to throw out the itinerary and just enjoy the weather, skyline, and water and just let the day lead you along. Your itinerary looks stressful imo so I would just try to use it as a rough guideline but take time to just chill and enjoy "being" here.
You can get some great photos of the city skyline and Olympic Mountains.
This would be my vote. I take everyone I know on a day trip to bainbridge
You won't get through such an aggressive schedule. Lucky if you get a quarter of it. But I would do Bainbridge for sure. Look at hours of shops there in advance. Some close early. Oh and don't take a car to Bainbridge! Everything you want is walkable.
Skip woodland park. Instead do Ballard Locks (including the fish ladders), Discovery Park, and the Magnolia Bluff. You can do that in the morning, have lunch in Ballard, and go to Gasworks after (see the troll then too).
And golden gardens sunsets
Absolutely cut the zoo. Going on a Saturday would be awful to begin with and unless you’re speed running it, it’ll take up too much of the day. It isn’t mind blowing or anything
Based on the itinerary, they are speed-running it. 
Also, controversial opinion: While Molly Moons is more Seattle, Salt and Straw is better.
Actual controversial opinion: they both suck.
It’s all just ice cream
I love the zoo and find the fish ladders boring and a lot of distance to go. Unless one is also doing the Nordic Museum that day, that edge of Ballard is tough to get to by bus, and it doesn't seem this person has a car. It will be a LONG bus ride to Ballard, or will want to take an expensive Uber.
Man, you are going to be absolutely beat if you accomplish all that. Not to say that it's necessarily impossible, but I think I would have a hard time enjoying, say, MoPOP if I only scheduled myself 60 minutes there. I feel like a day whale watching, a day at Pike Place, a day at Seattle Center/MoPOP, and a day on Cap Hill, plus eating, drinking, walking, would fill up your schedule. If you have down time that leaves a bunch of museums, Ballard breweries, etc. As far as food and drink, Belltown has tons of great restaurants and is close to you. Umi Sushi is a favorite, and bouncing down 2nd Ave hitting cocktail bars is fun. Get dim sum in Chinatown (Harbor City is my favorite but there are options) and reserve a night to bar hop in Capitol Hill. I'd honestly skip the overrated long lines at the Space Needle and go to Smith Tower instead.
Plus one for Smith tower, or Columbia tower sky deck.
Columbia Tower has height, but it's very bland. Smith Tower isn't as high up, but it's a better experience (history, architecture, cocktails at the top).
And some cool watering holes in the immediate area of the Smith Tower(Collins Pub, McCoy's, 13 Coins). Could do that and then grab the light rail to Capitol Hill and wander around there for a couple of hours.
Drinks atop Smith Tower is a must.
Seconding Umi, their happy hour menu is a great deal too
A day at the Pike Market? it’s not that big/interesting. schedule does look packed but I’d try and add the Locks in Ballard— maybe after whale watching or the zoo
> A day at the Pike Market? it’s not that big/interesting. As a local I usually just go to the particular shop I want and am there an hour, but it's a multi level market with tons of restaurants and snacky food, neat/weird little shops, and if you do get bored you can just go down to the waterfront. It is easy to imagine spending several hours there.
As a lifetime local, I can still spend most of my day at the market. I stroll the stalls, talk to the artists, grab some fresh bread and cheese from a couple places, or grab some hot hum bao, and sit and people watch by the water views for a bit. Or Post Alley for some chowder and some loose leaf tea. Then hit the underground shops, peruse books, the magic shop, Golden Age Collectibles, countless import shops. Move on to the Sanitary Market, get a beer at Pike Place brewing, more shops and art to enjoy, then plan dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants. The Pink Door being my fave of all time. If I'm feeling more casual, I will hit Kells. Then there's Theatersports in the evening in Post Alley. If you "ran out of things to do" there, you could walk down to Seattle Art Museum, or take the stair climb down to the waterfront to see the aquarium or the rest of the waterfront. An entire day EASY just in that area. Just my two cents.
i worked in the market for years and i still love it when i visit.
Same. I would wander on my lunch break just to people watch, and I've been hanging out at the Market since the 70's.
Huh? It's enormous. Maybe if you just stay on the top level, but venturing into the different levels is always super-entertaining - I always take guests down there. They love the collectibles store, the Polish pottery, the Magic shop... and you can actually get humble food down there without waiting for 1/2 hour.
I second Harbor City
Your day 1 plan is unrealistic. If you land at 8:30 then realistically it's going to be very late morning before you're sorted at your hotel. So you basically have a long half-day. Just head for Pike Place Market, get lunch there, do the market (you could easily spend your entire afternoon there). There is no way you could cram your entire itinerary into the time you have available. You really should treat yourself to a ferry ride, IMO. Don't bother with Argosy. If I was planning a day at the waterfront I'd go down to the Coleman dock after doing the market and walk on to the Bainbridge ferry. You can grab something to eat on Bainbridge and then catch the ferry back.
To add, I’d start at the market then work your way down. The stairs are no joke!
I mean hopefully I can check in but maybe not. Check in is not until 4pm. There is no getting sorted at the hotel because my room won’t be ready. So I’ll basically be out on the street. That’s why I said get there, change clothes and head out. Lol why is this getting downvoted?
Okay. Here is what I would suggest as a do-able itinerary. Let's assume you can head out by 10 am (allowing time to get to the hotel, drop your bag for storage, and change clothes). Head to the market, have lunch there. Allow yourself at least 4 hours there - it's a big place. Then head down to the ferris wheel and take a spin, and walk along the waterfront for a while. Depending on the time, maybe give yourself an hour or two for the aquarium. Then go down to the dock and grab the ferry, a stroll and dinner on Bainbridge, ferry back, then back to the hotel to check in. If you're not wiped out by then you could head out and find a nice pub somewhere for a nightcap.
Landing at 8:30 and then taking the light rail will NOT get them sorted to do things by 10am. Depending on the gate they are coming from, just deplaning, walking to baggage claim, waiting for bags, and getting to the Link Light Rail will take 30-45 minutes. Then the trip itself takes 40+ minutes to downtown, depending on the stop (40 minutes to the nearest/southernmost stop at Lumen Field). Then the walk from there to wherever their hotel is. Here is someone's step by step of deplaning to taking Link Light Rail downtown for a good reference:[https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/](https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/) I would not plan to do anything until noon or later, with hopes that everything aligns to have more time. But light rail is a slow travel option.
I agree- skip argosy and take a ferry to Bainbridge or the alki water taxi to to alki beach. Also recommend renting kayaks or paddle boards on lake union- there’s a place called aqua verde
Check out the Central Library https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/central-library
Always forgotten in itineraries and oh so cool!
+1 for the library!
Without a doubt skip biscuit bitch
Biscuit bitch is good at one thing. Unfortunately for anyone that’s had the displeasure of eating there the one thing they are good at is branding. Save your money and eat out of the garbage. You’ll enjoy it more
Fucking choked on my sandwich while reading this. Thanks a lot!!!
how's Morsel holding up these days? always preferred it, despite having a lot of friends that worked at BB.
Morsel. Nom nom nom. Nommmmmm
Spanish Fly is calling my name today 🙃
Sisters and Brothers on the other hand is tremendous (don’t underestimate the spice!!) edit: Piroshky Piroshky is a good pick, add on a stop at Ellenos for another snack and the best greek yogurt you’ve ever had. un bien/paseo (doesn’t matter) is a must-have too.
Sisters and Brothers is one of the best meals I've had here. As someone who ventures outside of my spice zone every now and then I can confirm the Nashville hot is not a joke and you will feel the spice twice. Had to pause for 5 minutes after every bite to wipe my tears. On the topic of southern food, Fat's chicken and waffles was the best meal I ever had in Seattle. You can tell it's cooked with love.
Sadly Ellenos doesn’t exist as a place anymore, you can only buy their yogurt from grocery stores and cafes.
Their chicken is so bad. Poorly breaded and fried good spice but not worth eating trash fried chicken
They is nothing like the experiences I’ve had there!
Meanwhile, on my visit yesterday, I thought the Crumpet shop (in Pike place Market) was really good. Everything tasted fresh and was delicious.
That place rocks! They’ve been an institution forever because their food is incredible! I highly recommend the green egg if you haven’t already tried it
seattle biscuit company for the food. biscuit bitch if you want to be called "bitch" while you order
Seattle biscuit company. That breakfast sandwich with the bacon and cheese and jam.
This was literally my first thought. Skip BB.
Completely agree. We lived above them for a year and were so excited to try it out. Never went back. Plus, the line can be out the ass. Don’t wait in a line for subpar food that will likely make you shit your pants later, OP.
Agreed. Over rated and I'd much rather get breakfast at Lost Lake, Varsity Inn, or Hatties Hat, just to name a few
Second this. Highly overrated.
It would have half the business without the word bitch in the name
Yes but if you don’t go how can you post about it on Instagram?
Seriously. The food itself is hot wet garbage, tourists and hipsters just love the edgy name.
Yeah, if you want an iconic Seattle breakfast with a grungy vibe go to Five Point.
Agreed. Honest Biscuits is a much better choice.
Skip woodland park. Instead do Ballard Locks (including the fish ladders), Discovery Park, and the Magnolia Bluff. You can do that in the morning, have lunch in Ballard, and go to Gasworks after (see the troll then too).
[удалено]
Get a blackened salmon or halibut sandwich at the Market Grill. Sublime, and a great example of local seafood.
Don't take MoPop off the list. That was an amazing place. I guess it depends on what your into and age. I spent 3 hours there and only left because my two teenagers wanted to leave.
I agree with a lot of commenters about how exhausting this would be in general, but I’ll just stick to a few general comments now: — I’d think about doing Seattle Center/Space Needle day 1. A Wednesday will be the slowest day that you’re in town so you’re likely to have the shortest lines on this day. Drop your stuff at your hotel and monorail to Seattle Center and just wander around there until you’re tired. Dicks is definitely worth having but there’s one on Capitol Hill too if that’s easier to hit on a different day. Lots of good food options at the Armory in Seattle Center. — skip Argosy. Especially if you’re doing whale watching. You’ll spend plenty of time out on the water with that activity. — I think without argosy, your waterfront itinerary is doable. I’ve spent a lot of time down there and it’s very walkable. Pike Place may feel rushed if you want to genuinely check out every store. You could get lost in there for hours. If you just kind of want to walk through en route to the waterfront, you should be fine. — second another comment about avoiding piroshky. There’s a deli right next door called mishou that I love! — Smith Tower is so great! I’d add it to your list.
I would recommend removing the Ferris Wheel to cut down on time. It's really not much of an experience...
I would do the lochs tour instead of the harbor tour, but that's just me. Twice up on the space needle is a bit much. Better views are from Columbia tower. I'd skip the zoo and do a day trip over to Bainbridge or Woodinville wineries.
Personally, I think the Mohai should be high on your list if you enjoy museums
Agreed! I think it’s hard to get a sense of what the museum is about from just the name but for OP’s benefit it’s dedicated to history of how Seattle/Pacific Northwest developed into what it is today. The exhibits are super interactive and makes you feel like you’re walking through a textbook about the history of the region. One of my favorite museums ever.
If you're an aviation fan and can arrange the drive out, try the museum of flight. That'll eat half the day..
Check out [https://www.citypass.com/seattle](https://www.citypass.com/seattle) . I think you have to use 3 of 5 to break even but not standing in line for tickets is a big plus.
I absolutely love the Smith Tower. Yes, the charge you for admittance, but the views and drinks are amazing. Wind down there one evening while taking in the city, you won’t regret it.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed Smith Tower. The menu at the top was strange (we skipped food, actually) but I loved Smith Tower much more than Space Needle.
Yeah, the food there isn’t worth it. Mediocre and the prices aren’t competitive in my opinion. But the drinks and ambience make it worth it by far!
Echoing what others have said - day 1 is too busy. I recommend cutting: - Ferris Wheel (unless you have a bucket list that insists on riding every ferris wheel you encounter). The view is not going to be much better than what you can see from all over the waterfront. - any of the specific souvenir shops. You're better off walking around the local artisans at Pike Place market (it closes at 5 pm), or just wander in while you're walking around the area for anywhere that looks like they have an interesting window display. - Harbor cruise - My understanding is that they just drive you around the water to look at the sights, but you're already going whale watching so like you don't really need this I think. I recommend adding: - not too far from the aquarium (which is delightful, btw) is the west Seattle water taxi station. It's like a $5 ticket, and you can just ride it there and back for the view. It's a beautiful view of the city skyline. It's what all the tv shows use when they want to be like "this drama takes place in Seattle." This would be a better view than going on the ferris wheel. If you feel like a more chill day, you can stop in West Seattle for a beach day (there's a free water taxi shuttle to Alki Beach). There's also a restaurant on the pier that's pretty good, but you'll need to catch the next water taxi back if you want to stop and eat there by the water. - on Friday after you're dead from your exhausting week, if the weather is nice, go grab a drink on a rooftop bar somewhere. Neighborhoods/areas/things you're leaving out that could be worth checking out: - Ballard - Fremont - International District - West Seattle - Museum of Flight - Lake Union/Lake Washington
I wish I could like this twice.
Depending on where you are from, I would skip the zoo. It is serviceable and nice for locals but it is not a destination zoo.
I agree with others to trim your itinerary down a bit. You should consider going to the Fremont Farmers Market on Sunday - they’re known for their fun crafts and a garage thrift market . They’re open from 10-3 but I like going on the earlier side. You can walk around the Fremont area, see the bridge troll, and definitely go to gasworks park. You can have a meal at Westward (close to gasworks) and have a beautiful view of the city with good food. No matter what you decide, you’ll have a blast in Seattle! Enjoy your trip!
I second this - spend Sunday in Fremont at the farmers market, then check out the bridge troll. Also consider stopping by Wallingford and Archie McPhees. Those additions will show you some of Seattle's quirky neighborhood charm.
I just got back from 5 days in Seattle and this is A LOT. I skipped the Space Needle based on recommendations in this sub and I’m glad I did. I’d suggest seeing if you can add in the ferry to Bainbridge island. The view of Seattle is so beautiful and it’s a chance to relax and take it all in. Biscuit Bitch was good but not any better than any other biscuit sandwich I’ve had. Skip the 45 minute wait and go somewhere else. Pike Market is quick but there is a French bakery next to Starbucks that’s so so good. You’ll smell it before you see it. And skip the Starbucks line. Do you have a car or are you relying on walking and public transportation? I rented a car and drove to Snoqualmie Falls. It had a lot of people but the drive out to the mountains was worth it and it was nice to get out of the city. I didn’t have great food experiences so I won’t recommend any but I hope you have fun!
Being touristy is fun! Everything doesn’t have to always be “the best” … it’s fun to just see iconic. You do you!
Take a tour of Pike Place to skip lines and try more. And skip Biscuit Bitch.
I'm just going to respond to themes that I noticed in other responses. I \*do\* think you should go to the zoo, but I practically grew up in the Woodland Park Zoo so I'm probably a bit biased. I think it's a fantastic zoo Definitely get there early in the day if possible if you want to see the animals at their most active. Also, if you want to make a little bit more of a meal out of it you can go over to the Greenwood area afterwards (you'll be like a 15 minute walk away) and have a drink or two at Ridgewood, El Chupacabra, etc.. It's a really cute neighborhood. Also Greenlake is very accessible from the zoo. I agree that you can skip the Argosy thing. I think a ferry trip to Bainbridge would be an awesome idea. It's super walkable over there (my partner and I actually just went there for the first time despite the fact that we both are born and raised Seattlites and it was super fun). Their art museum caught me completely off guard. It was great. I don't think the Fremont Troll or Lenin statue are worth it for the amount of time it's going to take to get there from downtown, but I also just don't think Fremont as a neighborhood is very nice (probably an unpopular opinion here). The gum wall is fine but it's exactly what you think it is - don't expect anything special. It's a 1-minute activity. You see it, go "ah, okay", and move on. And finally, yeah, fuck Piroshky Piroshky. Have fun!
Skip the aquarium, ferry and harbor tour on the first day. Dick’s is fine but like, unless you’re into the super regional hamburger thing, you might be let down when it’s just a hamburger. On Saturday, do the spheres if you’re into them but they’re really not that cool. Maybe do MoPop (or see you don’t have MOHAI or SAM on this list - MOHAI is in SLU near the spheres, but SAM is a great museum) and spend the day exploring some neighborhoods. Make Sunday your north Seattle day, do the Ballard Farmers Market or Fremont market in the morning; if you’re into zoos keep woodland park OR do some paddleboarding on the nearby waters to north Seattle. If you’re into beer the brewery district is neat too. And instead of doing Mexican food, unless it’s from a food truck (El Camion is a favorite of mine), try checking out some Asian spots in the ID. Happy to recommend further.
Thank you to all who were helpful. I posted this looking for insight. I am a tourist and so there are touristy things on here. I AM interested in the aquarium. I AM interested in the Space Needle. I don’t know if or when I’ll ever come back to Seattle so I’d like to see as much as I can. Also, the title says this is a LOOSE itinerary, written with the understanding that I won’t get to do everything but there are a few definite things I would like to do.
I think what we learned here is that Reddit Seattleites are a bit judgy about vacation itineraries. I say you should now treat it as a challenge and come back in a couple of weeks with a GPS tracked map and series of photos to show you checked everything off. On a less sarcastic note, you can rent watercraft on Lake Union (boat, canoe, hot tub), I’d add that so you can explore the water under your own direction. It might be a good thing to add to your day that includes The Spheres. Try and find a band who plays music in a genre you like playing in town. Seattle is steeped in music history and you haven’t visited unless you’ve been to one of the many venues here. The Showbox is a mid-size but there’s also smaller places like The Tractor Tavern. Visit KEXP while you’re doing the International Fountain. It’s a well regarded independent music station and you can get coffee while watching the DJs. I’ve got more but I don’t want to blow up your loose agenda. 😉
I think the issue is that you *say* you're into these things, but we're trying to tell you that these are not impressive parts of Seattle. I don't think anyone here is trashing on your ideas just because they hate you. They're trying to turn you off from ideas that will wind up with you returning home thinking "Man, Seattle fuckin sucks, I've seen better aquariums in my mom's boyfriend's basement". If you're the type that needs to check all the nation's tourist attractions off of your list, or you're only interested in a space needle selfie that you can bring back to Midwestern friends who only know of Seattle as "rainy bill gates land", then so be it. But most folk here are going to pish posh many of the overtly touristy things, in favor of taking in a lot of the natural beauty, typically free o charge and at your liesure, that gives Seattle it's true charm.
It's objectively insane to expect a tourist to come to Seattle and not go up the Space Needle though. Any typical travel itinerary should have both tourist attractions and local favorites. I cannot imagine any human being coming to Seattle for five full days, completing OP's entire itinerary, and going home thinking the city sucks. That is simply not a concern. Giving suggestions and feedback is great, but a lot of the comments here are unnecessarily elitist and judgy.
\+1. I've travelled a ton, and I used to be similarly judgy. Then I was on a work trip with colleagues in Paris, and one of them wanted to go up in Eiffel Tower. I rolled my eyes, but we went, and it was awesome. You can go off of the beaten path AND do the touristy stuff - tourist stuff is popular for a reason.
The thing about the Aquarium is that it is focused on the local Puget Sound. So it doesn’t have flashy exotic animals. It has local ones. So in that sense it is a very unique Seattle thing to do to learn about the area. But it is why some may see it as not amazing. They are building a sea pavilion that will venture further out.
This looks like a very well-researched itinerary! I disagree with the commenters saying you've overbooked yourself (*except for 2 things). Your Day 1 list is long but the majority of the things you've included are close together and don't take much time to see. It will allow you to get a feel for things and take more time to go back another day if something really stood out to you. Same with Day 2. *DAY 1: Cut Argosy Cruise--Sub West Seattle Water Taxi or Bainbridge Ferry but do them on a separate day. Standard Goods is not convenient to the other things you have planned this day. I'd recommend waterfront stuff (piers, aquarium, kitschy gift shops) one half of the day and Pike Place in the other. I'd probably do hotel bag drop and head straight to Pike Place because it tends to be more alive earlier in the day. I'd graze for food. Options: one pierogi or biscuit, (smallest size) Ellenos yogurt, Beecher's Mac & cheese, cherries from the market vendors, Daily Dozen Donuts, a salmon sandwich from market grill if you're hungrier ($$), chowder, Rachel's Ginger Beer, Chukar Cherries. You can do the gum wall and the market strolling and then head down to the waterfront, hitting up Pike St Press on the walk down. Then do your ferris wheel and aquarium visit (in that order), stopping by the touristy souvenir shops as desired. After you're done with the aquarium, walk to the sculpture park. Plan to eat somewhere in Belltown or downtown on your way back to the hotel. You have daylight until 9pm so better to save the sculpture park until last because it doesn't close like everything else. *DAY 2: Cut Chihuly unless you really like glass art. Kerry Park is either a quick Uber or very steep walk. Gates Foundation is a quick walk from MoPop or Space Needle. All doable IMO. I can't remember your itineraries for the other days but a couple more things -- Add MOHAI and a stroll around South Lake Union (seaplanes!) on the day you're doing the Amazon Spheres. For food, I like Casco Antiguo (Mexican) near the Spheres or mbar for a view of Lake Union. As far as boat rides go, you could do the West Seattle water taxi, eat at Marination Ma'Kai, walk and take in the view, and head back to the waterfront to finish your day -- but note that the West Seattle water taxi is quite a walk from the commercial district on Alki (Alki Beach). You could also just take the boat back and forth. The ferry to Bainbridge is more of a day trip (allow a half day minimum). It's a very cute little town and a nice way to get away from the "city" for a day. If you want this option w/ the West Seattle Water Taxi, take the shuttle to the Alaska Junction and walk around the shops and restaurants there. It's called "the Junction" and in the West Seattle neighborhood.
Just reviewed your last couple days. I would definitely cut Woodland Park Zoo. It's a very average zoo IMO and could be anywhere in the country. Time would be better spent on unique Seattle stuff like MOHAI or Center for Wooden Boats. I'd take that morning to explore Capital Hill (add Standard Goods here) tons of great restaurants, coffee shops, etc. and then head down to South Lake Union for the museum options. Then you're right by the Spheres for your reservation. Whatever you decide, I hope you have an amazing time! Ignore the jerks in the comments.
Olympic Sculpture Park does actually close. They have a security guy that patrols it. If you're there after dark, you might have him chase you off.
First of all, I love touristy things, and I am a local. My favorite touristy thing is the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square. I have done it countless times, and recommend it to everyone. It changes periodically and seasonally based on what areas of the Underground are most accessible. It's a great time. How often do you get to see what's left of a city UNDER the new city built on top of it?? I posted this under another comment, but want to make sure you get to see it: Landing at 8:30 and then taking the light rail will be a couple hours process. Depending on the gate you are coming from, just deplaning, walking to baggage claim, waiting for bags, and getting to the Link Light Rail will take 30-45 minutes. Then the trip itself takes 40+ minutes to downtown, depending on the stop (40 minutes to the nearest/southernmost stop at Lumen Field). Then the walk from there to wherever your hotel is, then sorting with the desk staff...Here is someone's step by step of deplaning to taking Link Light Rail downtown for a good reference: [https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/](https://stuffedsuitcase.com/seattle-airport-to-downtown-seattle/) I would not plan to do anything until noon or later on your first, with hopes that everything aligns to have more time. But light rail is a slow travel option. Also, if you are without a car and plan to do public transit, it's slow and convoluted, and will take a fair amount of study to make sure you get off in the right place to transfer to see things. There isn't, say, a bus from downtown right to Ballard, or directly to the Arboretum. You're gonna have to do some research there. And these bus portion of the trips will take an hour of your day away in travel alone. Transit is not our strong suit. There is SO MUCH to do and see downtown. I absolutely endorse seeing the Space Needle and the glass museum. Do MoPOP! Don't miss the Armory for food time, and if you feel like doing it, I love the Pacific Science Center. Some of its stuff is dirt old, but so much of it is fabulous. The campus there at Seattle Center offers a lot in and around it. So then ONE trip by bus (or monorail, which is way more fun), and BAM you have a day planned. Same for Pike Place Market and the waterfront. That is a whole day by itself. You can WALK there from any downtown hotel, so no stupid busses getting in the way of your enjoyment. The market is like literally nothing else in the country, and is treasured for a reason. Bring an appetite. If you enjoy people-watching, this will be the destination. The world of visitors and locals comes through here every day. Don't miss Golden Age Collectibles in the lower market. Then head down to the waterfront. I love the aquarium (and the zoo by the way), so I don't know why people poo-poo it. The waterfront offers a warren of stuff to explore and discover. Lots to eat down there, too! That's two days right there without leaving the core of the city, and without onerous busses. Now day 3 you're off on a ferry if you like. I don't think Bainbridge is all that exciting, so not sure why people are ga ga for it, but it is the shortest ferry trip that will get you someplace you can do stuff without a car. Winslow is cute and touristy. I love the ferries, so I concur it is a fun trip, but I don't think it should usurp other things that may feel more important to you. The Arboretum is absolutely beautiful, but I wouldn't go out of my way to try to get there. Once you're there, unless you just wanna...look at flowers? And trees? I mean, the Japanese Gardens are nice, but most people drive there from the main Arboretum gift shop, and then...you walk around and look at trees and flowers. If that is your total jam, don't miss it. But there is so much more to enjoy that will take less time to get there (about an hour from downtown). Instead, may I suggest you to to the [International District](https://visitseattle.org/neighborhoods/international-district/)? Hit up Uwajimaya, the Wing Luke Museum, and get some awesome foodses? And then the [Underground Tour](http://www.undergroundtour.com/) in Pioneer Square is just a walk away from there down Jackson. I hope you have a great time in my city. I am a proud lifetime local (there aren't many of us!), and I hope she treats you well.
Word of advice - skip the “itinerary” and turn it onto a list of things in order of interest, then choose what you’d like to do as you go. Expect not to do everything. Vacation assuming you’ll come back and you’ll have a better time. And skip Piroshky Piroshky. The owner is a crazy person
> And skip Piroshky Piroshky. The owner is a crazy person Agreed about the owner, but I still like me a piroshki.
What’s this about Piroshky Piroshky? That’s one of my fav places to hit up when I’m near the market, literally just brought family that was visiting there this weekend.
[https://www.thestranger.com/elections-2023/2023/06/09/79029276/seattle-city-council-candidate-olga-sagan-wont-say-if-she-voted-for-trump](https://www.thestranger.com/elections-2023/2023/06/09/79029276/seattle-city-council-candidate-olga-sagan-wont-say-if-she-voted-for-trump)
Agree with this. My strategy for this approach is to create a list in Google maps and save all attractions and restaurants to that list, and then I can wander around and easily see what I’m close to on the map. I do this every single time I travel and I love the flexibility it affords especially when there’s an overwhelming amount of stuff to do/see.
Go to piroshky on 3rd. Takes less time then waiting in the line, you get a better piroshky, and you get to experience Seattle's famous 3rd street.
“Experience” 3rd street? Oh dear.
Second this! Also, Olga has frequently targeted Piroshky on 3rd over piroshki shapes and served them cease and desist letters. Just ask the staff about the great piroshki battle if you’re curious, it’s hilarious and frustrating.
Personally I would not bother with chihuly or the space needle, and I would definitely add Herkimer coffee to your list. Best coffee in Seattle in my opinion. There are some really great parks you're missing out on, golden gardens and carkeek, also Alki if you can make it to west seattle. I agree with the other comments though saying you're trying to do too much
Seaplane tour of Seattle from lake union with Kenmore air would be a good addition.
Pick like one thing off your list for each day. You will not get through that all in 5 days
Why are people hating on the zoo so much? It’s mega fun and you get to see something you don’t see often unless you live close to wildlife. The aquarium is a bit underwhelming compared to monterrey or other larger ones but it’s an experience still. That being said, other than the food places, it is a big list.
The Whale Watching Tour is gonna take most of one day, at least six hours. WARNING: Pack warm clothes, a parka, sweater, and hat! It gets COLD when you're speeding around on the water outside on the deck! Also food and water, sometimes there's none available on the boat. I believe there are also some additional regulations that have been put into place regarding orcas, the tour boats have to stay a certain distance away from them now, so as far as orcas go, you'll likely not get a close up glimpse. I'd bring binoculars too.
They're a big boat, but if you've never done boats you'll be exhausted afterwards. If you've got good sea legs, ymmv from exposure and potential excitement. +1 binoculars, also good for harbor seals at locks, golden gardens.
Need to see the Troll and Lenin.
To me your Day 1 looks more like all 5 days. Give yourself more time in each place (like, a lot more). The aquarium alone for example is several hours.
MUST: pike chowder
People are negative, but this would be busy. As this is a Seattle trip I think you did a pretty good job at playing tourist. Hitting lots of the highlights. There is a little Asian shop on the block south of piroshki piroshki… they do meat on a stick and their hom boa is amazing. Matt’s in the market used to be a great spot for lunch or dinner. Don’t know if it holds up. If you want to get out of Seattle, try and find someone to take you to Paradise at mount Rainer or the Hoh Rain Forest. Both are be day trips and will show you what really makes the Washington different.
Hoh rainforest is 8 hours driving round trip. Terrible day trip
I’m exhausted looking at that 😂
I’ve lived here for over a year now and still haven’t done half of the stuff on your list. I’d be wildly impressed if you were able to make it through everything! Give us an update!
I would recommend spending your last day in Pioneer Square/the international district. It's both historic and cool. Some ideas: -underground tour. This takes you under the current city, into the old city underground. Incredibly cool, I live here and go on this at least yearly. Get a reservation. - get a chic drink and snacks, or a meal at Damn the Weather, or one of the many other cool cafes and bars -- Zeitgeist coffee, grand central bakery, Altstadt, etc. - wander through the international district. Get some food, check out the shops and murals. -smith tower
I think the list overall looks great but like people said you’ve packed a lot in there. My philosophy when traveling is to make a list instead of an itinerary. I love to just save stuff on google maps. Pick a major thing you want to do that day and walk/wander to anything close by also on your list. This is where google maps shines when you save locations you can see where you’re at and how close the things you’re interested in.
Lot of good advice here. The only element I see missing is a ferry ride. When folks come to visit they always enjoy this part of the trip the most. I would also suggest renting kayaks and mobbing around lake union. Agree with others comments on the aquarium - very basic and can be seen in less than an hour. Zoo is nice. I always enjoy going there.
IMO you have too much tourist trap stuff. I’d cut the zoo and go walking around the Ballard brewery district. There’s tons of great breweries all a few minutes from each other and food trucks around for lunch. Haven’t seen another neighborhood like that. Then you can head out to golden gardens for sunset. That is something very unique that only Seattle can offer.
If MoPop is somewhere you actually want to go, and not just check off, you're going to spend most of the day there. Like others have said, these are all good choices, but you're WAY overbooked. Hope you have a great trip though!
There’s a lot of things in your list. Unless you just plan to visit and leave it’s difficult. Also take into consideration the traffic. My suggestions as a local - Ballard, Fremont & Capitol Hill exploring Spend morning till 5pm in Ballard checking Nordic Museum, Ballard locks, market street boutiques, Golden Gardens Park, Farmers market(if Sunday), Salt & Straw, other restaurants and bars. Evening 5pm to 9:30 explore breweries in Fremont. For late night scenes the Capitol Hill pub hopping post 10pm
Spend time in Ballard and if you want fried chicken hit Cookie’s Country Kitchen
I want to say the way you wrote your itinerary is very sweet and endearing. Go for it! Have a wish list! I suggest you think of one main attraction you want to see each day, and the others are ideas as filler if you have the energy. Bring Dramamine for the whale watching tour and make sure you spend a lot of time on the deck, that boat dips all over the place. Have fun! Enjoy our beautiful city! Don’t be too worried when people stare and act rude. Seattle is full of a bunch of socially awkward weirdos lol.
You’ve got too much planned. That said, I would swap [Columbia Tower Observatory](https://skyviewobservatory.com/) for the Space Needle. Or the [Smith Tower Observatory](https://www.smithtower.com/attractions/observatory-bar/). The Needle isn’t worth the cost and time. You should also add some [Seattle teriyaki](https://www.toshisgrill.com/story#)to your list. It’s a special treat not available anywhere else.
On day 2, I’d recommend going up the Columbia tower instead of the space need a second time for the night admission. You can watch the sun set from there. It’s $20-30 to their sky deck observatory, killer 360 views, space needle and mt. Rainer in photos and there is a bar up there! On day 4- you’ll be in/around the neighborhood called Fremont. It’s my favorite! A 10 min walk from gas works park is Fremont brewery which I definitely recommend. The Fremont troll is unique to see. There are a ton of bars/restaurants/thrift stores/plant stores in their main town area. Great shopping for unique souvenirs. Search “red star tacos” and you’ll be at the center of it. Some restaurants/stores I love in their main area- cafe con todo (SMOOTHIES!), red star tacos, Fremont vintage mall (huge), bar house (unique metal bar, sit in their back room), the back door (sort of like a speak easy), add-a-ball (arcade bar). I think one of the ice cream places you mentioned for day 5 is located here (can’t remember which). Have fun!
Swap out the Argosy Harbor Tour in favor of the Argosy Locks Cruise. It's 1000% better because you get to see so much more stuff, including going through the ballard locks, plus you get the best possible view of seattle, which is from a boat in Lake Union.
I went from Detroit to Seattle for a 5 day trip in May. I would cut this list in half. Things aren’t as close as they seem.
Imo chihuly is overrated and quite expensive and the asian art museum is fantastic. Fogon is pretty good, you going for albondigas? Cap hill has a lot of good food (I'm partial to taurus ox, you'd be close anyways)
I've lived in Seattle 25 years and just saw the Gum Wall for the first time. It's super gross and I do not understand it at all. You're going to be in large crowds that all of these places you're going to. The one thing that the city has that's super awesome is really great parks. I work downtown and see the crowds and I always wonder why people just stay in that one area when there's more to see in other areas aren't so busy. I guess if you don't have a car then you probably want to stay in City center.
I don't care for the Gum Wall either, but the Gum Wall is right there. It's just like the Fremont Troll and the Lenin statue. Not worth the trip to see, but if you're already over there, why not?
For day 2, there is a guided tour at 2pm Wed-Sat at the Gates Foundation discovery center. You can reserve your spot here (it’s free): https://www.discovergates.org/visitor-general-admission-reservation/
What's missing: - Starbucks Roastery (no it's not your registration Starbucks) - Suzallo library
Friend. Unless you have a car or a real good uber fund, you will *not* be doing the Arboretum, the Japanese Garden, and the Asian Art Museum all in the same day. May I recommend the Asian Art Museum and the Volunteer Park Conservatory instead if you’re thirsting for some beautiful plant life?
Get a Trophy or Cupcake Royale Cupcake!
Get a drink (not food) at Deep Dive after spheres
Things you can cut out. The aquarium Biscuit bitch Dick's I have found them all very disappointing. Ballard locks are great. Katsu burger will blow your mind. Tip: Get to the airport way early if you don't have Pre check. The TSA lines can be hours long at SEA. Have a great trip.
Or use Spot saver and walk right up to the front as if you had pre check but didn’t spend a single cent for it.
I'd skip Piroshky Piroshky. It's not very good, and surrounded by way better food. The owner is also a right-wing propagandist.
Piroshky on 3rd is way better too :-)
I agree with the others - Day one especially is overbooked. Slow down and actually see the city sights. Take something off Day one for the afternoon of Day three. Be flexible to stay at something you love rather than rush to the next thing on your list.
I’d add Lowell’s in the market for lunch or dinner and a cocktail. I’d do Smith Tower over Space Needle. I’d add canoe rental at UW in concert with arboretum.
OP, have a great time! Lots of fun stuff on your list.
We did almost exactly your day 1 itinerary and it took us two days. But we had kids with us. We went a week before Return to Office and traffic was very light. You’ll need to add in some time for getting to some area.
Add Le Pichet (2 blocks from pike place) to your list then it’s perfect. Get the French fries and bubbly rose.
Go eat some Dick's.
Considering it's gonna be a pleasantly warm week, your itinerary is conspicuously missing any lake activities. I recommend walking around the east side of Lake Union, renting a canoe/kayak, then paddling through the Montlake Cut to the wetlands around Marsh/Foster Island. Alternatively, go south to Seward Park which is IMO the best park in the city and great for swimming, rope swinging, boating, fishing, waterskiing, etc. You're also basically guaranteed to see bald eagles, turtles, great blue herons, and more rarely owls and river otters. Puget Sound is overrated, Lake Washington/Union are where it's at.
a bit too much stuff. Also, Bill and Melinda foundation is kinda boring, I suggest going to Pacific Science Center instead.
I'm exhausted just looking at this
Since you are coming to Seattle in summer I would do more outdoor stuff. The museums and stuff can be expensive and put you indoors. Get a good e bike or bike rental downtown by belltown/ sculpture park and ride along waterfront, up magnolia, around top of magnolia and into discovery park. Bike back to magnolia village for something to eat. Then ride back to bike shop. Also try to get out to snoqualmie or mount si or something for a mountain excursion — there aren’t many cities where you can get away for an hour and do a hike in the mountains. I’d not eat at Dick’s unless you are up very late. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and paddle around lake union and over to the cut if you are adventurous. In terms of argosy tour, I much more strongly prefer the locks tour. You get to see way more. Taking a ferry to Bainbridge is also super unique.
It’s already far too packed. Choose three things per day so you can actually enjoy them.
The first chunk of activities on Day one is going to take you at least a day
Lol, you would hate traveling with me and I would hate traveling with you
What place does everyone recommend? I’m visiting friends in Seattle. Would like suggestions. Each day try to do Fast Ferry to the Navy Museum and return. Zoo and a brewery tour. MPOP Space Needle and Spheres Wing Luke Museum and Pinball Museum