Plan Around Your Sailing
Give yourself a generous buffer for the return trip, especially if you are carrying luggage. A short, focused plan near the market and waterfront usually works better than racing across the whole city.
Start Free at Pike Place Market
Begin at Pike Place Market, where much of the fun costs nothing at all. Wander several levels of produce stands, artisan crafts, flower stalls and locally owned shops, and pause for the street performers and the famous fishmongers tossing salmon, two free shows that come with the stroll.
Step out onto the outdoor plaza in the expanded MarketFront area for views across Elliott Bay toward the Olympic Mountains. Snap the classic photo by the red Public Market Center sign and clock at First and Pike. For an affordable treat, grab a latte at the original Starbucks or a bowl of the signature mac and cheese at Beecher's Handmade Cheese.
Waterfront Sights for Every Budget
Down on the waterfront, free strolling sits side by side with paid attractions, so you can choose what suits your wallet. Browse the gift shops and take in the bay without spending a cent, or ride the Seattle Great Wheel for a lift above the shoreline.
Aquarium and Flying Theater
Head to the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 59 to meet Puget Sound marine life, including sea otters, a giant Pacific octopus and tide pools. Nearby on Pier 57, Wings Over Washington takes you on a virtual flight over the state's most scenic places. Check current admission details on each attraction's official site.
Seafood by the Bay
For a splurge, settle in at The Crab Pot, known for seafood feasts piled with clams, mussels and Dungeness crab. It makes a good pick when a big shared meal matters more to you than seeing many sights.
Art and History Within a Short Walk
Spend a while at the Olympic Sculpture Park, where large outdoor artworks spread across nine acres of waterfront against the backdrop of Elliott Bay. It sits on the way back toward the piers, which makes it an easy final stop. Downtown, the Seattle Art Museum offers permanent collections plus rotating exhibitions.
South of the market, Pioneer Square is often called the city's original neighborhood, with roots in the Gold Rush era. Browsing its boutiques and galleries is free, and each month the First Thursday Art Walk draws locals out.
Two Ways to Take In the Skyline
Ride up Smith Tower, the city's first official skyscraper, for a Prohibition-themed bar and an open-air observation deck with 360-degree views. For even more height, head to the Sky View Observatory at Columbia Center, which rises 902 feet and is the highest public observation deck on the West Coast.
Guided Tours That Fit a Cruise Day
Several local operators run sightseeing tours built for cruise passengers, each lasting three hours or less. Typical stops include the Space Needle, the houseboat from Sleepless in Seattle and the stadium district. When your window is tight, a tour can spare you the transit planning.
In Pioneer Square, catch an underground walking tour that spends about 75 minutes exploring the city's buried streets with plenty of humor. Food tours offer another way in, with routes through Pike Place Market and South Lake Union.
Exploring on Your Own
Prefer to set your own pace? Make Seattle Center, on the north edge of downtown, your base. Chihuly Garden and Glass sits beside the Space Needle and showcases renowned glass art.
Save With a Free Mobile Discount Pass
Bundle deals from local attractions, restaurants and shops with a free, phone-based pass. It arrives by text and email with no app to download, and you can save it to your home screen for quick access.
- Time limits: You have 365 days to use it after downloading, but only 21 days once you make your first check-in.
- Redeeming: Show your phone to staff, select the coupon, then confirm. You must be within a quarter mile of the business for the check-in to count.
- Repeat use: Each offer lists a frequency showing whether it works once or several times.
- Expiration: When the pass expires it resets, and you sign up again for the next live period.
New offers are added regularly, so take a look at the pass before your trip. Activate it close to your cruise date so the 21-day window covers both ends of your sailing.
