Link light rail, the 1 Line
Hop aboard the 1 Line, which Sound Transit runs from Angle Lake Station south of the airport all the way up to Lynnwood, passing through downtown Seattle with 21 stops in total. Trains arrive every 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day.
Any trip costs a flat $3 adult fare, though fares can change, so check with Sound Transit before you ride. Get off at Westlake Station, at 5th and Pine, the most useful downtown stop for visitors and about four blocks from Pike Place Market.
King County Metro buses
Metro buses serve downtown and outlying neighborhoods throughout King County. Browse timetables and route maps on the King County Metro website, and download the agency's mobile app for iPhone or Android to keep transit information handy on the go.
The adult bus fare is listed at $3. Buses accept ORCA cards, Transit GO tickets and exact cash, so have correct change ready if you plan to pay with bills or coins.
Riding the Seattle Streetcar
The city runs two streetcar lines. The South Lake Union line covers 1.3 miles with nine stops, carrying you from the downtown core to a neighborhood full of shops, restaurants and the 12-acre Lake Union Park right on the water.
The second line stretches 2.5 miles with 10 stops. It connects to light rail at the Capitol Hill and International District stations, to Sounder commuter rail and Amtrak at King Street Station, and to Metro buses at several points along the way.
Adult fares are $2.25 for a ride or $4.50 for an all-day pass, paid with coins, a credit card or ORCA. Note that the streetcar does not run on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, and check the City of Seattle's streetcar page for current details.
The Seattle Center Monorail
Built for 1962, the monorail is both a handy ride and a piece of city history. It glides between Westlake Center downtown and Seattle Center at the foot of Queen Anne hill in about three minutes, with trains leaving every 10 minutes.
A one-way adult fare is $4, and your ORCA card works here too. Service runs extended hours in summer and for events at Climate Pledge Arena, so check the monorail's website for the current schedule.
Paying for Your Ride
Paying has become much simpler across the Puget Sound region. You have several options, and most visitors can simply use the card already in their wallet.
- ORCA card: Pick one up at any ticket machine using cash, Visa or MasterCard. It works on light rail, buses, the streetcar and the monorail.
- Tap to Pay: Tap a contactless credit or debit card, or use a digital wallet on your phone, as you board.
- Transit GO Ticket app: Download it from the Apple or Google store and buy tickets right on your phone.
- Exact cash: Buses still take it, but drivers cannot make change.
From the Airport to Downtown
Arrive the easy way, by train. Head to SeaTac/Airport Station on the fourth floor of the airport parking garage, then settle in for the roughly 40-minute ride to Westlake Station, where a large number of downtown hotels are a short walk away.
Taxis and ride-share pickups wait on the third floor of the parking garage, at the Ground Transportation Plaza. A one-way ride downtown typically runs $50 to $70, depending on traffic and service, and door-to-door vans and airport shuttles also leave from that plaza.
If you want a car later, know that every rental company serving the airport operates from an off-site facility. Shuttle buses run around the clock from outside baggage claim at the north and south ends of the main terminal. Rentals are also available downtown, so you can skip the car for your first days and pick one up only when you need it.
Where Transit and Walking Take You
Downtown and the waterfront on foot
Stroll roughly a mile around downtown and you will reach Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, the Central Library and the waterfront. Along the water, take in the Seattle Great Wheel, the Seattle Aquarium, harbor cruises and the Washington State Ferries terminal.
Many of the city's theaters and music venues are also an easy walk from central hotels, including the Paramount Theatre, Benaroya Hall, The 5th Avenue Theatre and The Showbox.
Seattle Center by monorail
Ride the escalators to the top floor of Westlake Center to catch the monorail. Three minutes later you step out at Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPOP, Pacific Science Center, Climate Pledge Arena and more.
South Lake Union by foot or streetcar
Head north from Westlake Center on a fairly flat 1.2-mile walk to the south shore of Lake Union. Or ride the South Lake Union streetcar from the Westlake hub at McGraw Park to its stop beside the park.
Once you arrive, spend time at the Museum of History and Industry and The Center for Wooden Boats. Then get out on the lake yourself, with rentals of kayaks, sailboats, electric boats and more.
Pioneer Square and the stadiums
Going south from Westlake, it is about a 1.3-mile walk or a short light rail ride to Pioneer Square, the Chinatown-International District, Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park.
Day Trips Without Driving
Ferries and the water taxi
Catch a ferry from downtown and you can be on Bainbridge Island in about 35 minutes. The dock is a short stroll from Winslow Way, the island's main street of shops, tasting rooms and cafes, along with the well-regarded Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
For a shorter outing, board the West Seattle Water Taxi at Pier 50 on the downtown waterfront and ride over to Alki Beach. Kayak rentals there let you paddle out onto Elliott Bay.
Trails, slopes and wine country
In season, Trailhead Direct links riders to popular regional trailheads. Take light rail to Capitol Hill Station and continue on King County Metro service, and plan ahead with schedules and gear, since service is seasonal.
During ski season, the Seattle Ski Shuttle runs daily buses from downtown to Snoqualmie Pass and two other Cascade ski areas, with optional lift-ticket packages. Private tour companies also offer shuttles from downtown to the Woodinville wineries, about 20 miles northeast, and to farther spots like Mt. Rainier.
Short-term cars and other options
When transit does not quite fit, book Lyft, Uber or a metered taxi by app anywhere in the city. Zipcar rents by the hour, GIG Car Share offers one-way rentals by the minute, and bike and scooter share are ready when you want to roll on your own.
