Kerry Park
Head to Kerry Park on the south slope of Queen Anne for the postcard shot. The park is small, just 1.26 acres, yet from here the Space Needle, the downtown towers and Elliott Bay line up in a single frame, and on clear days Mount Rainier fills the background. No other landform seen from Seattle is as dramatic as Rainier, which anchors the fifth national park designated in the United States. Washington's Indigenous people called the mountain Tahoma or Tacoma.
Bhy Kracke Park
When Kerry Park is crowded, slip over to Bhy Kracke Park on the southeast side of the hill for a calmer alternative. A winding path joins its two levels, and the outlook takes in Lake Union, downtown, the Space Needle and the Cascades.
Kinnear Park and Queen Anne Boulevard
Spread out on the lawn atop the bluff at Kinnear Park, a two-tiered city landmark of 14.1 acres on the southwest slope, with woods tumbling below. Developer George Kinnear gave the land to Seattle in 1887 and 1897. To link the hill's viewpoints on foot, stroll Queen Anne Boulevard, a loop of streets around the summit planned in the Olmsted Brothers manner and protected as City of Seattle landmark No. 38.
Sunsets Over Puget Sound and the Olympics
For evening light, head to the parks along the city's western edge. They look out over saltwater toward the Olympic Mountains, which makes them natural places to end your day.
Sunset Hill Park
This small overlook in northwest Ballard lives up to its name, with a view that runs across Shilshole and Elliott bays toward the Olympics. Its compact size keeps the plan simple: arrive, find your spot and watch the light change.
Golden Gardens Park
Just below in Ballard, Golden Gardens Park pairs a Puget Sound beach and dunes with wide views of the Olympic Mountains, and its fire pits make it a favorite for lingering after dark. Come early enough to explore the wetland ponds behind the beach, where you might spot birds, beavers and turtles.
Discovery Park
For a wilder setting, spend an afternoon at Discovery Park in Magnolia, which covers 534 acres of forest, meadow, bluff and beach on the grounds of the former Fort Lawton. Its open bluffs and shoreline give you a wilder place to watch the Sound than any of the city overlooks. Plan for a walk, since the views come with some distance.
West Seattle Shorelines
Stroll Alki Beach Park along Elliott Bay between Alki Point and Duwamish Head, passing a Statue of Liberty replica and a pioneer monument on the way. Farther south, Lincoln Park covers 135 acres on a Puget Sound headland, with a paved shoreline walk beside the water. For a hilltop option on the peninsula, head up California Ave SW to Hamilton Viewpoint Park, which the city bought in 1914.
The Downtown Waterfront and Elliott Bay
You do not need to leave downtown for a big water view. The central waterfront has been rebuilt in recent years, and several parks now sit right on the bay.
- Victor Steinbrueck Park, just northwest of Pike Place Market, looks out over Elliott Bay and reopened in March 2025 after a long renovation.
- Olympic Sculpture Park, run by the Seattle Art Museum, is free and covers 9 acres of a former Unocal industrial site in Belltown. Follow its paths as they step down past modern sculpture to the Puget Sound shoreline.
- Myrtle Edwards Park carries on north as a narrow 4.8-acre strip of bayfront, with a 1.25-mile path for walking and biking.
- Waterfront Park on rebuilt Pier 58 officially opened on September 6, 2025, between Pier 57 and the Seattle Aquarium.
Next door, Pier 57 is a 1902 city landmark and home to the Seattle Great Wheel, a waterfront icon in its own right.
Towers, Ferries and Views From Above
The Space Needle
Ride up the 605-foot Space Needle, the observation tower built for the 1962 World's Fair and now an official city landmark. Its slowly rotating observation deck blends cityscape, mountains and water in every direction. The tower makes a striking view in itself, too: seen from the east it points toward Elliott Bay and the Olympics, and from the north it aims at Rainier. After dark, stand directly beneath it and look up at the evenly lit white top. Check the official site for current tickets and hours, as they can change.
Volunteer Park's Water Tower
On Capitol Hill, climb the 1906 water tower in the 48.3-acre, Olmsted-designed Volunteer Park for a free way to get above the treetops.
The Bainbridge Ferry
Find a spot on the deck of the Bainbridge Island ferry, one of the best places to watch Mount Rainier rising behind the skyline with open water all around you.
Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park sits on a lawn-covered point in Lake Union, where rusted towers, the remains of the last coal gasification plant in the United States, make a striking foreground for the lake. Nearby, catch the 1917 Fremont Bridge, which rises about 35 times a day, more than any other drawbridge in the country.
Close-Up Sights Worth Seeking Out
Some of Seattle's most memorable views are about detail rather than distance.
- Ballard Locks salmon: At the Chittenden Locks, peer through underwater glass panels to watch sockeye salmon crowding upstream to spawn, roughly from mid-June through October. Confirm timing before you go.
- MoPOP: Frank Gehry wrapped the Museum of Pop Culture in more than 21,000 stainless steel shingles. Step in close and you will see your reflection warped in gold, silver, purple and blue.
- Central Library: The downtown library at 1000 4th Ave is a lattice of glass and metal, with odd angles that pull light deep into a huge interior.
- SeaTac's Atrium: Settle into a rocking chair facing the glass wall onto the airfield and watch planes take off and land before your flight.
