How to Spend 1 Day in Seattle (by a Former Local)

Seattle, Washington, is a gem of a city in the great Pacific Northwest. While I would recommend a trip to Seattle of at least a couple of days, you still can see a lot with just 1 day in Seattle.  

There are a ton of great things to do in the heart of the downtown and waterfront plus amazing options for day trips outside of the city as well. I was born in Seattle and lived in the area for the first 29 years of my life. I believe it’s truly one of the best places to visit in Washington State.

One-day Seattle itinerary highlights

Stop by the original Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place and consider visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery for a unique coffee experience.
Visit the iconic Pike Place Market early to avoid crowds and see the famous fish-throwing.
Snap a picture at the unique Gum Wall in Post Alley, near Pike Place Market.
Enjoy a waterfront lunch at Ivar’s Fish Bar on Pier 54.
Don’t miss the Space Needle, one of Seattle’s most photographed landmarks, and if time allows, visit the Museum of Pop Culture or Chihuly Garden and Glass nearby.

Seattle waterfront at dusk — *During your 1 day in Seattle make sure you visit the waterfront.*

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To see the best of Seattle in one day, just follow our itinerary below. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Grab your FREE printable travel planner today.

If you have more time to spend in Seattle than one day, check out my perfect Seattle weekend itinerary or my 4-day Seattle itinerary.

Itinerary: What to see in Seattle in one day

A Seattle one-day trip won’t give you a lot of time to see the city sites, BUT you can still see some of the best. If you’re planning your first visit to Seattle, I recommend following this itinerary, as it’s really intended for first-timers.

If it’s NOT your first time, don’t worry. I have a lot of other suggestions in this post for things to see in Seattle in one day.

You might want to consider buying the Seattle CityPASS. Based on how much you cram into your day, it could actually save you money. And you’ll get admission to many of Seattle’s premier sites and attractions.

Need help planning your trip to Seattle? Check out our list of the essential travel planning resources.

Explore the iconic Pike Place Market

Aside from the Space Needle, Pike Place Market is one of those sites that is just quintessentially Seattle.

From flowers to amazing produce and from artisanal foods to fine handcrafts, you’ll love exploring every inch of this amazing place. Make sure to stop by Pike Place Fish in the Main Arcade. They’re the guys who throw the fish. You really can’t miss them, because they’ll be surrounded by tourists.

fish market stall at the Pike Place Market in Seattle — *A Seattle day trip would be incomplete without a visit to Pike Place Market. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go*

If you’re driving to the Market, there is paid parking available in their garage. If you stay at one of the hotels we recommend (see below) you can walk to Pike Place Market.

Pike Place Market recommends making your visit before noon if you can, while there are smaller crowds. During peak summer travel times, weekdays are your best bet to avoid crowds.

Consider taking a behind-the-scenes guided tour of Pike Place Market with early access before all the crowds arrive. Take a look here.

mockup image of a free printable travel planner

Photo spot: Gum wall

Address: 1428 Post Alley

Just a few steps away from Pike Place Market and the people throwing fish, you’ll find the Gum Wall. Yes, it’s weird. But it’s also kind of marvelous.

If you can stomach it, the Gum Wall is a fun and unique Seattle photo spot. You may also contribute to the wall if you wish.

In November 2015, more than one ton of gum was removed from the wall and everything was cleaned. Apparently, the sugars in the gum were causing damage to the bricks. More gum was added starting immediately after the cleaning was completed.

the author posing by the gum wall in Seattle — *Even though I was born there, visiting Seattle never gets old. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.*

Enjoy lunch on the water at Ivar’s Fish Bar

Address: 1001 Alaskan Way

For lunch (especially if the weather is agreeable), head to the water to Pier 54 and Ivar’s Fish Bar. It’s just about the most Seattle thing you can do for lunch.

Beware. The seagulls will want your fries. I’m serious.

For a higher-end Ivar’s dining experience, you might like Ivar’s Acres of Clams right next door. They offer both indoor and outdoor (deck) seating, which is right on the water.

Other waterfront dining options include Elliott’s Oyster House and The Crab Pot (near Waterfront Park and the Seattle Great Wheel). Incidentally, my sister and brother-in-law had their wedding rehearsal dinner at The Crab Pot.

Check out the oldest Starbucks store

Okay okay. The Starbucks located at 1912 Pike Place is not the first Starbucks store, but it is the location where the first store moved in the mid-1970s. And it’s been operating there continuously ever since.

If you’re a Starbucks fan (like me) you won’t mind waiting in the long line of tourists to see the inside of the store and pick up one of the Seattle souvenirs that you can only find in that location.

If what you actually are looking for is a cup of coffee then I recommend that you head to the Starbucks location on 1st and Pike Street. It’s a large location where you can get Clover brewed cups of Starbucks Reserve coffees. Soooo good.

three small metal coffee pots with three small coffee cups — *The origin flight at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery is quite a treat for coffee lovers visiting Seattle. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go*

For the full Starbucks Coffee experience take an excursion to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery at 1124 Pike Street. They offer unique drinks plus coffee experiences like origin and brew comparison flights. Also…more souvenirs. It’s amazing.

Space Needle

Address: 400 Broad Street

After lunch and coffee (or coffee then lunch), make your way over to the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle has become an internationally recognized symbol for the city and is one of the most photographed structures in the world.

It has undergone a multi-year renovation and preservation process and now includes the world’s first and only rotating glass floor.

Be advised, that the Space Needle is not an inexpensive attraction to visit; however, it is a pretty unforgettable one. They do have a few different ticket options to help you plan the best experience for you. The Space Needle participates in Seattle CityPASS but you will still need to reserve your timed entry.

Museum of Pop Culture or Chihuly Garden and Glass

To round out your Seattle one-day trip, pay a visit to either the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) or Chihuly Garden and Glass. Both are located adjacent to the Space Needle.

Designed by Frank Gehry—and once called the Experience Music Project—the Museum of Pop Culture offers exhibitions and educational programs dedicated to creativity and contemporary pop culture.

MoPOP recommends that guests purchase their tickets in advance.

Detail of Museum of Pop Culture Facade in Seattle — *Hop on the monorail to Seattle Center and then explore the Museum of Pop Art.*

Chihuly Garden and Glass is an indoor and outdoor long-term art exhibition dedicated to the work of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Chihuly’s artwork really needs to be seen in person to be believed. The museum recommends that visitors plan to spend one to two hours touring the exhibitions.

Featured tours and activities in Seattle, Washington

If you’re in Seattle because you’re about to head off on a cruise, you might enjoy this pre-cruise guided tour. It includes hotel pick-up and port drop-off so that you’re guaranteed to get to your ship in time. Check it out here.

Or perhaps you’re not really a city person and want to get out of Seattle completely. With this guided day trip to Mount Rainier, you’ll take in stunning views and learn more about this important natural landmark.

Other great things to do on a Seattle day trip

While I think my itinerary is the best way to visit Seattle in one day (especially for a first-time visit), there are any number of things you could use as substitutions for my recommendations.

Or if you’re planning a little bit longer visit to the Emerald City, you could use some of these to fill out your itinerary.

The Seattle Great Wheel

Right on the water at Pier 57, the Seattle Great Wheel is the tallest Ferris Wheel on the West Coast and extends 40 feet out over Elliott Bay.

Seattle Aquarium

Also located on the Seattle Waterfront (at Pier 59), the Seattle Aquarium would be a great option to add to your itinerary especially if you’re traveling with children. I spent many happy school field trip days as a child at the Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Park Zoo (see below).

Seattle Art Museum

I’ve visited premier art museums all over the world, and I think that the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) easily stands up next to many of them. They have an impressive permanent collection of contemporary art and frequently offer special exhibits of major artists and artworks.

SAM is located at 1300 First Avenue about one block from Pike Place Market. SAM participates in First Free Thursdays, which offers free access to area museums on the first Thursday of each month. First Free Thursdays at SAM includes both general admission and special exhibits.

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Ride the monorail

Even if you’re not planning to use the Seattle Center Monorail for transportation, it’s still a fun and cheap activity you can try out.

It departs about every 10 minutes from one of two stations, Westlake Center or Seattle Center, and it only takes about 2 minutes to get from one end of the line to the other.

Depending on where you’re staying, it’s a convenient way to get from your hotel (if you’re staying near Westlake Center like at the Mayflower Park) to the Space Needle. The Westlake Center monorail station is just about a 10-minute walk from Pike Place Market.

Woodland Park Zoo

One of the premier zoos in the U.S., Woodland Park is not conveniently located near downtown attractions like the Seattle Aquarium but is worth a trip if you have the time and ability to get there.

This is another great option that those traveling with children might especially want to check out. WPZ strongly recommends that guests purchase their tickets ahead of time online.

If you don’t have a car with you, you could use an app-based ride share like Uber or Lyft, or take a Seattle Metro bus (#5 to Phinney Ave. N. and N. 55th St.) to use the West Entrance.

Where to stay in Seattle

Mayflower Park Hotel—Stay in the heart of downtown Seattle within walking distance of Pike Place Market and just steps from the Westlake Center monorail stop, making is super easy to get to the Space Needle, Seattle Center, MoPOP and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Check rates and availability here.

Hotel Ändra—Also within convenient walking distance of the Seattle waterfront and the Westlake Monorail station, Hotel Ändra offers unique boutique accommodations. It’s also about a 15-minute walk to the Space Needle. Check availability here.

Ace Hotel—located in the popular Belltown neighborhood, Ace Hotel offers affordable accommodations just more than a 10-minute walk from Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. It’s also about a 7-minute walk to Olympic Sculpture Park. Check out available rooms here.

When to visit Seattle

You’re going to find the best weather in Seattle between July and September (when it’s drier and temps average in the 70s and upper 60s), although it can actually get quite hot.

You’ll also find a lot of tourists at the top sites like Pike Place Market (okay that one is always busy—even in the dead of winter in my experience) and the Space Needle during those months.

Yes, Seattle is rainy. It has more rainy days than most cities in the U.S. but it’s not nearly the rainiest city by annual rainfall. The months with the most rainy days are typically November through February and into March.

What to pack for Seattle

Now, while the summer weather in Seattle can be wonderful, it can also be quite hot. Follow weather reports closely and plan accordingly. Seattle is a city where I definitely recommend packing to wear layers. Check out my post about packing for an overnight trip for my best tips and advice.

The rest of the year, be prepared for at least overcast skies and some rain. You might not necessarily need an umbrella. Often a rain shell with a good hood is sufficient.

Seattle is also a very casual city. Comfort is generally the rule of the day.

How to get to Seattle

The best way to get to Seattle is to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). There are many ways to get from SeaTac to your accommodations, including:

Link Light Rail runs from the airport to several stops including downtown Seattle
King County Metro and Sound Transit buses
Shared van ride services like Capital Aeroporter
Ride share like Uber and Lyft
Check to see if your hotel offers an airport shuttle

Final thoughts on things to see in Seattle in one day

Seattle, Washington, is a stunningly beautiful city that’s a unique combination of sleek and modern alongside rugged natural scenery. To visit Seattle in one day will require some planning, but you can definitely see the best of the best with just a day trip.

Especially if it’s your first visit, I recommend you stick to the top sites and then do more when you have the chance to go back. As a Seattle native, I’m a little biased about the Emerald City. I hope you love it as much as I do.