Ultimate Travel Guide to Seattle Washington
There truly is nowhere like Seattle, Washington. Seattle is located in the Pacific Northwest and is immediately surrounded by majestic mountain ranges and the puget sound. You have Mount Rainer to the south, the Cascade mountain range to the east, the Olympic mountain range to the west and Mount Baker to the North. Needless to say, Seattle is positioned to be a hiker and backpacker’s dream city. Additionally, Seattle is the aerospace and tech hub of the Pacific Northwest with a booming economy. You’ll find an abundance of companies like Amazon, Boeing, Blue Origin, and Expedia just to name a few. If you’re thinking about visiting this emerald city, you’re in the right place. On my first visit to Seattle in 2015, I was immediately captivated by its gorgeous blue hue skyline. Here is your ultimate travel guide to Seattle Washington.
Best Time to Visit Seattle Washington
There is some debate over when is the best time to visit Seattle, Washington. to be honest, it truly depends on what you are searching for. Whether you’re looking for the best weather or bargain rates in Seattle, below weighs out the pros and cons for each season.
Visit Seattle in Summer
The summer months, June to August, in Seattle are truly like no other place, consequently making it my second favorite time of year. With temperatures hovering in the mid 70°F and the summer solstice at it’s peak, it’s really hard to beat sunny days with 16 hours of daylight. As a result, if you are traveling to Seattle to hike and explore nature, the summer time will probably be the best fit for you.
Visit Seattle in Fall
However, my favorite time of year in Seattle is the fall season, which is the months of September to mid November. Seattle becomes a foliage wonderland full of vibrant hues of red, gold and orange as the tree color turns. Not only that, but summer crowds have died down and hotel rates have declined (making it budget friendly to visit). Here is a list of things to do in the fall in Seattle.
Visit Seattle in Winter
Likewise, hotel deals run rampant in the winter months from mid November to February. Although you are most likely to snag incredible hotel rates, the winter time is not the best time for sightseeing. For example, the average temperature hover in the 30°F to 40°F and rainfall is at its all time high. However, if you’re into winter sports then you are in luck! Seattle is a great basecamp to trips to Mount Rainer, Cascade range and other ski options. Not to mention, Christmas season in Seattle feels magical with all the beautiful lights and seasons greetings
Visit Seattle in Spring
Finally, Spring in Seattle is also arguably one of the most beautiful times to visit. Seattle begins to come back to life during the Spring time and welcomes the cherry blossom season. Not only that, but during the Spring you will still enjoy lower hotel rates and lower crowds. Even though the Spring will offer glimpses of sunny days, don’t be deceived, you will still need to pack warm layers and a raincoat. If you are visiting Seattle in March, do not miss the opportunity to witness the beautiful cherry blossoms on the Quad of the University of Washington campus.
How to get to Seattle Washington
The closest airport to Seattle is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also known as SeaTac airport. The city of Seattle is about 14 miles (22 km) from SeaTac airport. There are a couple ways to get to Seattle from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Take an Uber from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
If you plan to stay centrally in Seattle and not take any day trips, you will probably be fine without needing to rent a car. Taking an Uber from SeaTac to Seattle Center will take about 20min and cost you about $55 depending on time of day. Try out my Uber referral link to get 50% off your first 2 rides.
Take the light rail from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Alternatively, you can take the link which is the light rail train to Seattle. A one way ticket will cost you $3 to Seattle and takes about 40 min to get from SeaTac airport to Westlake station. The link is a common form of transportation for most Seattlites. It’s very easy to find the light rail.
How to get to the Link Light Rail Station from SeaTac airport:
- Follow the signs for the Link Light Rail from the airport
- Go to the skybridge level from baggage carousel 16
- Cross skybridge 6 and go through the parking garage to the light rail station
- Purchase a one-way fare or ORCA card at the station
- Take the escalator upstairs to board the light rail
One thing to note is that sometimes there is construction being done on the light rail. Always check their website to see what stations are impacted. You can check here for schedule, stations and delays.
Safety Tip on the Light Rail: Due to its accessibility to the public, it can attract occasional interesting characters. In my experience as a solo female traveler taking the link from SeaTac to Seattle, I have not encountered unsafe situations. I would advise to use common sense and vigilance when on any form of public transportation.
Rent a car from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Renting a car is also an option if you plan to take any day trips outside the city. If you plan to stay relatively close to Seattle, I’d recommend public transportation or an Uber. You can conveniently head to floor 3 to rent a car. I’d recommend making a reservation a head of time. Your car rental will range based on how long you plan to stay. On average, you can expect to pay $25 USD per day for a standard sedan. So for a 3 day weekend, your car rental will run about $125 USD after taxes and fees for a standard sedan.
A budget option would be using the Turo app. Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental platform where individuals can rent out their own cars to others, much like Airbnb for cars. I have used Turo many times to avoid the often pricey rental car company fees (like Rent-A-Car, Enterprise Car Rental, Hertz, etc).
Where to Stay in Seattle Washington
Neighborhood's in Seattle
Seattle offers a variety of different vibes throughout its neighborhoods, so it will be important for you to identify the kind of visit you’re looking to make.
- If you want to be near the Seattle center attractions then I recommend: Belltown, Queen Ann or Uptown (formerly known as Lower Queen Anne).
- If you are looking to stay in a quieter neighborhood, I’d recommend Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, or Phinney Ridge.
- If you’re looking to stay where all the local action happens, I’d recommend Capitol Hill, First Hill and Central District.
Hotels to Stay at in Seattle
I personally prefer to stay in Airbnb’s when I travel, however I do recognize the appeal of travel hacking and cumulating reward points. If you’re looking for a travel credit card to begin travel hacking, check out this blog post with my top credit card recommendations. Additionally, in some cases prices of hotels can actually be cheaper than Airbnbs due to the rising cost and fees. With that said, here are my all time favorite hotels that I would recommend to my friends and family who visit Seattle.
- Hotel Ballard
Not only is this Hotel gorgeous, but it is also in my favorite area to eat and shop. Hotel Ballard is conveniently located near my favorite brunch spots, restaurants, bars and boutiques. If you plan to stay in Ballard during your visit to Seattle, check out this blog post to explore Ballard like a true Seattle local. - Thompson Seattle by Hyatt
If you love being in the heart the city when you travel, then Thompson Seattle by Hyatt is for you. It is steps from the would famously known Pike Place Market. Similarly, it is a short walk to beautiful attractions like the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle Center and the Gum Wall. The Thompson Seattle by Hyatt offers unequivocal gorgeous 180 degree views of the puget sound. - Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Similarly, the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is only a short 9 minute walk to Pike Place Market. - Graduate by Hilton Seattle
Now, I may be biased, however the Graduate by Hilton offers a great location if visiting Seattle by car. Not to mention, the hotel offers one of the best rooftop bars that Seattle has to offer.
Airbnb's to Stay at in Seattle
As I mentioned before, I like the coziness of Airbnbs when I travel. Here are some great Airbnbs based on proximity to the best nightlife and Seattle attractions.
Where to eat in Seattle Washington
When it comes to incredible food, there is no shortage of that in Seattle. If you love seafood, definitely do not pass up the opportunity to eat salmon and king crab that is native to the Pacific Northwest. Seattle offers a plethora of Asian cuisines including Thai food, Vietnamese food, Japanese restaurants and Chinese food. Some of my favorite spots in Seattle are:
- Dough Zone in International District
- Ramen Danbo in Capitol Hill
- Pho Bac in International District
- Thaiku in Phinney Ridge
- Biang Biang Noodles in Capitol Hill
If you are looking to eat like a Seattle local, make sure to check out this blog post for a complete guide of the best places to eat in Seattle.
Must-See Attractions in Seattle Washington
Seattle offers a healthy mix of both city activities and outdoor adventures. Seattle is famously known for the Space Needle which sits in Seattle Center next to the Museum of Pop and Science Center. Other “must do” activities in Seattle include visiting the Chihuly museum, eating at Pike Place market and exploring downtown. For a full detailed list of things to do in Seattle check out this blog post.
How to Pack for Seattle Washington
You may have heard that Seattle is always rainy, after all it doesn’t get the name “Evergreen State” for nothing. Although Seattle is known for it gloomy days and raininess, it offers quiet a variety of whether throughout the year. Which means packing for Seattle heavily depends on when you plan to visit. In general, I’d recommend bringing layers to make your stay most comfortable. Packing a rain coat or umbrella is a good best between September thru May. Check out this blog post for what to pack when visiting Seattle.
Things to Know Before Visiting Seattle Washington
Seattle is a proper city with a population of 750k people. Seattle is known for its strong liberal and progressive views. You will hear a lot of non-binary inclusive language and will catch body positive vibes.
Another thing to know about Seattle is that it is a very sustainably and environmentally conscious city. It happens to be home to many green tech initiatives and start-ups which focus on green energy and zero emission products. You’ll find plenty of local cafes and coffee shops that offer different variety of recycling including compost options.
Seattle is also very vegan friendly. If you’re vegan, you will not struggle finding amazing places to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some highly acclaimed vegan spots include: Cafe Flora and Life on Mars.
Seattle is known for its casual, Pacific Northwest vibe which includes Patagonia sweaters and Birkenstocks.
Seattle is also very proud of their sports teams. Seattle is the home to major sports teams like the NFL Seahawks, NHL Kraken, MLB Mariners, Sounders FC, Reign women’s soccer team and Seattle Storm women’s basketball team.
Like any big city, there tends to be a larger unhoused community that many times is accompanied with substance abuse. Always be aware of your surroundings especially near Pioneer Square and Capitol Hill.
Summary of Ultimate travel Guide to Seattle Washington
In summary, Seattle is beautiful city that offers a wide range of diverse activities. Whether you’re into vibey coffee shops and skyline gazing or hiking outdoors, there is something here for everyone. Looking to stay in Seattle? Check out my favorite places to stay here.
Now that you have read the ultimate Seattle travel guide, you’re ready to plan your trip to Seattle. I hope this ultimate guide to Seattle Washington helped with planning your trip to Seattle!
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Evie
Female solo traveler, blogger and personal finance nerd helping women plan their solo travel adventures!
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