15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Seattle

Downtown Seattle was founded in the mid-19th century and has a history dating back to the gold rush, but it's a surprisingly modern metropolis with only two dozen historic buildings within its boundaries. What DT Seattle lacks in historic buildings, it makes up for in skyscrapers, one of them seventy-six stories.

Seattle may be the hometown of Starbucks, but in downtown Seattle, there's more to do than sit and drink coffee. Fronting the wide expanse of Eliot Bay, downtown Seattle has a unique waterfront that works both socially and industrially. Watch cargo ships being loaded as they spin on one of the largest Ferris wheels in the US or take a stroll along the pier and stop for a seafood feast before having your word read. the palm of the hand under the glazed gaze of shrunken heads.

1. The Great Wheel of Seattle

The Seattle Great Wheel is a one-hundred-and seventy-five-foot tall Ferris wheel on Pier 57 of DT Seattle's central pier. Take a seat in one of the forty-two-wheel gondolas, take to the sky and see amazing views of the downtown skyline and Eliot Bay.

Rides on the wheel last between twelve and twenty minutes with a guaranteed minimum of three full revolutions, which is more than enough to take in all the sights and take plenty of photos too.

For an extra special ride, take the VIP gondola which has a transparent glass floor and comes with a drink plus a souvenir t-shirt included. Time your visit at sunset or visit after dark. It is a magical walk.

2. Olympic Sculpture Park

Art and the outdoors make a unique combination at the Olympic Sculpture Park on Western Avenue in downtown Seattle. This unusual public park covers eight and a half acres of land with geometrically inclined paths that wind around twenty different sculptures.

The various artistic creations include a vivarium with mushrooms and mosses growing on a tree trunk, benches representing eyes, fountains with twin jets, and a colorful glass bridge.

The park has a narrow stretch of beach that overlooks the bay and is the perfect place to sit and reflect on the meaning of the sculptures in the park. There is also a small auditorium for outdoor events.

3. Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market, one of the oldest farmers' markets in the United States, has been operating in downtown Seattle since the early 1900s. The 1st Avenue Market is near the waterfront and has stunning views over the bay.

Explore the alleys of stalls filled with fresh produce sold by Washington farmers before browsing the two hundred or so shops and more than eighty restaurants. Open daily, the market is a hive of activity where you can take a cooking class with a professional chef, take a guided walking tour, or watch an artist at work in one of the many studios.

Pike Place Market is a tradition in downtown Seattle. Do not miss it.

4. Harbor Cruise

Hop aboard an open-deck boat at Pier 55 for an hour-long leisurely cruise around the port of DT Seattle. As you cruise through Eliot Bay, a guide narrates interesting historical facts and anecdotes about downtown Seattle, the bay, and Puget Sound.

Sailing takes place in the busy cargo ship area before heading along the waterfront where you'll have amazing views of downtown on one side of the ship and from the other, you'll be able to see the Olympic and of waterfalls. Simply amazing.

5. Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum is a must-see building on First Avenue in Downtown Seattle. In front of the museum is an impressive 15-meter tall metal sculpture called “Hammering Man”. The statue, which has an automated arm, is part of a global series depicting workers and their jobs. He swings his hammer four times a minute and makes a great Instagram shot.

Within the museum itself, there are several exhibition floors containing collections from around the world. There are examples ranging from ancient American art to Australian Aboriginal creations, as well as contemporary pieces presented in multiple formats.

6. Crab pot

In downtown Seattle, seafood reigns supreme on restaurant menus. For a rustic yet flavorful experience, try the Crab Pot at Pier 57, by the water's edge.

The Crab Pot has starred in the TV show Man V Food and is well known for its Sea Parties. Ask for an Alaska and expect a massive plate filled with every kind of seafood the ocean has to offer, covered in crabs, crabs, and more crabs.

Don't expect fancy surroundings. There are paper towels on the tables, a worn tile floor, and a bib. Yes, eating crab can be a dirty business.

7. The Spheres

The Spheres are three huge glass globes in the Amazon HQ building on 7th Avenue in downtown Seattle. They were created as an innovative workspace for the company's employees and contain around forty thousand specimens of cloud forest plants. It's a living jungle in the middle of DT Seattle.

While you're at Amazon HQ, take a tour of the Undergrowth and learn all the facts about the spheres and how they were created. While the Understory is open to the public seven days a week, the Spheres are not. The Spheres are only open for viewing on two Saturdays a month and you will need to make a reservation in advance. Take a comprehensive tour of Amazon HQ, and a visit to the Spheres is included.

8. The rinse room

The Diller Room is a speakeasy-style bar on 1st Avenue in downtown Seattle. The bar occupies what was once the lobby of the Diller Hotel, a regular stop for pioneers to stay when traveling to and from the Klondike during the gold rush.

The bar has a hideaway atmosphere in keeping with the theme of the bar and is decorated in polished wood and bare brick reminiscent of an old-world British pub.

Pick up a cocktail from the Diller Rooms' extensive drink list, take a seat in the padded leather seats, and it's easy to imagine you're back in the days of Prohibition.

9. Klondike Gold Rush Museum

The Klondike Gold Rush Museum is a two-story building on Second Avenue in downtown Seattle. At the museum, you can explore the effect of the gold rush on Seattle through the many exhibits and memorabilia from the era on display.

Get to know the real characters of the time by watching three short film performances, find out who the Buffalo Soldiers were, and see how the gold is made in a live demonstration.

The Gold Rush Museum may be small, but it's a fascinating insight into what made Seattle the city it is today.

10. Starbucks Reserve & Roastery

Immerse yourself in the origins of today's coffee culture by visiting the Starbucks Reserve and Roastery in Downtown Seattle$0027s Pike Street.

Observe the entire coffee-making process from the arrival of the beans in sacks to their passage through the loading pit, and then watch as they are roasted before being ground. Enjoy the finished product served in one of many variations, from the daily espresso to a three-pack of eight-ounce packages of clover-brewed reserve blends. You will leave fully educated at the cafe.

Do you want to visit the first Starbucks store? It's only nine blocks from the Pike Place Steakhouse. Walking from one to another will help lower your caffeine levels and you'll be ready for more.

11. Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

You have to have fun in the weird and the wonderful. Visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shop at Pier 54 on the DT Seattle Pier to explore the curious and macabre. Part museums and part shops revel in the dark side and oddities.

Be terrified by the open-mouthed petrified mummies, disgusted by the collection of shrunken heads, and stunned by the two-headed animals or four-legged chickens.

Do you want to know what the future holds? Throw a dollar in the palm of Estrella, the gypsy fortune teller, and wait for her to hand you a card with your destiny printed on it.

12. Spacer needle

Although the Space Needle is just outside the confines of downtown Seattle, it's the place to go for the most incredible views of DT. The six hundred and the fifty-foot tower is the symbol of the city and rises above the surrounding buildings, offering uninterrupted and impressive views over the city center, the docks, and the mountains.

The lower deck of the Needle has a rotating glass floor and the upper deck has floor-to-ceiling glass walls with transparent benches where you can take amazing selfies with nothing but the city in the background. If you are brave enough to try it, do the virtual bungee jump. It will take your view of downtown Seattle to a whole new level.

13. Teatro Paramount

The Paramount Theater is located in one of downtown Seattle's historic buildings and was opened in the late 1920s as a movie and music venue.

Now a luxurious, multi-purpose performing arts center, the interior of the theater has a high ceiling, a balcony, and seating for nearly three thousand spectators.

Located on downtown Pine Street, the theater regularly hosts major Broadway shows, concerts, television productions, and musicals such as Cats, the Lion King, and School of Rock.

14. Pinball Museum

Become a pinball wizard when you visit the Pinball Museum on Maynard Avenue in downtown Seattle. This unusual museum has fifty vintage pinball machines dating from the early 1960s to the 2000s

The exhibitions are every day and you can play in as many as you want. Don't expect a quiet visit. There will be flashing lights and ringing bells along with the occasional cheer when the high score is reached.

Pinball is a fun and surprisingly addictive game. You could be there for a while. If you're thirsty, refresh your gaming power with one of the museum's classic sodas.

15. Westlake Center

Shop until you get to Downtown Seattle's four-story mall, the Westlake Center. Located on Pine Street, the glass-fronted shopping complex is home to world-class shops and restaurants.

From high-end jewelry stores to handmade cosmetics and designer clothes, there is no shortage of different outlets to explore.

When you've had enough retail therapy, stop in for a fresh juice or that all-time tradition born in Seattle, a coffee at Starbucks. Enjoyment!