Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States for approximately 4 months every year from June to September (when it isn’t raining). In the summer months, the city offers a vibrant setting on the edge of the Puget Sound, with plenty of activities for city lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. Even if you only have a weekend to spare, two days in Seattle is enough to gather a taste for what makes the Emerald City shine.
If it’s your first time visiting Seattle, you will likely want to stay somewhere in the downtown vicinity. Downtown Seattle serves as home to many of the iconic Seattle sites, including Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium and more. Below, you will find a two-day itinerary, complete with a weekend full of activities that are easily accessible from Downtown Seattle.
For this itinerary you will not need a car. All locations are in walking distance or accessible via public transportation from the central downtown area.
Friday Night:
Dinner & Drinks on Capitol Hill
After you’re checked in and settled at your accommodation, venture up the hill from downtown into one of Seattle’s most famous bar and restaurant neighborhoods: Capitol Hill. From Pike Place Market to the heart of Capitol Hill, the walk is just over a mile. If you don’t want to walk, you can hop on the light rail train for a quick, 5-minute ride. A roundtrip ticket costs ~$5.00. When you exit the train station, you will be just over a block away from central Capitol Hill, on the corner of Broadway Ave. and Pike St.
Capitol Hill is overflowing with bars and restaurants. You could stay for a month and never visit the same place twice. We recommend just walking through the Pike and Broadway area until you see something you like. Whether it’s a cheap bowl of ramen or a nice night out, Cap Hill has it.
Saturday:
Visit Pike Place Market in the morning
What better way to kick off your trip to Seattle than by enjoying your morning coffee at the original Starbucks location in the heart of Pike Place Market. Take a photo at the iconic “Public Market” sign, watch the fish toss, explore the gum wall and shop for souvenirs in the heart of Seattle tourism.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to purchase the fish that went whizzing over your head. The fish in Pike Place Market can be shipped fresh overnight to anywhere in the United States.
Walk down the hill to the waterfront
After you are finished at Pike Place Market, head down the hill towards the waterfront. There you will find the Great Wheel, Seattle Aquarium and access to the ferry boats and water taxis. Explore the various piers and shops along the waterfront before making your way towards the ferry and water taxi terminal.
Take the water taxi to West Seattle
From the waterfront, you have the option to board numerous ferries or water taxis. We recommend taking the water taxi to West Seattle, leaving from Pier 50. The water taxi is a great way to see the Puget Sound, where you can enjoy views of the Seattle skyline and surrounding scenery. Keep an eye out for our local orca pod!
The taxi also happens to drop you off at one of the best lunch spots in the entire city: Marination.
Marination originated as a single food truck in 2009, and has since expanded to three locations. The menu is a perfect fusion of Hawaiian-Korean cuisine, and the view from their West Seattle location is unbelievable. With a massive, sunny patio and some of the best food in town, this is the perfect place to kick back for lunch with a view.
When you’re ready to go back to the city, just hop back on the water taxi and it will drop you off at the same location downtown.
Take in a baseball game at T-Mobile Park
Join the rest of the city in cheering on the Mariners at T-Mobile Park, and don’t bother having dinner before the game. T-Mobile Park is widely regarded as having the best food selection of any ballpark in America. Where else can you get grilled salmon, bacon-topped mac-n-cheese, fresh dumplings or a poke bowl while taking in a baseball game?
Enjoy the game, cheer for the home team and don’t forget to try the fried grasshoppers in Edgar’s Cantina.
Tip: If you elect to take the light rail to the game, be sure to get off at International District Station and not Stadium Station. The two stations are a similar distance from the gates, but the walk from International District Station is much more festive as you walk along Occidental Ave, which will be full of street vendors catering to the pre-game crowd.
Grab a “Seattle Dog” on your way home
On your way home from the game, be sure to grab a Seattle style hot dog on Occidental Ave outside of the left field gate. As we mentioned above, Occidental will be filled with street venders selling post-game hot dogs. Just make sure you order Seattle style. That means cream cheese and fried onions. It only sounds crazy until you try it.
Sunday Morning / Afternoon:
Visit the Seattle Center
Home of the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Pacific Science Center and Climate Pledge Arena, the Seattle Center is a close second to Pike Place Market when it comes to must-see tourist locations in Seattle.
If you only have time for one option, we recommend the Museum of Pop Culture. Locally known as MoPOP, the Museum of Pop Culture offers interactive exhibits on categories like film, gaming and music, including local artists like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. With unlimited time, you could easily spend half a day here.
Another popular option is visiting the top of the Space Needle. Fair warning, it costs $35 per person. Alternatively, we recommend the cheaper Sky View Observatory, located in Seattle’s tallest building, the Colombia Center. At $25 its more reasonable, with comparable views.
Get on the water at Lake Union
For outdoor enthusiasts and adventure lovers, consider renting kayaks or paddleboards at Moss Bay on Lake Union, near the northern end of downtown. Moss Bay is the closest rental location to downtown, located a mere 20 minute walk from the Space Needle. You can elect to rent paddleboards and kayaks by the hour, or sign up for a guided tour.
Tip: There are a few restaurants along the lake where you can dock your kayak for lunch. We recommend a bowl of clam chowder at the famous Ivars Salmon House or a burrito from Agua Verde Cafe.
If kayaking and paddle boarding aren’t your speed, consider taking a walk through Lake Union Park. It runs along the southern edge of Lake Union and its a great place to sit and watch the sea planes land and take off on the lake.
Not included in this itinerary:
Visit the Seattle Art Museum – The Seattle Art Museum (SAM), home of the famous Hammering Man, is free to the public on the first Thursday of every month. If you happen to be in town at this time, be sure to check it out. SAM is only a couple of blocks from the entrance of Pike Place Market, so its very central and convenient.
See a show at the famous Paramount Theater – Originally opened in 1928, Seattle’s Paramount Theater remains one of the city’s historic landmarks. A full list of upcoming shows and events can be found here.
Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island – This is a longer alternative to taking the water taxi to West Seattle. Like the water taxi, you can also walk onto the ferry from the terminal on the downtown waterfront. Once you’re off the ferry, Bainbridge Island is generally more walker-friendly than West Seattle, as you can walk straight from the ferry to an area will shops and cafes.
The main tradeoff is a longer trip across the water. The water taxi to West Seattle takes about 15 minutes, while the ferry to Bainbridge is about 35 minutes. If you’re crunched for time, be sure to take this into account.
