If you’re looking for a diverse city with great food and many unique things to do, Seattle is a clear winner. Your experience here will be especially great if you go during the fall. Doing so will provide you with unique activities to do, the best chance of good weather, and fewer crowds (though it’s always busy to an extent). Keep reading to know what to expect, where to eat, and what to do when you have 3 days in Seattle, Washington!
Where to Stay
If you’re only visiting for a couple days, you’ll want to stay somewhere very central to the city. When I visited from out of town I stayed at the Boutique Studio in Belltown from Airbnb. Locations like these usually cost more, but you’ll save money on transportation.
Unless you’re planning on traveling beyond the city, I wouldn’t bother renting a car. Traffic in Seattle can be a nightmare and parking fees are high in many areas. If you’re able to, bring good shoes and anticipate walking everywhere. You can also use Uber or Lyft for further distances, such as the drive to and from the airport.
Day 1
Brunch at Bacco Cafe
Begin your first day in Seattle with brunch at Bacco Cafe. This cafe is located downtown, not far from the main entrance to Seattle’s public market, which is where you’ll be spending the rest of your morning. As with most places in this part of the city, weekends are very busy so you’ll likely have to wait in line, but they move quickly and the service is excellent.
Bacco Cafe has a great selection of both sweet and savory brunch meals served daily until 3pm. Additionally, you can enjoy both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages here, including freshly made juice. The portions are pretty big so I would recommend getting something light or even sharing your meal if you anticipate eating more in the public market.
Pike Place Market
After enjoying an amazing brunch at Bacco Cafe you can walk down the street to the Pike Place Market’s main entrance. I was able to explore this market a few times while living in the Greater Seattle Area and can honestly say it’s worth the visit, despite being a major tourist trap. It’s probably safe to say that the nicer the weather, the busier the market will be, but you can definitely visit during rain or shine. Whatever else you decide to do, you should really spend at least some of your time here during your 3 days in Seattle, Washington.
The market is a great location to find souvenirs and has amazing food as well. Several stalls even offer free samples. For this reason, you may choose to skip brunch beforehand and enjoy trying a variety of food as you stroll through the market. Fresh fruit, pastries, cheese, and even fish can be purchased here. Pike Place Market is also home to the first Starbucks, which you may be interested in seeing while you explore, though the line is absolutely insane.
Seattle Selfie Museum
After you’ve spent some time exploring Seattle’s public market, you can make your way through Post Alley, just past Seattle’s iconic Gum Wall, and over to the Selfie Museum. Although the Selfie Museum isn’t unique to Seattle (they also have a location in Denver, Miami, Atlanta, and more), you can still take advantage of this fun experience while in the city. When I went here for a friend’s bachelorette trip, I was honestly a little surprised by how much fun we had. The museum in Seattle has two floors with a variety of selfie stations, perfect for a personal photo shoot with friends or even by yourself.
Tickets for the museum range from $25-$34 per person and are good for an hour, though they weren’t too strict about time when we were there. You can reserve tickets online or wait until you get there. For the best experience, I recommend buying them when you get there so you can make sure it’s not too crowded. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait on other groups to take photos and might feel rushed. We were the only ones there when I went so it was perfect.
Pioneer Square
After your hour of taking pictures, it’s time to see and learn more about the city’s history. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Selfie Museum to Pioneer Square, Seattle’s “first neighborhood,” where you can find more shops, restaurants, and several bars. During your walk, consider going by the Seattle Waterfront to see the Seattle Great Wheel and Pier 50. You’ll want to know where this is for the next day’s itinerary.
As you then explore Pioneer Square, look for purple glass in the sidewalks. This glass indicates that you are walking over one of Seattle’s many underground tunnels. You may also be impressed by the Pioneer Square Totem Pole, a replica of an authentic totem pole that was taken from a Tlingit village and displayed in Pioneer Square in 1899. The authentic one was damaged and replaced with the replica in 1940. A couple streets down, there is also a unique playground called Occidental Square, and just around the corner is the Waterfall Garden Park, a small oasis in the middle of the city. These are just a few examples of why Pioneer Square is worth a visit!
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
One of the best ways to learn more about this historical square in Seattle (and the city itself) is by going on Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. I would recommend purchasing tickets online in advance so you can choose a specific time slot, just make sure to get there a few minutes before the start of your tour. Tickets range from $8.68 per child to $19.09 per adult, and the tour takes approximately 75 minutes.
The Underground Tour is arguably one of Seattle’s most unique attractions as it reveals much of Seattle’s history while taking you through the city’s underground tunnels. These tunnels were actually once streets and alleyways, until a fire in 1889 destroyed over 25 blocks of the city. The fire gave the city a chance to improve their infrastructure and, as a result, they rebuilt the city at a higher level, leaving tunnels below their new streets.
Many of the building entrances you see in Pioneer Square today are actually the second or third floor. In addition, the purple glass in the sidewalk is meant to be a sort of skylight for the tunnels below. The Underground Tour will teach you all of this and more as you follow a guide through the tunnels and are told cringy jokes. It’s definitely a unique experience worth considering.
Dinner in Chinatown-International District
When you finish your tour of the underground, you won’t be far from Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is about a 10-minute walk from the Chinatown Gate. Though this landmark is less than 20 years old, it’s a beautiful symbol of the historic neighborhood surrounding it. You can read more about the archway and the neighborhood on the plaques located near the gate, and then end the day with dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
Day 2
Coffee at Storyville Coffee Company
For your second day in Seattle, you’re going to do more walking and venture beyond downtown, but before you leave this part of the city, you need some caffeine. Seattle’s coffee culture is one of the reasons why so many people visit and even live in this city. The first Starbucks, of course, was located in Pike Place Market and, as it grew to be the world’s largest coffee chain, helped pave the way for more independent coffee shops in the city and throughout the country. While you’re in Seattle, however, I would skip the Pike Place Starbucks and visit one of the city’s many other incredible coffee shops.
Among several wonderful options is Storyville Coffee Company. They have two locations on 1st Ave so you can conveniently stop here before heading to the Waterfront. As with most places in Seattle, the line will probably be long at both locations but the coffee and pastries are worth the wait. The baristas here were friendly and skilled in their craft, which only made the atmosphere that much better. They even provided a free mug for my fiancé and I upon our first visit so you may even leave with a free souvenir, or you can choose one of their coffee blends to brew at home.
Alki Beach
After enjoying your morning coffee you can walk down to Pier 50 on the Seattle Waterfront (just past Pike Place Market). From here you’ll take the West Seattle Water Taxi across Elliott Bay. The ferry ride will be about 10 minutes long and will take you to Alki Beach, a strip in West Seattle containing a variety of shops, restaurants, and stunning views of the Seattle skyline. I would highly recommend spending time here if you have 3 full days in Seattle, Washington. You can enjoy your morning as you walk along the strip, take pictures, and even feel the water, if it’s not too cold.
If you’re up for walking all the way to Alki Point, you can find the Alki Point Lighthouse. Stop here to enjoy the views of Puget Sound and the mountains in the distance. By the time you make your way back to where you started, you will likely be ready to stop for lunch. As I mentioned, Alki has several amazing restaurants and cafes. You may run into more crowds and have a long wait time if you’re here on the weekend, but again, this is normal for both downtown Seattle and Alki.
Leisure Walk Near Seattle Waterfront
After taking the water taxi from Seacrest Dock back to Pier 50 you can make your way back towards Belltown. Take your time as you walk and consider stopping at the public market for more shopping, if desired. You may also be interested in some of the other activities near the waterfront, such as the Seattle Aquarium or the Great Wheel.
I would recommend taking it easy in one of the local parks near the water. You’ve done a lot of walking at this point, so sitting down and looking over Elliott Bay may be what you need. If you want more pampering, you could also check for availabilities at one of the various spas in this area.
Dinner at Tandoori Hut
One of the best parts of Seattle is the food and, more specifically, the various different cuisines. If there’s a type of food you’ve always wanted to try, you might just find it served somewhere in Seattle. To end your second day in the city, Tandoori Hut is the perfect place for a slow, relaxing meal. The service here truly made me feel like I was eating dinner at a friend’s house, and the food was unbelievably comforting. If you love Indian food, don’t miss the opportunity to eat at this wonderful restaurant.
Day 3
Brunch at The 5 Point Cafe
For your final day in Seattle I would recommend brunch at The 5 Point Cafe, located near the Space Needle. This restaurant is actually open 24 hours so if you really enjoy it, you can come back at any time of day. I can only speak for the breakfast and their drinks, but both were amazing and enough to make me want to come back. The drinks are pretty strong so you’re definitely getting what you pay for, and the service was surprisingly welcoming for being located near a tourist hotspot.
The Space Needle
The Space Needle is one of the most iconic tourist attractions in Seattle. Because of this, you may be wondering if it’s actually worth it or not. I personally love going places simply because there’s a good view, so in my opinion, the Seattle Space Needle is worth it. General admission is $35, but if you’re interested in going to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, you can save some money when you purchase tickets as a bundle.
The views in both the open-air observation deck and the lower observation level are very impressive, providing a 360-degree view of the city. On the lower level there is also a revolving glass floor where you can stand and look at the ground, 500 feet below you. Take your time admiring the view, taking pictures, and identifying the places you walked during your time in the city.
An alternative to the Space Needle is the Columbia Center Sky View Observatory. This option is slightly cheaper and may actually be less crowded than the Space Needle while still providing a 360-degree view of Seattle. The Columbia Center is also the tallest building in the city. That being said, either option will leave you will a new experience and hopefully some incredible photos.
Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum
Next, you really shouldn’t leave Seattle without going to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. There are actually several museums around the Space Needle but this is the one I chose to include on this itinerary. The studio glass on display in the museum and incorporated throughout the garden outside is stunning and so colorful. The museum also has a cafe and glass-blowing presentations, so you can grab a drink and a snack while you learn more about the artist, Dave Chihuly, and the artistry.
Kerry Park
If you aren’t absolutely drained after nearly 3 full days in Seattle, Washington, I would recommend walking around one of Seattle’s prettiest neighborhoods — Queen Anne. If you only go for one thing, go for the view at Kerry Park. This grassy slope in Queen Anne is about a 20-minute walk from the Space Needle and has yet another one of the best views in Seattle, especially at sunset. For this reason, it’s usually really crowded with both tourists and locals, unless you go later in the evening. You can always come back after grabbing dinner.
Dinner at Japonessa Sushi Cocina
If you haven’t had fresh seafood by your last night in Seattle, now is the time. You can find several seafood restaurants around Pike Place Market like the Crab Pot and Pike Place Chowder, as well as some amazing sushi and sashimi at Japonessa Sushi Cocina.
That concludes my itinerary for 3 days in Seattle, Washington! Though it may seem like a lot, there is still so much more to do in this interesting city. I encourage you to be flexible with your plans, try new foods, and be respectful of others as you enjoy your time in the Emerald City.