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Major city · United States

Seattle

Give Seattle 3 nights: 2 for Downtown, Pike Place and the waterfront, 1 for Capitol Hill or Ballard. Go June–September; skip the grey months if you can.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Seattle sits on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with 4 million people in the metro area and a downtown core you can cross on foot in about 30 minutes. Three nights covers Pike Place Market, the waterfront, the Space Needle and one neighbourhood; add a night for a Mount Rainier or ferry day trip. Summer is dry and bright, winter is grey and drizzly, and the city is generally safe for tourists.

basic guide: no trip line yet
33 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (grey, wet, short daylight)
Airports
SEA · PAE
Nights
3
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Seattle911 ▾
  • Police, fire and ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Seattle, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee (drip or latte)$3–6
  • Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range restaurant$25–45
  • Street or quick mealLunch (sandwich or bowl)$12–20
  • BeerCraft beer, pint$7–10
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$400

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$180 · High US$350

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Pike Place MarketSpace Needle and Seattle CenterCoffee culture and the original StarbucksGrunge music and the Museum of Pop CultureAmazon, Microsoft and Boeing headquartersFerries across Puget Sound
Airports
SEA Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea-Tac) (14 mi / 23 km (14 mi) south of downtown; Link light rail 1 Line to Westlake, about 40 min) · PAE Paine Field (About 30 mi / 48 km (30 mi) north in Everett; limited routes, check before booking)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    48°C (118°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    50°C (122°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    54°C (129°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    59°C (138°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    66°C (151°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    71°C (160°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    77°C (171°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    78°C (172°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    72°C (162°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    61°C (142°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    52°C (126°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    47°C (117°F)

Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Aug (78°C (172°F)), coolest Dec (37°C (99°F) low), wettest Dec (19 rain days), driest Jul (5). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Seattle: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

48°C (118°F)

38°C (100°F)

18 rd

Feb

50°C (122°F)

38°C (100°F)

15 rd

Mar

54°C (129°F)

40°C (104°F)

17 rd

Apr

59°C (138°F)

43°C (109°F)

14 rd

May

66°C (151°F)

49°C (120°F)

11 rd

Jun

71°C (160°F)

53°C (127°F)

9 rd

Jul

77°C (171°F)

57°C (135°F)

5 rd

Aug

78°C (172°F)

57°C (135°F)

6 rd

Sep

72°C (162°F)

54°C (129°F)

8 rd

Oct

61°C (142°F)

47°C (117°F)

14 rd

Nov

52°C (126°F)

41°C (106°F)

18 rd

Dec

47°C (117°F)

37°C (99°F)

19 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Link light rail 1 Line links Sea-Tac, Downtown, Capitol Hill and the University of Washington; buses and the Seattle Center Monorail fill the gaps. A car is a liability Downtown — use it only for day trips.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bainbridge Island

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Washington State Ferries from Colman Dock, about 35 min

Walk on, walk the town, eat lunch, return; the crossing is the point.

Mount Rainier National Park

go

Door to door: 2.5–3 h

Car via SR-706 to Paradise, about 2 h 30 min

A full day with a car; check road and snow conditions before you leave.

Bellevue

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Link light rail 2 Line or I-90 bus, about 30 min

Mostly malls and offices; go for a specific museum or restaurant.

Leavenworth

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h

Car via US-2, about 2 h 30 min

Too far for a relaxed return day; sleep one night.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown and Belltown

Walk to Pike Place, the waterfront and the monorail; best for a first trip with 2–3 nights.

Capitol Hill

Nightlife, bars and the LGBTQ+ core; 10 min by Link light rail from Downtown.

Queen Anne and South Lake Union

Quieter, near the Space Needle and Seattle Center; good for families.

Pioneer Square and International District

Oldest districts, cheaper beds, close to the stadiums and the light rail.

Ballard

North of the ship canal; locks, breweries and a slower pace, 20–30 min by bus from Downtown.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–250 excl. bed
High
$300+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 3 nights × US$220US$660
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × US$180US$1,080
Link light rail, Sea-Tac to Downtown, one way2 × US$3 · checkUS$6
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$178
Trip total≈ US$326 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,954

2026 estimate in USD; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee (drip or latte)$3–6
Lunch (sandwich or bowl)$12–20
Dinner, mid-range restaurant$25–45
Craft beer, pint$7–10
Rideshare, Downtown to Capitol Hill$12–20

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Seattle is safe for tourists by US big-city standards. The real risks are car break-ins, Third Avenue and Downtown street drug use after dark, and summer ferry queues: keep bags zipped and walk lit streets.
  • Car break-ins are common: leave nothing visible in a parked car, including in hotel garages.
  • Downtown and Third Avenue have visible street drug use and petty theft; keep walking after dark and stay on lit streets.
  • Ferry and light-rail queues peak on summer weekends and around cruise-ship days: buy tickets ahead or travel early.
  • Rain is light but constant from October to March; a hooded jacket beats an umbrella.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire and ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SeattleSeattle

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire and ambulance911

Embassy

Most countries have consulates in Seattle (check the address); the nearest embassies are in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Sea-Tac to Downtown, Link 1 Line: about $3, 40 min (check)
  • Downtown to Capitol Hill, rideshare: $12–20

Say or show

  • Excuse me — Excuse me / Sorry (excuse me)
  • Thank you — Thank you (thank you)
  • This one, please — This one, please (this one, please)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (how much is it)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (can I pay by card)
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the toilet? (where is the restroom)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Seattle. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (grey, wet, short daylight) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 5 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SEA: last Link 1 Line departures field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Pike Place and the waterfront, Seattle Center and Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square and the International District.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry and cruise-day fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources