One Day in Seattle, Washington: Itinerary & Where to Go in 24 Hours

Embarking on a Pacific Northwest road trip? Spending at least one day in Seattle is the perfect way to start the journey. Seattle is the biggest city in the state of Washington. Hailed as the Emerald City, this Northwest USA metropolis is known for its lush surroundings and its cultural scene.

Seattle is famous as the stomping ground for rock legends like Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Chris Cornell. The Pacific Coast city is also often touted as the birthplace of gourmet coffee in North America. Even with 24 hours in Seattle, you can get a taste of the city’s cultural history, nature, outdoor activities, and food & drink scene.

Not sure what to do in Seattle in one day? Experience one of the PNW’s most fascinating cities with this complete 1-day Seattle itinerary!

Where to go in Seattle in one day: A complete 1-day itinerary

Only got one day in Seattle? You’re gonna have to get crafty. There are tons of amazing things to see & do in Seattle. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to squeeze all these activities into a single day.

This 24-hour Seattle itinerary focuses mostly on attractions and tourist sites within the city center. You’ll hit up historic markets, enjoy soaring city & sea views, and pop into exciting museums and art galleries. You can relax in hip coffee shops and cafes with new friends and experience Seattle’s culinary scene at one of the city’s finest restaurants.

We’ve designed this Seattle trip plan as a walking tour. You should have no problem walking between all the different steps. If you’re looking to squeeze more experiences in, you can cut your transit time down with taxis, public transportation options like buses, or a ride-share service like Uber or Lyft.

Eat a hearty breakfast at Pike Place Market

Not sure where to start your first 24 hours in Seattle? Pike Place Market is as good a place as any. The market has been open since 1907. It’s one of the oldest farmers markets in the United States and one of Seattle’s must-see destinations for travelers.

Since its humbler beginnings, Pike Place Market has grown into a large multi-level complex that’s one of the highlights of the downtown area. Today, it’s home to over 500 stalls, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and craft breweries.

You won’t be able to experience its full breadth in the morning hours. Still, Pike Place Market is a wonderful place to wander around to start the day. The morning crowds will be tamer than at other times of the day. You’ll be able to watch the vendors setting up shop before the daily onslaught.

Hungry for breakfast? You’ll find quite a few great eating options in Pike Place Market. For Southern comfort food, grab hearty biscuits at Biscuit Bitch. Tackle your seafood cravings with a classic bowl of clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at the world-famous Pike Place Chowder. Or brave the perpetual line-up to gobble down a tasty snack at Piroshky Piroshky. The popular Seattle bakery is famous for its over 20 varieties of handmade sweet & savory Russian pastries. 

Stroll through the Pike Place Market stalls, offering everything from fresh seafood and meat to local cheese and fresh produce. In addition to all the snacks, the market features plenty of cool shops for some retail therapy. On your getaway, you can sift through a variety of goods like books, antiques, and crafts.

Be sure also to snap your obligatory shot of the historic neon entrance sign and a selfie with Rachel the Piggy Bank. Rub the nose of the 550-pound bronzed pig and pop in a donation to the Market Foundation for a smattering of good luck!

Grab a cup of coffee at the original Starbucks

Coffee snobs might balk at the idea of including coffee’s most commercialized brand on this travel itinerary. But if you’re a casual coffee drinker visiting Seattle in one day, you can’t miss out on checking out the original Starbucks.

Before it became a worldwide coffee empire, Starbucks opened its first coffee shop in Seattle in 1971. In 1975, the cafe moved to the Pike Place Market, where it’s remained since.

At this “original” Starbucks location, you’ll find merchandise and brews you won’t find elsewhere in the city. Be sure to snap a picture of its original mermaid logo adorning the entrance.

Catch the sea breeze Waterfront Park

Grab a cup of coffee to go and detour a couple blocks southwest of Pike Place Market. Within less than 10 minutes, you’ll land at Waterfront Park. Once wedged between Pier 57 and Pier 59, the public park is undergoing a major overhaul. Its proposed 20-acre extension will soon extend along the waterfront from Pier 62 to T Mobile Park and Lumen Field.

On your visit to Waterfront Park, roam around the recently opened Pier 62. Keep on the lookout for eye-popping street art installations. If you’re hungry, the area also hosts a few places to stop for a bite to eat. As you soak up the atmosphere on your walk along the pier, you’ll enjoy spectacular views over Elliott Bay.

If you’re traveling to Seattle with kids, budget some time for a stroll around the Seattle Aquarium. The family-friendly aquarium is located on Pier 59, one of the most popular destinations in the downtown core.

For an extra adventure while exploring the piers, take a spin on The Seattle Great Wheel. The 175-foot-high Ferris wheel offers fantastic views of the cityscape, Elliott Bay, and the Olympic Mountains. Book a VIP Gondola ($50/person) for the extra thrill of watching the city streets sink from its glass-bottomed floor.

Didn’t fill up on breakfast or brunch? The Seattle Waterfront is one of the top places to eat in the city, especially for seafood lovers. Shuck oysters and taste local, sustainable seafood at Elliott’s Oyster House or full up on all sorts of fried fish and seafood chowders at the nautically-themed Ivar’s Acres of Clams.

Stroll through Belltown

From the waterfront, retreat to Pike Place. Walk north for a stroll through Belltown. Not long ago, Belltown was one of the more rough-and-tumble neighborhoods in Downtown Seattle.

Today, Belltown is jam-packed with trendy restaurants, hip coffee houses, cool boutique shops, and fun craft beer joints. Art lovers will also be able to spot cool street art and check out several art galleries around the area.

If you’re hungry, Belltown is a great place to grab a bite to eat for lunch. Plenty of delicious food options await within walking distance around Bell Street and 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue. Besides superb dining options, the area is also home to some of Seattle’s most legendary nightlife hotspots, including The Crocodile, a famous rock music venue.

For inspired Mexican cuisine, grab a quick meal at Taqueria Cantina on 1st Avenue. Or ditch the rainy Pacific Northwest (briefly!) and soak up the beach vibes at Ohana Belltown while digging into their menu of delicious Hawaiian eats and tropical drinks.

Enjoy the views at Olympic Sculpture Park

From Belltown, walk southwest along Broad Street towards the bay. Close to the waterfront, you’ll stumble upon Olympic Sculpture Park, a public park that’s an offshoot of the Seattle Art Museum. (More on that later!)

Olympic Sculpture Park stretches out over nine acres. As you stroll through the park, you’ll stumble upon about 20 quirky modern sculptures. Enjoy the scenery, soaking up amazing views over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, before continuing on your walking tour.

See the city from above at the Space Needle

From Olympic Sculpture Park, it’s less than a 10-minute walk up Broad Street to the Space Needle. Located at the Seattle Center in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood (now known as Uptown), the legendary Space Needle is the city’s most famous landmark.

The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. Since then, the 605-foot-high observation tower has been one of the most enduring symbols of the Pacific Northwest.

Of course, there’s more to do at the Space Needle than gawk at it. Grab your tickets and zip up the elevator to the observation deck at the 520-foot level.

On a clear day, tourists can enjoy spectacular 360-degree views over the Queen Anne area, the city skyline, and the surrounding mountains & seascapes. In the distance, Mount Rainer in the Cascade Mountains to the south and Mount Baker in the Olympic Mountains to the east pop into your sights. Be sure also to check out The Loupe, the world’s first revolving glass floor observation deck.

Visiting Seattle on a rainy day? Skip the Space Needle observation deck and check out the Seattle Center’s museums. Options include the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children’s Museum, and Chihuly Garden & Glass, a cool glass museum featuring works from famed glass artist Dale Chihuly.)

Unleash your inner Hendrix at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Launched in 2000, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is a must-visit Seattle attraction for music fans & film lovers. Once called the Experience Music Project, the museum sits on the northeastern edge of the Space Needle.

Designed by the famed architect Frank Gehry, MoPOP catches the eye from the moment you catch a glimpse. Like Gehry’s other buildings, the museum’s twisting & wavy exterior metal panels aren’t to everyone’s tastes. Before you settle on an opinion, though, pop in for a visit. You may soon change your mind.

Although MoPOP covers all things pop culture, its sweet spot is its music collection. At the music exhibition, you’ll find priceless artifacts from Seattle’s most famous musical acts. Browse through its exhibits. You’ll find gems like stage-worn clothes & guitars from Jimi Hendrix and demo tapes & handwritten lyrics from Kurt Cobain. You’ll also see memorabilia from other Seattle rock legends like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

Elsewhere in the museum, check out its interesting science fiction & fantasy exhibitions. The exhibits include costumes, props, and models from TV shows and movies like Star Trek, Lost in Space, and Star Wars.

Zip downtown on the Seattle Center Monorail

Once you’re done experiencing MoPop, hop onto the Seattle Center Monorail. The monorail station is a 2-minute walk east of the museum; in fact, the monorail track runs right through the museum!

Built for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition, the Seattle Center Monorail isn’t just a cool public transport option; it’s one of the city’s major points of interest. The elevated rail line completes a 0.9-mile run from the Seattle Center to the Westlake Center Downtown Seattle. The trip only takes about two minutes, and the bird’s eye views of Seattle’s downtown will be unforgettable.

Peruse the Seattle Art Museum

From the downtown monorail station, you’ll have a few options for sightseeing. The area around the station is home to some of the best places to go shopping in Seattle. You may want to spend time browsing fashions at boutiques or shopping malls like Pacific Place.

Need to stock up for tackling the outdoors on your Pacific Northwest trip? There are several outdoor stores nearby on Pike Street, including The North Face and Arc’teryx.

If culture is more your jam, embark on the 8-minute walk from Westlake Center to the Seattle Art Museum. The museum, known as SAM by locals, is one of the West Coast’s coolest art museums.

The collection at the Seattle Art Museum is eclectic. Its 35 galleries span everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern American art. Outside its permanent collection, SAM hosts several rotating exhibits. The temporary exhibits feature artists from around the world.

Gawk at the Seattle Public Library

Done perusing art? From the museum, it’s less than a ten-minute walk to the Seattle Public Library. While it may seem like an odd suggestion for a 1-day Seattle trip, you’ll quickly see the method behind the madness.

The Seattle Central Library is one of the city’s most stunning modern architecture examples and among its most surprising tourist attractions. Opened in 2004, the building was designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The 11-story unique metal and glass structure is striking both inside and out. (And, for book lovers, its 1.5 million-strong book collection is bound to excite, too!)

Marvel at the skyline from the Columbia Center

It’s impossible to miss the next stop on your Seattle travel plan. Quite literally. Two blocks south of the library, you’ll spot the soaring Columbia Center. At 933 feet, the Columbia Center is the tallest building in Seattle.

While the Space Needle gets all the attention for its high-flying views, the Columbia Center might have it beat. The tower’s Sky View Observatory is perched upon the 73rd floor. At 902 feet above the ground, the observation deck is a whopping 382 feet higher than the Space Needle’s platform.

Surprisingly, admission to the Columba Center is also cheaper. If you want to see the Seattle skyline from above at its finest, don’t skip it!

Chow down in the Seattle Chinatown-International District

Walk south of the Columbia Center. In about ten minutes, you’ll land in the Seattle Chinatown-International District. The neighborhood comprises the city’s three historic Asian-American communities: Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon.

If you’ve got a little extra juice in your legs, make a detour to Pioneer Square, the birthplace of the city. Wandering around the Pioneer Square neighborhood, you’ll spot a variety of buildings dating back to the late 1800s, many now housing art galleries, trendy restaurants, and cool coffee shops.

A few suggestions tourists should keep on the lookout for around Pioneer Square include Smith Tower, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Occidental Square, and the Waterfall Garden.

By this point in the day, you’ll likely be famished. Luckily, the Seattle Chinatown-International District is one of the best places to eat in Seattle!

Of course, the focus here is delectable Asian fare. If you’re craving a sushi dinner, book yourself a table at Maneki. Dating back to 1904, this popular Japanese restaurant is a Seattle foodie landmark. Gobble down yummy Chinese soup dumplings in an industrial-chic setting at the Dough Zone Dumpling House. Or slurp noodles to your heart’s content at Mike’s Noodle House.

If it’s open, try to sneak in a visit to the Wing Luke Museum. The museum details the journey of Asian Pacific American culture in Seattle. Fans of martial arts & film will love the exhibit on Seattle’s most famous Asian-American resident, Bruce Lee.

Once you’re fuelled up, spend some time wandering through the district’s eclectic shops and shopping for souvenirs. Book lovers will cherish the chance to browse the collection at Kinokuniya. The Seattle branch of Japan’s most popular bookstore chain is located in the Umajimaya Village shopping complex. You’ll also find a large Asian supermarket if you want to stock up on hard-to-find ingredients and produce for some cooking adventures.

Unwind in Capitol Hill

Still got some energy left in the tank? Grab a taxi (or hop aboard the Seattle Streetcar) and head to the Capitol Hill district. It’s less than a 10-minute drive from the Chinatown-International District. 

By night, the diverse Capitol Hill neighborhood is one of the coolest places to hang out in Seattle. The youthful & vibrant district is packed with trendy bars, pubs, craft breweries, and restaurants, perfect for ending the evening with some delicious food and refreshing drinks. Sip on craft beers at Elysian Capitol Hill Brewery, one of Seattle’s top breweries, or sip cocktails and play games at the carnival-themed Unicorn.

Most of the action in Capitol Hill centers around E Pike Street and E Pine Street. Stroll around the surrounding blocks to see what tickles your fancy.

Where to stay in Seattle in 24 hours

If you’ve got limited time, choosing where to stay in Seattle isn’t so difficult. For a quick trip or layover, stick to the main areas and neighborhoods in & around downtown for your accommodations search. These areas offer the city’s largest selection of hotels & lodgings. Be sure to book your reservations well in advance if you’re visiting during the tourism high season, especially if you’re planning a weekend trip.

More 24 hours in Seattle itinerary ideas

Woodland Park Zoo

Got extra time and want to escape the crowds? Venture 15 minutes north of downtown to Woodland Park Zoo. It’s a fantastic addition to your trip plan if you’re traveling with kids.

The award-winning Woodland Park Zoo sits on 92 acres of lush greenery, with over 300 species calling the zoo home. The zoo is also a worldwide leader in its conservation and education programs. Visiting will be an educational & entertaining outing for the whole family!

Gas Works Park

Of Seattle’s almost 500 parks, few are more popular with visitors than Gas Works Park. The park pokes out onto the northern shores of Lake Union on the edge of the Northlake neighborhood.

Gas Works Park is one of Seattle’s most unique parks. The park sits on the site of a former gasification plant. Walking about Gas Works Park, you’ll be to explore the old installations in all their grungy industrial glory.

Try to time your visit to Gas Works Park with the sunset. Grab a seat on the grass to watch the sun dip below downtown’s glimmering skyscrapers. If you want to avoid the crowds, mornings are generally quieter.

Kerry Park

Located about a mile northwest of the Space Needle, Kerry Park is another favorite panorama spot in the city. The park is a hit with local Seattleites and visitors alike for its dramatic views, showcasing the Seattle skyline and lovely surrounding natural scenery.

Although small, Kerry Park clings to the southern slopes of Queen Anne Hill. The higher vantage point unleashes the most iconic skyline views in the city. On a clear night, you’ll even see mighty Mount Rainier in the background!

Fremont Troll

One of Seattle’s quirkier attractions, the Fremont Troll is a must-see 18-foot-tall sculpture. It dwells underneath the Aurora Bridge north of downtown in the quirky Fremont neighborhood. The artwork was carved by a handful of University of Washington architecture students. It depicts the giant troll crushing an old VW Beetle to oblivion.

Parking around the sculpture is tight. You may want to park elsewhere in Fremont and take a stroll to the installation.

Bainbridge Island

Got an extra day to spare? Spend it on a day trip to Bainbridge Island. The island is located just 35 minutes from Seattle via a ferry ride. Bainbridge Island is a quaint small-town escape from the buzzing Pacific Northwest metropolis.

One of the top-rated day trips from Seattle, the island’s main town is quite pleasant itself. Stroll around the streets and duck into its art galleries & museums. The selection includes the Bainbridge Island Art Museum and Bainbridge Island Historical Museum.

The true treat of visiting, though, is the Bloedel Reserve. The leafy 150-acre nature preserve delights visitors with its lush forest and landscaped gardens. The views over Puget Sound from its manor house are breathtaking.

South Lake Union

Need a breather from the city center? Slip over to the South Lake Union, located just a few minutes north of the downtown core. The neighborhood itself is charming, with a mix of cool eateries, food trucks, and bars to explore.

The real treat of visiting South Lake Union, however, is to soak up its lakeside charms. Rent a kayak or paddleboard for a float around the lakeshore. Or hop onto a boat tour from South Lake Union to the Ballard Locks in the Ballard area, famous for its salmon ladder. History buffs, on the other hand, will love the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), covering the city’s maritime history and innovation.

Discovery Park

Witness firsthand how Seattle got the nickname Emerald City with a jaunt in Discovery Park. Located in the Magnolia neighborhood, Discovery Park sprawls out over 534 acres and is one of the city’s favorites among nature lovers.

Lace up your hiking shoes for an adventure through the park’s hiking trails. Take a stroll along the 2.8-mile Loop Trail to breathe in all of the park’s finest scenery, including spectacular views over Puget Sound.

When to visit Seattle

The best time to visit Seattle is between July and October. Although the weather is at its best in July and August, the crowds are also at their densest. Room availability is tighter, and accommodation prices are higher at this time of year.

A great alternative is the fall shoulder season. September is one of the drier months in Seattle, and the weather is still mild to warm for outdoor activities. In the shoulder season, you should be able to score better deals on your hotel room.

How to get to Seattle

By air

Seattle is served by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Also known as Sea-Tac, the airport lies about 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of downtown. SEA is a major gateway for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

By road

Seattle is within driving distance of several popular destinations in the United States and Canada. Sample routes and shortest driving times include:

• Vancouver, BC (2h27m)
• Victoria, BC (4h39m)
• Tacoma, WA (35m)
• Spokane, WA (4h4m)
• Portland, OR (2h40m)