Seattle in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Seattle is considered the most cosmopolitan city in the state of Washington, so it is not surprising that its streets are home to a large number of tourist attractions. All of them are representative of the city's historic past contrasted with modernity. You can visit interesting museums, learn about the history of the city, taste delicious traditional and international food and enjoy a breathtaking view from a skyscraper, among other activities.

With so many destinations to discover on your trip to this city, you probably don't know where to start your tour. If this is the case, you shouldn't waste time wondering what to see and do in Seattle during your two-day visit. Instead, plan a daily itinerary starting early in the morning and make the most of your time.

The first day of your visit is planned so that you can discover part of Seattle's historic city centre, admire the cityscape and enjoy the cultural diversity.

All while enjoying delicious food and shopping.

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market, located at 85 Pike Street, is a great place to start the first day of your Seattle itinerary. It is a commercial site with an area of more than 36,000 square metres and approximately 600 stores, distributed in a total of 15 buildings.

This market was created by a group of farmers in mid-1907, who started selling their own produce.

Little did they know that 100 years later, the small market would become a landmark in the city of Seattle and an attractive tourist destination for many visitors. In fact, you can choose to visit it on your own or by taking one of the food tours of Seattle, as almost all of them take you around the premises.

During your tour through the different levels of Pike Place Market, you will find numerous food stalls.

You'll also have the opportunity to enter the world's oldest Starbucks, which opened in 1975, try the delicious fish chowder at the popular Pike Place Chowder seafood restaurant, or enter one of the many other restaurants, bars, bakeries, pastry shops and ice cream parlours. This market is definitely a great place to embark on a food tour of Seattle.

The market is also home to retail, artisan and farm shops, as well as the following nearby attractions:

• "Giant Shoe Museum", where you can take lots of fun pictures.
• "Golden Age Collectables, a space dedicated to the sale of collectible comics and action toys.
• "GumballWall, which, although it has been cleaned up, is still a place of curiosity for tourists visiting Pike Place Market.

Museum of Original Selfies

If you want a fun souvenir of your visit to the city, then the Museum of Original Selfies is your next must-see.

This creative space is located at 92 Union Street, just four minutes away from the huge Pike Place Market, so you'll have to walk approximately 300 metres to get there. It's an activity you can share with the little ones in case you've travelled with them and don't know what to see and do in Seattle with kids.

The Seattle Selfie Museum opened in 2020 and has been wowing visitors ever since with its innovative modern art concept.

Basically, it is a photo studio, which provides different scenarios designed with various themes, professional lighting equipment and accessories (reflector screens, stands, diffusers, umbrellas, colour gels, etc), to improve the quality of the captured image.

Upon entering the Museum of Original Selfies you will not fail to be amazed by the display of colour, brightness and creativity, present in each of the rooms. You'll see YouTube, Instagram and Tik Tok walls.

You will also find neon signs, spaces decorated with giant bathtubs, wings, graffiti, comics, old telephones, mirrors, a ball pool, among others. You will also find props and costumes.

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is known for being Seattle's first city neighbourhood, so it's a district with a lot of history to share. You'll find old buildings, art galleries, the famous underground city, bars, restaurants, cafes and trendy shops.

Just exit the Original Selfie Museum and walk approximately 11 minutes in the direction of 1st Avenue.

As you begin your tour of Pioneer Square, the first thing you'll notice is the architectural style of the buildings, which evokes the neo-Romanesque movement prevalent in the late 19th century. You can't help but stop in front of the stone facades to take a picture.

There is plenty to do in the Pioneer Square district. For example:

• Visit the underground city. This is a very popular activity, usually incorporated in the main tours of Seattle, so you won't have any inconvenience to do it. You'll get to see the hidden corridors underground, while a guide tells you the story behind them.
• Join the free art walks held on the first Thursday of every month.
• Step inside the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Museum to see some of Seattle's cultural heritage and understand the reasons behind the Gold Rush.
• Relax in Waterfall Garden Park, while admiring the scenery.
• Have lunch at Occidental Plaza. There you'll find the famous food trucks with a fairly extensive menu. You can eat Mexican tacos, classic hot dogs, delicious sushi, pizza and much more.

Smith Tower

At the end of the tour in Pioneer Square, you can walk approximately four minutes in the direction of Yesler Way or James Street and 2nd Avenue.

You'll find the famous Smith Tower, where you'll have a great view of the city of Seattle. You can also shop for souvenirs, eat and drink at the Smith Tower.

The Smith Tower, since its construction in 1914, became the first skyscraper in the city. It is a true cultural icon in Seattle, which today offers a complete sightseeing experience:

• Enjoy the architectural attraction that characterises this tower.
• Climb up to the observation deck, from where you will have the opportunity to contemplate the city and beyond, thanks to the 360º view offered.
• Buy in the souvenir shop some objects, magazines, postcards, among other products.
• See the permanent exhibition that tells the story of the Smith Tower and its transcendence over time.
• Taste local recipes and have a drink at the Temperance restaurant, considered to be the hidden gem of this skyscraper.

The Smith Tower is an attraction that you can access any day of the week from 9am until 8pm. However, for more detailed information you can check the opening hours and how to buy tickets on the official website of this monument.

Chinatown District

Just 13 minutes from the Smith Tower, walking along 2nd Ave Ext S & S Jackson St, you will reach the popular Chinatown district, considered a must-see destination for enthusiasts of the millenary Asian culture.

There, you will enjoy a different atmosphere, which combines the characteristic bustle of the commercial area with the tranquillity of the parks and gardens.

This district brings together culture and tradition, which is transmitted daily to visitors through the services offered:

• Variety of restaurants and noodle house with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Vietnamese and food from all over Asia.
• Traditional street food stalls: okonomiyaki, takoyaki, steam buns, dangos, onigiri, hotteok, etc.
• Tea houses where you can share the traditional tea ceremony with a tea expert.
• Bars with karaoke, to taste sake, soju, Baijiu, a variety of cocktails and other drinks.
• Shops with exclusive products brought from Asia.
• Guided tours of the Wing Luke Museum and art galleries in the district, with the aim of introducing people to the history of oriental countries.

In addition, if your visit to Chinatown coincides with the Chinese New Year, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival or any other celebration, you will have the opportunity to experience these traditions up close.

However, as the lunar calendar tends to change annually, you should check the district's official website beforehand.

The best thing to do, in addition to leisurely strolling around the neighbourhood, is to find a place to have dinner before retiring for the night.

The plan for the second day is very simple, make the most of your time and explore as many sites as possible.

The tour is geared towards the Museum of Pop Culture, the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition, then move on to the trendy Capitol Hill district.

Museum of Pop Culture

The Museum of Pop Culture or MoPop is located at 325 5th Avenue N and is where your second day in Seattle begins. It opens at 10am and is usually moderately crowded.

You can go on your own or hire a guided tour to enjoy a number of permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, all of which are focused on contemporary popular culture.

The building offers a visually appealing design that demonstrates the creative ingenuity of Canadian architect Frank Gehry, who was inspired by rock 'n' roll and, specifically, the electric guitars used in this genre of music. You will undoubtedly be amazed from the very first moment.

Once inside the museum, you will notice that the rooms have a curved outline that follows the shape of an immense guitar. In addition, you will discover different expressions throughout the three levels of the building:

• First level: here you will find a hall of fame with renowned musicians, filmmakers and pop culture personalities. There is also the music and sound theatre, the learning laboratory, and the science fiction and horror area.
• Second level: on this floor you will find a room dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, an influential guitarist in the history of rock music. Also, there is the gallery of guitars, video games, fantasy and nirvana, which exhibits the transcendence of punk on the masses.
• Third level: this large hall houses the sound lab and an exhibition of Pearl Jam, a legendary Seattle band representative of the grunge genre.

Space Needle

After enjoying a pop culture tour, I recommend walking to 400 Broad Street, which is about three minutes away from MoPop, where you will find the Space Needle .

This is a tower with a total height of 184 metres, consisting of six levels and an observatory that you can climb to admire the city from a different perspective.

The building was constructed in the early 1960 s for the Seattle World's Fair. Since then, the Space Needle has become an architectural landmark of the city and a tourist destination for many people.

Upon arrival, you may have to wait in a short queue at the ticket office, as this is a popular attraction. However, you won't waste too much time.

You will then have to get into a lift that will take you up to the observatory in just 43 seconds. From there, you can take pictures and eat in the restaurant area, while enjoying a unique and unforgettable view.

This visit is definitely one of the top 10 things to see and do in Seattle in summer, as during this season you will get a more vibrant view of the city.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

As you descend from the Space Needle tower, you can't miss the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition, which houses stunning works by glassblowing sculptor Dale Chihuly.

There you will have the opportunity to tour several galleries, including an impressive installation inside a greenhouse.

To enter this permanent exhibition you will have to queue at the ticket office, as it is a very popular attraction. Therefore, you should plan ahead and arrive early.

However, you have the option of using one of the tourist passes, such as the Seattle Citypass, to enter directly.

Once inside, you will have plenty to see:

• Greenhouse: perhaps one of the installations that most captures the attention of visitors is the Glasshouse, due to its large 30-metre format, combination of elements and palette of colours used in the glass. You will see the structure suspended from the ceiling and, according to the natural light projected on it, you will get a different perspective.
• Garden: you will contemplate a unique space, which combines real plant species with large-scale recreations made in blown glass by the artist.
• Theatre: here you will see some videos that will allow you to learn about the process followed by Dale Chihuly for the assembly of an installation or the creation of a work. Interviews with the artist are also shown.
• Bookshop: you will find a selection of books describing the projects and works carried out by sculptor Dale Chihuly. You will also see special designs by the artist and articles made by artisans, which project the spirit of the city.
• Art Plaza: In this area you can watch live demonstrations of the glassblowing process and eat or drink in the open-air restaurant.

Capitol Hill

Next stop is Capitol Hill, which can be reached by bus from one of the stations at Denny Way & 5th Ave N, just a short walk from Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Alternatively, you can choose to use one of the many shuttle services that incorporate this route.

Capitol Hill, also known as the LGBTQ+ neighbourhood, stands out as one of Seattle's hippest districts. Here you'll find rainbow-coloured zebra crossings, natural spaces to relax, and museums.

You can also have a drink at a bar, enjoy traditional and fusion food in a variety of restaurants or try a delicious coffee.

Some of the places to visit on Capitol Hill include the following:

• Seattle Asian Art Museum: a small space where you will find a variety of exhibitions, including one of antique vases.
• Volunteer Park: this is a botanical park, which will surprise you with its Victorian design and exhibits with different species of cactus, bromeliads, palms, succulents and ferns.
• Lakeview Cemetery overlooking the lake: where you will find the tomb of the famous Bruce Lee and that of his son, actor Brandon Lee.
• Japanese Garden: a peaceful place with gardens surrounded by Japanese maples and a Shoseian tea house.
• Elysian Brewery's: a renowned craft brewery.
• Restaurants, with a variety of food. For example, Nepali and Tibetan cuisine at Annapurna, tacos, tequila and other Mexican preparations at Barrio.

In addition, there are many gay bars on Capitol Hill that are open after 17:00. Such is the case of "Queer", "Half Moon Lounge" and other bars open to any community. You can enjoy cocktails, theme parties and lots of fun.

So, if you want to enjoy the best nightlife during your trip you should incorporate this activity among the things to see and do in Seattle at night.

The city of Seattle is known for having many tourist sites, but these are not always next to each other. Therefore, there will be times when it is necessary to travel long distances to get to the desired destination.

Tour buses are often a good option in this regard, as they have several routes with stops at the main tourist attractions.

The best thing about tour buses is that you can travel around Seattle at your leisure to familiarise yourself with the city. Plus, you can hop off one route, visit a particular attraction and hop on another route to continue your tour. All for the same price.

In any case, you can read this article about the Seattle tourist bus: everything you need to know and, thus, clarify your doubts.

Using the Seattle CityPass is usually quite convenient financially speaking. You'll enjoy great discounts on admission to museums, monuments, exhibits, parks, water attractions and other activities in the city.

You can purchase a tourist card that fits your itinerary, meaning that if you plan to be in the city for only a couple of days, you won't have to spend extra money on a week-long pass. You'll simply buy a two-day pass.

In addition to saving money with tourist passes, you'll avoid queuing at the ticket office for the respective attraction. Just scan the QR code on arrival with your mobile phone and go straight in.