The 6 Best Boat Trips in Seattle

In Seattle, you will find a wide variety of activities to see and do, both in the city and its surroundings, and without a doubt, taking a boat trip to enjoy a unique experience is one of them.

You can sail through the calm waters off the Seattle coast and take in the best views of the city while soaking up the history and culture that can be found in every corner, thanks to the experience of the local guide who will accompany you on your trip. You will also pass by Puget Sound, Gig Harbor and Narrows Bridges and enjoy an unforgettable experience.

On this experience, the boat will set sail from the Seattle pier and you will be able to explore the city's history from the water.

You will have the best views of the Space Needle, Seattle Great Wheel, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and the city's historic pier.

In addition, weather permitting, you will be able to see Mount Rainier, the most prominent mountain in the United States and one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. If you want to learn more about this stunning natural wonder, I recommend taking a tour of Mount Rainier.

This cruise departs from Pier 55, located on Alaskan Way. This pier is the city's main marina.

Tour details

• Duration: approximately 1 hour.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for approximately £27 per person.
• What's included: a one-hour guided tour of the waters of Seattle Harbour and Elliott Bay.

This is the perfect adventure to take in the best views of Seattle and relax as you watch the city merge with the red sky on the horizon aboard a historic sailing boat.

You will have the chance to see the iconic Seattle Waterfront neighbourhood, a privileged view of the Space Needle and other popular spots in and around the city.

This tour departs from Pier 66, located on Alaskan Way. The Bell Harbor Marina is also located there, and you can even buy your tickets for the tour.

Tour details

• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for around £50 per person.
• What's included: a dreamy sunset from an exclusive sailboat with the best views of the city from the waters of Seattle.

On this tour, you'll learn a little more about Seattle's maritime and fishing history and discover the famous Ballard Locks and many other important sights that are well worth seeing. This unique experience will allow you to travel between the fresh waters of Lake Union and the salt waters of Puget Sound.

On Lake Union, you'll see all kinds of attractions, from Lake Union Drydock Co and the large commercial fishing boats pulled out of the water at one of the oldest businesses on Lake Union, to the Floating Homes Association, where you'll find several of the lake's famous floating home communities, including the one featured in the film Sleepless in Seattle.

You'll also see Gas Works Park, the decommissioned coal gasification plant that became one of Seattle's favourite parks, cruise through the Lake Washington Ship Canal and see several of Seattle's historic neighbourhoods from the water.

The final stop is at Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront, so I recommend exploring the surrounding area, including the Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum.

Keep in mind that this cruise is a good option to use as exclusive transportation to avoid traffic and travel between the Seattle coast and the AGC marina in South Lake Union.

This cruise departs from Pier 55, located on Alaskan Way.

Tour details

• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for around £48 per person.
• What's included: a tour of Seattle's maritime history, including key points along the route and the company of an expert guide so you can learn all about every place you visit.

On board this boat trip, you will be able to appreciate the splendours and wildlife of Puget Sound and get the best views from the shore along a journey that stretches for about 19 kilometres along the coast of Tacoma.

This is a tour full of history and wildlife. On this adventure, you will pass Brown's Point Lighthouse, built in 1933, Old Town, which was the historic centre of the timber boom when Tacoma was one of the richest cities in the world, and the Port of Tacoma.

This cruise begins and ends at Pier D of the Elliott Bay Marina.

Tour details

• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at £55 per person.
• What's included: this is an exclusive, expert-guided experience designed for small groups.

Aboard a vintage marina boat, you will enjoy the best views of the picturesque town of Gig Harbor and pass under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to see one of the most iconic structures in the state and learn about its history.

Spoiler alert: you will see two bridges, because the first of the three original bridges collapsed in a windstorm just four months after it opened.

You'll also visit Point Defiance Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, and the picturesque community of Salmon Beach Road.

This is a unique and unforgettable experience that will also give you the chance to enjoy nature and a relaxing ride while taking in the wild scenery of Puget Sound and spotting eagles, seals, porpoises and many other animals.

This excursion departs from the Gig Harbor pier, located on Harborview Dr., where the legendary Anthony's restaurant is located.

Tour details

• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at £55 per person.
• What's included: this is a guided tour with a Coast Guard-certified captain.

On board this exclusive boat, a skilled bartender will be at your disposal to provide you with a one-hour tour of Seattle on a pleasant boat trip.

The adventure will begin on the north side of Lake Union, on Northlake Way, and you will sail with an exquisite cocktail in your hand. I assure you that you will experience such a special and pleasant moment that you will not want to get off the boat when the tour is over.

Tour details

• Duration: approximately 1 hour.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at £253.
• What's included: this is an excursion with a private captain/waiter to serve cocktails while you enjoy the ride and the views.

All these experiences offer digital tickets, which is a great advantage. This way, you can buy your ticket online, receive immediate confirmation by email, and have it available to use directly from your mobile device. It's that quick and easy to enjoy an unforgettable trip around Seattle.

Although less recommended, as you may not get a place, another option for purchasing your tickets is to buy them at the respective departure ports, either at Argosy Cruises, Bell Harbor Marina, Elliott Bay Marina or Gig Harbor Pier.

The only experience that cannot be booked in person is the private cruise with cocktail included in Seattle.

Please note that if your plans change for any reason or you simply change your mind, you can cancel your purchase free of charge at least 24 hours before the date of your experience.

All of these tours are relatively short, lasting between 1 and 2 hours. This makes them an excellent option to combine with another city excursion.

Here you will find a wide variety of tours in Seattle to choose from.

You can enjoy a pleasant boat trip around Seattle for a price ranging from £31 to £55. Keep in mind that the price will depend on the route, the duration, the number of people sharing the excursion and the services included.

Therefore, I recommend analysing all the variables before choosing the tour that best suits you.

Seattle is a city full of contrasts. You'll be struck by its futuristic and modern side and fall in love with its nature and outdoor activities. Without a doubt, from the waters of Seattle, you will find the best views of the city and take the best photographs of your trip.

These excursions will show you its unique charm. You will be able to observe the city from the outside and see how the huge skyscrapers blend in with the vegetation and the most natural landscapes. Here are some of the places you will see on your boat trip.

• Mount Rainier: if the sky is clear on the day of your excursion, you'll have incredible views of one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and undoubtedly Seattle's most famous attraction.

• Space Needle: from the waters of Seattle, you can see one of the city's most popular structures and take unique photos of this attraction.

• Seattle Waterfront: you'll have a privileged panoramic view of one of Seattle's best-known neighbourhoods, home to several of the city's attractions, including the famous Seattle Great Wheel, which you'll also see from aboard the boat.

• Lake Union: a popular lake located entirely within the city of Seattle, which is of glacial origin. You will surely learn more about its history as you sail through its fresh waters.

• Puget Sound: this is the deep inlet of the Pacific Ocean, where you will have views of the islands and bays that make it up and which are interconnected.

• Gig Harbor: you will have access to the most picturesque views of this small town with its unique natural landscapes.

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge: this is a set of two parallel suspension bridges 1,800 metres long, with a very unique history that you will learn about on your trip.

I recommend wearing comfortable clothing suitable for the weather on these excursions. Also, keep in mind that you will be spending a few hours outdoors, so sunscreen will be your best friend.

Before the excursion, it is essential to check the weather so you can choose the most appropriate attire and avoid being too hot or too cold on board the boat, also taking into account the temperature on the day and the date of your trip.

Please note that all these boat trips in Seattle are weather dependent, as good weather is required for them to take place. Otherwise, they will have to be rescheduled or you will be refunded.

As it is not possible to predict the exact weather on the day of your excursion, here are the best months to visit Seattle and enjoy this type of experience.

Let me start by saying that you are in luck, because Seattle usually has good weather almost all year round. However, there are months when you will experience milder temperatures and others when it is colder or more unstable.

The best time to visit is between May and September, with July and August being the mildest months. The coldest, most unstable and rainy months are January, November and December. Although February is cold, it doesn't usually rain as much as in the other months.

Here is a complete guide to the best things to do in Seattle in summer, so you can combine your boat trip with other activities in the city: 10 things to see and do in Seattle in summer, 10 things to see and do in Seattle in July and 10 things to see and do in Seattle in August.

I have good news for you: with the Seattle City Pass, you'll get a one-hour boat tour of Seattle included.

With this exclusive city pass, you'll have access to the most popular attractions and activities in Seattle, including the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium, and you can choose 3 more from an extensive list: a 1-hour boat tour or tickets to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo or Chihuly Garden and Glass.

By purchasing the Seattle City Pass at a fixed, exclusive price, you'll save on admission to all these activities and enjoy a relaxing boat tour of Seattle included in your pass. It's the complete package!

This is a special and different excursion that I definitely recommend. You'll get the best views of Seattle from its calm waters and learn about another part of its history on a unique and unforgettable excursion.

This is the ideal option for discovering its most eccentric and aesthetically impressive natural wonders, its wildlife and marine life, and one of the main activities in this city, sea fishing.

You'll have the chance to take in the best views and gain a more complete and thorough knowledge of the city. You won't regret getting on board, relaxing, absorbing all the knowledge the guide can offer you, taking the best photographs and spending a relaxing and refreshing time on board.

If you would love to do this but have limited time in the city, I have a solution: a boat trip is an ideal plan to combine with the Seattle tourist bus.

This way, you can take a boat trip through the waters of Seattle without worrying about not having time to visit the city's main attractions.

The duration of these excursions makes them easy to combine with other tours and experiences so you can get to know Seattle in depth.

You'll have a wide variety of excursions to choose from in Seattle and the surrounding areas, which are full of nature and attractions to visit. For more information, visit: best excursions from Seattle.

You can also complete the experience by including a food tour of Seattle and discovering the city's most exclusive flavours. For more information, visit: best food tours in Seattle.