Seattle is a stunning Pacific Northwest city known for its coffee, distinct skyline, and lush surroundings. It is a popular cruise launchpad for ships traveling to the Pacific Coast, Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, Alaska, and even Australia.
While all of those destinations are spectacular, it's worth it to get into town a day early to explore Seattle.
The city has unique sights, delicious food, and fascinating culture. Its relatively compact tourist zone makes it possible to get a solid overview in a day.
Here is our guide to devoting the day before your cruise to exploring Seattle.
Navigating Seattle
Seattle is a city where you don't need a car to explore for one day. Renting a car is a hassle because parking is limited, and the city is congested.
Your flight will likely arrive at the Seattle-Tacoma "Seatac" (SEA) airport.
There are many transportation options to reach downtown from Seatac.
If you're traveling light, you can take the light rail. It only costs about $3 per person to get downtown.
Another option will be to take a rideshare or a taxi if you have a lot of luggage. These options will cost you between $40-50 for a rideshare and $50-75 for a cab.
Finally, there are shared vans called Airporters that will take you to many Seattle neighborhoods. These companies also typically offer cruise transfers. The cost is usually around $35.
You'll want to go to your hotel first to drop off your luggage before exploring. Most hotels let you store luggage in a secure space until check-in time.
You can take a hop-on hop-off tour, use the Seattle Monorail, or use an ORCA card to use all public transportation while exploring downtown.
Seattle is a walkable city, so it is easy to go from sight to sight on foot.
What to See
While there are endless things to see in all of Seattle's neighborhoods, this itinerary focuses on sights downtown. They are a small sample of all the exciting things you can do in the region.
You can modify this plan depending on what time you get into town.
Here are the places (in order) we recommend seeing in Seattle before your cruise:
Start your Seattle trip by heading to the award-winning Olympic Sculpture Park. It is a 9-acre sculpture park right on the water that is the city's largest green space. The park is free for visitors and is open throughout the year. Spend an hour here before heading to the Seattle Center.
Seattle Center
Next, head to the Seattle Center, the home of some of the city's most famous attractions. Here, you'll see the iconic Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Discovery Center, and numerous museums. Before getting started, grab breakfast at the Armory Food Hall and explore the rest of the grounds.
Pike Place Market (lunch)
Catch the monorail within the Seattle Center and take it to Westlake (about $2.50 one way). It's a 10-minute trek from the station to Pike Place. While crowded, lunch is a great time to visit Pike Place because everything is open. You can see the famous salmon throwing and sample outstanding food at this farmer's market. (See food recommendations below)
Gum Wall
An odd attraction in the alley under Pikes Place is the infamous Gum Wall. This spot is what it sounds like, a wall inches deep with gum layers. It's a strange thing to see, but also intriguing and photo-worthy. Feel free to contribute to the collection.
Seattle Waterfront Park
Less than five minutes away from the Gum Wall on foot is the Seattle Waterfront Park. It's a bit touristy, but fun to walk around and catch some incredible views (on a clear day). If the weather is clear, you can appreciate the sights on the Seattle Great Wheel.
Harbor Cruise
From the waterfront, you can take a sightseeing cruise to observe the skyline from a unique perspective. It's an hour-long cruise that departs every 35-45 minutes from the waterfront. During the tour, you'll learn fascinating Seattle facts and see Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Kerry Park Sunset
After your harbor cruise, catch a taxi or rideshare to Kerry Park to see the sunset. This viewpoint has some of the best skyline views and is one of the top spots to see the sun go down over the horizon. You'll capture some incredible panoramic photos here. After, head back to town for dinner.
What to Eat
Seattle has delicious culinary traditions that you must sample while there. A few delectable treats to try are its seafood, Seattle dog (cream cheese hot dog), and coffee. There are also a few institutions serving up mouthwatering creations.
Here are a few culinary adventures you'll find in Seattle:
Pike Place Market $-$$$
As mentioned above, Pike Place Market is an outstanding place to grab lunch. There are a few standout places within the market. You'll find excellent roast chicken, some of the nation's best clam chowder, and tasty salmon collar sinigang (Filipino soup). You'll also find the oldest Starbucks (worth seeing from the outside but doesn't have any special menu items). Don't forget to sample some of the seafood and grab dessert.
Coffee Shops $
Seattle is world-famous for its coffee. Some of the city's top downtown spots include Elm Coffee Roasters, Hood Famous Café and Bar, and Caffé D'arte. You'll find influences from places like Italy and the Philippines at these shops, highlighting Seattle's diverse culture.
Explore the World $-$$$
The Chinatown International District has more than just Chinese fare. You'll find Japantown and Little Saigon housed within this neighborhood. This district has outstanding dim sum, sushi, pho, bubble tea, hot pot, and more.
Conclusion
Seattle is an exciting place full of vibrant culture and delicious food. You'll want to carve out some time before your cruise trip to explore it.
It is an exceptional destination to visit for the day because it is compact and easy to see. You won't need a car to explore its top attractions. Many of the prominent landmarks and eateries are well-connected by public transportation. The rest are easy to reach on foot.
We hope this guide has inspired you to book a cruise trip out of this destination and explore its many sights.
Are you interested in booking a cruise trip? Let us know how we can help!
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