Ultimate One-Day Seattle Itinerary: Top Attractions & Insider Tips
Pike Place Market Visit Seattle
Only one day in Seattle? Whether you’re a foodie, a nature lover, or a museum goer, Seattle has so many must-dos. How do you squeeze the best of the best out of a city that seems to offer nothing but the best? Well, below are some of Seattle’s shiniest stars for you to choose from so you can plan your one-day Seattle adventure right.
With so many restaurants, museums, stores, and other unique Seattle attractions filling the city, figuring out where to start can be difficult. When you only have one day, you need to be efficient with your time. The following locations are all within a 5-mile radius so you can walk or take a quick ride and not spend half your day in the car.
Breakfast in Seattle
A hearty breakfast is a must for your non-stop day. If you’re feeling a little salty, take your droopy eyes and tousled hair to the Biscuit Bitch, an epic eatery near Pike Place Market. Start your day off right with a selection of biscuits and gravy options like the Smokin’ Hot Seattle Bitch. Try their gluten free and veg options! But get there early because it gets busy. If you can’t wait, Sweet Iron is a breakfast and brunch destination located nearby that offers a variety of waffles both savory and sweet. A savory brie & basil waffle or a sweet Nutella waffle treat will give you the tasty jump start you need.
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo
Bears at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo
Walk off the waffles and biscuits with a trip to Woodland Park Zoo. There you’ll see an array of amazing animals from the Northern Trail to South America and everywhere in-between. See the zoo’s brown bears swim in the pool and catch live trout. Then head to Tropical Asia and witness the Malayan Tapir (a relative of the horse and rhino) and get up close and personal with a truly unique-looking creature.
MoPOP
MoPOP and the Seattle Center Monorail Visit Seattle
Spend a few hours inside at Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP, formerly known as EMP Museum), the place for celebrating all things music and pop culture. Here you can be the rock star you’ve always wanted to be in the Sound Lab, where twelve soundproof rooms encourage visitors to jam loudly and proudly on electric guitars, drums, consoles, and more without fear of noise complaints. If you’re wanting a sci-fi kick, check out the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Release your inner fan and pay homage to the greats: Star Trek, Blade Runner, and more. Grab a bite at Culture Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck while you’re there.
Seattle Art
Chihuly Garden and Glass Courtesy Chihuly Garden and Glass
Artists add a creative flair to any city and in Seattle they’ve made it a personal mission to make art part of just about everything. If the sun is out or you want to live like a true Seattleite and brave the rain, you can check out public art like the Fremont Troll, a Volkswagen-eating creature with a hubcap for an eye. Or head to Olympic Sculpture Park for some interesting pieces and a fantastic view of Elliott Bay.
Better yet, take a trip to Chihuly Garden and Glass for the best of both worlds — indoors and outdoors. Prepare to be mesmerized by the spectacular shapes and colors in the form of glass, and a beautiful assortment of camellia, daylilies, dogwoods, fuchsias, and handkerchief trees, all painstakingly handmade by Dale Chihuly. If you catch the Glasshouse at a sunny moment, it’s truly stunning.
Space Needle to End the Day
The Space Needle Visit Seattle.
There’s never a bad time of day to visit the Space Needle, but sunset is particularly gorgeous. The breathtaking views the Space Needle offers will put time on hold, even if it’s just in your mind. You won’t regret a sunset over the mountains from 500 feet in the sky.
Seattle has so much more to offer for visitors who have more than one day. After this fun filled day in Seattle, we can guarantee you’ll want to come back for a longer visit. Seattle was made to leave an everlasting impression.
Whether you have 1 day or 9, try Seattle CityPASS. With CityPASS you’ll save 42% or more on admission to the best Seattle attractions, plus exciting extras (like a bonus nighttime visit to the Space Needle and additional discounts).
