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 historical past of the city 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, it is likely that you do not know where to start the 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 to make the most of your time.

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

All this, while tasting delicious food and doing some 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 meters and houses approximately 600 stores, distributed in a total of 15 buildings.

This market was born on the initiative of a group of farmers in mid-1907, who began selling products grown by themselves.

All this, without imagining that 100 years later, the small market would become a landmark within the city of Seattle and an attractive tourist destination for many visitors. In fact, you can choose between visiting it on your own or taking one of the gastronomic tours of Seattle, since almost all of them go through its facilities.

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

You will also have the opportunity to enter the oldest Starbucks in the world, opened in 1975, try the delicious fish chowder at the popular seafood restaurant Pike Place Chowder or enter one of the many restaurants, bars, bakeries, pastry shops and ice cream parlors. Without a doubt, this market is a good place to embark on a gastronomic tour in Seattle.

In addition, in the market you will find retail, artisan and agricultural stores, Likewise, I recommend that you do not miss 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.
• "Wall of Gum", which, although it has now been cleaned up, is still a place that arouses the curiosity of tourists who visit 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 stop.

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

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

Basically, it is a photographic studio, which provides different scenarios designed with varied themes, professional lighting equipment and accessories (reflector screens, supports, diffusers, umbrellas, colored 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 color, brightness and creativity, present in each of the rooms. You will see YouTube, Instagram and Tik Tok walls.

Likewise, you will 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 the first neighborhood in the city of Seattle, so it's a district with a lot of history to share. You'll find old buildings, art galleries, the famous subway city, bars, restaurants, cafes and trendy stores.

Just leave the Original Selfie Museum and walk approximately 11 minutes towards 1st Avenue.

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

In this Pioneer Square district you will find plenty to do. For example:

• Visit the subway city. This is a very popular activity, usually included in the main tours of Seattle, so you won't have any inconvenience to do it. You will be able to get to know the hidden corridors underground, while a guide tells you the history they hide.
• Join the free art walks held on the first Thursday of every month.
• Enter theKlondike Gold Rush National Historical Museum to see part of Seattle's cultural heritage and understand the reason for the Gold Rush.
• Relax in Waterfall Garden Park, while admiring the scenery.
• Have lunch at Occidental Plaza. There you will find the famous food trucks with a wide 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 will find the famous Smith Tower, from where you will enjoy a privileged panoramic view of the city of Seattle. Also, in this building you can buy souvenirs, eat and have a drink.

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 tourist experience in which you can:

• Enjoy the architectural attraction that characterizes this tower.
• Climb 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 store some objects, magazines, postcards, among other products.
• Observe 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 the hidden gem of this skyscraper.

The Smith Tower is an attraction that you can access any day of the week from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm. However, if you want more detailed information you can consult the schedules and method of purchase of 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 ancient Asian culture.

There, you will enjoy a different atmosphere, which combines the characteristic bustle of the commercial area with the tranquility 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, steamed buns, dangos, onigiri, hotteok, etc.
• Tea houses where you can share with an expert the traditional ceremony of preparation of this drink.
• Bars with karaoke, to taste sake, soju, Baijiu, a variety of cocktails and other drinks.
• Stores with exclusive products brought from Asia.
• Guided tours of the Wing Luke Museum and art galleries in the district, with the purpose of bringing people closer to the history of oriental countries.

In addition, if your visit to Chinatown coincides with the celebration of 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, since 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 neighborhood, is to find a place to have dinner before retiring to rest.

The plan for the second day is very simple, you will have to make the most of the time and, thus, explore as many sites as possible.

The tour is geared toward the Museum of Pop Culture, the Space Needle tower and the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, 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 the tour of your second day in Seattle begins. There, the opening is at 10:00 am and there is usually a moderate influx of visitors.

You can go on your own or hire a guided tour to enjoy a series of permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, all of which focus 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, by the electric guitars used in this musical genre. Without a doubt, you will be amazed from the very first moment.

Once inside the museum, you will notice that the rooms have a curved contour that follows the shape of a huge guitar. In addition, through the three levels of the building you will discover different expressions:

• 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 theater, 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 exposes the transcendence of punk in the masses.
• Third level: this large hall houses the sound lab and an exhibition of Pearl Jam, which is a legendary Seattle band representative of the grunge genre.

Space Needle

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

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

The building was built in the early 60s for the Seattle World's Fair. Since then, the Space Needle has become a representative architectural element of the city and a tourist destination for many people.

Upon arrival, you may have to wait in line at the ticket office, as this is a very popular attraction. However, you will not waste too much time.

Then, you will have to take an elevator 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.

Definitely, this visit is an activity that you can incorporate among the 10 things to see and do in Seattle in summer, as during this season you will get a more vibrant panoramic 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 exhibit, which houses stunning works by blown glass sculptor Dale Chihuly.

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

To enter this permanent exhibition you must queue at the box office, as it is a fairly popular attraction. Therefore, it is necessary to take your precautions 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 a lot to see:

• Greenhouse: perhaps one of the installations that most captures the attention of visitors is the Glasshouse, due to its large 30-meter format, combination of elements and color palette 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 that combines real plant species with large-scale recreations made in blown glass by the artist.
• Theater: here are some videos that will allow you to learn about the process followed by Dale Chihuly for the assembly of an installation or creation of a work. Interviews with the artist are also shown.
• Bookstore: you will find a selection of books describing the projects and works done 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 will see live demonstrations of the glassblowing process, and you can also eat or drink in the open-air restaurant.

Capitol Hill

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

You can also choose to use a shuttle service that incorporates this route.

Capitol Hill, also known as the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, stands out as one of the trendiest districts in the city of Seattle. Here you can see rainbow-colored crosswalks, find natural spaces to relax and museums.

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

Among the sites you can visit in Capitol Hill are the following:

• Seattle Asian Art Museum: a small space where you will find a variety of exhibits, 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 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, on Capitol Hill there are many gay bars open after 5:00 pm. Such is the case of "Queer", "Salón de la media luna" and other bars open to any community. You can enjoy cocktails, theme parties and lots of fun.

Therefore, 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 characterized by 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.

In this sense, tour buses are usually a good option, as they have several routes with stops at the main tourist attractions.

The best thing about tour buses is that you can tour Seattle aboard them at your leisure to familiarize yourself with the city. In addition, you have the possibility to get off one route, visit a certain attraction and get on another route to continue your itinerary. All this 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 tourist cards in the city of Seattle is usually quite convenient financially speaking. You will enjoy great discounts when it comes to tickets to access museums, monuments, exhibits, parks, water attractions, among other activities in the city.

You will be able to purchase a tourist card that fits your itinerary, meaning that if you plan to be just a couple of days in the city, you won't have to invest extra money with a week-long pass. You will simply buy a two-day card.

In addition to saving money with the tourist cards, you will avoid waiting in line at the ticket office for the respective attraction. Just scan the QR code upon arrival with your cell phone and enter directly.