What are the nearest attractions to Seattle Center?

Attractions near Seattle Center: Chihuly Garden and Glass Space Needle Pacific Science Center

What else should I know about attractions in Seattle?

As well as visiting the Seattle Center, check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit: Woodinville Wine Country Tours from Seattle How to Spend 3 Days in Seattle Food Lover's Guide to Seattle

Seattle Center - History, Location & Key Facts 2022

The Basics

So much is happening in Seattle Center that it would be almost impossible to miss on a trip to the city. Just about every Seattle sightseeing tour stops at the iconic Space Needle (once the tallest building west of the Mississippi), along with other notable attractions and features such as Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay, and Pioneer Square. Admission to many Seattle Center attractions—the Space Needle and Pacific Science Center among them—is included with the Seattle CityPass.

Trip ideas

A Space Needle Employee’s Guide to Seattle

A Space Needle employee gives her insider tips on visiting the Seattle icon and the best of the rest Seattle has to offer.

How Seattle Became an Oyster Town (and Where To Slurp Them)

Chef Dan Mallahan on Seattle’s oyster scene and where to find the city’s freshest oysters.

How to Spend 3 Days in Seattle

How to Spend 2 Days in Seattle

With two days in Seattle, you have time to explore the city’s downtown core and see some of the charming neighborhoods that give the Emerald City its character. Here are a few ways to maximize two days in Seattle.

How to Spend 1 Day in Seattle

5 Ways to Get Out on the Water in Seattle

While Seattle has much to offer visitors on land, there are many worthwhile experiences to be had offshore, as well. To help beef up your Emerald City itinerary, here are the best ways to get out on the water in Seattle.

Food Lover's Guide to Seattle

Pike Place Fishmonger Tips for Selecting Seafood

Strolling the Pike Place seafood stalls makes for a quintessential Seattle afternoon. While the market is temporarily closed, local expert Ryan Reese offers up tips for picking quality seafood at your neighborhood grocery store—until Pike Place opens its doors once again.

The Best Cities Around the World to Celebrate Pride

Pride is more than just rainbows and parades.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Seattle

Woodinville Wine Country Tours from Seattle

Taking the Ferry in Seattle

Victoria Day Trips From Seattle

When to Get There

There’s not really a bad time to visit Seattle Center, though it’s a good idea to visit both during the day and after dark to get a comprehensive feel for this hub of activity. Over Labor Day weekend, the Seattle Center hosts the huge and internationally popular Bumbershoot festival, featuring thousands of performers and artists. There’s almost always something going on at Seattle Center, so check the event calendar before your trip.

Seattle Space Needle

The Space Needle easily ranks as Seattle’s most famous landmark and the most visited attraction within Seattle Center. While it’s visible from throughout the city, you haven’t really seen this landmark until you’ve visited the observation deck 520 feet (158 meters) above Emerald City. From the top, the 360-degree view takes in the Elliott Bay waterfront, the lights of downtown, and even majestic Mount Rainier in the background.

Recent reviews from experiences in Seattle

Excellent tour

Cynthia_P, May 2022

Premier 3-Hour Seattle City Tour

Tour guide was most engaging and shared much local knowledge. I feel I saw much of Seattle, and the guide shared much of post COVID reality of downtown. Highly recommend this tour

Wonderful tour & tour guide!

Gwen_M, Mar. 2022

I would highly recommend this tour to anyone the bus was neat and clean our tour guide share a wealth of information very very informative!

Over all Great Time

Katie_H, Jun. 2022

City Sightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

We really enjoyed the tour. We would have liked to have a second person giving the tour while one person drove instead of the recording. Also, there is no real schedule for stops. No one working knows. Everything else is great.

Great ride

Katie_T, Jun. 2022

Great tour. Good history and information. Loved you could get in and off the bus to explore. We got off at pike market and when we're were done went back to the drop off spot and the bus came shortly after.

Great intro to Seattle

Noele_K, Jun. 2022

The tour itinerary was perfect for first timers to Seattle. Jeff our guide was wonderful. Friendly, engaging and informative. He made us feel like friends.

Had a great tour....

Carol_M, Jun. 2022

Had a great tour. Disappointing when we had to wait well over an hour for the next bus at the Pike Public Market.

Seattle Layover

ELIZABETH_T, Jun. 2022

Our tour guide Holly was beyond our expectation. She was a wealth of historical information and entertaining. We lucked out and had the bus all to ourselves. I highly recommend this tour to a first time visitor to Seattle.

Avery was very...

Winston_M, Jun. 2022

Avery was very knowledgeable about the city. He kept everyone engaged and made the tour extremely fun. I would definitely recommend this tour if you want to know more about the city.

Seattle city experience.

Kenneth_P, Jun. 2022

The tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. It was a true news pleasure spending 3 hours with our guide.

Money well spent!

Warren_V, May 2022

Private 2.5-Hour Seattle City Tour

Bryan was awesome. He was so knowledgeable and informative. In 2.5 hours, my wife and I feel like we have a good handle on Seattle.

We saw Seattle

Tracy_C, Jun. 2022

Always a great way to see a new city. We try to do a tour like this in every new city we visit. I would go again.

Outside the city

Kimberly_D, Jun. 2022

The trip takes you on must see places outside the city which is nice for trying to squeeze in the most in a small amount of time. Brian was a great guide. The views were amazing. Loved being outside the downtown area of seattle and seeing what else is around

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Seattle Center