Seattle: a 3-day plan and the best time to go

The best time to go

The most comfortable months for walking about are June, July, August and September: mild days and less rain. The warmest month is August, at about 74°F (23°C) in the afternoon. The wettest is November.

1. Jan45°173 mm
2. Feb46°108 mm
3. Mar51°138 mm
4. Apr56°95 mm
5. May64°70 mm
6. Jun68°51 mm
7. Jul74°19 mm
8. Aug74°29 mm
9. Sep68°58 mm
10. Oct58°125 mm
11. Nov49°188 mm
12. Dec44°175 mm

Bars show the typical night-time low to daytime high; the numbers are daytime highs in °F and rain in millimetres for the month. Averages for 2001–2020 from NASA POWER, so a given year can be warmer, colder or wetter.

Three days in Seattle

Written with AI from public facts about Seattle, then checked by Sureno's rules. Opening times and prices change: check them before you go.

Day 1 Waterfront and Pike Place

Morning

Pike Place Market

Downtown

Browse the market at an easy pace and pause for a snack or coffee.

Afternoon

Seattle Great Wheel

Waterfront

Take in views over Elliott Bay from this waterfront Ferris wheel.

Evening

Pike Place dinner

Downtown

Choose a casual meal near the market, with plenty of nearby options.

Day 2 Seattle Center and the skyline

Morning

Space Needle

Seattle Center

Visit the observation deck for broad views of the city and surrounding water.

Afternoon

Seattle Center grounds

Seattle Center

Enjoy the open paths and public art, with places to stop and rest.

Evening

Queen Anne dinner

Queen Anne

Have an unhurried meal in this neighbourhood after a day at Seattle Center.

Day 3 A gentle neighbourhood day

Morning

Washington Park Arboretum

Montlake

Follow a short path among trees and gardens, choosing a route that suits your pace.

Afternoon

Lake Union Park

South Lake Union

Relax by the water and watch boats on Lake Union.

Evening

South Lake Union dinner

South Lake Union

Choose from the neighbourhood’s restaurants for a convenient final meal.

What to eat

• Try salmon or other Pacific Northwest seafood.
• Look for clam chowder, often served near the waterfront.
• Pike Place Market has casual choices for a snack or meal.

Getting there

• Fly into Seattle–Tacoma (SEA).
• From New York: about 5 h 14 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From Los Angeles: about 2 h 30 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From London: about 9 h 43 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• Seattle has buses, Link light rail and streetcars. Hills and uneven sidewalks can make some walks tiring, so use transit or a taxi for longer distances and allow time between stops.
• Check official U.S. entry rules before travel.
• June through September are commonly among Seattle’s drier months, but bring a light rain layer.

Plan the flight from your city

Where to stay

• DowntownIt is a convenient base for Pike Place Market and the waterfront.
• Seattle CenterIt puts the Space Needle and nearby attractions within easy reach.
• South Lake UnionIt offers restaurants, waterfront paths and streetcar connections.

The official Seattle tourism siteWhere to sleep, on Wikivoyage

About Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 784,777 in 2025, while the Seattle metropolitan area at over 4.15 million residents is the 15th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of King County, the most populous county in Washington. Seattle's growth rate of 21.1% between 2010 and 2020 made it one of the country's fastest-growing large cities.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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