Seattle is located in the state of Washington and with more than 600,000 inhabitants it is the largest city in the northwest of the US. Above all, the many parks, the surrounding mountains and the location directly by the sea make Seattle an attractive city. Many companies such as Amazon, Boeing and eBay are also located in Seattle and attract many young people. Music plays an important role in the city because with numerous bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden Seattle was the world capital of grunge in the 90s. I spent a day in Seattle and had enough time to discover the most important sights on foot. The city itself is not very beautiful, but I enjoyed its location and the amazing Museum of Pop Culture. You also wanna spend a wonderful day in Seattle? Then I can recommend following one-day itinerary:
Start your Seattle city tour at the popular and vibrant Pike Place Market. More than 200 shops and merchants are attracting customers with flowers, antiques, fish, and souvenirs. You can also enjoy a great view of Elliot Bay and Seattle’s Ferris Wheel from the many terraces. Just below the market stalls in Post Alley is the popular Gum Wall, probably the most disgusting attraction in the world. Thousands of chewing gums stick to a 16-meter wide brick wall. An extraordinary selfie is guaranteed in any case. (Duration: 90 minutes)
Next, stroll through downtown Seattle until you reach the extraordinary Museum of Pop Culture. The amazing building is covered by stainless steel and aluminum panels. The museum features original and creative exhibitions on science fiction, pop culture, and music. Highlights include the Scared to Death Horror exhibition, the Sound Lab and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall. (Duration: 2:30 hours)
Now it’s to visit the Space Needle, the landmark of the city. The 184-meter high observation tower was built in 1961-62 on the occasion of the World Exposition which took place in Seattle at that time. With an elevator, you can reach the viewing platform in about 40 seconds from where you can enjoy a great view of the city and the surrounding forests and mountains. When the weather is fine, you can also catch a glimpse of the snow-capped summit of Mount Rainier. If you’re looking for that special kick, a glass floor awaits you below the viewing platform. (Duration: 90 minutes)
Right next to the Space Needle is the Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum, another top Seattle attraction. The extraordinary glass art of the artist Dale Chihuly is presented in several rooms. Among the highlights are the garden with its four monumental sculptures, the glasshouse, and the colorful glass forest. Live demonstrations of glass blowing take place every hour in the outdoor area. (90 minutes)
Next, you can make a short detour to the Olympic Sculpture Park. The 9-hectare open-air sculpture museum exhibits some interesting sculptures by artists like Richard Serra and Louise Bourgeois and is ideal to relax for a short time. (Duration: 45 minutes)
Walk along the waterfront until you reach the gigantic cruise terminal at Pier 66. Walk past the Seattle Aquarium until you reach the Seattle Great Wheel at Pier 57. The 53 meters high Ferris wheel was once the largest Ferris wheel on the west coast of the USA. A ride in one of the gondolas with a glass floor takes an average of 12 minutes and offers a great view of the skyline of Seattle. (Duration: 1 hour)
Thus ends your one-day sightseeing tour of Seattle. You can end the evening in one of the many fish restaurants on the waterfront.