Only have one day or a few hours to spend in Seattle? Time to prioritize and experience the highlights of the Emerald City in one day. We recommend heading to the heart of the city to explore two popular areas; Pike Place Market and Seattle Center. If your visit is part of a long layover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; the city center can be easily reached by Uber or taxi in about 20 minutes (traffic depending) and will cost around $40-50 one way. 

One Day in Seattle – Stop 1: Pike Place Market 

Pike Place Market is the perfect first stop during your one day Seattle itinerary. This historic market is one of the oldest continuously running markets in the US. The area spans a few blocks and I recommend simply wandering to fully appreciate the atmosphere. Here are a few must-do highlights to enhance your experience: 

  • Classic Seattle photo
  • Seattle’s gum wall
  • Explore the Fish Market. Be sure to stick around until you see the famous throwing of the fish. We caught it on video! 
  • Visit the gum wall. This spot is located down a flight of stairs near the fish market. We were told that the gum is scraped off the wall periodically, but it wasn’t an inch gum-free during our visit. 
  • Take a photo at one of the famous Public Market signs.
  • Get lost among the shops and vendors; this is a great souvenir shopping area.
  • Visit the first Starbucks coffee shop. A long line is guaranteed, but worth a quick photo at least!

One Day in Seattle – Stop 2: Seattle Center  

Seattle Center is an educational, entertainment, and outdoor gathering space. The area is home to several museums and the highlight of Seattle’s skyline – the Space Needle. 

The first word that comes to mind when describing our Space Needle visit is relaxing. We had our tickets in advance and there were no lines, so shortly after we arrived we were stepping off the elevator at the very top.We took way too many photos and since it was a clear day, we lucked out with a great view of Mt. Rainier. After walking around to see the views from every angle, we ordered a few local beers, soaked up the view a little longer, and took our return elevator ride back to the ground.

Our two favorite museums in Seattle Center are the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Both offer very unique experiences. The unique architecture of MoPOP can’t be missed. This museum is massive and you could spend hours exploring the numerous interactive exhibits. 

If you are an art lover, I recommend a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass.You can view the entire museum in less than an hour and from the garden you can capture unique shots of the Space Needle. 

Travel Tip – Save on admission costs by purchasing a combo ticket for the Space Needle and one of the museums. Research where you would like to visit in advance to find the best deal!

Have more time to spend in Seattle? 

Seattle and its surrounding areas have so much to offer. If you have more than one day to spend in Seattle, there are amazing breweries and local hiking options in the neighborhoods surrounding the city center. There are amazing weekend getaways including some of the most stunning national parks and landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.

For more unique one day travel blogs check out our post on One Day at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and One Perfect Day on Block Island. 

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