25 Top Things to Do in Seattle (Must See Attractions)

Conveniently reached from downtown on foot or with a quick one-mile ride on the retro-cool Seattle Center Monorail, dynamic Seattle Center contains a dazzling array of world-class arts and cultural attractions. Created for the 1962 World’s Fair, the 74-acre campus is equal parts civic plaza and social hub. In addition to several world-class museums, you’ll find a bustling food hall, lush lawns and ornamental trees, alluring art installations, graceful fountains, the world’s first carbon-neutral sports arena, and some of Seattle’s most esteemed theaters and concert venues.

Get your bearings and prepare for jaw-dropping views of the city, Elliott Bay, and the surrounding mountains, by catching a 43-second elevator ride to the observation deck of the iconic 605-foot-tall Space Needle. Back on the ground, check out several outstanding museums: The dazzling indoor and outdoor exhibits at Chihuly Garden and Glass showcase the colorful art of locally born, world-renowned glassblower Dale Chihuly. Music, science fiction, and pop culture all come together at the fascinating, Frank Gehry–designed Museum of Pop Culture, whose exhibits cover everything from the history of indie video games and horror films to Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix. At the family-friendly Pacific Science Center, explore galaxies near and far in the planetarium, get up close and personal with colorful creatures in the Tropical Butterfly House, maneuver a two-ton granite ball, and much more.

Among the top echelon of dance companies in the world, Pacific Northwest Ballet performs a variety of classical and modern shows in Seattle Center’s beautiful McCaw Hall, which also hosts performances of the acclaimed Seattle Opera.