Seattle Itinerary: Top 10 Things to Do in Seattle in a Weekend

A vibrant city, I instantly fell in love with Seattle Washington. We only had a weekend but found plenty of things to do in Seattle.  Located on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest corner of the USA, it reminded me of our home in Auckland, New Zealand. Water, mountains, forests, and green parklands surround both cities. In Washington, the nearby evergreen forests are massive, thus giving Seattle the nickname of “Emerald City.” To hit the highlights, we have created a Seattle itinerary filled with 10 fun things to do in Seattle Washington.

A view of Seattle with Mount Rainier in the distance, as seen from the Space Needle

We love Seattle and saved tons of money on entry fees with the Seattle CityPASS. It provided us with both quick and easy access to several Seattle highlights as well as 50% savings over the total cost of these activities, had we paid for them each individually.

→  Get details and order your Seattle CityPASS today

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A Weekend in Seattle Itinerary Day 1: Along the Seattle Waterfront

1. Pike Place Market

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Pike Place Market Recipes: 130 Delicious Ways to Bring Home Seattle's Famous Market

Price: $14.52

Was: $24.95

The iconic entrance to the Pike Place Market.

(Read Next: Pike Place Market: Where to Catch Fish in Seattle)

2. The Seattle Aquarium

Home to the marine life of Puget Sound and around the world, the Seattle Aquarium’s mission is “Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.”  There are hands-on opportunities for children, and plenty to see for adults. Puffin birds and the sea otters are two of the more unique creatures we saw.  The Seattle Aquarium is a featured destination of the Seattle CityPASS.

Located in the Life on Edge section of Seattle Aquarium, these moon jellyfish looked luminescent as the colours in the tube changed.

Sea otters are amongst the three types of marine mammals a the Seattle Aquarium, the other two being Northern Fur Seals and Harbour Seals.

3. Argosy Cruises

Avid sailors, we love to view a city from the water. However, the weather was quite cold and misty and we opted not to join into any of the Seattle cruises. Even skipping this activity that is included in the Seattle CityPASS, we found the pass offered us overall savings.

An Argosy Cruise boat used for Puget Sound Harbor Cruises.

4. The Seattle Great Wheel

Boasting breath-taking views of Puget Sound from 200 feet above the water, we opted to skip the Great Wheel on the cloudy day that we visited. It runs until 10 pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends making it one of many things to do in Seattle at night.

The Seattle Great Wheel features climate controlled gondolas.

5. Waterfront walk and dinner at Ivar’s Acres of Clams

Located on Pier 54, the building and views are half the fun. It’s an icon, one of the classic Seattle landmarks. It’s a restaurant that’s been around since 1938, and it still serves mouthwatering meals.

We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and view at Ivar’s.

Seattle Itinerary Day 2: Seattle Center

6. Seattle Space Needle

Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it was considered a space-age wonder. It’s a classic Seattle landmark and probably the best known of the Seattle attractions.  The Seattle CityPASS includes both a day and nighttime entry. However, if you are not in Seattle long enough to justify a CityPASS, you can purchase a single entry ticket ahead of time to avoid the sometimes quite long ticket queue.

⇒ Click here to check pricing on Space Needle Observation Deck admission or Buy Now

Seattle Space Needle

(Read Next: Views from the Top of the Seattle Space Needle: A City Icon)

7. Chihuly Garden and Glass

Featuring the vivid colours and fluid shapes of the glass creations of Dale Chihuly, this is one of my personal top two destinations on this Seattle itinerary (the other being the Museum of Flight).  It’s a colourful photographer’s treat. The Seattle CityPASS offers the option of Chihuly Garden and Glass or Pacific Science Center. We opted for the glass museum, but had we been traveling with young children, I would probably have gone to the Science Center.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

(Read Next: Chihuly Garden and Glass, A Vibrant Must See in Seattle)

8. EMP Museum

If pop culture, science fiction, or rock music are your thing, EMP Museum is the perfect Seattle museum. New Zealand’s World of Wearable Art (WOW) made its North American premiere at EMP. The Seattle CityPASS offers the option of the EMP Museum or the Woodland Park Zoo.

My niece is having a bit of fun at the EMP Museum.

This monster Shadowbox was popular with both kids and adults.

9. Collections Cafe

The delicious food is almost secondary to Dale Chihuly’s 28 collections that are hanging on the walls, shelves, and ceiling, or embedded into the table tops. Aside from the glass art that made him famous, Chihuly collected things like pocket knives, inkwells, string holders, tin toys, and more. Be sure to walk around the restaurant to have a closer look.

The accordions hanging from the ceiling are one of 28 collections found at Collections Cafe.

Seattle Itinerary Day 3 (half day): Museum of Flight

10. Museum of Flight

Taking you through flight history from the earliest planes to the space age, the Museum of Flight has it all. It is one of my two favourite Seattle itinerary destinations (the other being Chihuly Garden and Glass).

History is easily seen through the aircraft filling the initial room of the Museum of Flight.

(Read Next: Museum of Flight Connects Aircraft with History)

↓↓↓ Best Money Saving Travel Tip for Seattle: Get a CityPASS ↓↓↓

Where to stay in Seattle

Hotel Monaco, a Kimpton Property: We stayed at Hotel Monaco and loved it. While there are plenty of Seattle accommodation options, Hotel Monaco will always be our first choice.  The attention to every detail, the fun and funky decor, the animal-friendly nature (with both pet or non-pet friendly floors), and the daily afternoon wine tastings sold us on Kimpton properties. This was the first of many. It met our needs for comfort, location, and ambience.  Click here to read our full review of Hotel Monaco.

What are your favourite things to do in Seattle? Would you make any changes to this Seattle itinerary?

Disclaimer: We were provided with a CityPASS as well as complimentary entry to several venues and/or media rates. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.