Seattle – Your Perfect Weekend Itinerary

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SEATTLE

This beautiful and rainy city is nestled between mountains, the puget sound, and evergreen forests. With incredible restaurants, the futuristic Space Needle, breathtaking nature, and a unique city culture, you’ll never be bored in Seattle.

Need to Know:

Currency: US Dollar

Language: English

Airports:

SEA – Seattle-Tacoma International

Electrical Outlets: 120V supply voltage and 60Hz

Planning Your Trip

Accommodation – I recommend staying downtown, near Pike Place Market. This way, you’ll be able to walk to the majority of the top things to do in the city. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown and it worked out perfectly for my weekend trip.

Getting Around – I flew into Seattle-Tacoma International airport and took Lyft downtown. There are decent options for biking or taking buses around the city. You can also take the monorail for set routes of travel. I mostly walked since I just explored the heart of the city, and then took Lyft if I was going a further distance.

I’d recommend renting a car if you want to get outside the city at all, to visit Mount Rainier for example. Otherwise, you don’t need one.

Things to See and Do in Seattle

Pike Place Market: Probably the most iconic destination in Seattle, but in my opinion, this spot is not overhyped. I loved exploring this huge market selling everything from flowers to donuts, from local produce to the fresh catch of the day. I tried some of the more popular foods such as: Ellenos Yogurt, Beecher’s Cheese, Storyville Coffee, Le Panier, Piroshky Piroshky, Rachel’s Ginger Beer, and Seattle Bagel Bakery. There are endless food options in this little market, but these top ones get really busy. If you’re planning to come on a weekend, be sure to get there early because the lines will really start adding up later in the morning. There is also a bakery with a ton of gluten free options that I visited twice. Be sure to check out Cinnamon Works.

Original Starbucks: Grab a coffee at the first and original Starbucks, located right at Pike Place Market. There is ALWAYS a line to get in, so I recommend going off peak hours, and weekdays are better. At this Starbucks you will find exclusive merchandise branded for the Original Starbucks as well as an espresso roasted specially for this location. Definitely worth a stop!

Gum Wall: This equally disgusting and amusing sight is located in an alleyway in Post Alley under Pike Place Market. This wall covered in chewed gum is part of the Market Theater box office and the tradition of sticking gum to the wall was started by patrons of the Seattle improv comedy company, Unexpected Productions’.

Space Needle: I was hesitant to buy my ticket to the top thinking it would be touristy and gimmicky, but on a clear day, it is worth it for the view! Buy a ticket ahead of time ($35 for general admission) for a timed entry to the top of the Space Needle. You will take a glass elevator up to the top and explore the two-story, indoor-outdoor observation deck. There are even photographers that will scan your ticket and take a professional photo for free!

Seattle Great Wheel: Another iconic part of the Seattle skyline, this huge ferris wheel set out on the pier over the sound is a great way to get a spectacular view of the city and water. You can purchase tickets at the gate on Pier 57, or ahead of time online. For $16 per adult, you go around about 3 times and the ride is a total of about 15 minutes.

Gas Works Park: A unique park a little outside the city, Gas Works Park offers great views of Seattle from across the water. You will see infrastructure from the former Gas Light Company gasification plant, which adds a cool history and attraction to this otherwise simple park.

Ballard Farmers’ Market: Sundays from 9 AM to 2 PM, check out the Ballard Farmers’ Market. You will find 100+ local vendors selling goods all-year-round.

Capitol Hill: This diverse neighborhood is home to some of Seattle’s best restaurants, bars, and clubs. Check out one of my top restaurants such as Capitol Cider (fully gluten free menu!!!) or Nirmal’s, or just head over to the neighborhood in the evening and see what you find!

Kerry Park: This is another spot for a spectacular view of the Seattle skyline. Kerry Park is a little public park located on Queen Anne Hill.

Ferry Ride: I didn’t have a chance to go on a ferry ride when I was visiting Seattle, but I was itching to get out on the water! With the most expansive ferry network in the United States, you are sure to find a trip that works for you. Many people enjoy heading out to Bainbridge Island for a day trip.

My Favorite Bars and Restaurants in Seattle

(limited to what I was able to try)

Nirmal's Fantastic upscale Indian food. On the more expensive side but worth the price.

Mamnoon With two locations in Seattle, be sure to at least try their frie. Fresh and crispy with a delicious seasoning. This is a more affordable choice and they offer lots of gluten free options!

Bangrak Market Head here for classic Thai street food. Our group's favorites were the Pad Thai and the Chiang Mai Sausage. There are lots of gluten free options here and the staff are knowledgeable about their ingredients.

Noi Thai Another great Thai option, this is right downtown. I loved their Tom Yum soup as well as the Pad See Ew.

Old Stove Brewing This place has to make the list because of the view and the beers! We actually didn't try the food here, but it looked great. There is often a long line, so put your name down early and they will text you when your table is ready.

Bathtub Gin & Co. This is a tiny and intimate speakeasy, located in an alley in downtown. The drinks here are phenomenal and there is a great vibe. No food options.

Others:

Bacco Cafe – This place is very popular for brunch and always has a huge line. We ate here and though it was decent, but not worth the wait.
Mr. West Cafe Bar – Usually a long wait with limited seating, this cafe is famous for their coffee and toasts. The vibe and setting were lovely, but we found the food a little heavy and underwhelming. The salads looked nice but we didn’t try them.