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The Pike Place fishmongers, the original Starbucks, Elliott Bay in the morning, and Mount Rainier visible on clear days from almost anywhere in the city. Seattle earns its reputation. Capitol Hill, Belltown, South Lake Union, and Pioneer Square each offer a different side of the city's character. Hotels across Capitol Hill, Belltown, South Lake Union, and Pioneer Square run at their highest rates from June through August during peak summer season.
Seattle Guide
"It rains nine months a year in Seattle." So says David Hyde Pierce to Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle when his character is trying to talk hers out of moving there. Actually, despite this widespread misperception, Seattle only gets about 36 inches of rainfall per year—less than New York City. There are a lot of drizzly, cloudy days, though; in fact, not seeing the sun is the norm.
But it certainly doesn’t keep Seattleites stuck indoors. Residents of this lush, progressive Pacific Northwest city spend an inordinate amount of time in nature, whether that means bicycling along woodsy streams, hiking through tranquil pine forests, or simply strolling around Green Lake at lunchtime. To look like a native, don't bother with an umbrella (it rarely rains hard)—just pull on a fleece jacket before heading outside.
Essential Seattle
- Pike Place Market: This glorious year-round farmers’ market is loaded with local produce, fish, cheese, and flower stands. This is where you can watch workers hurling fresh fish through the air and where you can visit the first Starbucks store ever opened.
- Walk the waterfront: Seattle boasts miles of strollable sidewalks lined with restaurants facing the shore. Keep an eye out for houseboats.
- Space Needle: Hands down the city’s most famous symbol. Head to the observation deck for views of downtown as well as Mount Rainier, the Cascades, and islands in the Pacific.
- Fremont Troll: Check out this large, locally beloved sculpture that dwells, fittingly, under a bridge in the quirky Fremont neighborhood, which was once the center of Seattle’s counterculture.
- EMP Museum: Housed in a Frank Gehry-designed building near the Space Needle, this interactive museum features award-winning, hands-on exhibits dedicated to pop culture, particularly music and science fiction.
Exploring Neighborhoods
- Capitol Hill is one of the city's liveliest areas for nightlife and entertainment. The streets are packed with one-of-a-kind restaurants, galleries, shops, and bars. If you visit during the day, make sure to try an espresso at Caffe Vita, which is often ranked as the best place to get coffee in a city that knows a thing or two about coffee.
- Queen Anne: Explore the colorful, historic Victorian houses and quaint coffee shops in Queen Anne before making your obligatory stop at the nearby Space Needle.
- Alki: This peninsular, waterfront district features a boardwalk, a beach, and restaurants selling fresh seafood. Like a compact surf-town.
Where to Stay
- Inn at the Market: The interior is stylish and the service top-notch, but the best feature is the location: it’s the only hotel set right in Pike Place Market.
- The Edgewater Hotel: Past guests at this downtown hotel have included Led Zeppelin, KISS, and, during their first world tour in 1964, the Beatles (some fans reportedly tried swimming to the hotel across Elliott Bay to get closer.)
- Greenlake Guest House: Feel like a local at this cozy B&B found right on the banks of Green Lake. Guests are treated to a lavish breakfast each morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good price for a well-rated downtown Seattle hotel within walking distance of Pike Place Market and the waterfront typically falls between $150 and $270 per night before taxes. For example, Warwick Seattle can drop to around $154 with perks like daily food credit and parking, while Thompson Seattle often runs closer to $260 for upscale stays.
Budget-friendly Seattle airport stays usually start around $80 to $130 per night near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac and Tukwila. Properties like SureStay Hotel by Best Western SeaTac Airport North and midrange options such as Hotel Interurban often bundle Wi-Fi, breakfast, or shuttle access for lower nightly rates than downtown.
Yes, some Seattle hotel specials bundle extras like parking and daily dining credits to reduce your total trip cost. Warwick Seattle, for example, has offers that include on-site parking plus about a $30 daily food and beverage credit, along with Wi-Fi and access to the pool and fitness center, a short walk from Belltown attractions.
Family- and group-friendly Seattle-area offers are common at suite-style hotels north and east of the city, often from about $115 to $195 per night. Residence Inn properties in Lynnwood and Bothell and Hotel Interurban in Tukwila feature full kitchens or larger layouts, plus breakfast and pools that suit kids and group travel.
Several Seattle-area hotels offer kitchens or kitchenettes starting around $115 to $230 per night, which can save money on dining. Residence Inn locations in Lynnwood and Bothell include full kitchens and breakfast, while Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown provides in-room cooking facilities just steps from the Space Needle and Seattle Center.
Reasonably priced extended-stay style lodging around Seattle tends to cluster in suburbs like Lynnwood, Bothell, and Kent, with nightly rates often between $115 and $140 before taxes on advance offers. Suite properties such as Residence Inn Seattle North/Lynnwood Everett and Residence Inn Seattle Northeast/Bothell provide separate living areas, kitchens, and laundry access suited to longer visits.
Yes, you can find modestly priced accommodations on Seattle’s First Hill and nearby when visiting hospitals or clinics. The Baroness Hotel and the Inn at Virginia Mason typically offer simpler rooms, some with kitchenettes or shared baths, at rates often below many downtown luxury properties while keeping you within a short walk of major medical campuses.
You can often save on luxury or boutique hotels in downtown Seattle by booking flexible date ranges and watching for limited-time offers on properties like Fairmont Olympic, Hotel Ballard, Thompson Seattle, or Hotel Ändra. Locals frequently use Groupon to catch member-style nightly prices well below standard published rates, especially outside peak summer weekends.