Seattle is one of the greenest cities we’ve ever been to which means we loved it. And it’s no wonder that the aptly named “Emerald City” was filled with bits of nature that made us outdoorsy folk love it so much (as big cities go). We really enjoyed doing all of the typical Seattle touristy things in our first weekend in Seattle. So we packed this two day Seattle itinerary with all of the most popular things to do in Seattle so that you can get a taste of what this city is about.
Getting There and Around
Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) International Airport is a bustling airport hub. This means that you’ll likely find frequent and comparably cheap flights into and out of the airport. The airport is about 15 minutes from downtown.
To get downtown, you can take the light rail, which is fast and super affordable public transit at $3.25/person. Depending on traffic, this actually may be the fastest way to get to downtown Seattle. If you plan on using public transport, consider getting an ORCA card that you can preload with money for your trips. However, you can also take a taxi or a ride share as well. These options will be about $40 one way from the airport to the city.
We did have a rental car when we visited Seattle because we were visiting as part of a larger Washington road trip. However, we parked it and never used it. So if you are visiting Seattle as part of a larger road trip, our suggestion would be to drop your rental car off at the airport and then get around Seattle on foot and using the light rail.
Where To Stay In Seattle
We stayed in downtown Seattle and loved it. Everything on day 1 of this Seattle itinerary was walkable! We stayed in a great apartment rental downtown. The hotels in downtown Seattle were wildly expensive when we visited in the summer and the home rental was a good money saving option. Plus, we had a kitchen in which to cook the amazing Pike Place Market halibut that we bought.
Staying in one of the surrounding Seattle neighborhoods is also a good option. There were tons of really cute and eclectic rentals available outside of downtown. However, you will have to take public transit or a taxi to downtown each day to see the top attractions Seattle has to offer. So while this may give you a more local feel for Seattle, for this Seattle itinerary for first time visitors, we recommend downtown – STRONGLY.
Two-Day Seattle Itinerary
We’ve provided you with a description of what we did in our two days in Seattle. We visited with a full family with a wide variety of ages and interests. And while no one in our family really likes big cities, we still speak fondly of our time in Seattle – high praise indeed if you knew my family. If you’d prefer to create your own itinerary, check out our list of things to do in Seattle for inspiration.
Also, keep in mind that several of the attractions below do have timed entry tickets. I’ve included links to buy tickets for each attraction that require them but please make your reservations ahead of time as many places require them. Additionally, weekend reservations for popular restaurants fill up months in advance in Seattle. So if you have a place that you just have to try, make your reservations early.
Day 1 – Top Seattle Sights
Morning – Downtown Waterfront
Start your morning at the Seattle Aquarium. This is one of the best aquariums we’ve been to! The Seattle Aquarium is full of plant and animal life that you’ll find right off the shores of town, and around the world. This was a great family friendly activity.
Next, head to the Pike Place Market. We spent several hours just wandering the market people watching and checking out all the fun shops. Lots of shops here sell very unique foods so plan to stock up on lunch snacks as you graze your way through the market. Once you get full, start stocking up on dinner ingredients, including the centerpiece for your dinner, a piece of fish from the Pike Place Fish Market.
As a note about Pike Place Market: You’ll find plenty of advice out there telling you to get to the market early to beat the crowds and get all the good food. And sure, that’s true if you’re going there to shop. However, if you’re visiting as a tourist, know that half of the fun is people watching and watching the vendors in their full selling glory. So if you get there too early, you’ll miss the experience of the market. We got there at 8 AM and then came back for lunch and it was like two totally different markets.
Don’t forget to get pictures at the famous bronze piggy bank and the gum wall located at two of the different entrances. Other highlights of the market include, the original Starbucks, the interesting art, and the jokester fishmongers.
Afternoon – Seattle Center
Next, walk to the Olympic sculpture park. While we didn’t feel this was the best Seattle sight ever, it’s was on the way and worth a look simply for the views of the Puget Sound. Take a quick stroll through the park as you make your way to the Seattle Center. Once here, wander this park and take in some great views of the space needle from the ground.
Next, visit Chihuly Garden and Glass. While no one in our party is a big art fan, this was highly recommended and it did not fail to impress. The glass art of Chihuly is on display both inside and out. While the art alone is impressive, so to are the amazing views of glass art with the space needle in the background. We spent about 2 hours here, so be aware of the time you may want to spend here when booking your tickets for the day.
Next, take a ride to the top of the space needle. From here you can see 360 views of Seattle as you wander your way around the viewing deck. This makes a perfect ending to your first day in Seattle!
But wait there’s more – and it’s dinner. Let’s hope that you grabbed yourself some fish at Pike Place and some side dish ingredients because you are about to make yourself the best fish of your life. I know we did. While we still talk years later of our amazing Seattle itinerary, what we talk more about is our amazing halibut I whipped up in a rental home kitchen.
Day 2 – Uniquely Seattle
Morning – Seattle Neighborhoods
For breakfast we have one fantastic recommendation – Biscuit Bitch. This restaurant serves to-go biscuits topped with a variety of breakfasty treats. The line will likely wrap outside of the restaurant but it moves quickly and is worth the wait.
Next, head north to Freemont to see the Freemont Troll. Honestly, this could easily be skipped if you didn’t have a vehicle and didn’t want to mess with public transit (or just wanted to sleep in). It’s just a troll sculpture under a bridge. But it’s a thing…
Close to Freemont, you can visit the Ballard locks next. Sure, it’s strange to visit a lock on vacation but this one is really cool. They have the operational locks, where you can watch boats pass from ocean to freshwater. They also have a fish viewing area where you can see the fishies swimming through the locks. And finally they have a small museum where you can learn about the locks and their impact on the environment and the commerce of the area.
Afternoon – History of Seattle
Next, head back into downtown Seattle to visit Pioneer square and wander the streets. Grab lunch on your way.
Now, you can choose one of two options for the early afternoon.
First, the Klondike Gold Museum. Yup, gold rush museum in Seattle. Our Seattle itinerary included this option as we are National Parks people and this is a National Historic Park. Seattle featured as the “last stop” on the route north as people headed for the gold rush. This museum is dedicated to the ways in which that shaped the city. You can also pick up a free Trail To Treasure map here that will guide you on a small walking tour of the Pioneer Square area.
Alternatively, you could also do Pioneer square underground tour. These tours take you underground to get a glimpse of the city before it was burnt to the ground by fire. There are several different tour “themes” you can go on like haunted tours and illegal activity tours. Whatever tour you choose, you’ll also get a good dose of history added to your Seattle itinerary.
If you have extra time consider wandering around downtown Seattle to see the beautiful buildings, like the Seattle Public Library or Lumen Field.
In the late afternoon, head outside of the city to the Museum of Flight. Here you’ll learn about the history of aviation in the city that is home to Boeing, one of the leading manufacturers today. We spent about two hours here so make sure to arrive to give yourself plenty of time to see everything. The Museum of Flight was another great family friendly stop that the kids will love as you get to interact with a lot of planes.
Head back into town and have dinner before turning in. Consider trying some international food as Seattle is home to large immigrant populations leading to a bustling scene of international food. We had both Moroccan and Chinese while we visited and they were amazing! …Or at least way better than we get in the Midwest.
Want to Adjust the Seattle Itinerary
If you have only one day to spend in Seattle, spend it hitting up all the top attractions on day one of our Seattle itinerary above. Those were all of our favorite things, despite the fact that they are all of the most touristy things.
However, if you have extra days, consider leaving the city. Washington is an amazing state full of outdoor wonders and some are just hours from the city. Mount Rainier is a popular Seattle day trip or you can visit Snoqualmie Falls and Leavenworth in a day. Or check out Olympic National Park if you have more than a day, that was our favorite Washington road trip.
We hope this post has helped you to plan your own two days in Seattle. If you have any questions or your own suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
