Are you heading to Seattle for vacation and want to know what’s fun to do in the city? You’re in luck! Get ready to explore this curated collection of must-go stops in Seattle that are worth it and will make your trip to the city truly unforgettable. Don’t worry if it’s considered “a touristy activity,” if it’s on this list, it’s popular for a reason – it’s great!
Seattle Center Monorail
For Seattle visitors heading from downtown attractions to Seattle Center, there’s a fun, affordable, and efficient way to travel: the iconic Seattle Monorail! Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Monorail lets you experience a piece of Seattle history. In just three minutes, you can glide above the city streets to enjoy elevated views through downtown. This ride is perfect for families, tourists, and anyone needing a convenient way to access popular attractions like Climate Pledge Arena, the Space Needle, MoPOP, and the Pacific Science Center. Instead of a long walk or the hassle of traffic and finding parking, you’ll enjoy a scenic, retro-futuristic experience on the Seattle Monorail, a true Seattle landmark.
Woodland Park Zoo
You absolutely have to put Woodland Park Zoo on your list. It’s not just a place to see animals; it’s an adventure wandering through lush green spaces that make you feel like you’ve stepped into different parts of the world. Explore exhibits with natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rainforests and coastal deserts to temperate rainforests like in the Pacific Northwest. You’ll get close to 800 animals and 240 species, including some of the world’s most critically endangered, everything from playful Humboldt penguins to orangutans and Malayan tigers. Woodland Park Zoo is big on conservation, so you’ll learn how they’re helping protect wildlife and wild spaces. It’s a peaceful escape from the busy city right in the heart of Seattle. Grab your walking shoes and get ready for a fun day of wildlife at Woodland Park Zoo!
San Juan Safaris
Dream of seeing whales on your visit to Seattle? San Juan Safaris makes it happen in the beautiful San Juan Islands, north of the city near the Canadian border. It’s a top spot for whale-watching, especially orcas, which can be found in this area year-round. The boat ride trip is stunning, with coastlines, sea lions, native birds, and hidden beaches. You might even see other whales, like humpbacks or grays.
San Juan Safaris runs tours from March to late October. They have two main options: the Classic Whale Watch, a 3-to 4-hour trip perfect for families, and the Adventure Whale Watch, which uses a smaller, faster boat for a more immersive experience. Whale watching in the Pacific Northwest is an unforgettable, awe-inspiring experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a fantastic place to visit right on Seattle’s bustling waterfront. You can watch divers interact with the fish in the Windows on Washington habitat and get close to adorable harbor seals, cute sea otters, and glowing jellyfish with their dreamlike float. In the Aquarium’s “Life on the Edge” tide pool habitats, you can feel sea stars, anemones, and other invertebrates.
The Aquarium is unique because it shows you many of the colorful creatures of Puget Sound, including a Great Pacific Octopus (it’s so cool to watch!) In 2024, they expanded their campus and opened the Ocean Pavilion, which is integrated into the Overlook Walk that connects the waterfront to Pike Place Market. In the Ocean Pavilion, you’ll experience a tropical reef ecosystem like what is found at the Coral Triangle, a region in the Indo-Pacific. There are tons of colorful fish, Spotted Eagle Rays, sharks, and 30 species of coral reef. The Seattle Aquarium is a memorable and worthwhile tourist activity that sparks a deep connection with Earth’s oceans, inspiring you to protect them for future generations.
SAM / Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum has three incredible locations across Seattle. First, there’s the central (and largest) SAM located downtown, just one block from Pike Place Market! With an expansive collection of global and local Northwest art, along with incredible special exhibitions, you can explore art from different times, cultures, and places! A must-visit is SAM’s current exhibition, Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei, from March to early September 2025. This is a rare opportunity to see the work of renowned and celebrated artist Ai Weiwei, as this is his first exhibition in the US in over a decade and his largest ever in the US.
If you walk through Pike Place Market and down the waterfront, you will find yourself at the Olympic Sculpture Park. This open-air sculpture park sits on 9 acres of land with views of the Space Needle, Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound! Home to 20 monumental sculptures, including Alexander Calder’s Eagle, visitors can walk among the art. Nestled in Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood is the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM). You can explore a vast array of Asian art while you take in the views of the park and admire the details of Art Deco-era building. You can even watch conservators restore art at the conservation studio!
At SAM, you can join a tour, listen to a lecture, or even take a workshop, all to help you understand the art on a deeper level for a well-rounded cultural experience.
Tours Northwest
Truth is, Seattle’s a city that can feel exciting and overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. You’ve got those must-see landmarks on your list, but what about everything in between? That’s where Tours Northwest comes in, offering the perfect “Seattle 101” experience for first-timers and seasoned visitors. Forget aimless wandering and confusing maps; hop aboard and let a local expert guide you with captivating stories behind the iconic sights, reveal hidden gems and local favorites, and provide a deeper understanding of the city’s geography and history.
Beyond the popular Seattle City Tour, which gives you a fantastic overview of the city’s neighborhoods and history, Tours Northwest offers a guided day trip to Mount Rainier and other private tours by request.
MOPOP
For anyone obsessed with music, fashion, movies, and all things pop culture, MOPOP is a must-stop activity for tourists in Seattle. Designed by Frank Gehry, the building itself is a wild, shimmering wave of metal—a perfect prelude to the creative atmosphere inside. Of course, being Seattle, music takes center stage. Dive deep into the city’s iconic grunge scene with the Nirvana exhibit, and celebrate local legends like Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam. Want to make some noise? The Sound Lab lets you jam on real instruments in a legit recording studio.
MOPOP is more than just music. Explore the Indie Game Revolution to see how indie video games are made, and even play some demos. Film and TV buffs will drool over costumes and props from Star Trek, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings. And if you dare, brave the Scared to Death exhibit, filled with creepy-cool artifacts from classic and modern horror films. MOPOP has rotating exhibits and special events like film screenings, talks, and live shows, so it’s different every time you visit.
Argosy Cruises
Seattle’s stunning scenery (mountains, water, and that iconic skyline!) draws visitors from all over, and there’s no better way to soak it all in than from the deck of an Argosy Cruises tour. As a family-owned, Seattle-operated company for over 75 years, Argosy knows the city’s waterways like no one else, ensuring a fun and informative outing. Whether you’re craving a classic skyline view on Seattle’s Original Harbor Cruise™, the unique experience of navigating the Ballard Locks on the Locks Cruise, or wanting to just be out on the water relaxing on the Summer Views Cruise, Argosy offers narrated sightseeing tours that impress both tourists and locals alike. It’s a fantastic way to experience Seattle’s beauty from a new perspective.
Pacific Science Center (PacSci)
Looking for a place where science comes to life through engaging and interactive experiences for all ages? Head to Pacific Science Center, right next to the Space Needle! It’s packed with cool stuff for everyone. Walk through a jungle filled with hundreds of butterflies in the Tropical Butterfly House. Or, take a trip to space in the Planetarium and see the stars in a new way. Travel back millions of years in the dinosaur exhibit. You can also explore real fossils and learn about the scientists who dig them up and piece together the clues to understand how dinosaurs lived, what they ate, and why they disappeared. You’ll come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaur models showing how massive they were.
But wait, there’s more! PacSci also has two IMAX theaters showing educational and first-run films, and there’s even a laser dome with dazzling custom laser shows set to a themed playlist. There are live science demos, an engineering lab where kids can build things, and hands-on physics and biology exhibits that encourage discovery through play. At Pacific Science Center, curiosity is encouraged; it’s a place where, around every corner, there is something intriguing and educational but in a way that is accessible and fun.
Seattle Children’s Museum
The Seattle Children’s Museum is a vibrant world of discovery designed for kids 10 and under. It’s not just a place for fun; it’s an experience that encourages kids to touch, explore, and really get to know the world around them. Kids can learn about the Pacific Northwest’s history at the Tribal Tales exhibit, exploring Indigenous cultures through interactive displays. The Neighborhood lets them role-play in a miniature town, and Amazing Airways introduces scientific concepts through playful air current experiments. The Seattle Children’s Museum is located in the Armory Building of Seattle Center, so it’s close to places where you can grab a bite to eat and other top visitor destinations like MoPOP and the Space Needle.
Wild Waves Theme and Water Park
Know someone who needs a day of old-fashioned theme park fun? Or what about a splashy water park visit? Then Wild Waves Theme & Water Park in Federal Way is your ultimate summer combo destination! With thrill rides, gentler rides, and lots of food options, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Soar down exhilarating water slides like the Pacific Plunge, float your cares away on the Konga Lazy River, then feel the rush of roller coasters like the Timberhawk Ride of Prey, and enjoy classic amusement park fun like the Ferris Wheel or antique carousel, all in one place. Wild Waves Theme and Water Park is a full day of entertainment and the perfect escape for families, friends, and anyone looking to beat the summer heat.
Space Needle
Everyone knows Seattle’s skyline, and the Space Needle is the most recognizable part of it. It’s not just tall; it’s a symbol of the city’s forward-thinking vibe and retro history from the World’s Fair in 1962. A quick elevator ride takes you to the observation deck for stunning 360-degree views. You’ll see the whole city, the water, and the mountains.
The Space Needle got a “Space Lift” in 2018, adding even more to see. They added a revolving glass floor called ‘The Loupe,’ which gives you a surreal view straight down. Plus, all the walls of the observation deck are glass now, so you get unobstructed views all around. The selfies here are insane! Whether visiting during the day to see Mount Rainier in the distance or at night to take in the sparkling skyline, it’s a neat experience and a no-brainer tourist activity. Pro-tip: if you’re hungry, grab a flaky personal pie from Tip Top Pies. With flavors like Washington Apple Pie or Beef and IPA, you can fuel up before you head back down to Earth.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass, located in the heart of Seattle Center, is an unforgettable art Exhibition you can not miss experiencing. Featuring the breathtaking glass creations of Tacoma-born, world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time seeing his work, prepare to be amazed. Chihuly’s massive, swirling glass sculptures, bursting with vibrant colors and illuminated by light, seem to defy gravity, transforming entire spaces inside and out.
Outside, a captivating Garden blends lush greenery with bold, glass sculptures, creating a surreal atmosphere. Inside the Glasshouse, a floating floral sculpture captures and refracts the sunlight, showcasing Chihuly’s mastery of light and form.
The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass is the only place in the world to see more than 25 of Dale Chihuly’s personal collections on display throughout the space. The centerpiece of The Bar is an illuminated installation of 36 signature Chihuly Drawings, creating a uniquely art-centric dining experience.
You can also catch live glassblowing demonstrations, offering a glimpse into this complex art form. Be sure to stop by the Theater to learn more about Chihuly’s creative process and global collaborations. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just searching for a truly unique, Instagram-worthy experience, visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass is an absolute must.
The Wrap Up
Seattle is a vibrant city that invites you to explore, discover, and immerse yourself in its activities for tourists. Whether you’re drawn to art, nature, history, wildlife, or culture, you’ll find an adventure waiting around every corner. You could visit again and again and always find something new to explore.
