The ultimate Seattle Bucket List (2024)

Who doesn’t love a Ferris wheel? Boasting 360-degree-views of both mountains and open sky, Seattle’s Great Wheel is worth being a bit of a tourist for. At $17 for an adult ride, many locals scoff at this attraction. Don’t make the same mistake: Get in line and get up there. If you’re feeling swank, you can purchase a VIP ticket for $50 that puts you ahead of the line and in a four-person gondola with a glass bottom.

Opened in 1907, the Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers’ markets in the country. A thriving community of farmers, street performers, and restaurateurs, this is more than just a place to grab a bite: Make sure to check out the underground shops, bookstores, apothecaries, and one very special magic shop. As you head out of the market, you’ll notice a line snaking around the first-ever Starbucks. The inside is exactly like any other Starbucks so waiting in a 20-minute line to order your latte is something you can (and should) absolutely skip.

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is one of the largest collections of art in Washington, featuring a wide variety of works ranging in genre from contemporary to ancient Roman and more. Depending on the featured special exhibition, lines can be long, so you better check out the offerings before heading there. Entry to the permanent collection requires only a suggested donation, but special exhibitions cost extra.

The Washington State Ferries are an integral part of the commuter culture in Seattle. The largest fleet of ferries in the United States, the system stops at multiple neighboring islands and towns. Either as a walk-on or car passenger, a day trip out of the city is easy. Even though most boats can carry 200 cars, commuter crossings are very busy so try to avoid them during rush hour.

A little-known fact about Seattle: the entire city burned down in 1889, and a new city was slowly rebuilt 22 feet above the rubble. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is the only underground tour that brings you below street level, making it the ideal activity to sign up for when the rain falls. Remember to wear closed-toed shoes as the tour takes you through the catacombs of the city.

The University of Washington is in and of itself a beautiful campus made more enticing by The Henry Art Gallery. The contemporary art gallery features works from all over the world in its permanent collection and is also home to the yearly student thesis exhibitions. Many of their works focus on social activism, including shows by and about the LGBTQ community.

If you don’t live in Seattle, you probably don’t know what a locks is. Simply put, it is a hydraulics system that lifts a boat from a lower water level to a higher one. Some call it an elevator for boats. What makes the Ballard Locks so special, besides the fact that it is the most used one in the country? The fish dwelling below the boats. Underneath the locks system, you can watch as salmons run from fresh to seawater through the windows of the below-ground fish ladder viewing area.

Seattle’s vibrant Japanese American community has given the city more than its fair share of attractions. Most notable is Uwajimaya, a massive Japanese grocery and gift store. Founded in 1928 by Fujimatsu Moriguchi of Yawatahama, Japan, this family-run store is full of every type of Asian delicacy you can imagine. In addition to exceptional edible items, the store is also home to the Tokyo-based Kinokuniya Bookstore, which serves all of your Japanese stationery and manga needs.

The Museum of Flight, found in Boeing Field’s backyard, is the largest private air and space museum in the world. Founded in 1929, it has grown to become one of Seattle’s most trafficked educational attractions. Robust programming (the venue boasts one of the largest educational programs in the world) includes daily tours, flight simulations, and the occasional theatrical reenactment. Come early or around closing time to avoid the daily throngs of visiting school children.

There are a ton of pinball bars in Seattle, but Add-a-Ball is the king of them all. Hidden in the back of a massive empty lot, Add-A-Ball offers multiple rooms of pinball, video games, and even an air hockey table—each equipped with cup holders to hold your beer or whatever else you order at the bar. The staff hosts pinball tournaments, which are very popular with locals, but if you’re just trying to have a good time, skip them. Tournament nights can get a little… intense.

The longest continuously running movie theater in Seattle, Grand Illusion Cinema is a required stop for all film nerds. Opened in 1970, the volunteer-run non-profit space is filled with vintage red velvet seats where you can get comfortable to watch new indie releases and art film classics.

Even though you’ll see the mountains almost everywhere you go throughout Seattle, something about being on their level makes it particularly awesome. Consider hopping on a chartered Seaplane out of Lake Union and experiencing the majesty of the city’s topography from above. If you want to make a weekend of it, Kenmore Air offers flight and hotel packages to the San Juan Islands and beyond.

The state-of-the-art field in Seattle’s SODO district is home to the Mariners baseball team. Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, it's worth a visit to check out the field. The stadium frequently offers discount tickets that won’t blow a hole through your wallet. Pro tip: Don’t drive to the stadium on game days when the southern part of the city basically shuts down. Instead, take the Link Light Rail, which runs from T-Mobile Park to most neighborhoods around the city.

Keeping Seattleites inside when the sun is out is practically impossible. Though many residents go hiking on one of the many trails throughout the state, less ambitious folks opt to get a beach towel and enjoy the freshwater lake in the middle of the city. With 2.8 miles of trails and paved walkways around it, visiting the lake can turn into the best excuse for a leisurely bike ride or long walk.