20250808_154747Seattle skyline from Columbia Tower (August 2025)

Seattle is the most-populous city in the Pacific Northwest, home to over 780,000 inhabitants in the city proper and over 4 million in its metropolitan area. It is nicknamed “The Emerald City” (for its lush greenery) and “Rain City,” given it averages about 150 days of rain per year. Rain or shine, Seattle offers a beautiful blend of nature and city that has drawn people over– for work, pleasure, and everything in between.

Originally the land of the Duwamish and Suquamish people for over 4,000 years, Seattle had its first European/Anglo-American contact in the late 18th and mid-19th centuries, especially with the arrival of the Denny Party in 1851 (by leader Arthur A. Denny, credited as the city’s founder). The city was named in honor of Chief Seattle, a leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish people, who worked with American settlers to co-exist and develop the city.

Historically, Seattle excelled in the logging industry before moving forward into software, biotechnology, and the Internet (thanks to big companies like Boeing and Microsoft). Today, Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, with people flocking over for work opportunities. The city is home to a diverse population (especially Asian and Native American), as well as a large LGBTQ community– overall, Seattle is a melting pot of cultures and identities, all of which make for a liberal and accepting environment.

Thanks to its proximity to the Puget Sound, the city has fairly-light weather year-round, with temperatures averaging 75°F (24°C) in the summer and 47°F (8°C) in the winter. However, as mentioned, Seattle gets a lot of rain throughout the year, which contributes to frequent overcast skies. All the same, there is a beauty to the somberness.

Seattle is a large city that is home to many neighborhoods, and therefore is quite spread out. However, it has a decent public transit system, as well as being walkable and bikeable in its Downtown Core. You could easily spend a long weekend in town getting around and seeing a lot of the city. Having visited Seattle on two separate occasions (in June 2017 and August 2025), I want to share my “72 Hours in Seattle” itinerary with you– it is one of my favorite cities in the United States, and I hope you can head over some day!

72 Hours in Seattle: Things to See and Do

Day 1

Start the day in Capitol Hill, a residential neighborhood that is home to a hip and trendy crowd, as well as a notable LGBTQ community. Enjoy breakfast and coffee at any of the eateries along Broadway East before enjoying a quiet stroll in Volunteer Park.

Volunteer Park is large at 48 acres, and one could spend the whole morning, even afternoon, exploring its grounds. The park offers free views of the Seattle skyline from the Water Tower Observation Deck, as well as a beautiful botanical garden at the Volunteer Park Conservatory. There is also the Seattle Asian Art Museum (small, but full of artifacts throughout Asian civilizations) with the “Black Sun’ by Isamu Noguchi right outside the museum– from a specific angle, you can see the iconic Space Needle through the sculpture!

20250809_131435Volunteer Park

20250809_132531“Black Sun” by Isamu Noguchi

Enjoy lunch at any of the trendy restaurants in Capitol Hill (including Taurus Ox, a Laotian restaurant *open as of 2026) before grabbing an Uber or bus to Downtown. Check out Chihuly Garden and Glass, a beautiful museum dedicated to glass artworks of Pacific Northwest local Dale Chihuly. It is one of my favorite museums I have visited, as Chihuly’s art is colorful, whimsical, and mesmerizing at the same time. Admission is steep at $45 USD (as of 2026), but it is well-worth a visit at least once while in Seattle.

20250809_123835Laotian food

20250809_153120Sculpture at Chihuly Glass and Garden

Just next door to the museum is the Space Needle, one of the most-iconic landmarks of Seattle. Tickets are also quite pricey, but I would highly-recommend splurging for the Seattle CityPASS ($129 USD) to allow two timed entries in order to see Seattle in the day and at night. It is a good idea to visit once in the afternoon, grab dinner nearby in town, and then return at night to see the city light up. A gorgeous way to end your first day in town!

Space Needle at night
Views from the Space Needle at night

Day 2

Begin with breakfast in the International District/Chinatown, home to plenty of old-school dim sum restaurants and some trendy coffee shops (including Hood Famous, a Filipino café *open as of 2026).

20250810_100112In Chinatown

20250810_101047Breakfast at Hood Famous

From there, head over to the Waterfront to catch a ferry to Bainbridge Island, located just west of Seattle proper across Puget Sound. It is a short, 35-minute ride over, and from there, you can easily spend the entire day on the island. Bainbridge Island is a blend of natural reserves and small-town feel, and you can explore sites (via public transport) like the Bloedel Reserve and the Grand Forest before strolling the small town of Winslow and grabbing dinner in town prior to catching the ferry back to Seattle in the evening.

If you have a car, an alternate day trip is to drive out to Mount Rainier National Park, located about 75 miles (120 km) southeast of Seattle. It is the closest national park to the city, and it takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours to get there. You can spend the entire day there, and I would recommend the Paradise section of the national park for first-timers, as it offers scenic hikes and lush waterfalls (including Narada and Christine Falls, my personal favorites). Feel free to picnic by the pensive Reflection Lakes and hopefully get views of Mount Rainier during your visit (as weather can sometimes obscure it) before making the drive back to Seattle in the late afternoon.

Mount Rainier peeking out
Christine Falls
Reflection Lakes (with snow!)

Day 3

Enjoy your last day in Seattle with a tranquil stroll along the Waterfront, with views of the Puget Sound and the Seattle Great Wheel. Head along the quay to Olympic Sculpture Park, a public park with free, permanent art exhibits throughout, including the well-known “Eagle” by Alexander Calder.

20250808_165737The Great Seattle Wheel

20250809_160917“The Eagle” by Alexander Calder

Head up towards the Downtown Core towards Pike Place Market, passing by the colorful (yet gross) Gum Wall, a tourist attraction since 1991– just know that you can stick a piece of your own gum on the wall, although it is not recommended! Grab lunch and spend the afternoon exploring Pike Place Market, home to over 220 stalls– I would recommend grabbing clam chowder and lobster rolls for lunch before strolling the market. There is the famous fish-throwing stall at Pike Place Fish Market, the first Starbucks Reserve (originally from Seattle), and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, where you can even sample local cheeses.

20250808_170949Pike Place Market

Clam chowder and lobster rolls

20250808_170228Gum Wall

End your stay in Seattle with dinner by Pike Place Market, before returning to the Waterfront to catch the sunset. An absolutely stunning way to finish the day in town, and to hope for a return to the “Emerald City” some day soon.

20250809_202117Sunset over Puget Sound

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂

— Rebecca

I’ve been inspired by the famous New York Times’ “36 Hours in…” segment to have started a similar series to offer some of my own suggestions of things to do, see, and eat in well-renown cities in the world that I’ve been to at least twice in order to ensure a more-comprehensive outlook on the cities themselves. Check out more of my “72-Hour” posts here!

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

37 thoughts on “72 Hours in Seattle: Things to See and Do”

  1. An excellent guide to Seattle Rebecca. We visited a long time ago so I’m sure it’s changed quite a lot over the years. I remember going up the Space Needle and to Pike Place Market. We drove to Mt. Rainier NP and that was definitely a highlight. You’ve brought back fond memories!

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    1. I’m glad my guide brought back lovely memories of your time in Seattle. It’s such a beautiful city surrounded by nature, which makes it convenient to visit national parks nearby (including Mt. Rainier)! I appreciate your readership, Marion 😊

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  5. You captured so many beautiful photos, dear Rebecca. Seattle looks like a vibrant Pacific Northwest destination offering a mix of stunning natural beauty, iconic landmarks, and a rich cultural scene. Of all the US cities, I have always yearned to visit Seattle the most. I love its proximity to Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks and the fact that you are never far from natural marvels. Pike Place Market and the views from the Space Needle at night look pretty cool, too. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Thanks, Aiva! Seattle is such a wonderful city worth exploring should you make it to that part of the US some day. It’s a city surrounded by nature, and it’s true that you’re only a short drive away from some natural wonders like Mount Rainier. I appreciate you reading, and have a great day!

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    1. Yes, the Gum Wall is gross, yet fascinating at the same time. Seattle is a really international city, and I hope you can try Laotian and Filipino food some time; they’re really delicious!

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  8. We really liked Seattle on our brief visit some years ago. You’ve recommended several things that we enjoyed there, like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. We also loved MoPOP and Pioneer Square which you don’t mention. But I wish I’d known about Volunteer Park as that Black Sun sculpture looks fantastic!

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    1. Nice! I’m glad my guide brought back fond memories of your brief time in Seattle. The Space Needle and Pike Place Market are iconic, that’s for sure. I’ve only passed through Pioneer Square, and I haven’t seen MoPOP, but it sounds like I’ll need to revisit to check it out! Thanks for reading, Sarah 🙂

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    1. Indeed! Seattle is such a beautiful city. The Gum Wall isn’t for everyone, but the Space Needle (and even Pike Place Market) are lovely and worth a visit. One of my favorite US cities 😊

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  12. Since the first time I learned about Seattle, I have been so intrigued by this city. It looks and sounds so cool and progressive. I’m surprised that in August there is still snow at Reflection Lakes! And thanks for including food photos as well. They all definitely look delicious. I wish there were a Laotian restaurant here in Jakarta.

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    1. Seattle is definitely a cool city, cultural and weather-wise! There are parts of Washington state at higher elevations, yet it’s still incredible that there’s snow in the summer. To be fair, I haven’t found a Laotian restaurant here in LA, either; the cuisine is worth a try if you have access to it!

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    1. I’ve gotten lucky with great weather during my visits to Seattle! Helps to go in the summertime. I love clam chowder and lobster rolls, and eating them by the water is the best experience to have while in town!

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  14. Agreed on doing the Space Needle at day and night. It really is two entirely different experiences. I did that in Chicago with the John Hancock building. I have been to Seattle for a long weekend once in September and enjoyed it… it was dry and the skies were a beautiful blue.

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    1. Definitely! I think viewing the city in the day and at night are two very different experiences. Both beautiful nonetheless! Seattle is lovely at all times of the day. I just visited Chicago last fall and also checked out its views; my post on it will be up later this year!

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  15. Nice guide Rebecca to a city that has long been on my list. Seattle seems to have a little bit of everything and a real foodie metropolis to boot. Seriously, I would visit just for the Museum of pop Art alone. But the greenery, art, markets and curiosities (looking’ at you Gum Wall) would make a longer stay well justified.

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    1. Indeed! Seattle is such a beautiful city and one of my favorites in the US. Solid food scene, beautiful weather (at least, in the summer), and plenty of colorful landmarks! I hope you get to head over there some day, Leighton 😊

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    1. After a quick Internet search, it looks like the tradition of sticking gum on the wall started in 1993 during which visitors stuck gum on the wall while waiting to go inside the improv theater nearby. It was an act of rebellion (and I suppose boredom)! 😆

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