Seattle holidays

Seattle holidays are perfect for travellers who love nature, learning or active adventurers. The city is peppered with museums of art, science, history, pop culture, flight, pinball, and even glass-blowing – so there’s something new to discover every day.

More than 500 acres of beaches, meadows and groves at Discovery Park bring the great outdoors to the edge of the city, while Lake Union and Puget Sound are perfect for water babies.

And couples will love a romantic turn around Seattle Great Wheel, with panoramic views across the city skyline.

The dining scene is great, too. You can discover artisan stalls and live music in Pike Place Market, or hop between the boutique eateries of Pioneer Square and Seattle Waterfront. For something a little fancier, check out the upscale restaurants of the lakeside marinas.

Seattle’s exciting Downtown runs two miles along the waterfront, from the Seattle Centre to Pioneer Square. You can take the 43-second elevator to the top of the Space Needle and plan your day from above. Or ride the manual elevator at Smith Tower, Seattle’s century-old first skyscraper. And admire the Romanesque-revival style buildings at Pioneer Square, which is home to boutiques, bars, restaurants, and underground tours.

Step into the world’s most immersive pop culture exhibits at MoPOP. Wander the waterside Olympic Sculpture Park, or get hands-on with science, nature, and the stars at the Pacific Science Center. Cheer on the Seattle Seahawks at an NFL game at Lumen Field, or watch the Mariners play baseball at T-Mobile Park. And foodies will love the 200 stores at Pike Place Market – home of the original Starbucks – where you can watch displays of traditional fish tossing.

From Lake Union through Salmon Bay to Puget Sound, Seattle is a waterside city. Steps from Downtown, right next to the Museum of History and Industry, South Lake Union should definitely be on your itinerary. Hop in a canoe, kayak or sailboat, or ease through the waters in the warmth of your own hot tub boat. You can tee the floating house from Sleepless in Seattle. And make sure you see the magical boat elevator at Ballard Locks, by the entrance to the majestic Puget Sound.

Prefer to be around the water rather than on it? That’s no problem. South Lake Union is surrounded by marinas with many bars and restaurants, where you can relax and people-watch. Or you could take to the skies with a scenic seaplane tour to enjoy the full beauty of Seattle from above.

Seattle’s special atmosphere and energy remain vibrant all year round so, with the right packing, there’s never a bad time to visit. If you’re looking for warm weather and want to take full advantage of Lake Union, summer is the best time for your Settle holiday. Temperatures hover around 20°C between June and August, when the city is also at its busiest.

To avoid the crowds but still enjoy good weather, September or October is a great time to visit. You might see a little rain and temperatures will be closer to 15°C, but days are often still bright and the city’s attractions remain in full swing. Winter can be cold and wet, but things start to ease up again from March, when spring brings new life to the city’s parks and rivers.