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The capital of America’s Northwest, Seattle, is often overlooked but for those who make the trip, it’s a hard city to forget. Tech nexus, laid-back bohemian haven, gateway to some of the most beautiful coastlines in the United States, a destination for musical pilgrims – Seattle has plenty going on that visitors will love. For many people, Seattle is famous as the birthplace of the grunge scene, but the city’s musical heritage stretches way beyond Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Whether you’re into indie bands, world music or hip-hop, Seattle’s music scene is diverse and constantly evolving. In the city where Starbucks was founded the coffee is spectacular, but Seattle also has a thriving network of restaurants, pop-ups, and breweries. The salmon is some of the freshest you’ll ever taste, while in Cascade hop country, micro-brews are on tap everywhere. It’s also easy to get away from the bustle, with some gorgeous beaches just a couple of hours drive away, hiking paths through the Cascade Mountains and plenty of ski resorts, all within fifty miles of the city center. It means that visitors can enjoy the sights and culture of Seattle and commune with nature, all on the same trip. There're not many cities that can offer you that kind of blend.
This 1,000-foot high observation deck, located in the Columbia Center, provides some of America’s most breathtaking views, taking in the city of Seattle, the Puget Sound and Mount Ranier in a single panorama.
Seattle is dotted with cool neighborhoods like Ballard and Pioneer Square. If you love food, be sure to check out Pike’s Place market as well, where you can take cooking classes and stock up on organic produce.
Taking a ferry to the relaxed beaches of Bainbridge Island or the art galleries of Vashon Island is extremely easy for visitors to Seattle. A little further afield, the San Juan Islands are also one of the best places in the world to spot Orcas (killer whales) in the wild.
After New York, Seattle has more live music performances per person than any other American city. Head to indie venues like the Moore Theater or Neumos to catch hip bands or relax with first-class jazz acts at Dimitriou’s.
Mount Rainier soars majestically over South Seattle and is also one of the finest skiing and snowboarding destinations in the USA. Take snowshoe tours with park rangers or ride the Rainier Steam Railroad in summer.
Seattle has an excellent public transit system which serves almost every neighborhood in the city. Single bus and streetcar tickets cost $2.75 per journey at peak times, or $2.50 outside rush hour. Single light rail tickets vary from $2.25 to $3, while the Seattle Center Monorail costs $2.25 (one way). To save money buy an all day pass for just $8. Before you do that, you’ll need to get hold of an ORCA card from one of the many vending machines, which costs $5. Just load the $8 pass onto your ORCA card, and you can travel on buses or light rail as much as you like for the next 24 hours. There’s also a public bicycle rental scheme called Pronto, which also costs $8 but gives you a full three-day-pass.
Taxis in Seattle that are members of the Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association (STITA), have a meter drop of $2.60 and then a set rate of $2.70 per mile, with a $0.50 per minute waiting charge. Uber tends to charge a rate of $1.35 per mile, with a $1.35 base fare, which can offer some significant savings. Expect STITA taxis from the airport to the city center to cost between $40 and $55. You can also arrange a ride with Lyft or Uber from dedicated offices located above the parking garage, and the cost can be as little as $25.
Seattle is a reasonably easy city to navigate by automobile, but drivers should orientate themselves to the city’s geography before they arrive. Most importantly, master the difference between avenues (north to south routes) and streets (east to west). Rental cars in Seattle usually cost between $12 and $20 per day, depending on the size of your vehicle and the agency you choose. Local operators include Enterprise, Avis, Sixt, and Alamo. The city center has plenty of parking garages, with an average rate of $3 per hour during the week and $7 at weekends.
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