Walking through the Seattle Center the sun flickers, the Space Needle’s gigantic saucer blocking the light momentarily. Cameras tilt upward in the hopes of perfectly capturing the halo-like effect. An inch to the left…a little more…click. Perfection.
In Seattle there is an endless supply of excellent spots for photo opportunities, which show off everything from the city’s iconic buildings to stunning waterfront views. Check out our ultimate list for the 10 best spots to grab a shot for social in Seattle. With a camera in your hand and the city at your feet, your account will be brimming with FOMO-inducing shots in no time!
Aboard the Clipper!
Seeing as it’s a city surrounded by water, some of Seattle’s best views aren’t from land, but by sea! As you cruise into Elliott Bay aboard the Victoria Clipper, snap some shots of Seattle’s downtown core, the Olympic Sculpture Park and the entire waterfront as you leave on your weekend escape to Victoria, BC!
The Space Needle
As quintessentially Seattle as it gets, the Space Needle stands tall over the neighborhood of Queen Anne, providing the perfect backdrop of the city and Puget Sound. Want to score bonus points? Snap a boomerang or time-lapse from the elevator as you whisk your way up this impressive landmark at 800 feet per minute.
Pike Place Market
Snap front-row views of the waterfront from above at Pike Place Market’s newly opened MarketFront, then discover the rest of the Market’s original buildings, dating to 1907. Swing by the infamous “gum wall” as you explore the brick-walled Post Alley. At dusk, snap a shot of the Market’s neon sign as the sun sets behind the Olympic Mountains.
Original Starbucks & Reserve Roastery
No photo tour of Seattle is complete without a stop at the original Starbucks store, located at Pike Place Market. If you’re up for more creative brews and a bit of a hike, walk up through downtown toward Capitol Hill and through the massive wooden doors at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. A Willy Wonka-esque coffee-lover’s paradise, the entire coffee shop screams Instagram, from the barista’s outfits to the worn leather and metal furnishings.
Seattle Great Wheel
We suggest timing things just right with this one – although Puget Sound is stunning any time of the day, at sunset the view really stands above the rest. Watch the sky turn from blue to pink to orange as you soar 175 feet over the water with 360-degree views of downtown Seattle, the waterfront and the Olympics.
With a Mountain
Capture the region’s most stunning landscapes when you pay a visit to Washington’s tallest mountain, Mt. Rainier. Easily seen from Seattle, this beauty is humongous up close; good luck fitting it all in one shot!
Head a bit further south with a tour to Mt. St. Helens, and discover the site of the eruption that put the mountain on the map worldwide, which is now home to a year-round monitoring facility and educational interactive exhibits.
At the Game
One of the best views of downtown Seattle is right from your seat at Centurylink Field! Whether you’re watching the Seahawks score a touchdown or the Sounders score a goal, this state-of-the-art stadium features a retracting roof and pyrotechnics after the show as an added bonus!
From the Sky
When you sign up for a flight with Kenmore Air, you probably already know you’re in for amazing views. Let me tell you, nothing compares to the real thing. As you make your way north, snap one-of-a-kind aerial masterpieces as you soar above Puget Sound, past the San Juan islands and into Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
At the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
If reflective, colorful surfaces aren’t Instagram worthy, we’re not sure what is! Head to the Frank Gehry designed Museum of Pop Culture for plenty of structural eye candy – if you time your visit right and you can catch the Seattle Monorail coming out of the side! Inside, enjoy countless music, pop and sci-fi interactive exhibits and artifacts.
Seattle Skyline
There’s nothing quite like a skyline selfie, with the entire city as your backdrop. Head uphill to Queen Anne’s Kerry Park for a view from the north, or grab a tripod and snag some freeway time-lapses through the hole in the chain link fence at Dr. Jose Rizal Park’s off-leash area.
After a day of snapping pics in the Emerald City, your last shot might be your best after a suspenseful round of sunset-chasing. Is there nothing more satisfying than the pixel-perfection of a skyline panorama at dusk? It’s enough to make you fall in love with the city all over again.
Clipper Recommends:
- Want to snap photos from all over the city right from your seat? Hop aboard a Seattle City Tour and visit photogenic landmarks from Ballard to Pioneer Square!
- Get your coffee fix (and some extra energy to fuel your tour of the city!) and visit four unique cafes and roasters on the Seattle Coffee Tour, where you will have the opportunity to see the roasting process in action, join in a coffee cupping and taste rich and flavorful brews.
Feature Photo: David Kosmos