Home to more than 20 culturally unique neighborhoods, a vibrant arts community, world-renowned chefs and some of the most picturesque hiking and boating adventures in the region, Seattle is truly hard to beat. With so much to see and do however, getting around in the city might seem, well, a little daunting.
Yet, with the Emerald City’s walkable downtown core and multiple modes of transportation, traversing the city is easier than you may think. Check out our guide to 20 ways to explore Seattle without a car the next time you need a break from the driver’s seat.
1. See the City from New Heights at the Space Needle
A defining feature on Seattle’s skyline, the Space Needle provides dramatic, 360-degree views of the region. Snap a time-lapse video from the elevator as you whisk 520 feet up to the observation level in a mere 41 seconds.
Gaze out the seamless, floor-to-ceiling glass walls for bliss-inducing vistas of the entire metropolis. Pop down to the 500-foot-level for a bird’s-eye view of the ground below through the first-of-its-kind rotating glass floor. The whole city is at your feet!
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 12 minutes
2. Wander Through the Eclectic Pike Place Market
Introduce your taste buds to a whole new level of culinary goodness on a stroll through one of the Emerald City’s tastiest landmarks, Pike Place Market. See fish fly at the famous fishmonger stalls or peer through the window of Beecher’s Handmade Cheese shop to watch creamy cheese transform from curd to wheel.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of tasty eats, shop off the calories and explore the collection of handmade wares housed throughout the market. Find a curated selection of food, drinks, and gifts from around the state at the Made in Washington store or peruse artisan wares made by native craftsmen at Eighth Generation.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 15 minutes
3. Discover Fascinating Wildlife on a Half-Day Seattle Whale Watching Tour
For a true PNW experience, escape the urban jungle and jump on our half-day Seattle whale watching tour in search of the region’s aquatic showstoppers – transient killer whale orcas as well as minke and humpback whales. Clamber outside for top-deck views of our friendly aquatic neighbors as they splash and play in the sparkling waters. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a breach!
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: Departs from FRS Clipper terminal at Pier 69
4. Get Lost in a Glass Jungle at Chihuly Garden & Glass
Nestled underneath the Seattle Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass showcases remarkable glass sculptures created by world-renowned hometown artist, Dale Chihuly. Wander through the museum’s eight incredible exhibits as well as the jungle-like outdoor garden, which brims with a variety of plants to complement the vibrant sculptures. (Insider tip: If you are after amazing photos, stroll through these stunning gardens in the evening to catch them during Seattle’s glorious “golden hour,” when they are illuminated with a rosy glow.)
Don’t miss the museum’s centerpiece – the Glasshouse. At 40-feet-tall, the exhibit feels more like a conservatory than a museum and is filled with a colorful, twisting, 100-foot long sculpture in glowing oranges and fiery reds. With natural light from above shining through the intricate glasswork and dancing across the floor, it’s truly an unforgettable sight.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 11 minutes
5. Stroll Beneath the Streets
Learn about the origins of the Emerald City and how it was rebuilt after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. What had once been the hub of the downtown was buried 20 feet below the streets we know today. Pick up tales of the city’s colorful past and get the scoop on some of Seattle’s eccentric former residents.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 28 minutes
6. Explore the City on a Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour
See the sights of Seattle at your own pace with stops at 20 of the city’s must-see spots on this hop-on-hop-off tour. Kick back and leave all the hard work to your expert driver as they take you to the iconic Space Needle, the glittering Puget Sound waterfront, the Emerald City’s oldest neighborhood – Pioneer Square, the bustling Pike Place Market and more. All you have to do is sit back, relax and soak in fabulous views from the comfort of your double-decker chariot.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 14 minutes
7. Cruise Around the Waterfront
Hop aboard an Argosy Harbor Cruise to enjoy some sun, fun and tasty drinks with a narrated waterfront tour exploring Seattle’s dynamically changing cityscape. Are picturesque peaks your thing? The sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier won’t disappoint. Is marine life more your thing? Keep your eyes peeled for osprey, harbor seals, bald eagles, or you may even luck into a sighting of some harbor porpoises! From the skyline to the shipping port, mountains to the marine life, there are views and history that anyone can get on board with.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 18 minutes (to Argosy terminal)
8. Discover Some New Beats at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
Want to soak in fabulous architecture? Look no further than the reflective, rainbow-colored surfaces of the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). Climb on the famous Seattle Monorail and ride right through the belly of the Frank O. Gehry designed building.
Inside, the museum fuses the sci-fi and music communities under one roof. Get hands-on with musical instruments, check out an impressive lineup of iconic rock memorabilia (think Jimi Hendrix’s journal and Michael Jackson’s bedazzled glove) as well as pop culture collections that cover everything from the Marvel universe to horror flicks.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 14 minutes
9. Sample the City’s Finest Eats on a Show Me Seattle Food Tour
Embrace your inner foodie with a guided Show Me Seattle food tour. Where better to chow down on mouth-watering eats than buzz-worthy Belltown spots or at the city’s source for fresh and local food, the Pike Place Market. Experience how the Emerald City does gourmet on a progressive, 3-hour tasting adventure at the city’s hottest restaurants, featuring cuisine from both Iron Chef winners and James Beard Award honorees.
Give in to your sweet-tooth with freshly baked sweets at Three Girls Bakery, savor fall-off-the-bone pulled pork from Pike’s Pit BBQ, and sample one of the region’s most iconic ingredients with some Alderwood smoked salmon at Pike Place Fish.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 15 minutes
10. Peek Below the Water’s Surface at the Seattle Aquarium
Feel like you’re under the sea without ever getting wet at the Seattle Aquarium. Become an expert on the extraordinary life of the Puget Sound as you stroll through the captivating moon jellyfish ring, check out everyone’s favorite 8-legged animal – the giant Pacific octopus or pet a bumpy starfish in the touch tank. Continue to the dreamlike underwater dome, for wrap-around views of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Visit the ever-charming otter and seal exhibits to get your daily dose of cute before you leave!
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 17 minutes
11. Find Your Zen in the Olympic Sculpture Park & Seattle Waterfront
An oasis in the heart of the city, the Olympic Sculpture Park is tucked along the waterfront just north of the FRS Clipper terminal. Stroll past the park’s modern art installations, such as Alex Calder’s The Eagle or Jaume Plensa’s Echo. Want to learn more about these incredible pieces? Hop on a free 60-minute public tour, which breaks down the site’s history and selected sculptures.
While you’re on the banks of Puget Sound, don’t miss the opportunity to take a stroll along the waterfront. Delight in oceanfront views as you do some antique thrifting at the Seattle Antiques Market or shop at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 6 minutes
12. Shop Pioneer Square
Situated in the heart of Seattle, the historic Pioneer Square boasts a variety of fashion-forward boutiques. Head to Velouria for independently-made women’s clothing and delicate, handcrafted jewelry, all sourced right here in the Pacific Northwest. Or stop by the sophisticated Clementines and solidify your rank as one of the city’s well-heeled shoppers with a pair of beautifully-crafted shoes.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 30 minutes
13. Get Out on the Water at the Center for Wooden Boats
With water being an integral feature of the city’s landscape, getting out on one of the lakes or the Sound is an absolute must! Make your way to The Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) on the shore of South Lake Union to take advantage of their Sunday Public Sail program. Whether you want to check out a spirit boat, steamboat, electric boat, schooner or yacht, the museum’s skippers will be happy to take you on an aquatic adventure around the lake for free!
Afterward, duck inside the museum itself to explore a variety of vessels, hands-on exhibits and unite with other boat-lovers over a shared passion for wooden boats, aquatic skills, history or love of the water.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 33 minutes
14. Learn a Thing or Two at the Seattle Center
Sneak in some science AND culture at the expansive Seattle Center located near the base of the Space Needle. Immerse yourself in an indoor jungle full of butterflies and colorful tropical plants, travel back in time to meet dinosaurs through an array of hands-on science exhibits and catch a show that’s out of this world in the Planetarium at the Pacific Science Center. Then, swing by the neighboring Seattle Children’s Museum and let your kiddo’s creativity run wild with interactive exhibits ranging from Bijou Theater to a kid-sized Sound Transit train track.
(Insider tip: If you are visiting in the summer, stop by the International Fountain to watch its 20 spouts cycle through coordinated water patterns, accompanied by recorded world music that changes twice a month to coincide with event programming at the Center.)
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 10 minutes
15. Admire World-Class Artifacts at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
If it’s art you’re after, there’s no better place to find it than at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Home to numerous rotating and permanent exhibits, the museum showcases both ancient and modern art from around the globe.
Check out the eye-catching white, mid-90’s Ford Tauruses suspended from the ceiling. Or duck into the popular Porcelain Room to see more than 1,000 intricate, fragile works of art alongside delicate China fragments recovered from 17th– and 18th-century shipwrecks. (Insider tip: Swing by on the first Thursday of each month for free admission to SAM Collections and Installations!)
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 20 minutes
16. Go for a Whirl on the Great Wheel
Soar 175 feet over the water on Pier 57’s giant Ferris wheel – the aptly named Great Wheel. See the Emerald City like never before with sweeping, panoramic vistas of downtown Seattle, the waterfront and the Olympics. You may even catch sight of the Washington State Ferries or the Victoria Clipper ferry as we zip across the Puget Sound below. Although the view of the Sound is fantastic any time of day, sunset knocks it out of the park. Watch the sky turn from blue to pink to orange as the sun dips down over Elliot Bay.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 18 minutes
17. Cheer on Your Favorite Sports Team
Want to experience the heart and soul of the city? There is no better place to do it than on the field. Join a slew of blue and green-clad fans to cheer on the Seattle Seahawks or Seattle Sounders as they pursue another shot at the playoffs at CenturyLink Field.
Prefer to watch teams duke it out on the diamond? Right next door at T-Mobile Park, you’ll find the stomping grounds for the Seattle Mariners. Drink in some sun when the retractable roof is open and fuel up on those baseball favorites — hot dogs, peanuts and crackerjacks.
The best part? Both stadiums are nestled among plenty of post-game bar spots like Elysian Fields and Henry’s Tavern. You have plenty of options when it comes to celebrating your win with a frosty pint!
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 36 minutes
18. See the City from the Iconic Smith Tower
Formerly the tallest building in Seattle (circa 1914), the historic Smith Tower still boasts phenomenal views. Pop into one of the brass Otis elevators and ride up to the 35th-floor observatory for wrap-around views of the city from the open-air “Bird Cage.”
Stop in the speakeasy-style bar, Observatory Bar, for happy hour and bask in the elegantly decorated room, filled with rich wood and detailed ceiling tiles. Sip on the Emerald City Collins and order up an artisan cheese plate or other shareable dishes full of heavenly goodness. Yum!
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 30 minutes
19. Cruise Across the Sound on a West Seattle Water Taxi
Cruise across Elliott Bay on a water taxi for a day of shopping and beach-bumming in West Seattle. Three dollars buys a 12-minute cruise, just enough time to soak in stunning views and map out your adventure. Your toughest decision will likely be whether you should first pick up a beach-read at family-owned Pegasus Book Exchange or new tunes at the neighboring Easy Street Records.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the stunning Alki Beach. With wide swaths of sand, ample volleyball nets, smooth pavement for longboarding and roller skating, on a sunny day Alki is Seattle’s Santa Monica. When you tire of the surf and sand, head to Salty’s for some of the freshest seafood around. Or feast on dishes that seamlessly meld Korean and Hawaiian flavors at Marination Ma Kai. Located right on the water and offering a gorgeous backdrop of downtown Seattle across the water, you can’t go wrong with either spot.
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 27 minutes
20. Experience all the Evergreen State has to Offer at Wings Over Washington
Take a ride in Wings Over Washington’s state-of-the-art “flying theater” that will transport you on an aerial adventure high above the Evergreen State. The 5K Cameras and Mushroom VR make for an immersive and lifelike experience as you soar over the region’s most scenic landmarks.
Dive through (and smell!) the morning mists of the Olympic National Forest and Mt. Rainier, feel the power of the thundering Snoqualmie Falls and see the awe-inspiring beauty of the Walla Walla Valley Balloon Stampede. It is an experience unlike any other!
Estimated Walking Time from FRS Clipper Terminal: 18 minutes
Full of both urban and natural landscapes, Seattle is a city that deserves to be seen from a variety of perspectives. Whether you’re looking to taste new cuisines, discover the region’s history or get outdoors, there’s nothing like an escape to the Emerald City by foot to reinvigorate your spirit of adventure.
Feature photo: Alex Mertz