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Seattle

Where nature and innovation converge

Seattle stands out as a city shaped by its proximity to water and mountains. The Puget Sound shapes daily life, with ferries connecting neighborhoods and the Olympic Mountains visible on clear days. Rain falls often but supports lush greenery across parks like Discovery Park. Coffee culture thrives alongside tech companies headquartered downtown. Public transit runs efficiently between districts such as Capitol Hill and Pike Place Market. The city balances urban energy with outdoor access, making walking or biking practical year-round despite frequent cloud cover.

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City in United States

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.4

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken in Seattle, and visitors will have no trouble communicating with locals.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Seattle Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Strong in waterfront culture and coffee scene. Visit iconic markets, explore museums, enjoy harbor views and access nearby mountains for hiking.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Guided tours

Large cities

Local cuisine

Street food

Luxury shopping

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🌈 9

LGBTQ+

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Seattle, United States

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Rainy season October to April; July to September is the driest and sunniest stretch

Alaska cruise season May to September, with many ships departing from Seattle

Seafair weekend, first weekend of August: parade, hydroplane races and Blue Angels air show

Don't miss

🌆 Ride to the top of the Space Needle for incredible skyline views
🐟 Explore Pike Place Market and watch the fishmongers toss fish
☕ Sip coffee at the original Starbucks store
🎸 Visit the Museum of Pop Culture’s futuristic exhibits
⛴️ Take a ferry across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island
🌳 Walk through the lush greenery of Discovery Park

You've been here?

Why travel to Seattle?

Seattle seamlessly combines vibrant city life with breathtaking natural surroundings. Visitors can explore world-class museums, indulge in diverse culinary scenes and embark on outdoor adventures – all within the city's limits. However, be prepared for frequent rain, especially in the fall and winter months and plan accordingly.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Seattle Aquarium
2 Seattle Art Museum
3 Kerry Park
4 Space Needle
5 MoPOP: Museum of Pop Culture
6 Chihuly Garden and Glass
7 Washington State Ferries
8 Seattle Great Wheel

🎡Places for activities

1 Japanese Garden
2 Woodland Park Zoo
3 Snoqualmie Falls
4 Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
5 Gas Works Park
6 Discovery Park
7 Alki Beach Park
8 Green Lake Park
9 Seattle Center
10 Mount Si Place Northwest

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Puget Sound
2 Snoqualmie Pass
3 Mount Rainier (Korean) Branch
4 Mount Saint Helens Place South
5 Lake Washington

🛍️Shopping

1 The Outlet Collection Seattle
2 Seattle Premium Outlets
3 Pike Place Market
4 Pacific Place
5 Westlake Center
6 Pioneer Square
7 University Village
8 Fremont Sunday Market
9 Ballard Bridge

🎈Events

Seattle International Film Festival
Bumbershoot
Seafair
Fremont Solstice Parade
Capitol Hill Block Party
Northwest Folklife Festival
Seattle Pride
Taste of Seattle
Seattle Marathon
Emerald City Comic Con

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Pack layers and a light rain jacket; weather shifts frequently year-round.
Base near downtown or Pike Place Market for easy walking access to ferries, waterfront, museums and major food spots.
Skip renting a car if staying central; combine light rail, buses and rideshares to avoid expensive parking and traffic.
Visit early morning for Pike Place Market, then head to Kerry Park or Discovery Park near sunset for classic skyline-and-mountains views.

How to travel to Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) serves numerous domestic and international flights. Amtrak provides train services to and from the city and major highways connect Seattle to neighboring regions.

Access summary

From Sea-Tac Airport (SEA): Link light rail to downtown, about 35–40 minutes.
From Vancouver: Amtrak Cascades train or bus, typically around 4–5 hours.
From Portland: Amtrak Cascades or buses to Seattle, usually about 3–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Seattle

Seattle offers a range of accommodations, from luxury hotels downtown to cozy bed-and-breakfasts in charming neighborhoods. Booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Crowne Plaza Seattle By IHG

8.7

The State Hotel

9.2

Hotel Interurban Seattle Airport SeaTac

8.9

Hyatt Regency Seattle

9.2

Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel by APA

Sheraton Grand Seattle

8.5

Hilton Motif Seattle

8.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Seattle

Seattle offers a comprehensive public transportation system, including buses, light rail and streetcars. The ORCA card provides convenient access across all modes. Downtown is highly walkable and rideshares are readily available.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+20 %

Daily expenses in Seattle are around 20% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£93	£188	£466
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£45	£90	£180
🍝 Food per day	£39	£89	£258
🚕 Transportation per day	£9	£9	£27

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£36
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£17
🍟 Fast food combo	£11
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£14
☕ Cappuccino	£4.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6