So, you’re planning to spend 2 days in Seattle. Aren’t you lucky! Seattle is one of my favorite cities in the United States and I visited here regularly when I lived in Whistler.
If you can’t spend 3 days in Seattle, which to me is the perfect amount of time to see the city then 2 days will be just enough time to scratch the surface of this wonderful city. I’ve put together this itinerary based on my favorite things to do here, attractions like the Seattle Space Needle and Pike Place Market have of course made the cut. But, I’ve also included some quirkier attractions like the Chewing Gum Wall and Bruce Lee’s Grave.
And I’ve also written about the must-see filming locations in the city from popular movies like Sleepless in Seattle and 10 Things I Hate About You!
I’ll be really honest, two days is the minimum amount of time I recommend spending in Seattle. Because there is just so much to see and fo here!
Are 2 Days Enough in Seattle?
Yes, two days is just enough time to see the best of Seattle. With two days, you’ll be able to tick off the city’s most popular attractions (I’m looking at you – Seattle Space Needle and Pike Place Market). But, you’ll also be able to squeeze in a short harbor boat cruise, a spooky Beneath the Streets Tour and more!
But be warned it’s a jam-packed itinerary – so if you prefer ‘slow travel’ then be sure to allow 3 days as a minimum in Seattle!
Related Read: If you have very limited time you can check out my guide to the best things to do with one day in Seattle.
Day 1 – Harbor Cruise, Seattle Space Needle, Chihuly Gardens
For your first day, I’ve combined a couple of must-do Seattle activities as well as some quirky activities like a Sleepless in Seattle filming location tour. Trust us, your memorable first day will set the standard for the remainder of your two days in Seattle.
Morning – Seattle Harbor Cruise
This one-hour cruise lets you see Seattle from a different angle – on the water! The boat journey takes you through Puget Sound and is the perfect tour for photography-lovers because you can photograph the city skyline and the Space Needle from the boat. I reckon, it’s the best view you’ll get of both, so bring a good zoom lens.
On a clear day can spy the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Mountains, which makes you realize how stunning the areas surrounding the city are. You may even spot Mount Rainier which at 14,000 feet tall is hard-to-miss on a clear day!
The cruise leaves from Pier 55 on the Seattle Waterfront, and it costs just $45 USD per adult.
BOOK the Seattle Harbor Cruise here!
Afternoon – Seattle Space Needle & Chihuly Gardens
At 605 feet tall, Seattle’s Space Needle is easily the most recognizable attraction on the city’s skyline. In fact, it’s one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
From the top of the Space Needle, you can enjoy 360-degree views of downtown Seattle, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains. There’s an all-glass floor on The Loupe, which is the first and only rotating glass floor in the world! Downtown Seattle is literally underneath your feet, so if you get a little queasy at heights, then this may not be the case for you! Higher up in the Space Needle is the upper level, which has floor-to-ceiling glass and is great for photos!
You can visit the Space Needle on the CityPass which gives you access to 5 of Seattle’s top sights including Seattle Aquarium, the Museum of Pop Culture, Woodland Park Zoo, Chihuly Gardens and Glass, and Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour all for a discounted price. The CityPass costs from $126 USD per adult.
Chihuly Gardens and Glass
Conveniently your next stop the Chihuly Gardens and Glass is located next to the Space Needle. It’s such a unique museum and is a tribute to Washington native artist Dale Chihuly – if you love art, you’ve probably heard of him. But even if you’re not a museum fan, this is still worth a visit, believe me!
You could easily spend two hours or more here wandering the 8 galleries and garden. But my favorite part was the magnificent Glasshouse.
Late Afternoon – Seattle Movie tour
If you’re a movie buff, then this afternoons activity is sure to pique your interest. Several very famous movies were shot in Seattle, including two of my favorite RomCom’s – Sleepless in Seattle and 10 Things I Hate About You. Which is why a self-guided tour of these movies filming locations was a must for me during my visit to Seattle.
Sleepless in Seattle filming locations in Seattle
If you love the movie Sleepless in Seattle, which stars a young Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, then you will love visiting Seattle because, of course, many of the movie scenes were shot here. In fact, I have to admit one of my reasons for visiting Seattle was to see Sam’s (Tom Hanks character) houseboat.
The houseboat is located at 2640 Westlake Avenue North, which sits on the west shore of Lake Union in Queen Anne Hill district. It’s about an hour’s walk or a 10-minute drive from the CBD to the houseboat.
Some other Sleepless in Seattle filming locations in Seattle include –
- Athenian Inn at 1517 Pike Place, where Sam’s friend Jay offers him some manly advice about dating.
- Pike Place Market, where Sam goes shopping with Victoria (the lady with the funny laugh).
- Alki Beach Park where Annie (Meg Ryan’s character) spots Sam playing with his son
10 Things I Hate About You filming locations in Seattle
Another very popular RomCom movie that was filmed in Seattle is 10 Things I Hate About You, featuring the late Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Although the house and high school from the movie are in Tacoma, Washington – many important scenes were shot here in Seattle.
Fremont Troll – Jason Gordon Levitt’s character in the movie and his love interest Bianca Stratford meet here to plot against Kat (Julia Stiles’ character). The Fremont Troll is located in Fremont, a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Kerry Park – Featured in the opening credits of the movie, Kerry Park is located in the Upper Queen Anne neighborhood. It’s one of the most photogenic spots in the city.
Gas Works Park – Where Kat and Patrick (Heath Ledger) have their first kiss after a game of paintball.
Evening – Chewing Gum Wall
The Seattle Chewing Gum Wall is hidden away in Post Alley, an alleyway off Pike Place in downtown Seattle. The gum wall has been accumulating gum since the early 90s, and it now stretches 50 feet. It is filled with all different colors of gum. It’s certainly one of the weirdest and grossest sights in Seattle!
Fun fact – the wall was only cleaned once in 2015?
After checking out the chewing gum wall why not head for dinner at The Pink Door also on Post Alley. It serves up Italian-American dishes and features live entertainment some nights of the week. It also has lovely views out to the city!
Day 2 – Pike Place Market, Capitol Hill, Beneath the Streets Tour
For your second day in Seattle, I recommend ticking off the must-visit Pike Place Market and have coffee at the very first Starbucks in the world. Before exploring the gorgeous Capitol Hill neighborhood – my favorite neighborhood in the city and doing a spooky Beneath The Streets Tour (read more about that fun activity below!)
Morning – Grab a coffee at the first Starbucks in the world
You may already know this but, the first Starbucks store is located right here in Seattle at 1912 Pike Place. It’s been open for over 50 years and is surprisingly small at just 1,000 square feet – I was expecting it to be a lot bigger. Nonetheless, if you’re a coffee fan, you just have to visit the starting point of the most famous coffee brand in the world!
Not much has changed in the store since it first opened its doors; the floors, the fixtures, the counters, and the Starbucks sign out front are over 50 years old. You can get everything you’d expect from a Starbucks here from normal coffee and espresso to chai tea lattes and caramel Frappuccinos!
Late Morning – Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is one of the most famous spots in the city and it’s sure to trigger all of your senses. It’s crazy! But, that’s why I love it. You wil witness fish mongers throwing huge fish to one another other and to unprepared tourists in an almost staged performance. It’s so fun!
Pike Place is best explored with a local – someone who can tell you where to go and where to avoid. So, this Pike Place Market Tasting Tour is ideal and lets you sample the very best of this world-famous market, including Indian samosas, Italian gelato, Greek Yogurt, Pacific Northwest Native American style smoked salmon, America’s best-rated clam chowder, Italian truffles, the best wild salmon burger in Seattle, and more. Your guide will tell you all about the colorful characters who work here, some of whom have been here since it first opened in 1971.
The tour is 2 hours in length and costs just $62 USD per person! What’s handy is that you can book it now and pay later, and it also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
Book the Pike Place Market Tour here
Afternoon – Capitol Hill
As I said earlier, Capitol Hill is my favorite neighborhood in Seattle. It has a quirky, cool vibe and is filled with great Cafes, restaurants and vintage clothing stores. I loved it so much that I said to my husband that I could see myself living here.
We had lunch at Nue, a cool eatery that offers street-food-style food. Their menu changes regularly, and it’s very popular.
After lunch, we walked to Lake View Cemetery which attracts over 10,000 tourists annually. Why? You may ask! Well, because the grave of legendary actor and martial arts star Bruce Lee is buried here. His grave is unassuming at looks much the same as the other graves in the cemetery but it stands out because Lee’s grave is covered in flowers, letters, candles and little Bruce Lee figurines. His son Brandon’s grave is right next to his.
The views from the cemetery are stunning, with Lake Washington visible in the distance!
Late Afternoon – Beneath the Streets Tour
This short one-hour tour takes you back in time to explore over 4 historic blocks of Pioneer Square and underground pathways built way back in the 1890s. Your guide will tell you all about the history of Seattle, most notably the decision to bring the city’s streets above the swampy ground. To put it in simple terms, on this tour, you are exploring what should have been Seattle CBD.
The tour costs from $29 USD per person. There are various tour start times throughout the day, including one at 4:30 pm, which is the one I recommend booking if you’re following this one-day Seattle itinerary!
Book the Beneath the Streets Tour here.
Evening – Pioneer Square
For your last evening in Seattle, I suggest making a beeline for Pioneer Square. Which interestingly is the oldest part of the city. Here the city’s founding fathers first settled back in 1852. Before dinner, be sure to also check out the huge totem pole and the iron pergola.
Today, Pioneer Square is a popular shopping and party spot, and it’s also where you’ll find some of the best restaurants in Seattle, like Nirmal’s, one of the best Indian restaurants in the state, and 84 Yesler, a modern upscale eatery that specializes in Italian and Japanese fusion.
What Month is Good for Seattle?
From my experience, the best months to visit Seattle are June and September. As during these months the weather is typically fine (with less rainfall) and you’ll avoid the peak summer months of July and August – which is when many activities sell-out.
Where to stay in Seattle
- Fairmont Olympic Seattle – a 5-star hotel on University Avenue, in fact, the building itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rooms offer city views with French-inspired furnishings. There are numerous on-site restaurants. Rooms cost from $250 per night.
- The Arctic Club Seattle – is a Hilton DoubleTree 4-star hotel on 3rd Avenue. The hotel has a lot of dark-wood and moody lighting all adding to the overall cozy feel. It’s just a 5 minute walk from here to Pike Place. Rooms costs from $300 per night.
- Seattle Marriott Waterfront – this waterfront hotel, located in Eliott Bay is just a 5 minute walk from the Seattle Aquarium. Many of the rooms here have a balcony with either ocean or mountain views. One of the biggest pluses for this hotel in the indoor/outdoor connecting swimming pool. Rooms here cost from $132 per night.
- Inn at the Market – the only hotel located inside the famous Pike Place Market, the rooms are bright and spacious and some have water views. My top tip for this hotel is to gave a drink at the rooftop bar for fabulous views of the city and sea. Rooms here cost from $240 per night.
- Green Tortoise Hostel – a great budget-friendly option, this hostel is located on Pike Street, just opposite Pike Place. It has a fully-equipped kitchen games room and offers private rooms up to 8-bed dorms. Prices start from $34 per night.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed reading my guide to 2 days in Seattle! It’s just enough time to get a feel for this cool city!
Last Updated on July 25, 2024 by snaphappytravel
I spent a weekend in Seattle a few years ago, and loved it!! The Pike Place Market food tour seems like it would be so fun! This post definitely made me want to go back and explore more – thanks for this great guide!
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I love Seattle! It’s one of my favorite cities. You captured a lot of great places, and I can’t wait to visit some on our next visit!
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Great itinerary! I’ve been a couple of times, but only to a couple of spots on your list.
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Saving this! I’ll be in Seattle next month!
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Seattle is such a great city! I’ve visited a few times (most recently before an Alaska cruise) and love walking along the waterfront.
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The Chihuly exhibit is always on our list when we visit. The beneath the streets tour sounds fun, we may have to give that a try next time. We always enjoy a visit to Bainbridge Island when we are in Seattle.
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