How to Visit the Sleepless in Seattle Filming Locations in Seattle

Listing 6 Sleepless in Seattle filming locations in Seattle!

If you love the 1993 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 spending 3 days in Seattle recently was to see Sam’s (Tom Hanks character) houseboat.

In this heartwarming movie, a widowed Sam (Tom Hanks) makes the move from Chicago to a houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle. When, Sam’s son Jonah phones a radio station hoping to find a new wife for his sad dad, Annie (Meg Ryan) is listening and falls for Sam. Even though she is engaged. Following her heart, she writes Sam a letter asking him to meet her at the Empire State Building in New York on Valentine’s Day.

It’s been over 30 years since the movie’s release and still tourists are flocking to the city to see the various locations featured in the movie. For me, I’ve watched Sleepless in Seattle countless times, and visiting places like Sam’s Houseboat was so nostalgic for me!

Related Read: Check out my detailed guide to spending a memorable one day in Seattle!

Sleepless in Seattle Filming Locations in Seattle

1. Sam’s Houseboat

The most iconic filming location in Sleepless in Seattle is arguably Sam and Jonah’s houseboat which as I said earlier is located on the west shore of Lake Union. The houseboat is located at the end of an enchanting flower-lined dock and it’s so photogenic!

This lovely houseboat has 4 bedrooms and it’s one of the most famous properties in Seattle for good reason. In fact, it sold back in 2014 for around $2 million!

Please remember when visiting Sam’s Houseboat that people live here so please be respectful and keep noise to a minimum.

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.

You can easily get a bus to Sam’s Houseboat on Westlake Avenue North from downtown Seattle. From Pike Place Market it will take just over 20 minutes by bus while from the Space Needle, you can walk it in 45 minutes (you will walk via Dexter Ave. North)

From Pike Place Market you can walk to the bus stop at 3rd Ave. & Pine St and hop on the 40 bus to Northgate Station Fremont. Get off at Westlake Ave. North and then walk 20 meters to the spot where the houseboat is.

Related Read: If you’re a movie buff like me you may be interested to read my guide to visiting Mrs Doubtfire’s House in San Francisco!

2. Athenian Inn

Another must-see filming location is the Athenian Inn at 1517 Pike Place, which you may remember as where Sam’s friend Jay (played by Rob Reiner) offers him some manly advice about dating. Their conversation about tiramisu is hilarious!

The Athenian Inn is a super-popular breakfast and lunch restaurant in the main arcade of Pike Place Market.

3. Pike Place Market

After snapping some photos of the Athenian Inn be sure to explore the rest of the world-famous Pike Place Market. You may recognize it as the spot where Sam goes shopping with Victoria (the lady with the funny laugh).

It’s without a doubt one of the best things to do in Seattle – it’s full of great local characters and fantastic food.

4. Dahlia Lounge

After wandering Pike Place Market with his date Victoria, Sam takes her for dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants – the Dahlia Lounge. Back in 1993, when the movie was released the Dahlia Lounge was located at 1904 4th Ave. but it moved (not too far away) to Virginia Street on 4th Ave. However, the Dahlia Lounge is now unfortunately permanently closed!

5. Alki Beach

Another memorable scene in Sleepless in Seatle was shot at Alki Beach Park at 58th Avenue SW. This is where Annie (Meg Ryan’s character) spots Sam playing with his son.

6. Duke’s Chowder House

In the scene above, where Annie watches Sam playing with his son – Annie was actually sat at the spot where Duke’s Chowder House is now located. So, come here for the same viewpoint that Annie had of this memorable moment in the movie.

Best Things to Do in Seattle near Sam’s Houseboat

If you have around two days to spend in Seattle then I highly recommend not just ticking off the Sleepless in Seattle filming locations but also seeing the city’s top attractions. I’ve listed some of my favorites below –

Seattle Space Needle

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!

The Seattle Space Needle is around a 45-minute walk from Sam’s Houseboat or just a 7 minute drive.

Chihuly Gardens and Glass

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.

Pike Place Market

I mentioned it earlier but Pike Place Market is arguably one of the top things to do in Seattle. And in my opinion, 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, and more.

On the tour, 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.

Pike Place Market is around a 20-minute bus ride from Sam’s Houseboat.

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!

Thanks for stopping by to read my guide to the best Sleepless in Seattle filming locations in Seattle. While you’re here you may also be interested to read my guide to finding Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in New York!

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Last Updated on August 10, 2024 by snaphappytravel