Seattle Attractions
Top Attractions*

Seattle top attractions highlight some of the city's more popular points of interest including Pike Place Market, Hiram Chittenden Locks, the waterfront, Woodland Zoo, the Aquarium and much more. Discover what to see in Seattle by exploring this page.


Pleasure craft head out the Chittenden Locks from inland waters for a weekend of cruising on Puget Sound.

*Top Attractions*
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
Pike Place Market
Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Center
Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle Waterfront
Seattle Art Museum
Washington Park Arboretum
Pioneer Square
Tillicum Indian Village
Museum of Flight

Hammering Man. 1300 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Phone: 206-654-3100.

Created by Jonathan Borofsky, standing 48 feet high and weighing 26,000 pounds the statue hammers silently four times a minute, from 7am to 10pm every day. One may not want to stand under it, however, as it fell over a few years ago. One Labor Day, a group of artists attached a temporary ball and chain in a comical protest.

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks*The Lake Washington Ship Canal connects Lake Washington to the Puget Sound. The passage is made possible via the locks, built in 1911 and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Pike Place Market*. Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA). 85 Pike Street, Room 500, Seattle, WA 98101. Phone: 206-682-7453; Fax: 206-625-0646. E-mail

Situated just above the waterfront, the market is popular with natives tourists alike. It is a vital part of Seattle's economy, receiving more than nine million visits each year. It features about 600 businesses including farmers and merchants that offer fresh vegetables, seafood, food bars, cafes, restaurants, crafts, art work, and gifts from booths, stalls and shops, and the original Starbucks. The market was born in 1907, from citizen outrage at the high cost of produce, beginning with a handful of farmers with their wagons on Pike Place. It is the oldest continually operating farmers' market in the USA.

Pioneer Square*
Saved from the wrecking ball by popular outcry, Seattle's oldest neighborhood is a 17-square-block National Historic District. Its charming, red-brick buildings have been revived and now hold a great arts, café, shopping and nightlife scene. Historical highlights are the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park and the unique Bill Spiedel's Underground Tour.

The Seattle Aquarium*
Exhibits, news and events, information, adventures and programs, services, hours and fees.

Seattle Center*
The Seattle Center was built as the United States Science Pavilion during the Seattle World's Fair of 1962. This 74-acre complex is now home to the Seattle Opera, Seattle Repertory, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pacific Science Center and the Key Arena, and it also offers exhibits, IMAX movies, laser shows, community events, classes and camps. The center also is home to the 60-foot-tall (185m) Space Needle, which officially opened on April 21, 1962 - the first day of the Fair. The Space Needle features an observation deck, restaurant and cocktail bar within its "Jetsons style" top and it still is prominent on the city's skyline as Seattle's most recognizable landmark. The "Needle" and the Seattle Center can be reached by a 90-second monorail ride from downtown's Westlake shopping center.

The Smith Tower. 506 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone: 206-622-4004.

One of the world's first skyscrapers constructed by Lyman Cornelius Smith, the Smith Tower opened on July 4, 1914. At the time, it was the fourth tallest building in the world and weighed 48,650 tons. It remained the tallest building west of the Mississippi River for almost 50 years.

Tillicum Indian Village.* 2992 SW Avalon Way, Seattle, WA 98126. Phone: 206-933-8600; Toll-free: 1-800-426-1205.

Tillicum Village is located on Blake Island Marine State Park, eight miles off the coast of downtown Seattle's central waterfront in Washington State. Blake Island is believed to be the birthplace of Chief Seattle and became a state park in 1959.

Waiting for the Interurban. N. 34th Street and Fremont Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98103.

Created by Richard Beyer. The piece depicts five people under a shelter and a curious dog, with a human face. Made from cast aluminum, the statue has attracted the imagination, mischief and creativity of hundreds of neighbors each year. The Interurban has hosted costumes, displays and "art attacks" celebrating everything from weddings, birthdays, bon voyages, congratulations, I-love-you's, memorials, good times and friendships to popular causes, and demonstrations.

The Waterfront*
A row of piers jutting out into Elliot Bay are the backbone for a mix of maritime industries, shops and restaurants. Ferries, freighters, tugs and even naval vessels go about their business, while the occasional seaplane or para-sailor flies above. Take in all this activity along the promenade linking the piers, or take a harbor tour, island cruise or fishing excursion. On land, are close by. The Waterfront Streetcar (using restored trams imported from Australia) trundles along the waterfront from Pier 70 past the well known Bell St. Pier, the Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Omnidome Theatre, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, and on to the Chinatown District.

The Woodland Park Zoo*
Information, virtual tour, wildlife travel adventures, zoo store, conservation, education, FAQ, hours and fees.

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