The heart of a city is in its downtown, which is true in Seattle. You can see world-class art and learn about the city’s history and rich culture at several museums and attractions. Let’s take a look at this must-do guide to downtown in the Emerald City.
Argosy Cruises
Seattle’s downtown is home to a bustling waterfront and the Argosy Cruises Original Harbor Cruise™, which departs right from the waterfront on Pier 55 (and has for years!). Learn about Seattle’s history while exploring the city on a comfortable, live-narrated tour boat. Choose from Seattle’s Original Harbor Cruise™, which travels along the city skyline, or the Locks Cruise, which takes you through three of Seattle’s neighborhoods and the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. The Locks Cruise is a one-way trip departing close by on Pier 54 or AGC Marina on Lake Union. For over 75 years, Argosy Cruises has been an essential way of seeing Seattle and feeling like a local. Visit ArgosyCruises.com for the sailing schedule and tickets!
Tours Northwest
Make the most of your visit to Seattle with a sightseeing bus tour from Tours Northwest! On the Premier Seattle City Tour, with 3 convenient pick-up locations, you’ll relax and travel in climate-controlled comfort while getting to know the city and heading to must-see landmarks and neighborhoods. During this popular 3-hour tour, an expert local guide gives an insider’s perspective into the city’s rich history. You’ll also explore outside the city center, into the eccentric Fremont neighborhood (Hello Fremont Troll!), and north to the unique Ballard, which has its boat locks and salmon ladder. For more information and a live schedule, visit the website and book your tour today.
SAM/Seattle Art Museum
Visit the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) to experience a museum as much a part of Seattle’s landscape as the rain, coffee, and mountains. With three dynamic locations across the city—the Seattle Art Museum in the heart of downtown, the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on Seattle’s waterfront—SAM has been the center for visual arts in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. The museums’ rotating exhibitions span continents and time, including modern and contemporary art, Asian, African, Meso-American, Ancient Mediterranean, Islamic, European, Oceanic and Australian Aboriginal, American, and decorative arts. There’s always something new to see at SAM!
Seattle Center Monorail
Don’t get stressed trying to navigate from Seattle Center to downtown (or back)! Just hop on the Seattle Center Monorail! Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Monorail is a beloved landmark and a fun way to connect with the city’s past; plus, no stress trying to find parking. Visit SeattleMonorail.com to buy tickets ahead of time, tap and pay to ride with your ORCA Card (Seattle’s transit card), or use the ticket kiosks at both Westlake Center and Seattle Center stations. Then, zoom on the Monorail for a quick and easy ride through the city to your destination.
Wing Luke Museum
A downtown museum like no other, the Wing Luke Museum is dedicated to the experiences of over 26 ethnic communities sharing the dynamic history, cultures, and art of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) to advance racial and social equity. Wing Luke Museum exhibitions, tours, and programs are developed with community members to ensure authenticity and a community-based perspective.
Explore recreated spaces like a historic Chinatown store and the Yick Fung Store, which offers a glimpse into the lives of early Asian immigrants. The Wing Luke Museum is where history comes alive, sparking conversations about identity, immigration, and the ongoing contributions of AANHPIs to American society. Visit wingluke.org to make your visit even more engaging and learn about upcoming events – like JamFest, summer camps, Hai! Japantown, – and walking tours – like their famous Food Tours.
A visit to Seattle’s downtown area is a high-energy urban adventure that offers something for everyone: art, culture, architecture, a look into the city’s rich history, and more. See you soon!
