I've made every Seattle mistake in the book. Waited in line for the original Starbucks. Forgot a rain jacket in June. Took an Uber from the airport instead of the $3.25 train. Tried to drive downtown during rush hour.
Learn from my suffering. Here are 19 things I wish someone had told me.
The Link Light Rail from SEA-TAC to downtown costs $3.25 and takes 40 minutes. Uber from the airport? $35-55. The train runs every 6-15 minutes from 5AM to midnight and drops you at Westlake Station in the heart of downtown. Buy an ORCA card ($3) at the station — it works on trains, buses, and the streetcar.
I've seen tourists wait 20 minutes for an Uber in the rain when the train is right there. Don't be that person.
Seattle's transit is good. The light rail connects the airport, Capitol Hill, downtown, University District, and the International District. Buses fill the gaps. Washington State Ferries are world-class. And honestly, downtown Seattle is very walkable.
The only time you need a car: day trips to Olympic National Park or Mount Rainier. Rent one for the day.
Seattle traffic is a nightmare between 7-9AM and 4-7PM. The I-5 corridor through downtown becomes a parking lot. Use Google Maps and accept the surface street routes. Parking downtown is $25-40/day.
I know this is controversial. The original 1971 Starbucks at Pike Place is... a Starbucks. The same drinks. The same cups. A slightly different logo on the merchandise. And a 20-30 minute line to get in.
Seattle's real coffee scene is independent roasters. Elm Coffee Roasters does pour-overs that will ruin you for chain coffee forever ($5-7). Victrola on Capitol Hill serves single-origin espresso. Storyville has the best atmosphere. Start there.
Most tourists see the main floor — fish throwing, produce stalls, flowers. But Pike Place has lower levels that almost nobody visits. Down Below has artisan shops, vintage stores, and a magic shop. The lower floors are quieter, weirder, and more interesting.
Also: arrive before 10AM. After that, you're fighting cruise ship crowds.
The smoked salmon piroshky ($8) from this tiny Russian bakery at Pike Place is one of the best things I've ever eaten. Flaky pastry, smoked salmon, cream cheese. The line moves fast. Get two.
Don't just eat at Pike Place and call it done. The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard (oysters, $3.50 each, no reservations) is exceptional. Revel in Fremont does Korean-inspired food that's unlike anything I've had anywhere. And the International District has outstanding pho, dim sum, and ramen — all under $15.
Many restaurants run happy hour specials from 3-6PM and again from 10PM-midnight. Toulouse Petit in Queen Anne has $5 cocktails and half-price apps during both windows. Canon (Capitol Hill) has one of the world's largest whiskey collections and a happy hour that makes it accessible.
This is the fact every Seattleite wants you to know. Seattle averages 37 inches of rain per year — less than New York (50), Miami (62), and Houston (50). It just drizzles more often. 152 rainy days, but most are light mist, not downpours.
Summers (June-September) are reliably dry and gorgeous. 18-27°C, long daylight hours, clear skies. This is when Seattle is at its absolute best.
Seattle weather changes rapidly. A foggy 12°C morning can become a sunny 22°C afternoon. The formula: a t-shirt, a light sweater or flannel, and a waterproof shell jacket. Seattleites don't carry umbrellas — they consider it a tourist flag. A good rain jacket is all you need.
Evenings near the water get cold. Puget Sound creates a breeze that drops temperatures 5-8 degrees after sunset. I learned this the hard way watching sunset from the Bainbridge ferry in a t-shirt.
Timed entry means no line if you book ahead ($37-43). But here's the real tip: go at sunset. The views of Mount Rainier, the Olympics, and the Sound are best in golden hour. Morning is less crowded if you don't care about the light.
If you're doing both Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass (and you should — Chihuly is breathtaking), the combo ticket saves about $25. Buy it with your Space Needle ticket.
Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill has THE iconic Seattle photo — Space Needle framed by Mount Rainier and downtown. It's a tiny park, free, open 24 hours. Best at golden hour. Bring a tripod if you're serious about photography. It's a short rideshare from Seattle Center.
The $9.45 walk-on fare gets you a 35-minute cruise with the best skyline views in Seattle. You only pay going west — the return is free. Some people ride it as a round trip without getting off. The views are that good.
The Museum of Pop Culture is one of the highlights of visiting Seattle.
The Museum of Pop Culture ($38) sounds touristy but it's genuinely excellent. The Nirvana exhibit is emotional. The Jimi Hendrix section is deep. And the Sound Lab — where you can play guitar, drums, and keyboards in private booths — is pure joy. Budget 2.5 hours minimum.
Capitol Hill comes alive after 8PM on weekends. The bars on Pike/Pine corridor, live music at The Crocodile or Neumos ($10-30 tickets), late-night food at Dick's Drive-In (burgers from $2.10, cash only, open until 2AM). This is where Seattle's creative energy concentrates.
Most tourists skip Fremont entirely. That's a mistake. The Fremont Troll (giant sculpture under a bridge clutching a VW Beetle), the random Lenin statue, Fremont Brewing (flights $10), and the self-proclaimed neighborhood motto: "Freedom to Be Peculiar." It's weird and wonderful.
CityPASS ($119) includes Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Harbor Cruise, and your choice of Chihuly or MoPOP and Woodland Park Zoo. That's about 46% savings vs. buying separately. But if you're only hitting 2-3 spots, do the math — individual tickets might be cheaper.
