Seattle quick facts: airports, stations and maps

Plan your days with these essential details for Seattle Washington. Knowing how the city fits between Elliott Bay and Lake Washington helps you line up Space Needle tickets, harbor cruises, and neighborhood walks without crisscrossing town more than needed.

• State/Region/Country: Seattle sits in Washington State, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States on Puget Sound.

• Airports: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport SEA is the primary hub, with Boeing Field BFI and Renton Municipal Airport RNT mainly for general aviation.

• Main stations/hubs: King Street Station handles Amtrak trains, while Seattle Center, Westlake, and Pioneer Square stations anchor light rail and monorail access to central attractions.

• Public transport: Link light rail 1 Line connects SEA to downtown Seattle, the Seattle Center Monorail links Westlake to Seattle Center, and King County Metro buses cover most neighborhoods.

• Paying fares: The regional ORCA card works on Link light rail, most buses, and some ferries, with simple tap-on and tap-off payments and transfer windows.

• Coordinates: Seattle is roughly at 47.6062° N latitude and 122.3321° W longitude, on a series of hills facing Elliott Bay.

• Popular neighbourhoods: Seattle Center, Downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market area, Pioneer Square, Belltown, and the historic waterfront piers are core sightseeing bases.

• Additional context: Mountains frame Seattle in the distance, and Elliott Bay provides the setting for harbor cruises and viewpoints of the skyline and Space Needle.

Light rail extensions and improving waterfront paths keep making it easier to combine Seattle harbor cruise departures, Pike Place Market food stops, and Space Needle visits in one efficient loop.

Top things to do in Seattle

Start with Seattle icons, then layer in waterfront time, neighborhood walks, and cultural stops so your trip balances big hitters with local corners.

• Space Needle Seattle admission: Ride to two observation levels for 360 degree views of Elliott Bay and the city skyline, often bundled with other top Seattle attractions.

• Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibits: Pair your Space Needle tickets with Chihuly Garden and Glass next door to see colorful glass installations against the backdrop of Seattle Center.

• Seattle harbor cruise: Take a 1 hour Seattle waterfront cruise to glide past the Seattle Great Wheel, container terminals, and stadiums while guides point out landmarks.

• Pike Place Market food and craft stalls: Explore this historic market for fresh seafood, independent vendors, and classic photo spots before or after a nearby Seattle walking tour.

• Seattle Aquarium tickets: Visit Pier 59 and Pier 60 on the waterfront to learn about Puget Sound marine life, ideal to combine with a harbor cruise.

• Museum of Pop Culture MOPOP: Dive into music, film, and gaming exhibits at Seattle Center, often included in guided walking tours and multi attraction passes.

• Pioneer Square history walks: Join a self guided or guided Seattle walking tour through Pioneer Square to see brick facades, public art, and early city history.

• City Sightseeing hop-on-hop-off Seattle tour: Use 24 or 48 hour tickets to reach major Seattle attractions like Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and historic neighborhoods at your own pace.

• Seattle Great Wheel photos: Ride or photograph the Ferris wheel on the waterfront for evening skyline views and reflections on Elliott Bay.

• Historic waterfront piers: Stroll the piers around Pier 59 and Pier 60 for casual seafood, harbor views, and access to cruises and the Seattle Aquarium.

Tickets and passes in Seattle

Smart ticket choices in Seattle keep lines short and costs predictable, especially if you want to see several marquee attractions in just a few days.

• Seattle attraction passes: Multi attraction passes bundle Space Needle admission, Seattle Aquarium tickets, harbor cruises, and sometimes MOPOP or Chihuly Garden and Glass, often saving more than 20 percent compared with separate tickets.

• Space Needle tickets and timed entry: Many Space Needle Seattle admission options use timed entry, so you select a specific window for the elevators, especially important at sunset or during summer weekends.

• Space Needle plus Chihuly bundles: Popular combo tickets include both Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass on one pass, sometimes with day and night access to the observation decks.

• Seattle harbor cruise bookings: Reserve a 1 hour waterfront cruise in advance to lock in preferred departure times, then fit Pike Place Market or waterfront walks around your sailing.

• Hop-on-hop-off Seattle bus passes: City Sightseeing 24 and 48 hour hop-on-hop-off passes cover loops past the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, and Pike Place Market, which can replace some local transit for visitors.

If you plan two or three paid Seattle attractions like Space Needle tickets, a Seattle harbor cruise, and Seattle Aquarium tickets within a short visit, a well chosen multi attraction pass often delivers real savings and simpler planning.

Getting around Seattle by light rail, bus and boat

Seattle is compact enough for transit and walking along core corridors, with Link light rail, buses, and ferries connecting major Seattle attractions and neighborhoods.

• Link light rail 1 Line: Use the 1 Line from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport SEA to downtown stations like Westlake and Pioneer Square, then connect to Seattle Center via the Seattle Center Monorail.

• ORCA card fares: Load money onto an ORCA card to tap on King County Metro buses, Link light rail, and some ferries, simplifying transfers between Seattle waterfront cruise piers and inland neighborhoods.

• Airport to city travel: From SEA, Link light rail is usually the best balance of price and speed for central Seattle, while taxis and rideshares suit late arrivals or hotel doors further from stations.

• Buses and RapidRide: King County Metro bus routes and RapidRide lines link areas like Belltown, Pike Place Market, and Pioneer Square when you are stitching together different Seattle walking tours.

• Waterfront and harbor access: Walk or use local buses to reach the central waterfront piers for Seattle harbor cruises and the Seattle Great Wheel, then continue along the promenade on foot.

• Ferries and views: Washington State Ferries from the downtown terminal provide extra skyline perspectives of Seattle and the Space Needle, even on short round trips.

• Timing and traffic: Peak hour traffic on downtown streets can slow buses and cars, so pair popular times for Space Needle tickets with light rail or monorail rides instead of driving.

Plan key Seattle sightseeing days around transit nodes like Westlake and Seattle Center so you can combine markets, museums, and waterfront time without relying on a car.