Seattle: The Most Popular Attractions in the Metropolis on Puget Sound

Stunning nature, a vibrant cultural scene, and more history than expected: Seattle truly caught me by surprise. Or did you know that people in Seattle literally lived underground over a hundred years ago? Between well-known landmarks and fine hidden gems, I experienced a completely different city than I had anticipated.

The former site of the 1962 World's Fair is still a magnet for visitors today. Especially on weekends, there's almost a festival atmosphere at the Seattle Center with street musicians and small craft stalls.

Thanks to the many different museums and event venues, you'll encounter a colorful mix of entertainment, art, and cultural offerings, and not to mention the city's most famous landmark.

It's impossible to miss the Space Needle in Seattle's skyline: it's one of the city's most popular attractions. At 184 meters tall, it's less than half the height of the Empire State Building in New York, but its futuristic architecture makes it a real showstopper.

This comes as no surprise: after just a year of construction, the Space Needle was opened as the highlight of the 1962 World's Fair and was meant to represent the futuristic visions of that era, a time when innovations like human space travel revolutionized the world.

If you find the theme of outer space as fascinating as I do, then I have the ultimate hotel tip for you: The Astra Hotel is designed with futuristic details and offers stunning views of the Space Needle from its upper floors.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass is almost unbelievable for its entirely glass exhibits: the sculptures by American glass artist Dave Chihuly wind through entire rooms and are impressively delicate. The exhibition spans several halls and a garden from where you can also admire the adjacent Space Needle.

More entertainment than a dull museum: The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) gracefully guides visitors through the most significant pop culture phenomena of the past decades from film, television, and music.

The highlight is an exciting exhibition about Nirvana, arguably the most influential representative of the grunge rock scene that was born in Seattle in the 90s. You'll also find interactive elements like small recording studios where you can try your hand at drums or electric guitar.

For the popular Space Needle, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. You can save money with the Seattle CityPASS, which is also valid for Chihuly Garden and Glass and MoPOP. Given the high ticket prices, this pass significantly eases the travel budget!

Set aside the whole day, come early, and bring your appetite - because the chances are quite high that you'll get lost in the many aisles filled with food stalls, specialty shops, and crafts.

The Pike Place Market is one of the most visited attractions in the USA for a reason: here you can discover the latest food trends, indulge in classic favorites like grilled cheese sandwiches at Beecher's, and occasionally witness flying fish across the market - yes, that's a thing!

By the way, the Pike Place Market is also home to the oldest Starbucks store, which was founded in Seattle in the 70s.

Skip the long lines at Starbucks and instead visit the impressive Starbucks Roastery in Capitol Hill. Compared to the rather ordinary store at Pike Place, this location is a real experience - even I, as a non-Starbucks fan, would say so.

A visit to Pike Place Market practically calls for a subsequent stroll: How nice that the long waterfront promenade of Seattle is just a stone's throw away! The Seattle Waterfront stretches over two kilometers and is like a small amusement district for young and old.

At the various piers, you'll find docks for the different ferry lines, but also restaurants, souvenir shops, and attractions like the gigantic Seattle Great Wheel or the Seattle Aquarium.

At Ivar's on Pier 54, one of Seattle's oldest seafood restaurants, enjoy a hearty clam chowder or a portion of fish and chips while watching the seagulls and enjoying the view of Puget Sound.

If you want a glimpse into the exciting past of Seattle, the area around Pioneer Square is the right place. Settlers first established themselves here in 1852, laying the foundation for what is now Seattle. This area fell a bit into oblivion at the end of the last century but has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years.

The old buildings, including still-existing signs from past eras, are now protected as historical landmarks and are being gradually restored. Many indie boutiques, small studios, galleries, and exciting restaurants have settled around Pioneer Square. It's best to explore this corner of Seattle on foot and let the creative atmosphere inspire you!

The newly founded Seattle faced a dire catastrophe early on, as the great fire of 1889 destroyed the entire Central Business District around Pioneer Square over an area of 25 city blocks. Regardless, the selected location wasn't optimal: situated on wetlands, early Seattle was often flooded during high waters.

After the fire disaster, the entire neighborhood was raised one to two stories higher, creating a small parallel universe: businesses that used to be on the ground floor continued to operate in the basement along with the sidewalk until the city government sealed off the entire underground in 1907 out of fear of an outbreak of the plague.

However, it's not easy to discover the remnants of this fascinating time in today's Seattle street scene on your own. I could have easily walked over the skylights that once illuminated the sidewalk underground if I hadn't participated in a Seattle Underground Tour: my recommendation for when you want to discover the secret corners of historic Seattle!

The term "park" might be a bit misleading for the small green space in the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood. Nevertheless, nestled in this quiet residential area is one of the spots you should see while in Seattle.

From the small viewpoint at the upper part of Kerry Park, you not only have a perfect view of the skyline, including the Space Needle, but also, on a clear day, Mount Rainier. And at sunset, it's almost surreal how the snow-covered peak shines on the horizon!

Seattle is not only a city worth seeing, but also a great starting point for trips to the numerous highlights in the U.S. state of Washington. One of three spectacular national parks is Mount Rainier, which is just over a two-hour drive from Seattle.

Around the eponymous snow-capped volcano, you'll find hiking trails of various difficulty levels and an outdoor experience like no other. Mount Rainier is one of the dormant volcanoes and, at 4,392 meters, is the highest mountain in Washington.

Another highlight close to Seattle is Snoqualmie Falls. There are various viewpoints and a small park around the 82-meter-high waterfall. If the panorama seems familiar, that's because Snoqualmie Falls and the nearby Salish Lodge were central locations in the cult series "Twin Peaks," just like many other locations in the region. The town of North Bend, for example, is known for Twede's Café, which frequently served as the setting for the Double R Diner in the series.

To explore Seattle, you should plan at least three full days. However, you can easily extend your stay and take the time to experience other neighborhoods outside the usual tourist routes or take trips to the surrounding areas, such as Mount Rainier or Snoqualmie Falls.

Seattle is located on the West Coast of the USA. Thus, the flight time is a bit longer than to other destinations in North America. You can expect about 10.5 hours of flight time. The good news: now you can fly non-stop several times a week from Munich to Seattle with Lufthansa, saving you the hassle of layovers. On this route, Lufthansa's new cabin configuration "Allegris" is even used.

The return flight to Munich usually departs in the early evening. If you want to get in the mood beforehand, I recommend a detour to the nearby Museum of Flight. Here, you can marvel at illustrious aircraft like a former Air Force One or a Concorde from the inside - this museum is a great tip not just for aviation geeks!

Seattle, like many other major American cities, struggles with social issues that may not escape your attention as a visitor. While I didn't feel unsafe during my trip, some corners in downtown Seattle aren't so appealing that you'd want to linger there longer than necessary. But please don't let that deter you from visiting Seattle - it's a fascinating city with kind, open people who offer a wide range of art, culture, and nature, and it will truly surprise you!

This trip was made possible by the kind support of Lufthansa, Port of Seattle, and CityPASS.