And Seattle, as a hub of the PNW, is a perfect gateway to the area.
Seattle feels simultaneously like a buzzing city and an outdoor lover’s paradise.
Seattle sees a lot of rain, but June, July, and August are the driest months.
Credit: Getty Images
And with the breeze coming off the Puget Sound, the summers aren’t too hot.
Things to Know
Seattle Center is one of the most important tourist attractions in the city.
It spans 74 acres and was once the site of the 1962 World’s Fair.
Courtesy of Palisociety
Within Seattle Center, you’ll find the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, among other attractions.
Seattle’s Pike Place Market is one of the oldest-operating farmers' markets in America.
It opened in 1907.
Thompson Seattle
The Link runs through downtown Seattle all the way to Sea-Tac Airport.
Meanwhile, the Seattle streetcar has three different lines operating throughout the city.
The Sounder train is a commuter rail that brings passengers outside the city limits.
Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
Buses:King County Metro offers more than 200 buses to take you around Seattle and the surrounding areas.
Find a list of bus lines and their scheduleshere.
(It’s worth noting that bus drivers will not be able to offer you change.)
Courtesy of Off The Rez
Bus rides cost $2.50.Car Service and Taxis:Uber and Lyft both service Seattle.
For a black car service, try local companies like Seattle Royal Town Car.
Looking for a special occasion room to reserve?
David Dosset
The 2,000-square-foot penthouse, calledThe Residence, takes up the hotel’s entire 19th floor and has three terraces.
The hotel also has multiple on-site dining options, including Goldfinch Tavern and a rooftop bar.
Plus, it’s steps from Pike Place Market.
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
You’ll love the marinated chicken, mezze platters, and kabobs all for a reasonable price.
It serves Indian fusion tacos on delicious fresh-fried bread.
Try thetajarin al ragu, the risotto with matsutake mushrooms, and the 14-month agedprosciutto di parma.
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Fancy a post-shopping cocktail in the afternoon?
They have innovative drinks here, which pair perfectly with a slice of fresh-from-the-oven crab quiche.
Try their stuffed piroshkies, from beef and potato to the chicken, curry, and rice option.
Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure
Herkimer Coffee is the place to find exceptional Pacific Northwest coffee.
In short, it’s a main event in Seattle.
The 520-foot observation deck is purposely shaped like a saucer, as part of the tower’s futuristic aesthetic.
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
The sculpture garden and art exhibition showcases the work of Dale Chihuly.
Seattle Center takes up 74 acres in the city’s Uptown Arts and Cultural District.
The museum boasts one of the largest collections of “contemporary pop culture historical objects” in the world.
Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure
It’s an opportunity to see the city from a new vantage point while being outside.
The renowned cheese shop has even expanded to New York City, but the original is here in Seattle.
Visit to learn about the craftsmanship behind their cheese, and walk away with an armload offromage.
Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure
Think of this Italian enclave less as a wine store and more as a niche, upscale grocery.
The mall sells some of the very best antiques in Seattle, all with eclectic flair.
The area dates back to the 1850s and is now a marriage of the old and new Seattle.
Courtesy of Glasswing
Ballard:Slightly northwest of downtown, Ballard is lined by two gorgeous bodies of water.
On the west side of Ballard is the Puget Sound, and on the south side, Salmon Bay.
Belltown:Right in downtown Seattle, Belltown is where you’ll find great nightlife and music venues.
Jake Stangel
December is, in fact, the wettest month.
July and August are the driest months, as well as the warmest.
The following are average Fahrenheit lows and highs by month.
Average annual precipitation in Seattle is 15.03 inches.
