One Day in Seattle: A Local's Idea of the Perfect Day

Spending one day in Seattle is definitely going to leave you wanting more…there are just so many great things to see in this city! But if you only have 24 hours, I’ve got you.

We’re fortunate to be in an area with mild climate and something for everyone. If you love nature, you’ll love all the urban hikes leading to breathtaking views. Food lovers will be satiated because Seattle is a huge food city. And if you’re looking for culture, there is a vibrant art and theater scene for all tastes.

Since I’ve lived here for more than a decade, I often get asked how to spend one day in Seattle. I always share my perfect day with loved ones, breaking down which tourist stops to visit and which to skip.

Rather than keep it to myself, I thought I’d share the things I’d definitely recommend doing if you only have one day in Seattle. So here’s my idea of the perfect one-day itinerary and spots off the beaten path you shouldn’t miss!

Itinerary if You Only Have One Day in Seattle

Here is my ultimate one day itinerary for visiting Seattle. It assumes you’ll start downtown, so if you’re able to stay the night before beginning your one day adventure, make sure you stay at one of these cool places to stay in Seattle in that area!

Pike Place Market

website | location (downtown) | known for: farmers market finds and Puget sound views

Start your Seattle itinerary early at Pike Place Market. Especially on weekends in the summer, this popular tourist attraction gets crowded starting at 10 am. I recommend getting there before then so you’re done by 11 am.

Despite being one of the number one tourist spots in Seattle, I’d still recommend going here if you only have 24 hours in downtown Seattle. It’s a covered farmers market built into a hill, so it weaves underground with a bunch of nooks and crannies to get lost in.

Don’t miss the gum wall underneath a covered section of Post Alley, accessible from Pike St on your left when you’re staring at that big, iconic Pike Place Market sign confirming you’re in the heart of downtown Seattle. It’s a funky spot for photos and great to hit early before others start gathering.

Spend time weaving through the market and stopping at places that interest you. If you haven’t eaten breakfast, grab a bag of piping-hot mini doughnuts from Daily Dozen Doughnuts to munch on while walking around. Round out your meal at Ellenos, which has the absolute best yogurt you’ll ever taste (get the lemon curd, trust me).

Lastly, skip the “original Starbucks”. The original Starbucks actually closed, so this is a tourist trap. Plus, real Seattleites wouldn’t be caught dead drinking Starbucks when there are so many awesome small coffee roasters in Seattle. My favorite in the market is Seattle Coffeeworks. It makes a great gift to bring home. Here’s a guide on buying coffee beans for a French press if this is your brewing method of choice like me.

Olympic Sculpture Park

website | location (downtown) | known for: funky sculptures among epic views

When I worked in downtown Seattle, sometimes I’d take the ~3 mile paved Elliott Bay Trail that connects the Olympic Sculpture Park to Interbay. It’s one of the absolute best Seattle viewpoints and is a fun way to explore both art and the Puget Sound.

At this park you’ll find oversized art installations strewn throughout the park. Once you’ve had your fill, consider hopping on a rental bike and riding the paved trail to your next destination.

If it’s raining, you can skip the Olympic Sculpture Park. However, Seattlelites don’t let the rain stop them, and neither should you! But if you’re not feeling it, head to Seattle Art Museum or Chihuly Glass & Gardens in Seattle Center. Out of all the museums and tourist attractions you’ll read about, I think these are the two best.

Discovery Park

website | location (Magnolia) | known for: Puget Sound and lighthouse views

If you rented a bike from Olympic Sculpture Park, you’ll be equipped to ride to Discovery Park in Magnolia. It’s an ex-military based turned park with 500 acres of meadows, sea cliffs, and tidal beaches perfect for urban hiking and taking in water views. There’s a trail down to a beach with a lighthouse that makes for stunning photos. You may also find sea glass, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled!

While you’re in Magnolia, don’t miss Magnolia Park. You can walk along the Magnolia Bridge for stunning views of the Seattle city skyline and Mount Rainier. Most people will tell you to go to Kerry Park in Queen Anne. While the skyline will be closer, so will all the other people bumping you to get a shot. I prefer this viewpoint because you’ll likely have it all to yourself.

Take a self-guided food tour

There is way too many awesome things to eat in Seattle to eat at only one or two restaurants, so I highly recommend taking a self-guided food crawl on one of my Seattle food tours. I created them for the Ballard and Fremont neighborhoods, my two favorite areas in the city I tell all people to visit. Each tour includes an itinerary and specific directions on what to order so you can maximize your eating.

Depending on how much time you spent at Pike Place Market and the Olympic Sculpture Park, you may be able to do both neighborhoods because they’re only about a mile apart. If you do this, start in Ballard and then make your way to Fremont. If you can only choose one, I’d probably choose Ballard over Fremont because it has a higher ratio of the dishes you must eat in Seattle.

In Ballard, make sure to pop into stores between eats. Prism, Venue, and September are some of my favorites. If it’s a Sunday, check out more local artisans at the Ballard Farmers Market. And don’t forget to get a Seattle dog from Dante’s Inferno Dogs. This hot dog stand at the farmers market is one of the best cheap eats in Seattle!

Once you’re finished in Ballard, head to Fremont. Between eats, make sure to stop at Les Amis, Pipe & Row, Book Larder, and the Fremont Vintage Mall. If you’re there on a Sunday, check out the Fremont Sunday Market with more local artists and vintage finds.

Go on Seattle breweries crawl

If you were able to fit in both Ballard and Fremont, smack dab in the middle of these two neighborhoods are more than 15 breweries within walking distance. If you’re a beer head, make sure to leave time to go on a Ballard breweries crawl. But if you only have time for one, make it Obec Brewing.

If you’re more of a wine person, stop at the nearby Domanico Cellars. They’re one of my favorite Seattle urban wineries in north Seattle (the rest are south).

Gasworks Park

website | location (Fremont) | known for: incredible lake and Seattle skyline views

Once you’re in Fremont, walk along the Burke-Gilman trail until you get to Gasworks Park. The old gas utilities equipment is there and makes for a cool spot to explore. The best part is it overlooks gorgeous Lake Union and offers uninterrupted views of downtown Seattle.

Smith Tower

website | location (Pioneer Square) | known for: Seattle skyline views in a historic building

Whew, by now it’s probably late and you’re full from all the awesome restaurants you visited. Before heading to bed, end your evening with a night cap at the bar in Smith Tower. Tourists go to the Space Needle for city views, but locals know the funnest way is at this rooftop speakeasy inside the 38-story historic building.

Smith Tower in Pioneer Square provides an equally impressive view of the city and has an observation deck. If it’s sunset, you’ll get gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound with twinkling lights starting to turn on in the city buildings. Sure this spot may not have been built for the 1962 World Fair like the Space Needle, but it’s older and serves some of the best cocktails in Seattle to boot.

Tips For Visiting Seattle

Prepare for homelessness

One of the biggest shocks moving to Seattle was how visible the homelessness is in this city. It’s a truly heartbreaking pandemic, and one you unfortunately will see when you visit. It’s most prevalent in downtown Seattle and Pioneer Square, but you’ll also see encampments in Ballard. I used to work in the thick of homelessness and was always fine, so you will be too!

Carefully consider the Seattle CityPass

If you plan to visit the following spots, consider getting the Seattle CityPass:

Space Needle
Seattle Aquarium
Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) OR Woodland Park Zoo
Chihuly Garden and Glass OR Pacific Science Center

However, notice you have to choose between two options for a few stops. If you plan to visit all of them, all your tickets would retail close to $200 and the CityPass is around $110, so it definitely saves money. But honestly, unless you have kids a lot of these places aren’t that much different than other museums and tourist attractions you’ve been to in other cities.

Don’t expect to walk everywhere

Seattle has walkable neighborhoods for sure, but it’s not a “walking city”. You’ll need to drive, ride share, bike, or bus between neighborhoods to make the most of the city.

If it’s nice out, I think the best way to get around the city is a combination of bike, bus or ride share, and walking. You can hop on a ride share bike to easily make it between areas on the one day in Seattle itinerary above. Or you can bus between neighborhoods and walk. You probably don’t need a car yourself, so feel free to skip the rental!

Visit in late summer/early fall

Summer is a glorious time to visit the Pacific Northwest because it’s not raining, has mild temperature, and the city pulsates with good vibes. However, that’s the peak time when everyone is outside, locals and visitors alike. September and October are usually still gorgeous here and the crowds thin out, so if you can swing it I think this is the best time to visit Seattle.

Don’t use an umbrella

If it’s November through May, chances are it’ll be rainy while you’re in Seattle. It rarely downpours here, but there’s always a bit of light rain and grayness this time of year.

Your instinct will be to bring an umbrella, but if you want to look like a local, keep it home. It can be raining relatively hard, but you’ll rarely see Seattleites use umbrellas. We just pull up our hood and keep our heads down. Don’t forget a hooded raincoat and you’ll fit right in!

Don’t forget to bring

Besides your raincoat, bring comfortable shoes you don’t mind getting wet and layers. I also encourage you to carry a water bottle to stay hydrated and a hat if it’s likely to be sunny. Don’t worry about cash because Seattle is a tech-savvy city, so most places accept credit card.

What to bring home

Don’t forget to bring some goodies home as souvenirs! Some of the best include the best chocolate in Seattle, coffee beans, and smoked salmon.

If you forget, don’t worry. I wrote a thorough guide to all the best best Seattle gifts online.

If You Have More Time in Seattle

If you’ve visited Seattle in the past and already went to some of these stops, or if you have 2 days in Seattle, here are more ideas for road trips and activities in Seattle.