As a local, I’ve been fortunate enough to discover some truly unique things to do in Seattle. From naked biking parades to hidden art installations, I’ve seen it all (even when I didn’t want to, ha).
Sure you can do the typical touristy activities when visiting Seattle. But if you want to explore the city like a local and find off the beaten path, quirky attractions, I’ve got you.
Here’s my list of unusual experiences and unique things to do in Seattle. I’ll add more as I find them, so pin this guide for later!
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29 Unique Things to do in Seattle
Need help deciding what to do? Let me plan a custom itinerary just for you!
Take a quirky tour
Whether you’re a local or visitor, a walking tour is the best way to explore Seattle on a nice day.
Self-guided food tour
website | Fremont, Ballard, or Georgetown | best for: sampling the best local eats without looking like a tourist group
If you want to explore Seattle’s food scene like a local, check out one of my self-guided food tours. They take you to neighborhoods most visitors never go to: Fremont, Ballard, and Georgetown. Each tour includes 8-9 tour stops and 12-14 honorable mentions so you can customize your itinerary. Plus they all have interviews with restaurants and tips on what to order and do between eats.
Not only is a self-guided walking tour more affordable than a professional one, but you can move at your own pace to cover as many stops as you want. It also lets you visit hole-in-the-wall hotspots you won’t find on in-person group tours since there aren’t any food tours taking people to the neighborhoods in Seattle where locals hang.
Donut tour
website | Downtown | best for: donut lovers
Who doesn’t love a perfectly soft donut? If you want an in-person group tour, then you may want to sink your teeth into this Donut Walking Tour. It covers several places where you can try everything from artisanal masterpieces to pocket-sized donut holes. I suggest going on this tour in the morning to score the freshest bakes.
Underground tour
website | 614 1st Ave (Pioneer Square) | best for: uncovering Seattle’s history
When it comes to unique things to do in Seattle, you can’t beat the quintessential Underground Tour in Pioneer Square. If you didn’t know, there’s an entire labyrinth of hidden streets underneath Seattle that was built upon after the Great Fire of 1889.
If you want to step back in time, you can trawl through the hidden alleyways, passages, and rooms that once characterized the Emerald City. Your tour guide will also regale you with awesome (and sometimes spooky) stories about Seattle’s early residents.
Is this touristy? Oh yes. Is it interesting still and something all people should do at least one? Definitely!
Ghost tour
website | 99 Union St (Downtown) | best for: exploring haunted sites
If the Seattle Underground tour didn’t give you the heebie-jeebies, you may want to dial things up with the Seattle Terrors Haunted Dark History Walking Ghost Tour. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Seattle, particularly if you’re looking for Halloween fun in Seattle.
This quirky experience takes you through the Emerald City’s grisly history and brings you through haunted streets, mortuaries, cemeteries, and theaters. The tour regularly sells out, so you’ll typically have more luck during the shoulder seasons.
Experience an orchestra by candlelight
Fever puts on a bunch of quirky events around Seattle. One of the most popular is their Candlelight Concert Series where orchestras play covers of popular music while surrounding by thousands of glimmering candles. For example, they’ve done covers of Nirvana, Adele, Queen, Taylor Swift, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and more.
Visit funky sculptures and murals
One of the most unique things to do in Seattle is to check out all our cool art displays. We’re an artistic city at heart, so you’re bound to see something quirky wherever you visit. However, don’t skip these places.
Fremont troll
website | N 36th St (Fremont) | best for: interesting Instagram shots
The Fremont troll is one of Seattle’s most recognizable sculptures and is tucked right under the Aurora Bridge. It was originally built to deter anti-social groups that used to gather here. But it has since become a bona fide tourist attraction.
You won’t need long here – just enough time to snap a few pictures and go! To find it, you’ll want to find Troll Avenue near Aurora Ave North and North 38th Street.
Vladimir Lenin statue
website | 3526 Fremont Pl N (Fremont) | best for: a taste of communist history
It may feel slightly out of place in the Fremont neighborhood, but it’s worth taking a detour to the 16-foot bronze statue of Lenin just 4 minutes from the Fremont Troll. The statue was created by the Bulgarian-born sculptor Emil Venkov. And was moved to Seattle by American veteran Lewis Carpenter after the dissolution of the USSR.
It’s been subject to criticism for being “communist chic” and not respecting the meaning of the movement. But you can make up your mind about this unique monument during your visit.
Gum wall
website | 1428 Post Alley (Downtown) | best for: photographs and a break from Pike Place Market
No trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the gum wall on Post Alley. As you might expect from its name, it’s essentially a brick wall covered in tons of gum.
Sure, this place is a bit of a tourist trap, but it’s right in Pike Place Market and a fun spot to stop for photos. You won’t find a similar attraction anywhere else in the country, so don’t miss adding a sticky sucker of your own to the mix! Pair it with my free walking tour of Pike Place Market so you can head to the insider spots in the market afterwards.
Hats ‘n’ Boots Park
website | 6430 Corson Ave S (Georgetown) | best for: one-of-a-kind cowboy sculptures
Not only is visiting Hats ‘n’ Boots Park one of the most unique things to do in Seattle, but it might be my favorite place to take pictures in the city. This sculpture was originally part of a cowboy-themed gas station in the mid-1950s but was moved to Hat ‘n’ Boots Park (or Oxbow Park as it’s technically known) in Georgetown for safekeeping. It was super popular back in the day, so much so that Elvis made a visit!
Gas Works
website | 2101 N Northlake Way (Fremont) | best for: gorgeous views and Seattle history
Gas Works Park is a fascinating place to visit, as it’s one of the city’s largest green spaces built around a historic gasification plant. The juxtaposition between the industrial buildings and the stunning waterfront is seriously impressive and it’s the perfect place for a picnic.
If you’re visiting on a clear day, it’s one of the best viewpoints in Seattle because you get excellent views of the Olympic Mountains and the downtown skyline. Oh, and there’s a great kids’ play area here that’s worth checking out if your little ones need to blow off some steam!
Capitol Hill murals
best for: exploring Seattle’s cultural side
Capitol Hill is known for its vibrant gay community and exciting night scene, but it’s also home to several iconic murals. If you stroll through the neighborhood, you’ll spot Pac-Man Park which is basically a 2,600-square-foot Pac-Man board that’s been painted onto the road. If you’re near East Pine, you should take in the enormous “Ultimate Pet Portrait” that lines the old South Annex Building. There’s also a meaningful dedication to the Black Lives Matter movement on Pine that acts as a solemn reminder of the 2020 protests.
The Ever Grey has a map of Seattle’s murals that’s a good resource for finding more.
Olympic Sculpture Park
website | 2901 Western Ave (Lower Queen Anne) | best for: a congregation of large sculptures right along the waterfront
Seattle Art Museum manages a stunning sculpture park right along Elliott Bay. Peruse interesting art exhibits nestled around the park, then take the walk along the paved path to catch gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains.
A Sound Garden
website | 7600 Sand Point Way NE (Sandpoint) | best for: a dynamic artistic experience
If you’re willing to head out to the shores of Pontiac Bay, be sure to stop by “A Sound Garden”. This multi-sensory sculpture is comprised of pipe-like structures that whistle when the wind blows through them. It’s one of six outdoor pieces on the NOAA Art Walk, and is worth a visit if you’re near Magnuson Park. Arrive as the sun is setting for a stunning photo backdrop.
See a burlesque show
If you’re on the hunt for raunchy entertainment in the Emerald City, you should add a burlesque show to your itinerary. Triple Door is one of the most popular places to visit for live music and dancing in a gorgeous historic space. They have a popular holiday show that’s one of the best Christmas activities in Seattle.
If you’d prefer dinner and a show, try Can Can Cabaret. This intimate location is located beneath Pike Place Market and boasts excellent dinner theater performances that feature dance, live music, and classic cabaret tomfoolery. They also have excellent beignets, so make sure that’s on your table!
Visit niche museums and stores
Seattle has so many quirky shopping destinations and museums catering to diverse interests. So the next time you want to do something different, check out these exhibits and curiosities:
- The Titanic Exhibit (Downtown)
- Original Selfie Museum (Downtown)
- Giant Shoe Museum (Downtown)
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park (Pioneer Square)
- Seattle Pinball Museum (Chinatown-International District)
- Rubber Chicken Museum at Archie McPhee’s Store (Wallingford)
- Unity Museum (U-District)
- Dialysis Museum at the NW Kidney Center (Capitol Hill)
- Museum of Illusions (Capitol Hill)
- Connections Museum (Georgetown)
- Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum (Everett)
- Museum of Curious Things (roaming)
- Ye Olde Curiosity Shop (Downtown)
Attend a laser light show
website | 200 2nd Ave N (Downtown) | best for: art and music
The Pacific Science Center is one of the most famous Seattle tourist attractions. Yet most people don’t know that they have nighttime laser shows to popular music like Pink Floyd, Billie Eilish, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and more. Laser artists react to the crowd in real time like a DJ and create mesmerizing laser light art in beat to the music. For only $12-$15 per person, it’s one of the most unique things to do in Seattle!
Visit the Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café
website | 1225 N 45th St (Wallingford) | best for: kitty cuddles
The Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café is a unique spot in the city that allows you to hang out with a bunch of cats while sipping on great coffee. The café partners with several shelters to improve the lives of their resident kitties, but they also work hard to get rescue cats adopted by introducing them to friendly patrons. While you’re here, you’ll be able to cuddle with the animals, play with them, and learn all about how you can be a stellar cat parent.
Prefer dogs?
I feel you, as I’m allergic to cats. Visit Colby Cafe on Nickerson in Fremont/Queen Anne instead!
Mox Boarding House
website | 5105 Leary Ave NW (Ballard) | best for: quirky board games
I just love this place – seriously, I used to come here all the time to play geeky board games and slurp great coffee at their café. They’re technically a store that sells board games (both popular and lesser-found ones), but they have a try-before-you-buy policy that can’t be topped. They feel that if you don’t like playing a game, you don’t have to feel stuck with it. I like visiting here during the afternoons as it’s slightly more mellow, but you can easily make a night of it after work with friends as it’s open until midnight.
Georgetown Trailer Park Mall
website | 5805 Airport Way S (Georgtown) | best for: unique handmade gifts
This is one of my favorite antique shops in Seattle. You’ll find plenty of antique stores and makers inside vintage trailers. It’s worth visiting for the atmosphere alone, but you’ll probably walk away with an upcycled product or two. While you’re here, check out the shipping container chapel onsite. You might just catch a Shotgun Wedding if you’re lucky!
Georgetown Morgue
website | 5000 E Marginal Way S (Georgetown) | best for: lovers of spooky escape rooms
You won’t run into any dead bodies at the Georgetown Morgue, but you may have the life frightened out of you. This iconic attraction is considered Seattle’s scariest haunted house and has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a mortuary back in 1928. Believe it or not, this place was also said to be the site of a grisly unsolved crime that involved nine staff members and a crematorium. Spooky, indeed.
When it’s not Halloween, The Georgetown Morgue runs as an escape room experience, and you’ll spend an hour solving puzzles and immersing yourself in the building’s history to make it out unscathed. It’s not for the fainthearted, but I promise it’s tons of fun and is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Seattle.
Rent a hot tub boat
website | 2520 Westlake Ave N (South Lake Union) | best for: seeing Seattle by water
While you’re in Seattle, you can rent a hot tub boat and explore Lake Union. The boats are available year-round and feature joysticks for navigation, Bluetooth speakers, and ample space for a picnic. Regardless of whether you’re visiting during the height of summer or the dead of winter, your tub will stay a balmy 104 degrees so you can marvel at the Space Needle, Bainbridge Island, and Elliott Bay in style. It costs around $400 for two hours so it isn’t cheap, but it promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Go foraging in Beacon Hill Food Forest
website | S Dakota St (Beacon Hill) | best for: finding fresh food and engaging with the community
There are so many unique things to do in Seattle, but one of the activities to add to your Seattle for foodies bucket list is foraging in Beacon Hill Food Forest. This community-run development is packed with edible berries, medicinal herbs, and plenty of nuts and is fully open to foragers. You can spend hours scavenging for the perfect picnic and it’s a great way to reconnect with nature in North Beacon Hill.
Eat a Seattle dog
website | 1520 4th Ave (Downtown) | best for: classic Seattle comfort food
As soon as I moved to the Emerald City, I knew that I had to try the famous Seattle dog that I kept hearing about. This delicious treat is essentially a regular hot dog topped with sautéed onions and an unholy amount of cream cheese. It might sound gross, but it’s probably the best hangover food in the city. You can grab one from any of the day or night carts around Seattle, but Dog in the Park is a classic choice for trying this quintessential Seattle food.
Attend the Fremont Solstice Parade
website | Leary Wy NW & 3rd Ave NW (Fremont) | best for: partying with adventurous artists
This isn’t one of the unique things to do in Seattle for shy types, but it’s a great excuse to whip your clothes off while enjoying live music, giant puppets, and naked revelry.
The Fremont Solstice Parade isn’t technically a nudist event, but naked and body-painted bike riders have been appearing at this summertime parade since the 1990s. Even if you’re not baring all, you can enjoy the colorful floats, dance numbers, and stilt walkers that are here to showcase the Seattle arts.
Snoop on other people’s backyards with an edible garden tour
website | Ballard | best for: peeking into other people’s gardens!
If you love seeing how other people live (and organize their outdoor spaces!), then you should explore a few gardens in Seattle during your trip. The annual Edible Garden Tour is organized in Ballard and allows visitors to check out a selection of beautiful gardens throughout the neighborhood. There are usually under 20 spots on the shortlist, and you can take a self-guided walking tour of each location to make things easier.
More to explore in Seattle
After you check out these unique things to do in Seattle, explore more of the city with these guides.
