Welcome to Seattle, the Emerald City! If you haven’t yet explored this PNW city, you are in for a treat. Seattle boasts so many fun activities, from iconic monuments to lush outdoor spaces, and incredible food to a charming character.
This 3 day Seattle itinerary includes stops at some of the city’s best locations. If you’re revisiting Seattle, welcome back! You can enjoy the city from a new perspective with this guide. The Emerald City quickly became one of the top US destinations on my list, and I’ll share my recommendations so you, too, can fall in love with the city.
After spending more than a week in this Washington gem, I’ve narrowed down the endless list of things to do so you can explore the best of Seattle in 3 days. Before I dive into the perfect itinerary for a long weekend in Seattle, check out the best hotels that will make your trip the best it can be.
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Where to Stay in Seattle
- citizenM Seattle South Lake Union – 8.8/10, $$$, great location and breakfast (Click here to book citizenM in Seattle)
- Palihotel Seattle – 8.3/10, $$$, very chic and cozy, great location (Click here to book Palihotel Seattle)
- Mayflower Park Hotel – 8.6/10, $$$, nice restaurant onsite and close to Pike Place (Click here to book the Mayflower Park Hotel)
3 Days in Seattle - Day 1
- Pike Place Market
- Chihuly
- Space Needle
- Kerry Park
- Von’s
Morning
Pike Place Market
A Seattle trip would not be complete without a visit to the iconic Pike Place Market. This is the best place to start your first day in Seattle; it’s downtown and on the waterfront. If you’re a coffee person, I recommend walking through Post Alley past the Gum Wall (stop for quirky photos) and getting an espresso drink from Ghost Alley Espresso to begin your Pike Place visit.
If you’re hungry, there’s no shortage of great food stalls and restaurants in Pike Place. I recommend Three Girls Bakery, The Crumpet Shop, and Piroshky Piroshky. Don’t fill up on breakfast too much, though, there are so many other food stalls to try in Pike Place Market.
After you’ve grabbed a breakfast snack, wander through the rest of Pike Place Market. Stop by Pike Place Fish Market to watch them throw the fish. Get a souvenir painting or ceramic mug. All the stall vendors in Pike Place are required to make their own goods.
Before you leave Pike Place Market to continue the Seattle 3 day itinerary, I highly recommend you try some chowder and a lobster roll from Pike Place Chowder. We tried chowder from several places while in Seattle, and Pike Place Chowder no doubt has the best.
Afternoon
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Finding what makes a city unique is one of my specialties. While many museums tend to be similar from city to city, one that continues to stand out is Chihuly Garden and Glass. This art museum exhibits blown glass works created by Dale Chihuly, a renowned glass artist.
This exhibition includes indoor and outdoor galleries, one of the most beloved being the Glasshouse. This greenhouse-like structure holds a 100-foot-long glass sculpture best admired by standing beneath it. You can also visit The Bar at Chihuly for a Pacific Northwest inspired drink while admiring the thirty private collection pieces of Dale Chihuly.
Space Needle & Seattle Center
The most iconic part of Seattle is the Space Needle, so it would be remiss to not include a stop here on this 3-day Seattle itinerary. However, you can decide whether you want to go to the top of the Space Needle or enjoy the view from the ground.
You can opt for combined tickets to both Chihuly and the Space Needle, but I do not think it’s necessary to go to the top of the Space Needle. There are many other great views of Seattle without the high price tag. Instead, you can wander around the Seattle Center, one of the best outdoorsy things to do in Seattle.
Evening
Kerry Park
Instead of climbing to the top of the Space Needle for an expensive view, head over to Kerry Park from the Seattle Center. Kerry Park is a small public park that offers an incredible view of Seattle below. You’ll get to see the Space Needle standing tall among other skyscrapers all with the Puget Sound in the distance.
The view from Kerry Park is great any time of day, but I highly recommend sticking around for sunset or at least golden hour to admire the cityscape bathed in a golden glow.
Dinner at Von's 1000 Spirits
Seafood would be the default restaurant option for lunch or dinner in Seattle, and while you definitely need to eat your fair share or fish and chips and clam chowder, Seattle boasts so many other delicious cuisines worth trying.
Von’s 1000 Spirits is the proud home of Seattle’s very best sourdough pizza, pasta, and fish and chips batter. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but I do suggest you try at least one pizza or pasta dish. Better yet, have your party share all the dishes! Besides sourdough, Von’s is known for their fun cocktails.
If you do want seafood, I recommend going to Matt’s in the Market. This American restaurant serves up some of the best seafood in Seattle, all in a great location with views of Pike Place Market. Along with oysters, try their halibut and seafood stew.
Day 2: Seattle Itinerary
- Oxbow Bakery
- Washington Park Arboretum
- Fremont Troll
- Gasworks Park
- Brewery
- Coffee Shop
- Dim sum
Morning
Breakfast at Oxbow Bakery
On day two of the Seattle itinerary, it’s time to head northeast to explore another part of this wonderful city. First thing, get some breakfast to keep you fueled for a busy day ahead. I recommend Oxbow Bakery as they have insanely good bagels, quiches, pastries, and coffee.
If you’re coming from downtown or further south, you can also stop at Oddfellows Café + Bar as it’s more on the way to your next destination, the Washington Park Arboretum.
Washington Park Arboretum
Seattle has no shortage of beautiful outdoor spaces, and Washington Park Arboretum is one of the very best. This 230-acre preserve is home to thousands of plants, including rare trees, and even has a Japanese garden.
The Washington Park Arboretum is a must-visit during any Seattle trip, and the best part is it’s free! While spring through summer are when the park is its greenest, it’s still worth visiting in the colder months.
Afternoon
Fremont Troll
After you’ve strolled through Washington Park Arboretum, head further north for a fun little Seattle escapade in the neighborhood of Fremont. Home of the famous Fremont Troll, this northern Seattle neighborhood is quirky and waiting to be explored.
The troll can be a popular destination, so be prepared to wait for a photo. You can also walk through Troll’s Knoll Park right next to the troll; it’s really pretty in the spring when the tulips start blooming.
Fremont Brewery or Coffee Shop
After you’ve gotten your photo with the Fremont Troll, enjoy the local feel of the neighborhood and stay for coffee or a beer. I recommend going to Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden for a flight and a snack. It’s about a five-minute walk from the troll.
If you’re feeling more like an afternoon coffee, head to Milstead & Co. or Fremont Coffee Company.
Evening
Gasworks Park
To bring day two in Seattle to an end, wander over to Gasworks Park for a picturesque view of the Seattle skyline over Lake Union. Gasworks Park is a well-loved park in northern Seattle, and with good reason. The views of the city and Lake Union here provide the perfect balance between urban and nature.
You can bring a picnic dinner (like takeout!) to enjoy in the park as the sun goes down, or stay awhile to soak in the view and plan to have dinner after. If you want to bring food to the park, I recommend bringing a blanket or a towel of some kind to sit on.
Dim Sum Dinner
If a picnic isn’t your style, or maybe you prefer just a beverage to enjoy the views at Gasworks Park, then a dim sum dinner is a perfect way to end day two in Seattle. This Chinese meal is very popular here.
There are many dim sum restaurants in the city, but I highly recommend Dough Zone Dumpling House Seattle International District (where we went) or Din Tai Fung in downtown. Dough Zone had yummy vegetarian options, which was a nice perk.
Prefer a Northwestern dinner experience? Head to Elliott’s Oyster House on the waterfront!
Day 3: Seattle Itinerary
- Bainbridge Island Day Trip
- Dinner in Capitol Hill
If you want to spend an entire day on Bainbridge Island, read how to do so in my ultimate Bainbridge Island day trip guide. It includes how to get the ferry, what to do, and where to eat on the island.
If you’re okay with spending one of your three days in Seattle on this quaint island, I highly recommend doing so. But you can also catch the ferry back earlier and grab dinner in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle.
Morning
Pegasus Coffee
Bainbridge is the perfect half or full day trip from Seattle; just catch the ferry downtown and you’ll be on this quaint island in less than 40 minutes! With 3 days in Seattle, taking one to explore Bainbridge Island is worth it.
There are many other things to do in Seattle itself, but if you want to go out for an adventure, Bainbridge Island is perfect for you. Start your day on the island with coffee and breakfast at Pegasus Coffee.
Stroll by the Harbor
After you’ve grabbed breakfast, head down to the harbor to walk along the waterfront trail. It isn’t very long, but this is such a charming part of Bainbridge. Better yet, bring a coffee to-go with you so you can sip on a local brew while enjoying the waterfront view.
Afternoon
Wander through Winslow
Winslow is the main downtown area of Bainbridge Island, and it is easily accessible from the ferry port. No need to worry about renting a car for this day trip, just walk right on board the ferry.
After breakfast at Pegasus, wander through the main street area to shop in the local boutiques. Visit the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and stop by the History Museum. Both of these are free and are great local museums.
Lunch and a Wine Tasting
After you’ve leisurely strolled through Winslow, stop for lunch at Proper Fish. Hands down, Proper Fish has the best fish and chips we’ve tried in the Seattle area, and we’ve tried plenty. A day trip to Bainbridge Island would be incomplete without a lunch break here.
Once you’ve refueled on fish and chips, walk to one of the local wineries for a relaxing afternoon. Enjoy a wine tasting or two at Amelia Wynn Winery Bistro, Eleven Winery Tasting Room, or Eagle Harbor Wine Co. I also recommend visiting Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse if you’re more of a craft beer fan.
Evening
Ferry Back to Seattle for Dinner
Staying on Bainbridge Island is a great way to end your 3 day Seattle experience, but with so many restaurant options in Seattle itself, I also recommend heading back to Seattle to end your city trip.
Once you’ve caught the ferry back from Bainbridge to Seattle, hop on a bus to the Capitol Hill area for a fun night out. There are so many funky restaurants in this area.
I highly recommend Due’ Cucina Italian Restaurant or Katsu Burger for a cheaper, yet delicious dinner. For a fun, full serivce dining experience, get dinner at Di Fiora, an Asian fusion restaurant.
Ice cream at Salt & Straw (And a Book Souvenir!)
After dinner in Capitol Hill, stick around for the best ice cream in Seattle. As an ice cream snob, I tried multiple places while in Seattle, but nothing beat the consistency and uniqueness of Salt & Straw. With a location conveniently in Capitol Hill, an ice cream stop at Salt & Straw makes for the perfect cap to a 3 day Seattle itinerary.
If you’re a fellow book lover and local bookstore geek, hit up Elliott Bay Book Company for a souvenir. You can never have too many books to read on the plane! This local bookstore is huge, and it stays open until 10 pm, so you can get your book fix in before hitting the sheets and heading back home the next day.
Other Fun Things to Do in Seattle:
There is no shortage of fun things to do in Seattle, from cool museums to quirky neighborhoods to outdoorsy activities in the city. If you have more time than just 3 days in Seattle, add some of these activities to your itinerary!
- Visit the Ballard Locks
- Hike at Discovery Park
- Go on a Guided Donut Tasting Tour (book a donut tour here)
- Admire the View from Smith Tower
- Join a Seattle Underground Walking Tour (book a tour here)
- Wander through the Seattle Public Library
- Go on a Pike Place Food Tour (book a tour here)
- Visit the Volunteer Park Conservatory
- Self-Tour the University of Washington Campus
- Enjoy a Half Day at MoPop (book Museum of Pop Culture tickets here)
- Walk the Waterfront to Olympic Sculpture Park
- Day Trip to Mt. Rainier National Park (book a guided day trip here)
- Get Cozy at Elliott Bay Book Company
Where to Stay in Seattle
- citizenM Seattle South Lake Union – 8.8/10, $$$, great location and breakfast (Click here to book citizenM in Seattle)
- Palihotel Seattle – 8.3/10, $$$, very chic and cozy, great location (Click here to book Palihotel Seattle)
- Mayflower Park Hotel – 8.6/10, $$$, nice restaurant onsite and close to Pike Place (Click here to book the Mayflower Park Hotel)
How to Get Around Seattle
Seattle is a fairly accessible city. Many neighborhoods are walkable, but to get between neighborhoods, you will likely need a faster mode of transportation at some point during your trip. You can easily rent an e-bike or electric scooter anywhere in the city.
Get an ORCA card and use the buses and rail for a cheap, reliable option. Or use Uber and Lyft to catch a ride. You can rent a car, but I don’t recommend doing so unless you plan on driving out of the city. Traffic and parking in Seattle are best avoided.
If you plan on using public transportation, make sure you get an Orca card from a rail station; this will be your reloadable bus and rail fare card. You can get one at the airport station if you choose to catch the train into downtown for your trip. We did this, and I recommend it. It’s harder to find an Orca card machine once you’re in the downtown area.
- Walking
- Bike or Scooter
- Public Transportation
- Rideshare (Uber and Lyft)
- Rental Car
The Best Time to Visit Seattle
Seattle is a gorgeous city to visit any time of year, but to enjoy the city and nature at its finest, plan your trip between April through October. The warmest and driest months of the year are July and August, but they are also the busiest.
To get good deals on hotels, flights, etc., the best time to visit Seattle is either April or October. You’ll miss the rainiest season and skip the summer crowds. A huge perk about visiting in April is that it’s cherry blossom season. Aim to go the first two weeks of April to catch the cherry blossoms at their peak, but be prepared to catch some rainy days.
In Conclusion: A Long Weekend in Seattle
Seattle is a city you could keep exploring for days. There are so many fun things to do here, even on rainy days, and especially outside when the weather is nice. But if you only have three days to explore this Pacific Northwest city, you can still get a good taste of what makes Seattle unique.
This 3 day Seattle itinerary includes stops at the most famous and beloved attractions, incredible local restaurants, and a day trip to a quaint island. With this guide you can enjoy Pike Place Market and Chihuly Glass, the best views of the city from Kerry Park and Lake Union, and not only the best fish and chips, but also amazing dim sum and Italian food.
Save this guide for a long weekend in Seattle for your own trip or send it to someone who also loves a city getaway with a blend of nature and of course, incredible food.
