Seattle Center
Seattle Center
4.5
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Connect to the extraordinary at Seattle Center, an active civic, arts and family gathering place, centered around the International Fountain, in the core of our region and the site of the 1962 World’s Fair. More than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations that reside on the grounds, together with a broad range of public and community programs, create thousands of events on the 74-acre campus and attract over 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Activities at the Center generate $1.15 billion in business activity and $387 million in labor income.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Top ways to experience Seattle Center
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
How to get there
- Seattle Center • 2 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
1,976 within 3 miles
Attractions
659 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,538 reviews
Excellent
822
Very good
520
Average
155
Poor
31
Terrible
9
C M
Howard, OH3,221 contributions
Oct 2019
This is right beside the Space Needle. In fact, you can see it from the top of the Space Needle. I believe this is where we parked/walked to see the Space Needle. There is a big red sculpture called the Olympic Iliad, known as "The Pasta Tube," by Alexander Liberman.
Written June 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
County-Hunter
Tacoma, WA3,614 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
No matter what your age or interest, you will find something to do here. For kids, there is the Seattle Childrens museum. Sports fans can attend a hockey game at the brand new Clinate Pledge Arena. Science buffs can tour the Pacific Science Center. Music fans can go to the Museum of Pop Culture. And when you get hungry, you can get some good food at the Seattle Center Armory. This is easily worth spending g the whole day on your next Seattle visit.
Written January 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valleyblue
Sacramento, CA383 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
If you're visiting Seattle, and you should, you'll definitely want to spend some time at the Seattle Center. Aside from it just being a nice place to hang out, there's plenty to do there. Whether you just want to wander the grounds, visit the Space Needle, have some lunch, a snack, grab something to drink at the Armory, or check out a museum, it's there at Seattle Center. The Museum of Pop Culture is excellent, even if you're not into the types of pop culture featured, or you can go to the Chihuly Garden and Glass (not a must see, it's good but overpriced).
Seattle Center is a beautiful park with plenty to do and see.
Seattle Center is a beautiful park with plenty to do and see.
Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joan H
San Bernardino, CA1,024 contributions
Jun 2021
Seattle Center attracts lots of tourists, even with Covid restrictions. It was the hottest week on record, when we were in Seattle. Grassy areas, over-sized sculptures and of course, the Space Needle, Monorail Station, Museum of Pop Culture, and Chihuly Garden and Glass are the main reasons to come here.
Written August 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GitchSup
Duluth, MN1,418 contributions
May 2022
If you are planning on seeing the Space Needle or Chihuly Gardens then you have to spend some time exploring the space around them! We had no idea all this park space was here until the Uber dropped us off. What a delight to find this beautiful space, and best of all it was free to explore, which really helped with our acceptance of the entrance fees for the other two venues. The park didn't have a lot going on while we were there, but there are stations where they serve from food carts in the summer and the fountain was just a trickle when we saw it, but in the summer they turn it up and the kids love it. There are lots of quiet areas tucked away, some with engraved stone quotes, one little bronze garden with whimsical creatures, the Kobe - Seattle friendship bell from Japan, totem polls, and lots of flowers and pretty area to sit. Allow yourself some time to fully explore.
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aussie_Binturong
Queensland, Australia315 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
I had a packed lunch that I was eating in front of the International fountain. Most of the time it looked more like a dribbler than a fountain, remaining dormant and innocent-looking for extended periods and then, without warning, shooting a stream of water high into the air at random intervals, surprising any people (or sometimes dogs) in the immediate vicinity.
There was playful music playing through the loudspeakers to enhance the effect.
There was playful music playing through the loudspeakers to enhance the effect.
Written January 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric Z
Henderson, NV27 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Have visited New Orleans, Austin and Panama Beach this year and they were fun trips. Seattle was a bummer all the way through. Could not eat in restaurants due to them being closed or having long lines take out only. Pikes was packed. The mall was close to being shut down no escoladers one elevator that everyone had to use one family unit at a time. One and done.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Landog
La Center, WA633 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
This is really a nice touristy spot to visit! Lots of food options, endless sights to see. The city has done a great job of cleaning up the area and making it feel safe. Lots to see and do, from the Spaceneedle to Climate Change Arena! Just seems as if there are limitless things to keep you busy. The weather was great on this trip! Dry and warm for a winter night.
Written December 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenavon2006
Coon Rapids, MN172 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
What a fun, exciting atmosphere with tons to offer everyone. I loved our visit and can’t wait to return! The only part I didn’t feel comfortable about was all of the homeless people around - literally living in tents everywhere and doing drugs as we walked by. This made it “feel” very unsafe for me to bring a family - or any kids to visit.
Written August 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
operalover939
Toronto, Canada2,850 contributions
Feb 2020
On our way to and from McCaw Hall we wandered around a bit and admired the fountain at the centre of it all. A good many things to do here, with the children’s museum one I wish we’d had time for. The Armory is also good for food. The Space Needle is the most obvious attraction. Families with children will find the opportunities for play very attractive.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much time usually is needed to tour Museum of Pop Culture(MoPoP),Seattle and when is the best time of the day to visit?
Ron S
Fort Collins, CO135 contributions
I would say an hour at minimum but two or more hours depending on how long you want to stay in each section. I like to go early and try and beat any crowd that might show up.
Ren V
Zurich, Switzerland
How much time do I need to get to know the center? considering I want to the the basics (chihuly gardens, space needle, mopop)
JECOhio
Columbus, Ohio291 contributions
What we did was split it over two days. The first evening we went to City Center at about 6:00 and went to Chihuly and purchased our Seattle City Pass there. (they also have other combinations available). We then went through Chihuly and went over to the space needle where we were able to get an 8:30 elevator to the top. We timed it so that we would be up on the observation deck at sunset (which was 8:50 that evening). It allowed us to get pictures in daylight, at twilight and after dark.
The second day we came back when MoPop opened at 10:00 a.m. (use the South entrance...less crowds). We were there until 12:15 and then took the monorail over to Westgate Plaza and walked the four blocks to Pike's Market and had lunch.
After lunch, we went through Pike's Market and down to the waterfront. Since our City Pass tickets included the Aquarium, we visited that and then walked down to the Argosy boat dock and got on a 4:30 cruise tour (also part of the City Pass). After the cruise, we went back up to Pike's Market and had dessert, walked back to Westgate and road the monorail back to Seattle Center. We were then able to walk around the souvenir shops and other stands around the space needle.
If you go to the space needle first, you can purchase the City Pass and reserve a time to go up in the needle (even for later in the day). I would strongly urge doing MoPop first thing in the morning because it was getting really crowded by noon.
Do I have to be on a tour to be able to attend the Boeing factory?
Anon00001
89 contributions
Yes, but for that, you will have to go to the Boeing factory, which is not at Seattle Center.
Can you take the monorail from Sea TAC to the Space Needle? Or from sea TAC to Pike Place Market??
nic6318
Ontario, Canada27 contributions
Hi There
The monorail only has one stop. It travels between Seattle Center (that is where the space needle is) and Westlake Center (take about 10min). The Westlake Center is a large mall/office building in downtown Seattle. The Westlake center would be close to a lot of downtown attractions.
Westlake Center is a downtown stop of the Link Light Rail system (part of the Seattle public transportation system) which you can take from the SeaTac airport (it takes about 40min.)
If you look online you can find maps and pricing for these transport systems. They are very easy and well priced to use.
hope this helps
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Claim your listingSeattle Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Seattle Center
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Seattle Center:
- Premier 3-Hour Seattle City Tour (From $94.00)
- CitySightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Bookable Extras (From $43.00)
- Pre-Cruise Tour: Transportation & Seattle City Tour (From $114.00)
- Seattle Scavenger Hunt Adventure (From $20.52)
- Seattle Private Tour (From $1,195.76)
- Hotels near Seattle Center:
- (0.15 mi) Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown
- (0.32 mi) Staypineapple, The Maxwell Hotel, Seattle Center
- (0.32 mi) Mediterranean Inn
- (0.17 mi) Seattle Center Luxury Suites by NSpire
- (0.33 mi) Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown
- Restaurants near Seattle Center:
- (0.00 mi) Starbucks
- (0.01 mi) Premier Meat Pies
- (0.01 mi) MOD Pizza
- (0.02 mi) Cool Guys Fry Bar
- (0.02 mi) Skillet Counter at the Armory
- Attractions near Seattle Center:
- (0.01 mi) Seattle Children's Museum
- (0.01 mi) Seattle Center Armory
- (0.03 mi) Chihuly Garden and Glass
- (0.08 mi) Space Needle
- (0.08 mi) Pacific Science Center