Arrive early & go straight to the main entrance where they throw the fish. Once there is a good crowd, they will start this very funny event. This is the only place they do this. The place is crowded & closes down early. It appears that between 3-4 pm, shops are winding down for the day. I found an affordable glass shop & purchased several items--much more affordable than master art glass blower Dale Chihuly (check out my review on Gardens of Glass).

We really enjoyed our day here. There are plenty of shops to see and the views were great. Really enjoyed seeing the markets either the fresh fish, produce and flowers. We thought the flowers were gorgeous and very reasonably priced for what you get. It was busy but didn’t seem to bother us. A must see in Seattle

A wonderful, crowded market with many craft sellers, flowers, knick knacks, seafood, and eateries throughout the area. About 3 blocks long, with a narrow center walk way, it is the center of tourism all around the market. It gets really crowded on most days so be prepared for it. Lots of places to snack and sample the food. Some public eating facing the water and plenty of bathrooms throughout the market area. Fish throwers are at the bend of the market. Lots of smaller shops on the lower levels. Easy to spend 3 hours around the area.

Go early…expect big crowds and bring lots of money. The fish and seafood prices are highly inflated. Great vistas of the city and waterfront. Very touristy. Parking is difficult and expensive. Big influx of cruise ship passengers…Long lines (over 2 blocks to visit the original Starbucks). Still worth the visit. 😊

Great place to spend a few hours, plenty of places to eat and shop. Watch the fish flying around and generally enjoy the buzz. We had great snacks at Pikes Fish bar.

Pike Place has a lot of great shops and of course watching the fish being thrown is entertaining. The only drawback is how crowded it is. It was difficult getting around with the number of people milling around and the lines to get into the restaurants were long and most do not take reservations.

I know that there have been hundreds of thousands of reviews written on pikes market in Seattle but I had to add to them. We were in Seattle on the last leg of our Alaskan cruise and ventured into downtown Seattle and found their way over to pikes market. I’ve been to many outdoor markets from LA to San Francisco to Boston and pikes market with its rich history did not disappoint. Even the nasty gum wall was interesting and found us taking pictures and just commenting on why but it was interesting and it accomplish what it is doing right now, having me talk about it.

Pike Place Market is one of those must see places while in Seattle, if only to see the Flying Fish. They were so friendly there and even let two young boys try to catch fish (they made sure that they were both successful, even though it took quite a few tries). The staff didn't mind all the people milling around just watching and they were also quite busy selling their wares.

The market is home to the first store of the famous Starbucks Coffee. There is always a long line in front of the store as many customers visit. However, you can enter the store after waiting for 20 to 30 minutes. Eating and drinking are not allowed inside the store. All drinks are take-out. In addition, original goods of the first store are sold. However, most types of tumblers were sold out. I stayed in Seattle for a week and visited every day during that time, but the sold-out tumblers were never restocked. All the staff were helpful and friendly. During the daytime there is a large line of customers, but in the evening it is quite empty. However, most of the other markets are closed in the evening, so you won't be able to enjoy shopping.

Be prepared to mash up with the throng at the market. Everyone in Seattle takes a turn to elbow their way around the selection of wares. It was a wonderful thing to see and especially the entertaining fish throwers. Wish I had been prepared with my camera as it is done only when the crowd gets them going. There is something for everyone and many levels to choose from. Go and keep your friends close.