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Washington’s state capital and the Pacific Northwest’s biggest city, Seattle is everything you’d expect of a U.S. city. Historical buildings, fantastic restaurants and shops and markets catering to every taste and budget. All in all, Seattle is a truly great city to visit, and better still, the downtown area is compact, meaning you can see many of the top sights in one day (although we always recommend three days).
But Seattle has another treasure which makes it stand out from the crowd. Hemmed in by the Cascade foothills to the east and the soaring peaks of the Olympic Mountains rising up over Puget Sound to the east, Seattle is surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty.
There are countless places to take in a vista of Seattle’s scenery, some manmade, some natural. That’s great news, of course, but less so when you’re only on a one day in Seattle itinerary or tight on time.
It’s important to pick the best spots to get the ultimate Seattle snaps. To give you the best viewpoints in Seattle, we’ve tried and tested dozens of Seattle outlooks.
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Best Viewpoints in Seattle: Observation Decks
Space Needle
Without doubt one of Seattle’s most iconic buildings, the Space Needle is also one of the best viewpoints in Seattle. It was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the theme of which was “living in the Space Age.” The Space Needle stands some 184 meters above the city streets and is recognized the world over.
With its observation deck at 160 meters above sea level, the Space Needle offers panoramic views of the city and out across the mountains and Puget Sound. It features a rotating glass floor and a bar so it’s easily a place where you could spend hours admiring the views.
The Space Needle’s opening times vary by season, but through summer it’s open right through until midnight. For an extra memorable experience, we love this small group tour where you learn Seattle secrets from a local guide.
Smith Tower
Completed in 1914, the Smith Tower is Seattle’s original observation deck. It proudly held the record for the tallest building on the U.S. West Coast until the Space Needle was complete. While smaller than the Space Needle, the Smith Tower still stands at 148 meters tall.
On the opening day, over 4,000 people rode the elevators to the observation deck on the 35th floor. To this day, Smith Tower remains one of Seattle’s best and most popular viewpoints, and whilst it may be shorter than the Space Needle, Smith Tower does have a few trump cards of its own.
In addition to being one of the city’s most historic landmarks, the observation deck features an open-air viewing deck. On a warm day, there are few better places to be. If it gets a bit chilly, head inside to the Observatory Bar for one of their amazing handcrafted cocktails.
If you’re traveling on a budget (or with kids), you’ll be happy to know tickets are much cheaper than the Space Needle. To maximize your time and avoid the queues, you can save time and get yours in advance.
Sky View Observatory at Columbia Center
At 274 meters above ground, the Columbia Center’s Sky View Observatory is the highest observation deck in Seattle and the entire Pacific Northwest. Built in 1984, the Columbia Center is one of Seattle’s more modern skyscrapers and is designed to be completely earthquake-proof (although I don’t think I want to be standing at the top were an earthquake to hit).
The Observatory on the 73rd floor offers a 360°-panorama of Downtown Seattle, Bainbridge Island and the mountains beyond, as well as the Space Needle itself. New Yorkers will often tell you that the best way to see the Empire State Building is to view it from another observation deck; the same is true of Seattle’s Space Needle.
As always, for the best value and to save time, make sure you book your tickets in advance.
Seattle’s Best Viewpoints: The Top Photospots
As great as observation decks are, many of the best viewpoints in Seattle require no ticket at all. We’re about to give away a few local secrets. But, honestly, taking a walking tour is one of my favorite ways to find some of Seattle’s best-hidden viewpoints and get your bearings before heading off solo.
Seattle Waterfront
Running along Elliot Bay, part of the Pacific’s Puget Sound, Seattle Waterfront stretches from Lumen Field right up to Magnolia Park. If you have the time, it’s well worth spending an afternoon walking it’s length. There’s plenty of places to stop off along the way; highlights include the Great Wheel at Pier 57 and Seattle Aquarium.
Better still, take a cruise around Seattle Harbor. I absolutely love this cruise, which gives you panoramic views of Seattle from a different angle, taking in the city skyline with a stunning mountainous backdrop. A cruise may not be a traditional observatory, but it certainly provides one of the best viewpoints in Seattle.
Ursula Judkins Viewpoint
Just before you reach Magnolia Park at the northern end of Seattle Waterfront, be sure to stop off at Ursula Judkins Viewpoint. This two-acre park occupies a prime vantage point over the harbor with the skyscrapers of Downtown providing an atmospheric backdrop. You’ll find plenty of places to sit, and it’s seldom busy.
Magnolia Park & Discovery Park
Sitting on a headland jutting out into Puget Sound, the views across the harbor easily make Magnolia Park one of the best viewpoints in Seattle. I recommend you walk all the way through the park to Discovery Park.
Here, sitting at the northern end of the headland you’ll find yourself amongst white sandy beaches and beautiful dunes. The city may be just across the bay, but it feels a million miles away.
Kerry Park
If you make it to Discovery Park, on your way back to Downtown, make a stop in Kerry Park. A mile-or-so inland, Kerry Park is a hidden gem. Offering some of the best views of the city skyline, especially the Space Needle, it’s well worth the walk.
Best viewpoints in Seattle: A view from afar
Bainbridge Island
A serene retreat in the middle of Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island sits directly opposite Downtown Seattle across Elliot Bay. Home, for thousands of years, to the native Suquamish people, Bainbridge Island was first mapped by British explorer Captain Vancouver. European settlers arrived on the island in the mid-19th century, with the Suquamish giving it up in exchange for fishing rights in the Puget Sound.
Nowadays, thanks to fast ferries across the bay, Bainbridge Island serves as home to wealthy Seattleites. The island is connected to the mainland by road but ferry is by far the quickest way to reach it from Downtown. And ferries come with the added bonus of offering great views during the crossing. Ferries leave from Seattle Ferry Terminal at Pier 53 around every 45 minutes, taking just 35 minutes to make the crossing.
When you reach Bainbridge Island, you don’t need to venture far from the ferry terminal to find some of Seattle’s best viewpoints. Head south, past the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial to Pritchard Park. Drop down to the sandy beach below to admire the view across Elliot Bay with the blue waters of the Pacific lapping at your feet.
Before you leave Bainbridge Island, don’t miss the Bainbridge History Museum. This small museum allows you to gain a deeper insight into the lives of the Native Americans who call this beautiful place home. If you’re feeling peckish, Proper Fish is a Bainbridge institution, serving some of the freshest seafood around.
Mount Rainer
At 4,392 meters tall, Mount Rainer is the most prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S. An active volcano and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, Mount Rainer is currently considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. There is even an eruption predicted in the near future.
Only around 6,500 people on average scale Mount Rainer every year, which means climbing Mount Rainer is probably out of the question for most travelers.
However, we still think a trip out to Mount Rainer State Park is a great day trip from Seattle. This full-day tour to Mount Rainer is extremely comprehensive and you’ll explore waterfalls, glaciers, rivers and wildlife whilst learning about the history of the volcano and the region. All the while, you’ll be stopping off to enjoy some of best viewpoints in Seattle.
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