One Day in Seattle: The Gem of the Pacific Northwest

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Washington State and the Pacific Northwest’s largest city, Seattle is the gem that glistens against the backdrop of the Puget Sound. This is a city that has more than meets the eye. Less than a hundred miles south of the Canadian border, the so-called Emerald City is surrounded by beauty.

Native Americans first settled in Seattle over 4,000 years ago, and American pioneers claimed the land in 1851 and named it “New York.” You’ve probably guessed the name didn’t stick: in 1853, ‘Seattle’ was born. With extensive natural resources (first timber and later gold), Seattle quickly grew into the financial and cultural hub it is today, as the 18th most populous city in the U.S.

Despite it’s size, Seattle is a surprisingly easy city to explore. Many of the most famous sights are located downtown, so if you’re short on time, you’ll be able to see all the best bits in a day – but if you’ve got longer, a weekend in Seattle is perfect. Our one day in Seattle itinerary will take you on a journey through time, with some fantastic food along the way.

Getting to Seattle

By air

Seattle has two main airports. The largest, Seattle-Tacoma, sees daily flights from destinations all across North America, Europe and Asia. As a hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta, it’s very well connected with the rest of the world. From the airport, the 1-line train takes around 30 minutes to Downtown, with trains every 8 minutes during the day.

Paine Field, Seattle’s smaller airport, sees service mainly from domestic destinations. Located around 25 miles north of Seattle, the best way to get to the center is by taxi or rideshare service.

Seaplane

There is one more alternative. Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base is just a mile from Downtown Seattle. Served by seaplane flights from destinations around the Pacific Northwest as well as international flights from Vancouver Harbour, arriving by seaplane is an experience in itself.

Travel tip: If you have more than one day in Seattle, it’s pretty magical booking a seaplane tour of the city.

By land

Amtrak trains to Seattle arrive at King Street Station with daily services from Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland along with towns and cities along the way. There are also two daily trains to and from Vancouver.

You’ll also find some great bus connections from Seattle, with regular connections to Vancouver and Portland several times a day.

One Day in Seattle Itinerary

9 am: A hearty beakfast at North Star Diner

Hidden away from the reach of most tourists, North Star Diner is a classic all-American diner with a modern twist. Their extensive breakfast menu has something for everyone, with all-time favorites like pancakes and biscuits to chimichangas and chilaquiles. There’s nothing quite like fusion Mexican cuisine in the U.S.

Once you’re fuelled up for the day ahead, grab a taxi or take the line 5 bus to Fremont. Either way, the journey will take around 20 minutes.

10 am: The most unlikely place for a Lenin Statue

During the Soviet era, statues of Lenin were a feature of every Eastern Bloc city. But, the United States wasn’t really known to be a great fan of Soviet Russia. You may recall this little thing called the Cold War… So, why on earth is there a statue of Lenin in Seattle?

When the Soviet Empire fell in the early 1990s, many statues of its former leaders were torn down. In 1993, an American man found a statue of Lenin laying in a scrapyard in the Czech Republic, salvaged it and took it home. He died two years later before he could decide what to do with it, and ever since it has been on display on Fremont Place North in Seattle.

10:30 am: Fremont Troll

Not only is Fremont the unlikely home to a 16 foot Lenin Statue, it also has an 18 foot troll. Just a couple of minutes’ walk from the Lenin Statue, the troll statue is located under a bridge at the foot of Troll’s Knoll Park.

This rather creepy looking piece of art is the result of a competition run in 1990 by the Fremont Arts Council. The aim was to stop rubbish being left and deter homeless people from sleeping under the bridge. One look at the Fremont Troll would be enough to deter most!

11 am: Fremont Vintage Mall

Steps away from the troll statue, the next stop on our one day in Seattle itinerary looks just a tad more inviting. The self-proclaimed “coolest vintage store in the center of the universe,” Fremont Vintage Mall is a real Aladdin’s Cave.

This treasure trove of an antique shop sells everything from comic books to home furnishings. Even if you don’t have space in your suitcase to buy anything, it’s well worth a look. Once you’ve convinced yourself to buy something, you’ll get to the logical conclusion that there’s no such thing as not enough space, just poor packing.

12:30 pm: Pike Place Market, a Seattle icon

Even if our one day in Seattle itinerary is the first bit of research you’ve done for your Seattle trip, the chances are you’ve heard of Pike Place. Opened in 1907, this Seattle institution is one of the oldest farmer’s markets in the U.S.

Now the 33rd-most visited tourist destination in the world, Pike Place sees over ten million visitors a year. As much as we love getting off-the-beaten-path, these figures speak for themselves. You really cannot miss Pike Place.

With 500 traders selling everything imaginable, it’s safe to say you could spend an entire weekend here (which might encourage you to extend your time in Seattle).

You’ll find everything from fresh flowers to handicrafts and bookstores to fishmongers. Jewelry stalls sit next to clothes stores and food vendors; one minute you’ll be sifting through vintage records, the next you’ll be buying a bag of chocolate-covered cherries. Pike Place is the Seattle shopping destination.

The best places for lunch at Pike Place

There are 79 options for grabbing lunch at Pike Place, but to make your choice easier, we’ve hand-picked a few of our favorites.

Cinnamon Works

For almost 40 years, Cinnamon Works has been serving freshly baked delights to market visitors. One of a handful of scratch bakeries left in Seattle, this family-run affair is famous for its giant cookies, sticky buns and cinnamon rolls.

Beecher’s Mac & Cheese

Just opposite the main market entrance, Beecher’s claims to serve the “world’s best” mac & cheese. Taste it, and you’ll agree. Alongside their signature mac & cheese, they serve up hearty grilled cheese sandwiches (and our team considers itself global connoisseurs of grilled cheese sandwiches) and sell an amazing array of cheeses to take home.

Jack’s Fish & Chips

Another Pike Place institution with over 40 years of history, Jack’s serves fresh fish from their own fishmongers in the market. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try their delicious oysters, Dungeness crab or clam chowder.

2:30 pm: Coffee time

With lunch sorted, there’s one final stop at Pike Place on our one day in Seattle itinerary. You may be able to get a cup of Starbucks coffee pretty much anywhere in the world, but only here can you go to the world’s first Starbucks.

There’s usually a bit of a wait to get in, but this is another of those times where you just have to do the touristy thing. Along with the classic Starbucks menu, they serve a selection of special coffees and Frappuccinos which are only available here.

To spoil the fun a little, this store is a bit of an imposter. It is, in fact, the second Starbucks location to open. The first, at nearby 2000 Western Avenue, was demolished forcing Starbucks to move to the current location.

3:30 pm: Get across town on the Monorail

The Seattle Center Monorail is another Seattle icon. Running for less than a mile, with only two stations, it serves little practical purpose. So, why spend $4.2 million building it? The monorail was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the theme of which was “Living in the Space Age.”

Aside from being a fun and quirky way to travel, the three-minute ride from Westlake Center (right by Pike Place Market) to Seattle Center drops you off right by the next stop on our one day in Seattle itinerary.

4 pm: Take in the view from the Space Needle

Another Seattle landmark we have to thank the 1962 World’s Fair for, the Space Needle is Seattle’s most famous building. Reaching 184 meters into the sky, when it was built, it was the tallest building in the western U.S. for some time.

The elevators take just 41 seconds to reach the observation deck – and it’s worth it: the view is stunning. The deck offers a panorama of the Seattle skyline and across Puget Sound. On a clear day, you can even make out Mount Rainer.

Grab a drink for the observation deck bar and take a seat by the windows to enjoy the view. But if that doesn’t pique your interest in terms of rooftop views, you’ll find plenty of other viewpoints to appreciate the beautiful skyline of Seattle.

5 pm: Miner’s Landing

From the Space Needle, follow your feet downhill to the Pacific and wander along Alaskan Way, Seattle’s wide seafront promenade. Pause at Waterfront Park to take in the sweeping vista of Puget Sound before you reach Pier 57.

Named Miner’s Landing in honor of the miners who arrived here during the gold rush, Pier 57 is now a pleasure pier. The Seattle Great Wheel, at the end of the pier, offers stunning views of the waterfront and the Seattle skyline. Once you’ve seen the sights, spend a while relaxing over a drink on the terrace.

7 pm: A taste of the Pacific

The perfect way to round off your one day in Seattle itinerary, our top pick for dinner is just a few minutes’ walk from Miner’s Landing. Japonessa Sushi Cocina celebrates the finest seafood from the other side of the Pacific. If you sailed in a straight line from Seattle (once you’d navigated Puget Sound), you’d end up in Hokkaido.

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Famous for their fresh sushi and sashimi, Japonessa Sushi Cocina’s menu also features classics including ginger chicken, kimchi hot pot and tempura shrimp. In a Latin American twist, their sukiyaki beef tacos are delicious.

9 pm: A nightcap with a view

Head a block inland to the Thompson Hotel for a cocktail at their iconic rooftop bar. The Nest offers some of the best views of the Seattle skyline at night, serving up handcrafted cocktails along with an impressive selection of draft beers and fine wines.

If you’ve realized that giving Seattle more time is the right idea (need I say that it is the home of flight), we have you sorted with an itinerary for three days in Seattle.

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