**This article was updated on September 1, 2024**
Planning a trip to Seattle? Great, you’re in the right place.
I love Seattle…the fact that Seattle is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city right on the edge of the stunning beauty that is Puget Sound makes it unique among the average big city. This coupled with its diverse neighborhoods lends itself to a rich experience not found anywhere else in the world. It is also on everyone’s Pacific Northwest vacation itinerary. A weekend in Seattle is one of my favorite short trips to make, and is one of the best cities in the U.S. for solo travel. The history of this place is pretty good, too.
So the obvious, number one choice for a Seattle itinerary is the Space Needle, right? WRONG. Okay, go if you must, I’m not going to tell you NOT to do the Space Needle. But there is SO much more to this wonderful city. Go to the Space Needle for the high-top view (there’s an even better view of the city), but if you don’t care about that, then don’t bother! GO HERE for a quick rundown of Seattle’s best neighborhoods.
Pike Place Market is the second obvious choice, and I DO recommend that. More on that a little later…
As I’ve said in my 2-Day Portland Itinerary article, I usually shy away from offering a rigid itinerary anywhere. Because every single traveler has different tastes and interests, how can any Seattle travel guide worth their salt offer up a definitive one-size-fits-all itinerary? Nevertheless, here I am doing it. I have met the reader half-way and listed several other options at the end of this post. This is also a great itinerary for a solo trip to Seattle.
Day 1 – A Day in Seattle
Breakfast – Voula’s Offshore Café. THE place to satiate any biscuits-and-gravy cravings you may have. Their claim to fame is Food Network notoriety, so you know it hits both marks – atmosphere and delicious grub. A close second would be the Portage Bay Café. The Dungeness crab cake benedict is out of this world.
Capitol Hill – explore Pike and Pine streets for eclectic shops, funky cafes, and a relaxed and groovy vibe, away from the hustle and bustle of Seattle’s waterfront.
Lunch – While on in the neighborhood, have lunch at Monsoon. With locations in Capitol Hill and Bellevue, is arguably the best Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle for a special occasion, sourcing meat from local ranches and serving Chinese-influenced Vietnamese dishes not commonly found in the area.
Seattle Underground Tour and Pioneer Square – I’ve taken the Seattle Underground Tour 4 or 5 times and it NEVER gets old. Entertaining and informative guides lead you through Seattle’s fascinating underbelly into a world of love, loss, and rebuilding. As they say, its “history with punch lines.” Several tours are held daily, and during the peak tourist season, tours are held nearly every hour. Start your adventure off at Doc Maynard’s Public House, where you can have a drink and grab a bite while your tour guides start the introduction to the tour.
Pioneer Square – the home of the Underground Tour. Be sure to explore this original neighborhood of Seattle, either before or after the underground tour. Established in 1852, it’s got plenty of nooks and cranny’s to discover. This is also a good place for nightlife as there are several good restaurants and clubs for after hours. I recommend Damn the Weather, for tasty craft cocktails.
Dinner – Jimmy’s On First. Serving steaks, burgers, seafood, and Pacific Northwest favorites.
Day 2 – Seattle Scenery
Breakfast – Queen Anne Cafe. Breakfast here will last you through ‘till dinner – no joke. It’s my go-to breakfast place in Seattle. If you’re with a group of people who can’t come to a conclusion on where to have the first meal of the day, simply put up your hand and lead them here. I love their Popeye omelete!
Eliot Bay Book Company – Not quite as well-read and expansive as Powell’s in Portland, but this bookstore is certainly Seattle’s answer to it. They have several levels of book-browsing greatness, with frequent author reading and events. The perfect way to spend a few hours escaping from reality.
Pike Place Market – I can’t say much here that hasn’t already been said. You just simply have to come here and soak up the atmosphere of the longest-running public market in the U.S. You could easily spend all day here discovering everything. My advice is to explore the lower, much-less traveled floor of the market, which has even more really cool shops. Walk across the cobblestoned street and see the very first Starbuck’s coffee house. This is where it all started, kids. However, I don’t necessarily recommend going inside, it’s always super crowded and pretty much like every other Starbucks you’ve been to!
Lunch (at Pike Place Market) oh- soooo many options to choose from, but I recommend Piroshky Piroshky across the way from the main market or Pike Place Chowder a little further east. This place usually has a line out the door, so you know its good. Pike Place Market may seem like a touristy place, but look beyond the obvious and you will be charmed. Oh, I almost forgot, there is a little mini-donut stand a few paces south from the place where they throw the fish. Watch your tasty balls of fried dough get made and eat them hot and fresh. SO GOOD.
Take a ferry cruise around Elliott Bay. it’s touristy, but WORTH IT. Let the breeze of Puget Sound whip through your hair while you take in the spectacular view of the Seattle skyline.
Dinner – There are many options to choose from along the waterfront, but I recommend Salty’s On Alki Beach. Enjoy your local seafood meal while taking in sweeping views of Puget Sound.
Other options
MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture) Formerly called the Experience Music Project, go here if you’re any kind of music and/or pop culture lover.
Belltown A great place to go for dinner, or after hours for that relaxing cocktail and some great local live music.
Take the ferry to a neighboring island. Bainbridge Island and Vashon Island have sleepy little communities which make for a great day trip, or for just a few hours of exploring.
Uneeda Burger in Fremont is a delicious neighborhood burger place and hangout, not far from the Fremont Troll.
To explore other Seattle neighborhoods, go here.
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