Many of the best hotels to try in Seattle are within the convenient, cultural hotspot of the city’s downtown area. The bustling Pike Place Market with its artisanal wares, famous celebrity restaurants and renowned art displays can all be found in Downtown Seattle. To make things even better, especially for travellers, the downtown area is extremely accessible with multiple avenues of public transport, such as the light rail and city buses.
To get the most out of your Seattle visit, we’ve compiled some of the best locations you can stay.
Pike Place Market
When you want to enjoy the Waterfront Park, the Seattle Art Museum or one of the piers, Pike Place Market is a great location to stay near. Many of the views overlook glittering Elliott Bay, and you’ll be able to walk or commute easily to Pike Place Market. The market itself is famous for being the longest running, open air farmer’s markets in the US and is absolutely worth exploring. With a large variety of unique products for sale, you can find specialty foods, fresh produce, collectibles, antiques and artistic work you won’t find in a store anywhere else.
Pioneer Square
The historic heart of Seattle, Pioneer Square is a cozy combination of old charm and new architecture. It has some of the city’s oldest buildings, including the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. A wealth of gold rush history is housed in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, which was once a critical stop for travellers heading to Alaska. Another experience worth noting is Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, a Seattle staple. This tour will take you on a strange but hilarious stroll through the history of Seattle as you walk through the entombed sidewalks and streets that were built before Seattle’s Great Fire of 1889.
There’s also no shortage of beautiful views: when you stay around Pioneer Square, you’ll be close to art walks so you can visit a wide variety of local art galleries. You can also find no shortage of shops, boutiques and parks to see all the vintage charm Pioneer Square has to offer visitors.
The Waterfront
The Waterfront area offers some beautiful views of Puget Sound and is currently being redeveloped. A brand new family friendly aquarium is headed to The Waterfront that will offer closer views of oceanic wildlife. You will easily be able to find fresh seafood or take one of many boat tours to see everything that Puget Sound has to offer. Staying around the area will keep you close to the beautifully lit piers while providing some of the best views of the bay. Ferries regularly come and go from the waterfront so you can easily get in a boat ride or travel across the bay while catching some views of marine life.
The University District – U District
Staying near the University District, or U District as the locals say, can get you an eclectic mix of historic charm, youthful culture and relaxed sight-seeing. Within U District, you can find U Village, offering different shops and stores to fit any need. There are also many local pubs and indie eateries frequented by students, and you can catch games at Husky Stadium. The tailgating parties in the U District are famous for their fun and quirky gatherings.
Like other areas of the city, you can also enjoy local art at the Henry Art Gallery or Burke Museum. As you might expect from any cultural university area, there are also plenty of concerts and performances to see at the local theaters.
Capitol Hill
This area is home to some of Seattle’s most iconic music venues and gardens. If you enjoy beautifully crafted spaces, you’ll love the Victorian styled conservatory at Volunteer Park, which features five display houses of different cacti, ferns, palms, bromeliads and more.
Another extremely instagrammable place for travellers is the Japanese garden at the center of Washington Park Arboretum. After a stroll through the beautiful parks, you can stop at the Seattle Asian Art Museum to view timeless pieces both ancient and modern. You may also decide to stroll the commercial corridors of Pike and Pine Streets. You will find great food, bars, nightlife and shopping all stomping grounds for local residents in Capitol Hill. You’ll also be in easy distance to The Crocodile, a popular showroom that’s seen the likes of Nirvana, R.E.M. and Pearl Jam perform.
Belltown
Once an industrial area, Belltown has transformed into an upscale venue with everything from high-end condos and fashion boutiques to vintage cinemas and arcades. Belltown is famous for its nightlife, featuring a variety of lively nightclubs. If you stay in the area and prefer something quieter, you’ll also find plenty of laid back lounges and dive bars within easy walking distance.
Many people enjoy the old charm of the cinemas for some family friendly night activities. If you want to enjoy some of the fantastic local favorites, stop in at Top Pot Doughnuts – A fantastic donut chain in Seattle featuring a two story location in Belltown. You can savor fresh and homemade old fashioned donuts and there is a delectable treat for any taste. If you are looking for something savory, some of the top restaurants in Seattle are located here. Including professional chef Tom Douglas, who is well known amongst locals. Stop in to any of his restaurants to enjoy top of the line, high quality food with a wide variety from Mexican to Italian foodfare. You’ll find no shortage of delicious bakeries and some of the top restaurants of Seattle.
Queen Anne
This part of the city features hilly terrain that will offer sweeping views of the city. Staying in this neighborhood will give you quick access to a variety of family-friendly activities the area is famous for, including some of Seattle’s largest celebrations and festivals.
Queen Anne also has plenty to see, as the area houses the iconic Space Needle and monorail, both historic and fun places to visit on your tour of the city. You can visit the Science Fiction Museum, enjoy a laser show at the Pacific Science Center, activities and learning at The Children’s Museum, or take a stroll through Discovery Park to add some fun, educational activities during your visit.
South Lake Union
South Lake Union has an upscale and thriving flavor to it, as a hub for Amazon and the biotech industry at large, you’ll find no shortage of hip bars and eateries to indulge in. You’ll also be able to visit the Amazon Spheres, an incredible visual spectacle of an indoor jungle space complete with banana stands and underground bar.
There’s also no shortage of water activities to enjoy at South Lake Union. Rent a stand up paddleboard, kayak the currents of Puget Sound, or hop on a local cruise for a tour across the water.
Finding the Best Place to Stay
Every part of the city offers something unique, so you can find an activity for anyone when deciding where to stay in Seattle. Whether you want some family-friendly fun touring museums and aquariums or a more romantic walk around the piers after drinks, you can find no shortage of unique restaurants and venues to make your trip truly memorable.
If you find that Seattle is the best place for you to reside permanently, you can find luxury condos like The Emerald that will keep you centered in all the downtown excitement while providing the quiet security and gorgeous views from an immaculately designed high-rise condominium lifestyle.
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