A place of surprising contrasts.
Seattle is a place of surprising contrasts. An urban city surrounded by natural beauty, it is sophisticated yet unpretentious.
Start your day kayaking on Lake Union, then end it with a spectacular meal at a 5-star restaurant. Catch an indie band at the Crocodile or a Beethoven symphony at Benaroya Hall. See a Broadway-bound play or ride a waterfront Ferris wheel.
Stroll through historic Pike Place Market, marvel at Chihuly Garden and Glass, then visit a dozen wineries—all in one day.
Seattle is clean, green and vibrant: a city for all seasons. Visitors can ski in the winter, hike in the spring, sail in the summer and cycle in the fall—all just a short hop from a comfortable city hotel.
GETTING TO & AROUND
Source: https://visitseattle.org/visitor-information/getting-around/
Schedule:
Mon-Sat, 5:00am–1:00am (last train from the airport departs at 1:15 am)
Sun, 6:00am–midnight (last train from the airport departs at 11:27pm)
Adult Fare: $3.00 (as of fall 2024); more >>
King County Metro Transit provides bus service in downtown Seattle and outlying neighborhoods in King county. Download the mobile app for on-the-go transit information, available for iPhone and Android.
Schedule:
Time-tables and route maps are available at the Transit Information Center in the tunnel under Westlake Center at 4th Avenue & Pine Street, or can be found on the King County Metro Transit website.
Adult Fare: $2:75 (ORCA cards); more >>
ORCA Cards
These transit passes can be used on streetcars, light rail, buses, and more. Please note: they do not work on Washington State Ferries or the Seattle Center Monorail). ORCA cards cost $3; load an all-day regional transit pass onto an ORCA card for $8. Transit pass value covers $3.50 per ride.
South Lake Union:
The line connects the South Lake Union neighborhood to Seattle’s vibrant downtown core, consisting of 1.3 miles, nine stops, and full of shops and restaurants as well as Lake Union’s 12-acre waterfront park.
Schedule:
Mon-Fri, 6:00am–9:00pm
Sat, 7:00am–09:00pm
Sun & holidays, 10:00am–7:00pm
First Hill:
This line consists of 10 stops and stretches 2.5 miles, connecting to Link light rail at the Capitol Hill and International District stations, the Sounder Commuter Rail and Amtrak intercity rail at the King Street Station, and Metro Transit buses at several points.
Schedule:
Mon-Fri, 5:00am–10:30pm
Sat, 6:00am-10:30pm
Sun, 10:00am–8:00pm
Adult Fare: $2.25 (coins, credit, ORCA cards); $4.50 (all-day pass); more >>
The iconic Seattle Center Monorail travels between Westlake Center in downtown and Seattle Center at the base of Queen Anne hill. Trains depart every 10 minutes and the trip takes only 3 minutes each way. One-way fare for adults is $3.50. Schedules, information and FAQs are on the Seattle Center Monorail website.
Schedule:
Mon-Thur, 7:30am-9:00pm
Fri, 7:30am-11:00pm
Sat, 8:30-11:00pm
Sun, 8:30am-9:00pm
(Extended service in summer and for events at Climate Pledge Arena)
Fare: $3.00 (one way; ORCA cards accepted)
Schedule:
May-Dec
Mon-Fri, 7:30am–11pm
Sat-Sun, 8:30am– 11pm Sat–Sun
Jan-May
Mon-Thu, 7:30am–9pm
Fri, 7:30am–11pm
Sat, 8:30am– 11pm
Sun, 8:30am–9pm Sun
Fare: $2.50 (one way)
At Sea-Tac Airport, taxis and ride-sharing companies are available on the third floor of the parking garage. One-way rides between the airport and downtown range from $40-$55. To arrange for a limo, town car or taxi ride in advance, use any of the travelers’ information boards in baggage claim or visit the ground transportation information booth on the third floor of the parking garage. Contact our concierge team at the Seattle Visitor Center for referrals for specific transportation companies based on your personal travel needs.
In downtown Seattle, Lyft, Uber, and metered taxis offer in-city transportation from local drivers. All rides can be scheduled using smartphone apps.
Rental Cars & Car Sharing
All car rental companies providing service at Sea-Tac Airport are located in the off-site car-rental facility. Dedicated shuttle buses run 24/7 to pick up passengers outside baggage claim at the north and south ends of the main terminal. If you prefer to enjoy the city using public transit when first arriving, car rentals are available at multiple downtown Seattle locations. Ask our Seattle Visitor Center team for referrals or assistance.
Visitors can rent vehicles by the hour from Zipcar or by the minute from GIG Car Share, an on-demand, eco-conscious one-way car sharing option powered by AAA.
Hotel courtesy shuttles pick up and drop off passengers on the third floor of the airport parking garage at Islands 1 & 2. Shared-ride vans and airport services are available to passengers outside door 00 at the south end of the main terminal on the baggage-claim level. Shuttle Express Downtown Airporter offers shuttle service for under $20 per person to downtown Seattle hotels and also offer regularly scheduled cruise ship transfers.
Bike Sharing
Seattle is a bike-friendly city. If you’re visiting, it’s easy to find a ride no matter where you are. Open your Uber app and select the Bike option from the top menu to quickly and easily reserve a nearby JUMP bike. All bikes are dockless and include an electric assist that provides a boost up to 15mph. JUMP bikes are free to unlock and charge $0.15 per minute.
Another app-based, bike-share service is Lime, offering both e-assist and pedal bike options throughout Seattle. Simply download the app and scan the QR code to unlock a bike for only $1, plus varying rates per minute.
Travel by Rail
Five train routes service Seattle’s King Street Station, just south of downtown. Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter train spans Everett, north of Seattle, to Lakewood, south of Tacoma. Amtrak has three routes: Coast Starlight travels between Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. Amtrak Cascades travels between Vancouver, BC; Seattle; Tacoma; Portland; Salem; and Eugene. Empire Builder travels between Chicago; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Spokane; Portland; and Seattle. Rocky Mountaineer offers a high-end travel option between Seattle; Vancouver, BC; and the Canadian Rockies.