Seattle has turned into one of my favorite cities in the United States. For the longest time we didn’t have any desire to explore the city. Who wants to be in rain and covered in clouds all day? How wrong were we. We have been lucky with sunny days and when it is gloomy, we still enjoy it. There is so much to do in the area. Here are suggestions for a three day itinerary in Seattle.

3 Day Itinerary in Seattle

Day 1

Seattle is made up of different neighborhoods or districts. On your first day, take some time and check them out. They are each unique and so they offer something different at each area. Here are our favorites.

Start with the best view of the city at Queen Anne’s Park. As you may guess, this spot is very popular and it isn’t very big. On a busy weekend you will have difficulty finding parking or a spot without someone blocking your view.

Then head to Fremont to check out the Fremont Bridge Troll, stroll its main street for fun stores and a bite to eat. If you are into plants, this area has one of the coolest plant stores (I am sure there is a more formal term) I have been to. They had guest appearances, a DJ and rows and rows of the coolest flowers and plants we have seen.

Take the afternoon to hangout in Capitol Hill. Flower gardens, museums and a park with an ice cream truck during the summer. There are places for large groups to gather on the lawn and paths for a leisurely walk around the park. This park is also next to the cemetery where Bruce Lee is buried.

Then end up downtown for some shopping and a fun dinner out at one of the amazing restaurants. I would suggest hot pot at HaiDiLao. Seattle has amazing options for diverse food choices. Ramen, Korean BBQ, Thai, hot pot, Indian, etc. So make sure to check out a cuisine that you might not get where you are from.

Day 2

Day two is for some of the biggest attractions in the city.

Start your day at Pike’s Peak Market Place and do a food tour. Show Me Seattle is the company we went through and Dani Suder was our guide and it was so worth it! I was a bit skeptical of the tour, but I loved it and the bites you get throughout the market were the best. You will also get to see the seafood market, flower market and the famous gum wall! It definitely got us to places we would have missed and the history is also worth learning while you are there.

One of the coolest spots was the bakery. It is the first woman owned business that was given a business license in the state of Washington.

After all that food take a walk to Olympic Park and check out the sculptures while your stomach digests.

This is on your way to the space needle, which is your next stop! But first check out the Chuhuly museum. Have you ever been to the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas? If so, you will recognize some of his work. He does gorgeous glass work and likes to highlight Native American history through art.

Then get in line to go up the space needle. You do not have to buy tickets ahead of time. Just show up, buy and get in line. The line goes quickly and then a quick elevator ride up and then you have access to 360 degree views. On a clear day you can see Mt. Rainier. So grab a drink and stand on the rotating floor and enjoy!

To end the day stop at Lady yum for awesome macarons and then dinner at 2120. If you are still wanting to stay out then find one of the many speakeasys in town.

Day 3

Day 3 will be a little different. You are going to go on an excursion to Bainbridge Island. I highly suggest reserving your ferry ahead of time, especially if you are bringing a car and I do suggest having a car. The ferry is only 35 minutes long and you have views of the city, potential seal sightings and a snack.

Walk around downtown for some shopping and lunch. Then find the Waterfront Trail and enjoy the views. It is a short walk along the pier on the boardwalk.

The next stop is Driftwood Beach for some beach time. This beach also has an RV park, play ground and bathrooms.

You will notice we like to be active and so the next stop is a hike through the woods. This is in Grand Forest and it was a fun hike. You can make this as long or as short as you would like.

Always make sure what time the last ferry is back to the city and you will need to be there an hour early to make sure to get a spot, otherwise you may have a 2 hour drive back to the city or you are staying the night. If you don’t have time to get dinner on the island, then head back downtown for dinner.

Other options of things to do:

If you don’t want to head to Bainbridge Island, we would suggest spending the day in Kirkland and renting a boat on Lake Washington. Or closer to town, hang out on Union Lake.

If you are a runner, there is a great 6 mile loop around Union Lake.

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