I may be a bit biased, but I think that Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the world! If you are planning a trip to Seattle and wondering how to spend a week in Seattle, there are plenty of great sites to see. You'll need to get out of the downtown area to experience the best the city has to offer. It's smart to have a good game plan to minimize transportation time between neighborhoods so you don't spend all of your time stuck in traffic. That’s why I’ve created a sample one-week itinerary for Seattle to help you maximize your time. But first, let's talk a couple of logistics:

Transportation:

While you can get around on busses and bikes, sometimes cars are a nice option. If you have your own car, I highly recommend making sure you download the PayByPhone parking app. If you don't have your own car, it's helpful to have Car2Go, Uber, and Lyft accounts on your phone, as these options are frequently much easier and cheaper than taxis.

Where to Stay:

Belltown or lower Queen Anne are probably your best options for convenience. You can easily walk to downtown, Pike Place, Seattle Center (where the Space Needle is), and Capital Hill. Belltown can be a bit dodgy at night, however, so a lot of people prefer to stay downtown. The Mediterranean Inn has a great location in Queen Anne.  

How to Spend a Week in Seattle

Sunday - Ballard and Fremont

One of my favorite farmer's markets in Seattle is in Ballard on Sundays. The selection of produce is incredible. For brunch, you can pick up some good tamales or fruits at a stand, eat at one of the many restaurants lining the market, or walk around the corner to eat at one of my favorite breakfast spots, the Hi Life. 

Next, make your way to Fremont. The Sunday market is huge and quite different from Ballard's, with less produce and more crafts. If you are hungry, grab some lunch at the market, Revel, Homegrown, Jai Thai, Flying Apron, Blue Moon Burgers, or Cafe Turko. There are tons of great lunch spots in this neighborhood because of the amount of tech companies located here. If you're looking for some gelato, Serena is tasty. For coffee, Mislead & Co. is delicious. 

While you're in Fremont, you should sit, walk, or bike along the waterfront path. Also check out the Statue of Lenin and the Fremont Troll under the Aurora bridge. Walk by and see how the Interurban Sculpture is decorated today. Seattle has so much street art, you will notice statues everywhere. Also, keep your eyes peeled for trippy Henry murals all over the city! 

Gasworks is a beautiful park overlooking Lake Union. Spend some time relaxing on the hill and watching sea planes land. Or ask to join in with someone's lawn games.   

For dinner nearby, I recommend Agua Verde, Whale Wins, Joule, Manolin, or Revel. Stop in at Fremont Brewery or Schilling Cider House for local samplings.   

Monday - Puget Sound and Piers

If you have a full week here, hop on a ferry one day. Puget Sound has a huge ferry system because of the many islands.  Bainbridge Island is a short 35 minute ride and a great afternoon trip to grab lunch and experience island life. The Clipper to Victoria, B.C. or Friday Harbor on San Juan Island are longer rides, so get an early start for a day trip. Whale watching tours are also quite fun!

For a fun, casual, touristy dinner by the terminal, eat at The Crab Pot where you can get a traditional crab boil. They pour a pot of shellfish right on the table and you eat with your hands. For a classier meal, have reservations at Dahlia Lounge, Le Pichet, The Pink Door, Palace Kitchen, or Matt's in the Market.  

If you are planning on seeing a show at the Paramount or 5th Avenue Theater, this would be a good night for it as you are already right nearby.

Tuesday - Georgetown and West Seattle

Georgetown is an eclectic, artsy neighborhood. If you have a car, drive down to get breakfast at one of your many options like The Hangar or Georgetown Liquor Co. If you're there closer to lunch time, try Fonda La Catrina or Smarty Pants. Then stroll along Airport Way and stop in art galleries and antique shops to your heart's content. Next, drive down to the Museum of Flight (open 10-5 every day). This huge museum is well worth a couple of hours. 

When you are done looking at planes, drive over to West Seattle. Exit right to drive along Harbor Ave. and enjoy iconic views of the city and plenty of beaches. Keep driving and park near Alki Beach to enjoy the Seattle beach scene. Go ahead and get dinner here, too. Popular restaurants include Cactus, Salty's, Phoenecia, Cassis, and Spud.

Wednesday - Hiking in or Near Seattle

If you like to hike, there are so many beautiful options around here! If you don't have a car, Discovery Park and the UW Arboretum are right in the city. If you do have a car, just a few popular hikes within a 40 minute drive are Snoqualmie Falls, Rattlesnake Ledge, Little Si, and Big Si. Visit the Washington Trails Association website to choose a hike that's best for you.

If you decide on Discovery Park, Chinooks is a good place to stop for breakfast or lunch. It's right on the last working Fisherman's Terminal in the city. This is where some of the boats from Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" port.

The International District is a fun place to get dinner this night. Green Leaf (get the Vietnamese pancakes as a starter), Tamerind Tree, Tsukushinbo, and Maneki are all tasty options. While you're up there, the flagship Uwajimay specialty Asian food and gift market is a fun store to shop in.

Thursday - Queen Anne

There is plenty to fill up your day in Queen Anne. First, you'll want to get breakfast. Toulouse Petit is top rated, but I also really like 5 Spot. Both come with a wait, so get there before you are starving. If you eat at Toulouse Petit, walk up the Queen Anne Ave hill (if you ate at 5 Spot, you are already up there). Stroll along Queen Anne Ave. and window shop in this very family friendly neighborhood. Stop and get a coffee at El Diablo. From there, take a short walk to Kerry Park for arguably the best view of the city. If you continue a few blocks west along mansion-filled W. Highland Drive, you can enjoy another great view of the water from Marshall Park. Plus, there is a cute little garden across the street. 

If you go back down the hill to Lower Queen Anne, you can visit the Seattle Center. I like to sit and watch the hoards of people playing in the fountain before heading to the Space Needle, EMP, and Chihuli Museum. 

By now, you might be looking for a snack. Seattle has some of the best oysters in the world, and Taylor Shellfish is the supplier for all of the top restaurants. Luckily, they have two locations where you can get these oysters right from the source, and one is right by the Seattle Center on Republican St., so stop here and taste a selection. Don't forget to ask the knowledgeable staff any questions you have about oysters.

For dinner reservations in the neighborhood, try Crow, Toulouse Petit, How to Cook a Wolf, or Betty. For a more casual bite to eat, try Dick's, Athenos, SushiLand, or Mezcaleria Oaxaca. Or, on the top of Queen Ave, get some food at the Queen Anne's Thursday Farmer's Market in the summer starting at 3 PM. There are multiple local food trucks to choose from. 

Friday - Downtown, Waterfront, and Capital Hill

Get your breakfast in Belltown at Local 360 or downtown at Lolas, then walk or bike over to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Next, you can keep heading northwest along the path for a park scene, or start to make your way back along the piers until you get to Pike Place. From here, you have tons of options: Seattle Art Museum, the Aquarium, the Great Wheel, an underground tour, downtown shopping, or an Argosy Cruise. It's also fun to go to the observation decks of the Columbia Tower or the less crowded Smith Tower. Depending on your time and interests, pick a few activities and enjoy this very touristy area. Ivars is a great place to get a quick bowl of chowder for lunch.

If you booked tickets to a game, this is the day you'll be closest to the stadiums.

For dinner, I would recommend heading up to Capital Hill. Walk, bike, or car-share up Pike Street to this lively neighborhood that's hard to park in. Here you will find the best restaurants and bars in the city. Check out any online list of best Seattle restaurants or ask locals to find out what's hot. A few of my favorite standbys are Lark, Vito's, Olives & Anchovies, and Sitka & Spruce. Stop in the Unicorn for a casual drink with unique decor and games downstairs. Just a few good bars to try are Pine Box (beer in an old funeral home), Canon (whiskey specialists), and Knee High Stocking Co. (speakeasy - text them first). Around the corner, you'll notice Bobby Morris Playfield is a popular park in good weather. Capital Hill is also a top neighborhood for live music, so pick up a copy of The Stranger or look to KEXP to find recommended shows. 

Saturday - Greenlake and Ballard

When it's nice out in Seattle, Greenlake is the place to be. Stop by Paseo and stand in line to pick up some of the best Cuban sandwiches to go, then head to Greenlake. (If you go on a Sunday or Monday, Paseo will be closed, but Bongos by Greenlake is also great.) Find a nice spot in the grass to eat and people-watch, then enjoy the 3 mile stroll around the lake. You'll find plenty of fun distractions like paddle boarders, basketball games, slacklining, sunbathing, and lots of dogs. 

If you are interested in visiting the zoo, you'll be nearby, so this would be a good time to go. Or, drive over to Golden Gardens in Ballard to see a popular beach. Spend your evening in Ballard on Market St. and Leary. There are tons of fantastic restaurants, bars, and some popular music venues. It seems like every week, there is a new restaurant opening in Ballard, but some of my favorite go-tos are La Carta de Oaxaca, Señor Moose, Bastille, Ocho, Hotel Albatross, La Isla, and Walrus and the Carpenter. (This is the best place in town for oysters and small plates, so be prepared for a long wait in nearby Barnacle, Chippy's, or Staple & Fancy.) To see some music, visit the Sunset or the Tractor, and if you are looking to pop into a few bars, Leary is a great street for it. Grab dessert at either Hot Cakes, D'Ambrosia Gelato, or Cupcake Royal. 

Other Great Neighborhoods to visit during a week in Seattle

There are plenty of other great neighborhoods in Seattle to check out, too. The University District, Greenwood, Wallingford, Madrona, Eastlake, Montlake... While you've got to see the main sites, it's rewarding to explore more neighborhoods. That is, after all, where locals spend their time.

Enjoy your week in Seattle!

If you're headed to Seattle soon, send me an email at wegetoutoftown@gmail.com. This is my home! If you send me your plans I would be happy to help you figure out the details and possibly even meet up!