Skip to content
Locrawl

Best views in Seattle

12 lookouts and viewpoints in Seattle.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Best views in Seattle

  1. DoDowntown

    Argosy Cruises

    Offers special dinner and sightseeing cruises. The most common tour visitors take is the hour-long journey on Elliott Bay, which gives you an excellent view not just of the Space Needle and the Downtown skyline, but the freight harbor to the south as well.

    Cruise times vary by seasonPrices vary according to your itinerary; $23.75 for harbor cruise

  2. SeeWest

    Hamilton Viewpoint Park

    Hamilton Viewpoint Park rests above the beaches of Alki facing downtown Seattle. Located adjacent to the Seacrest Ferry Dock.

    4AM-1130PMFree

  3. SeeNorth

    Maple Leaf Park

    This area used to be a reservoir. It is now drained, replaced by a wide open green area locals used for playing, but the water tower is still standing. As it is the highest spot in North Seattle, you can catch a wonderful panorama of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier, the Cascades, Lake Washington, and partially blocked Olympic Mountains.

  4. DoWest

    Seacrest Park

    Seacrest Cove 2 is a local dive site in West Seattle, Washington. The site is within Seacrest Park. Cove 2 is often used as a training site for Open Water, Navigation and other scuba classes. The site has a moderate slope leading down to depths greater than the recreational limit of 130 feet (40 meters). Because of the easily reached deep areas Technical Divers also use Cove 2 for training. The site has a silty bottom, but many submerged logs and pilings and sunken boats (the Honey Bear) that are well decorated with Pacific Northwest Marine Life. There are restrooms in the pier building and a great little Fish and Chips bar within easy walking distance. The site sports a nice view of the Seattle skyline across Elliot Bay. There is an exclusion zone of 150 feet around the walk-on ferry dock. Other sites (Coves 1 and 3!) are just to the north and south respectively. Most parking is curbside on the street.

    4AM - 11:30PM

  5. SeeDowntown

    Seattle Great Wheel

    Rising 175 feet in the air, this Ferris wheel offers a 15-minute ride in one of the wheel's 42 gondolas, each of which can hold up to 8 people. You'll get a wonderful view of the Seattle waterfront, the Downtown skyline, as well as the Puget Sound, the snow-covered Olympics, and the green city hills.

    Hours vary by season; closes Fri Sat at midnight, 11PM (July–September) or 10PM (other months) all other days$13, $8.50 ages 4-11

  6. SeeDowntown

    Seattle Public Library-Central Library

    Seattle Central Library

    A dramatic glass and steel structure in the heart of Downtown, designed by Rem Koolhaas. This is not an average public library and has become a tourist destination in its own right. A popular way to experience the unique architecture of the building is to take an elevator to the 10th floor, the highest observation deck in the building. From here you can walk down to the main floor through the Book Spiral; the core of the structure which organizes the library's books in one continuous path organized by the Dewey decimal system.

    Mon-Thu 10AM-8PM, Fri Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-6PMFree

  7. SeeDowntown

    Sky View Observatory

    Columbia Center

    This observatory sits on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center, one of the tallest buildings on the West Coast and the tallest public observation deck in the Pacific Northwest, sitting 932 feet (284.2 meters) above the ground and more than 330 feet taller than the Space Needle. Great views are offered from the top and some people claim the view is better from here than from the Space Needle. Another advantage over the Space Needle is that this building isn't well known as a tourist attraction, so there's usually little to no line to get to the top. Tickets are available for purchase online ($2 less expensive or in the atrium at the Columbia Center). There is a cafe in the observation deck serving sandwiches and drinks (including beer and wine) and a food court at the bottom of the Columbia Center.

    Daily 10AM-8PM (check website for extended summer hours and special hours for holidays)$22 adults, $19 seniors and military with ID, $16.for kids 5 to 13

  8. SeePioneer Square-International District

    Smith Tower

    Built in 1914, the Smith Tower was Seattle's first skyscraper, and the tallest building on the West Coast for nearly half a century before being overtaken by the Space Needle. Uniformed attendants operate the old copper and brass elevators from which you can peer into the different floors and offices as you ascend, an experience most people today have probably only witnessed in old movies. The outdoor Observatory on the 35th floor wraps completely around the four sides of the tower, providing panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, including Mt. Rainier, as well as of Elliott Bay, Downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square. The interior of the 35th floor contains a speakeasy-themed bar, formerly known as the Chinese Room for its ornately carved ceiling and a number of decorative flourishes imported from China in the early 20th century. There is an excellent 45 minute guided tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide (separate admission fee) about Seattle's history from the 1920s and beyond that is available. Also, there is an excellent independent coffee shop (Caffe Vita) in the Smith Tower (hours M–F: 7AM-5PM, Sa–Su: 8AM–3PM). Washington state residents can get admission for only $18 (with Washington state ID) and after 4pm Monday to Thursday admission is available to all for only $18 to the observation deck and bar only (museum not included for this price).

    Mon-Wed Noon-7PM, Thu and Sun Noon-8PM, Fri and Sat Noon-9PMSelf tour and observatory: adults $27, seniors/military $24, students/children 5-13 $21, under 5 Free, locals with Washington state ID $18. Guided 45 minute tour is additional

  9. DoSodo-Georgetown

    T-Mobile Park

    Since 1999, T-Mobile Park has been home to the Seattle Mariners baseball team and is one of the finest ballparks in the country. Right field bleacher seats enjoy a panoramic view of Downtown and Elliott Bay. An element of the unique atmosphere is the train whistle that sounds each time a Mariners' home run occurs. The stadium offers anything from traditional ballpark dogs and the famous garlic fries to fine gourmet fare and local beers. The aroma of food is everywhere inside the park. There couldn't be a better way to spend a summer evening with friends and family in Seattle. Take the elevator to 300 level to the Rooftop Boardwalk and see great views of the Puget Sound and downtown skyline and check out the free Mariners Hall of Fame on the 100 level for interesting exhibits and photos of Mariners players and memorabilia. You can tour the stadium for $10, $5 children ages 3-12. Schedules vary by season, but there are always tours at 12:30PM and 2:30PM, except during game days. You can buy the tickets online or at the Mariners pro shop.

  10. SeeWest

    The Viewpoint at Admiral

    Some of the best views of the Seattle skyline are from West Seattle and the Viewpoint at Admiral is the best of the best. You can't miss it as there are usually people there. Bring your camera.

  11. SeeCapitol Hill-Central District

    Water Tower

    The 1906 tower at the highest point of Capitol Hill has an observation deck at the top, with views from the Cascades to the Olympics interspersed with a series of panels explaining the history of Seattle's Olmsted-designed park system. The views are somewhat obstructed by metal grates, but the clever photographer can work around them. No elevator - the only way up is the staircase wound around the water tank, seven stories high.

    10AM-sunsetFree

  12. Do Not mapped

    Argosy Cruises

    Boat tour company with special dinner and sightseeing cruises. The most common tour is the hour-long Harbor Cruise on Elliott Bay, which offers excellent views of the Space Needle, Downtown skyline, freight harbor, and usually some sea lions, with a barrage of informative commentary about local history or interesting ships or cargo passing through that day. The Locks Cruise is a 2-hour one-way trip (in alternating directions) through the locks separating Elliot Bay and Lake Union, with an optional bus ride if you prefer a round trip. Seasonal cruises include the Summer Views Cruise with a sunset on Puget Sound, and Husky Football Cruises on Lake Washington before the games. Most cruises offer a decent full-service bar with large drinks and some snacks.

    Cruise schedule varies by season. Ticket booth: Daily 10AM-4:05PMHarbor cruise $30.50. Locks cruise $42.50, bus connection $5 additional. Discounts for kids 4-12 and seniors

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Seattle (CC BY-SA 4.0).