Head straight for Seattle's iconic Space Needle and you'll see all sides of Seattle from the tower's observation deck, or from its revolving restaurant. Take in Downtown's hip shops and funky galleries, and the cosy bars and neighbourhood restaurants of the Waterfront. Escape the city centre to the lakes and leafy walking trails of the Bellevue area.
Seattle is a high-tech city amid the glorious scenery of the Pacific Northwest. To the south you can see the snowy peak of Mount Rainier and to the west the boat-filled expanse of Puget Sound bay. Right on Seattle's doorstep to the east are the lakes and meadows of the Bellevue area. In Downtown Seattle, you'll find bustling Pike Place Market, Waterfront Park and Pioneer Square. Head south for the boutiques and restaurants of the multicultural International District and Seattle's Chinatown. Go north for the popular nightlife district of Belltown, the Space Needle and shopping in the upmarket Queen Anne area.
Start off in bustling Downtown, the gateway to many of Seattle's major sights, including the Seattle Art Museum, home to a vast collection of world art. Nearby you'll find the stalls and cafes of Pike Place Market where you can buy fresh food from all over the Pacific Northwest. Don't miss the view from the observation deck of the towering Space Needle at dusk, when the lights of Seattle are strung out before you.
Head to Waterfront Park, a bustling area of shops and restaurants. Visit the Seattle Aquarium here, where you can walk underwater in a glass dome. See a whole new side to Seattle at the Asian street markets and tiny arts and crafts shops of the International District. Follow the locals out east to Seattle's secret gem of an area, Bellevue. Follow sun-dappled trails through quiet meadows before a fish dinner in a rural restaurant. Or take a boat trip from the tranquil waterside town of Shilshole, north of Seattle, famous for its fresh seafood restaurants.
Equal parts art gallery and airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is filled to the brim with magnificent contemporary artworks. It's also the Pacific Northwest's busiest airport, with around 30 million passengers a year passing through its main terminal.
