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.
Background
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.
First-time visit
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.
Return visit
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.
One main terminal, split into two areas, plus four concourses and two satellites.
Ticketing and baggage-claim facilities are in the Main Terminal (also called
Ticketing); shops, restaurants and services are post-security in the Central
Terminal; and the flight gates are in Concourses A, B, C and D, and the North and
South Satellites.
Distance from city centre
13 miles (21km) south of downtown Seattle.
Transport between terminals
Allow five minutes to transfer between the Central Terminal and concourses on foot.
Shuttle trains run between the terminal and the North and South Satellites (allow 12
minutes) also stopping at Concourse C and D.
Airport parking
Hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, long-term and valet parking is available in the
airport's car parks. Take a ticket as you drive in, stick it into the pay
station when you're ready to leave, and pay with cash or credit card. To
reach the garage from the Main Terminal, use the skybridge on level 4.
Time zone
GMT -8 (GMT -7 from 2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November).
Useful tips
Ground transportation information booths can be found in the baggage-claim area and
on the third floor of the parking garage. There are also free phones here from which
to call for a STILA town car (limo). If you have trouble finding your way around the
airport, look out for helpful volunteers wearing blue jackets or purple and red
ensembles.
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