Not exhaustive — just the eight stops locals point newcomers toward most often, from the market stalls downtown to a lighthouse at the edge of the city.
Seattle's working public market since 1907 — fish throwers, flower stalls, and the original Starbucks storefront down the street. Go early for the produce stands, stay for the street musicians.
The 1962 World's Fair tower still anchors the skyline. The observation deck's glass floor isn't for everyone, but the view of the Olympics and Puget Sound is worth the elevator ride alone.
A small hillside viewpoint with the single most photographed skyline shot in the city — Space Needle in front, Mount Rainier behind it on a clear day. Best right around sunset.
A 175-foot ferris wheel at the end of Pier 57, lit up along the waterfront after dark. Pair it with a walk out to the water and a ferry to Bainbridge Island if you have the afternoon.
Seattle's original downtown — brick-and-iron 1890s buildings, a carved totem pole on the square, and the Underground Tour running through the city's literal foundations below street level.
An 18-foot concrete troll clutching a real Volkswagen Beetle under the Aurora Bridge. Equal parts public art and neighborhood in-joke — Fremont calls itself the 'Center of the Universe' for a reason.
Known to everyone as the Ballard Locks — boats rising and falling between salt and fresh water, a fish ladder for migrating salmon, and a botanical garden right next door.
The city's largest park — 500+ acres of forest, bluffs, and a working lighthouse on a real stretch of Puget Sound coastline. The quietest place in Seattle that's still inside the city limits.
Hungry after all that walking? Read our Food & Drink coverage for where Seattle actually eats.