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Things to see in Seattle

Attractions

MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry)

Mixing hands-on exhibits with thousands of artefacts and images, MOHAI tells the story of Seattle's past. Objects range from 1962 World's Fair souvenirs to locally designed products to everyday household items dating from the days of the first Washington settlers to the present day. There's also a neat collection of neon signs.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 324 1126
Opening times:

Daily 1000-1700 (Sep-Jun), Daily 1000-1700, Thurs until 2000 (Jul and Aug).

Website: http://www.mohai.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

EMP Museum

The enormous Frank Gehry-designed EMP Museum, with its unmistakable purple and red metallic exterior, celebrates American popular music and culture. Highlights include the guitar gallery, imaginatively designed displays of fantasy and science fiction memorabilia, and the substantial coverage of home-grown grunge. Regularly changing exhibitions showcase an incredible array of artefacts.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 770 2700
Opening times:

Daily 1000-1900 (Jun-Aug); daily 1000-1700 (Sep-May).

Website: http://www.empmuseum.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Space Needle

Seattle's iconic tower was designed by architect Edward E Carlson for the 1962 World's Fair as a tribute to the vision of spaceship culture. In just over 40 seconds, visitors whizz to the observation deck for phenomenal views of skyscrapers, the Cascade Mountains, the Olympic Mountains and volcanic Mt Rainier.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 905 2100
Opening times:

Daily 1000-2130

Website: http://www.spaceneedle.com
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is situated south of the main downtown area. It is Seattle's oldest neighbourhood and a national historic district, showcasing the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Seattle's early development. By night, especially on the weekend or after a baseball or soccer game, crowds jam the many restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 667 0687
Opening times: Website: http://www.pioneersquare.org
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Seattle Great Wheel

The Seattle Great Wheel is a 53m-high (175ft) observation wheel at the end of Pier 57. Your ride includes three revolutions, so there's plenty of time to enjoy the views of Elliott Bay and the skyscrapers behind you. For special occasions, the VIP gondola has leather bucket seats and a glass floor, with champagne thrown in at a nearby restaurant.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 623 8607
Opening times:

Mon-Thu 1100-2200, Fri 1100-0000, Sat 1000-0000, Sun 1000-2200 (winter); Sun-Thu 1000-2200, Fri and Sat 1000-0000 (summer).

Website: http://seattlegreatwheel.com
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Seattle Art Museum

The striking post-modern building designed by Robert Venturi houses Seattle's best collection of artwork. Highlights include Native American art, an Asian and European porcelain showroom and modern works by Jackson Pollack, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Georgia O'Keefe. The museum's Olympic Sculpture Park is a free public park displaying contemporary outdoor art.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 654 3100
Opening times:

Mon, Wed and Fri-Sun 1000-1700, Thurs 1000-2100.

Website: http://www.seattleartmuseum.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Seattle Aquarium

On Pier 59, the Seattle Aquarium showcases an enticing mix of exhibits including live dive shows, a Pacific coral reef, daily octopus feeding, an underwater dome, plus playful harbour seals and sea otters. The aquarium is part of Waterfront Park, the promenade and piers that line Elliott Bay.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 386 4300
Opening times:

Daily 0930-1700.

Website: http://www.seattleaquarium.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Chinatown International District

Chinese immigrants began settling here in the mid 1800s. Today, the neighbourhood is home to a broader Asian community living amid a thriving restaurant district, herbalist shops, antiques stores, karaoke bars and a Buddhist temple. The popular Uwajimaya Market is reputedly the Northwest's largest Asian store, with a grocery, Japanese bookshop and food court.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 382 1197
Opening times: Website: http://www.cidbia.org
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour

Aviation junkies should visit this vast arena 50km (31 miles) north of Seattle, which provides an up-close view of Boeing jumbo jets (747, 767, 777 and the Dreamliner 787). The factory is the Guinness World Record holder for world's largest building – it has an area of nearly 40 hectares (99 acres) and is 27.4m (90ft) high.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 800 464 1476
Opening times:

Daily 0830-1730.

Website: http://www.futureofflight.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Woodland Park Zoo

The 37-hectare (92-acre) Woodland Park Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals from nearly 300 distinct species. Highlights include a Humboldt penguin exhibit, Jaguar Cove, the Trail of Vines (spy lion-tailed macaques and Mayalan tapirs), Northern Trail (spot wolves and grizzlies), a tropical rainforest, the African savannah and an elephant habitat.

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 548 2500
Opening times:

Daily 0930-1600 (Oct-Apr); daily 0930-1800 (May-Sep).

Website: http://www.zoo.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

Seattle Visitor Center and Concierge Services

Address: , , ,
Telephone: +1 206 461 5840.
Opening times:

Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (winter); daily 0900-1700 (summer).

Website: http://www.visitseattle.org

Pick up maps, brochures and logistical guides, buy tickets for museums and theatres, receive detailed information on local events, and make reservations for restaurants and tours. There is a second information centre in the Pike Place Market (tel: +1 206 461 5840, open daily 1000-1800).

Tourist passes

The CityPASS (www.citypass.com/seattle) offers free admission to five Seattle attractions - Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, a Seattle Harbor Tour with Argosy Cruises, either the EMP Museum or Woodland Park Zoo, and either Chihuly Garden and Glass or Pacific Science Centre. It is valid for nine days and you can buy it from the attractions on the day or online in advance.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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The Maxwell Hotel

Wonderfully eccentric décor, friendly staff and an enviable downtown location combine to make this one of the city's top mid-range boutique hotels. Rooms are famously comfortable (some even boast views over towards the Space Needle) and guests have access to an indoor pool, fitness centre, café and 24-hour business centre. Outside, it's just a hop-and-a-skip to major attractions such as the Teatro ZinZanni, Seattle Center and Experience Music Project Museum.

Hotel FIVE

Modern and colourful, Hotel Five's guest rooms are all shiny hardwood floors, bright red accent walls and super-contemporary furnishings. It's the neat little extras that make this hotel stand out too – freshly baked pineapple cupcakes and coffee each afternoon in reception, golf umbrellas in every room (a Seattle essential), plus complimentary bikes and town car service. Max's Café is a great stop for breakfast or lunch.

Hotel Ändra

Hip Hotel Ändra's sleek décor is a tasteful nod to Seattle's Nordic heritage melded with Pacific Northwest contemporary design, featuring wood, water and stone throughout. Finnish architect's Alvar Aalto salon chairs and Arne Jacobsen's striking orange swan chairs make the living room loft a cool place to hang out. Guest rooms come with traditional Scandinavian patterns, alpaca headboards, striped chenille bedspreads, Lacava sinks and FACE Stockholm bath products.

Thompson Seattle Hotel

Housed in a spectacular Tom Kundig-designed building, the 12-storey Thompson is the hottest new addition to Seattle's hotel scene. The 158 guest rooms are the epitome of class – think dark-wood panelling with brass details – and the best rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views over Pike Place Market. There's a rooftop bar boasting a dazzling outlook towards the Olympic Mountains, a 'glam-rustic' restaurant and a spectacular events space for business travellers.

Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Fairmont Olympic Hotel captures the elegance of a bygone era - without stinting on modern luxuries. Its 450 rooms have cosy furnishings with excellent amenities, and the service is impeccable. This Seattle hotel, built in 1924, also has a sumptuous health club with indoor pool and whirlpool plus an on-site spa. Other features include two superb restaurants.

Moore Hotel

Just a couple of blocks away from Pike Place Market, the Moore Hotel and Theater date back to 1907. Rooms are basic, but clean, and a good price for the location. The theatre itself (run separately by the Seattle Theatre Group) is Seattle's oldest operating theatre and has been renovated in 2013. All the grunge-era greats played there, including Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Nirvana and Soundgarden.