Seattle's inhabitants almost always describe a location in terms of its neighborhood. One of the reasons is the rather confusing system of street naming (see mobility). The subdivision into neighborhoods is informal and changes over time. It is not compulsory to install road signs, which are often displayed on main roads and show that you are "entering" a particular area.

However, it can be very helpful to know which neighborhood you are talking about, if you are looking for a specific address. A local would count 1401 45th SW to West Seattle, and 1401 45th NE to the U District (University District). These addresses are diagonally opposite on the map.

An interactive map with the neighborhoods and detailed maps is available here.

• city center and surroundings:
  • downtown
  • Pioneer Square
  • international district
  • Belltown
  • Denny Regrade and Seattle Center
  • Queen Anne Hill
  • South Lake Union
  • Eastlake

• To the east of the center:
  • Capitol Hill incl. Broadway
  • First Hill
  • Central District

• Surroundings of Lake Washington:
  • Montlake
  • Madison Park
  • Madrona
  • Leschi

• South of the center:
  • Beacon Hill
  • West Seattle
  • Columbia City

• North of the Ship Canal
  • ballard
  • fremont
  • Wallingford
  • greenlake
  • district
  • Phinney Ridge
  • Laurelhurst
  • wedgewood

• North of Greenlake
  • Northgate
  • Maple Leaf
  • Lake City
  • Greenwood

Other common names:

• Sodo - from South of the Dome (south of the Dome), refers to the - now destroyed - Kingdome. In the meantime also often explained with South of Downtown (south of the center).

• Denny Regrade, South Lake Union, Cascade, Eastlake - North-east of Belltown are Denny Regrade, South Lake Union (also Cascade), and Eastlake. The borders are blurred, but locals use these names for directions.

• Maple Leaf, Lake City, Ravenna and Wedgewood have similarly inaccurate borders and are located on the way from Northgate to Laurelhurst.

• Leschi and Madrona are both located on the banks of Lake Washington and in the surrounding hills. Leschi is especially famous for its waterfront parks.

Seattle, sometimes also called Emerald City (Emerald City), or Rainy City, is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

There are trees and water in every corner of town. On clear days you have a wonderful view of the Olympic Mountains in the west (behind the channel Puget Sound), and Mount Rainier and the Cascades in the east. Within the city you are rarely more than a hundred meters from an espresso stand or coffee shop.

Seattle was created by the fishing, logging and coal industries and had a strong customer with San Francisco. Boeing, founded in 1916, became the main industry after natural resources had been exhausted. This strong economic dependence on Boeing has had a strong impact on the region. Over the last 25 years, the city has developed strongly, especially under the influence of funds from Microsoft and other software and biotechnology companies), but Pioneer Square has still fallen slightly.

Moreover, Seattle is largely influenced by some universities (including the University of Washington, the largest cohesive campus in the West Coast) and smaller colleges, and is the center of financial, legal, and public health systems in the North-West of the US.

The weather is often rainy (but usually not very uniform). The period from mid-July to early September is often sunny, but the record temperature is only around 38°C. The average temperature for the warmest month of August is 25 °C. The short, dark and cloudy winter days would be a little more tolerable if it were to snow instead of raining at just positive temperatures. The long, incredibly pleasant summer days however weigh up the depressing winter time.

By plane

See Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The light rail link takes you from the airport to the city center in about 40 minutes at most every 15 minutes. The trip costs about $3.25. The station is well advertised at the airport.

by train

Amtrak runs from Seattle to the west coast. The Amtrak Cascades line connects Portland to Seattle with three trains a day (route: Vancouver, BC - Seattle - Tacoma - Portland - Salem - Eugene). This line is faster and more reliable than the normal Amtrak trains, which can be delayed for a few hours on their several-day trip from California.

In addition, the Empire Builder offers daily trains from Chicago (via Minneapolis) and Glacier National Park.

King Street Station is located south of the city center, near the Safeco Baseball Stadium.

By bus

The Greyhound bus stop is located in the northwestern part of the center.

On the street

The Interstate Highway 5 (I-5) runs north-south in the middle of Seattle. Interstate 90 (I-90) connects Seattle to Boston, Massachusetts at the I-5 traffic junctions.

By ship

• Washington State Ferries connects the city center with Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, and Vashon Island, and West Seattle with Vashon Island and Southworth (Key Peninsula). All ferries, except the ferry between Seattle and Vashon Island, are open to vehicles and passengers.
  • The ferry from Edmonds to Kingston leaves every 40 minutes on average; the use costs $40 for a family of 2 children and cars.

• Since August 2004, the Kitsap Ferry Company has operated a 250-passenger catamaran (no cars) between Bremerton and Seattle.

• High-speed catamaran ferries connect Seattle to Victoria (British Columbia).

orientation

The street names in Seattle make sense as soon as you understand them - if not, you can give up several kilometers from the destination. Do you find NE 45th Street and 45th Avenue NE? What if you write it more compact (and more confusing)? "NE 45th and 45th NE?" How far is "1401 45th SW" from "1401 NE 45th"? (Answer: 18 km and a 20 minute drive)

All the north-south streets are called avenues, while the east-west streets are called "Streets". Roads that wind, snake, or diagonally are usually called "Blvd" (boulevard), "Road," "Place," etc. From the altitude, it seems that the roads are in a relatively regular grid, but, as in any city with such diverse terrain, the road network is more like a spaghetti-like collection of roads that are rowed and run at any angle. By contrast, Phoenix stands for example.

To put it bluntly, the city is divided into nine parts:

NW | N | NE 

W | Downtown | E 

SW | S | SE 

The addresses start with the area, then follow the street number, e.g. NE 45th Street or NE 45th Street.

At Avenue-addresses you first have the street number and then the area, e.g. 45th Avenue NE or 45th NE.

Thus, NE 45th and NE 45th form a junction in the north-eastern part of the city, in this case at the edge of Laurelhurst Park.

However, this information is only an approximation. There are four major exceptions:

1. Streets and avenues in the center have no direction.
2. There is no "SE" area, but the "S" area is extra large.
3. The avenues in the east of the city center are not classified as ‘E’. So if you drive on Cherry Street east from the center, you get to the junction "E Cherry"/ "23rd Ave," not "23rd Ave E."
4. Similarly No 3 Streets north of the center (between Denny Way and the ship canal) have no direction, but avenues have a "N". If you leave the center on 5th Ave north, you will reach the junction "5th Ave N"/ "Mercer Street" (near the Seattle Center).

If you call the range of point 3 "north" and the range of number 4 "east", the grid actually makes 10 areas — without "SE" and the "W" on the left of the center (because the ocean is directly connected):

NW | N | NE 

W | north | E 

 | Center | east 

SW | S 

It is possible that the path through water (canals, lakes, the Puget Sound), missing highway crossing or underpasses, or steep slopes is blocked.

All in all, it's probably worth a few dollars to buy a street map if you're looking for a particular address. The most important thing is to pay attention to the indications or the absence of these names. As in Washington, DC, there's a big difference between "NE" and "NW."

By bus

The system of metro transit (electric or diesel buses) works relatively well. The online planner is clear and accurate as long as the bus is on time.

Sound Transit (diesel and hybrid buses, trains) is more expensive, but has several practical express routes (on the side) to the south (Tacoma), east (Redmond, Bellevue), and north (Bothell, Lynnwood).

On the street

On weekends, you can often rent cars for less than $20 per day. The offices concerned are spread throughout the city.

Attention! The parking system in Seattle is more about government revenue than about security. Be careful where you park and watch the street signs - the penalties can be juicy! For example, a "ticket" for a 2-hour period can be more than $60.

By bicycle

The conditions for cyclists are better than in most cities - except the frequent rain (wet road) and the steep sections. Many roads in Seattle have well maintained bike lanes, and motorists are not actively trying to kill cyclists, like in Pittsburgh.

The Burke-Gilman Trail (also known as the Burke-Gilman Trail) further facilitates bicycle traffic. This asphalted walking/jogging/cycling path runs from the north end of Lake Washington to the south around the University of Washington and then west towards Ballard. The route is along an old train line and is relatively flat.

All the metro buses are equipped with mounts for two bikes at the front, and the ride is free. However, it is not allowed to load your bike from 06:00 until 19:00 in the Ride Free Area in the center.

If you have several days for Seattle, it may be worth buying a CityPASS. It costs $74 per person (children 4-12 $49) and allows 9 days free entry to 6 of the 7 following attractions:

• Seattle Aquarium
• Argosy Cruises Seattle Harbor Tour
• Seattle Space Needle
• Pacific Science Center
• Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum
• Woodland Park Zoo
• Museum of Flight

The pass can be purchased online and is also available at each of these seven attractions.

sightseeing

• Ride the Ducks Seattle [2] is a one hour drive in an amphibian vehicle from World War II. Part of the route passes through the Lake Union. Not cheap (22 $ per adult), and not for people with a limited sense of humor (the style is a little exaggerated). Unique.
• Gray Line [3] organizes standard metropolitan tours, for example a two-hour double-deck bus tour of $21, a three-hour trip of $29, and a seven-hour combined bus/boat tour of $49.
• Beeline Tours [4] offers a three-hour tour of $38 - similar to Gray Line, but in a smaller vehicle (i.e. with fewer people).
• For a more "intimate", slightly different tour, Show Me Seattle Tours [5] is also available. The minibus has 14 people. Highlights of the tour are the Troll in Fremont, the salmon stages at the locks, and the "Sleepless in Seattle" houseboat.
• At Argosy Cruises [6] there is a harbor tour, two sea trips, a boat trip to the locks and cruises with dinner.
• Seattle Underground Tour [7] organizes underground tours in Seattle.

museums

• Seattle Art Museum, in the center. Museum of Art. last amendment: no

• Seattle Asian Art Museum, at Capitol Hill. Museum of Asian Art. last amendment: no

• Museum of Flight. Aeronautics Museum, near the Boeing Field. The name immediately indicates whether you are interested in it. In the collection there are 131 aircraft and spaceships from wooden and cloth beakers to SR-71, and (just in front of the car park) the Concorde. last amendment: no

• Experience Music Project (EMP). A Rock & Roll Museum, planned by Frank Gehry, with the "Jimi Hendrix" special exhibition. last amendment: no

• Frye Art Museum. A small private collection at Capitol Hill. The entrance is cheap and there are always free parking spaces. last amendment: no

• Seattle Childrens Museum, 305 Harrison St. Game and Factory Museum for families with children from infant to early primary school age. last amendment: no

• Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum, 317 3rd Ave South. Museum with exhibitions on the town's police history. Opened: Di - Sat 11.00 - 16.00. Price: Entry $5 (children under 12 $3). last amendment: no

churches, temples, places of worship

• Seattle Buddhist Church, 1427 p. Main. Buddhist temples. Opened: Mon - Fri 9 am - 3 pm. last amendment: no

architecture

• Chinatown Gate

• Montlake Bridge

• Seattle Central Library

• St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral (1714 13th Avenue)

• Columbia Center

• The Seattle Skyline

• Central Library, Center. The central library of the public library of Seattle. last amendment: no

• Smith Tower, center. last amendment: no

• Space Needle. The most expensive lift ride in all of America. The view from the Bhy Kracke Park on Queen Anne Hill is similar. The lift is free for a meal in the (expensive) revolving restaurant at the top. The restaurant does a full turn per hour. Only a few guests are disturbed by the ever changing views. last amendment: no

streets, squares, neighborhoods

• Chinatown/International District, around King St, west of 5th Avenue. The historic Chinese quarter of Seattle. East Asian shops and restaurants. last amendment: no

• Waterfront, Alaskan Way. Right on the water, with many fish restaurants, souvenir shops and lovely views of the Puget Sound. last amendment: no

• Pike Place Market, Center, corner 1st St & Pike St. A (almost) daily market with more than 200 independent small suppliers. Food, food, and a whirlpool of all kinds of shops and market stands, which you can hardly find anywhere else in the United States on such a small area. (Wikipedia). last amendment: no

park

• Golden Gardens Park. The Golden Gardens Park in Ballard is one of two places in Seattle where campfires are still allowed on the beach. On clear days there are spectacular sunsets at the Olympic Moutain mountain range. last amendment: no

• 47.62948-122.35994 1 Kerry Park, 211 W Highland Dr., Seattle, WA 98119. The Kerry Park is one of Seattle's main attractions. From him my view of the skyline Seattles, including Mount Rainier. It can be reached by bus from downtown (bus journey about 30 minutes). last amendment: no

• A beautiful park, on Capitol Hill. last amendment: no

• Ravenna Park. The Ravenna Park in the Ravenna area is well suited for baseball and football matches. last amendment: no

• Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave SW. Opened: in summer Mi - So 11.30 - 17.00. Price: Admission free. last amendment: no

• Cowen Park. The Cowen Park has a playground for children and a ball catch for baseball or softball. Cowen is connected to the Ravena Park via a canyon, which is a good way to go jogging or (especially in snow) walking. last amendment: no

• Greenlake. Greenlake is located north of the University District, and has paved paths and gravel paths running side by side for walkers, joggers and scooters over a distance of 4 km. The route runs around a small lake and there are some sports grounds nearby. In the east, there are green areas where football, volleyball and basketball are often played (in special places). There is also an indoor pool, which is much cleaner than the lake. Warnings that the lake is "closed" should be taken seriously, otherwise it is easy to get a rash (schistosomendermatitis). The surrounding area is lively and dynamic in good weather, with scooter skates and bicycle rentals, restaurants. last amendment: no

• Gasworks Park. The park in Wallingford was built on a former gas station in the city. A few huge gas tanks and pipelines are still available. The hillside in the middle offers a great view over Union Bay and good wind to climb the dragon. last amendment: no

• Myrtle Edwards Park. The park at Elliott Bay offers a good view of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. last amendment: no

• Discovery Park, in Magnolia. Great to climb the dragon. last amendment: no

• Arboretum of the University of Washington. The Arboretum of the University of Washington has a collection of oaks, conifers, camellias, Japanese maple and echpalms on almost 90 hectares. The tree garden is often filled with walkers on sunny summer days - especially on weekends. last amendment: no

zoo and aquarium

• Woodland Park Zoo, South entrance at N 50th St and Fremont Ave N. Opened: 9.30 - 16.00 (winter), 17.00 (spring/autumn) or 18.00 (summer). There are relatively realistic and spacious habitats for the animals. In good weather, a bird of prey show is held at 3 p.m. Price: Entry costs $10 for adults. last amendment: no

• 47.60743-122.34306 2 Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59. Aquarium with animals typical of the region, including birds, seals and river sots. As in most good aquariums, it can get quite crowded and noisy, which is why it is best to arrive early in the morning and avoid the weekend. Opened: daily from 9:30 to 17:00. Price: Entry $19.95 (children 4-12 $13.95). last amendment: no

miscellaneous

• Monorail (single railway). Cheaper than a trip to the top of the Space Needle. It runs between the city center and the Seattle Center (at the Space Needle, EMP, .). The 1962 Alweg single railway is unlikely to be in operation for long - it will soon be demolished to make way for a new, comprehensive monorail system. last amendment: no Type is group

• Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (also Ballard Locks). Lock in Ballard. last amendment: no Type is group

• Sky View Observatory (Columbia Center), 700 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 (Downtown). Tel: +1 206 386 5564, e-mail: [email protected]. The panoramic deck at the Columbia Center offers a fantastic view of the city, as well as the snow-capped peaks of the Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. The platform is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets cost $20. There is also a bar on the platform. last amendment: July 2018 Type is group

• Evans Pool, 7201 E Green Lake Dr N, in the north of the city. Seattle is one of the few American cities to have a public indoor swimming pool (most others are privately owned, such as the YMCA, and can only be used by members). No comparison with fun, adventure and wellness baths in Germany, but at least opportunity to swim even in bad weather. last amendment: no

It is useful for self-caterers to know what the regional and local supermarket chains are called:

• safe
• costco
• Trader Joe's
• QFC
• Fred Meyer

Chinese: Dim Sum

If you have never tried Dim Sum (little Chinese starters) and get the chance in a city like Seattle, don't miss it. Those who know Dim Sum always come back to it. The best addresses are:

• 47.59824-122.323351 Harbor City, 707 S King St; Chinatown/International District. Tel: +1 206 621 228. Cheap, with service cars. Opened: daily from 8:30 to 23:00. last amendment: no

• Imperial Garden, 10230 E Valley Hwy, at 184th St, Kent. Medium price, with service cars. last amendment: no

• Top Gun, 2450 SE 38th St, Bellevue. Medium price, with service cars. last amendment: no

• Joy Palace, 6030 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Columbia City. Medium price, with service cars. last amendment: no

Be careful, there is only lunch in the morning.

Japanese

Shiro's Sushi 2401 2nd Avenue Corner Battery offers the best sushi in the city. With a seat at the Sushibar, the chef can be personally observed when preparing the fresh sushi. The proximity to the sea is very good. The restaurant is located in the middle of the square, but the quality is unbeatable.

From the intersection of Pine Street / 1st Avenue there are many bars, pubs and restaurants along 1st Avenue to the intersection of Bell Street. The weekends are the most busy there. Everything is a little quieter during the week. A variety of bars and pubs can be found in the southern part of 1st Avenue, between Pioneer Square and the stadiums.

favorable

• 47.61257-122.344841 Black Cat Bar, 2132 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121. Tel: +1 (2006) 441-2358. A cozy, casual rock bar, open until 2:00am during the week. last amendment: Nov 2019 Type is group

• 47.61359-122.344282 The crocodile, 2200 2nd Avenue Seattle, Washington 98121. Tel: +1 (2006) 441-4618, e-mail: [email protected]. Cocktail bar in downtown. Also open 7 days a week until 2 am. last amendment: Nov 2019 Type is group

• J&M Cafe, 201 1st Ave S ・ 98104 Seattle (Pike Place Market). Tel: +1 (2006) 402-6654, e-mail: [email protected]. The J&M Cafe is Seattle's oldest bar. It has been in existence since 1889. The dark wood paneling still makes you feel the old days. Good burger, lots of beer selection and nice staff. last amendment: Nov 2019 Type is group

means

• Damn the weather, 116 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 (Downtown). Tel: +1 (2006) 946-1283. Stylish bar in the south 1st Ave. A little expensive cocktails. last amendment: July 2018 Type is group

Hotel rooms in Seattle are a bit on the expensive side. It is relatively convenient to live at the edge of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or further north of the Seattle Metropolitan Area. In both cases it takes about 20 minutes to reach downtown Seattle by car (in good traffic conditions).

The stated rates are net and apply to a room with 2 queen or full/double-size beds (for up to 4 persons). If you travel alone or need less beds, you will be able to stay a little cheaper.

price

• Hostelling International Seattle at the American Hotel, 520 South King Street, 98104 Seattle, WA (International District, Chinatown). Tel: +1 206 622 5443, e-mail: [email protected]. Cheap hostel, walking distance from Dowtown. It is also close to South King Station, Seattles train station. In addition to the usual dorms, there are also double rooms, but no bathroom. last amendment: July 2018

means

• Comfort Inn & Suites, 13700 Aurora Ave N, 20 minutes north of Downtown. Decent hotel of the Choice chain. sauna and jacuzzi, but no swimming pool. Private parking. With breakfast starting at $103. last amendment: no

walking

• 47.61296-122.329541 Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle Convention Center-Pike, 1011 Pike St. Apartment Hotel of the upper middle class. last amendment: no

luxury

• Pan Pacific, 2125 Terry Ave. Hotel of the highest class. It is considered one of the best hotels in the city. last amendment: no

Seattle should be taken with caution at night. There are many alcoholic homeless people, as well as drug junkies and night, especially the area around King Street Station, as well as the stadium (Century Link Field). Cars should always be parked in guarded parking spaces (police testimony as of July 2018).

• Route proposal for a trip along the west coast to San Diego.
• Take a rental car and go to Mount Rainier National Park - a great experience. Allow about 1.5 hours to get there. Here's a little taste. http://www.pilotenbilder.de/photos/details.php?image_id=991
• Olympic National Park, west. Port Angeles, for example, is a starting point, 2½ hours from Seattle.
• Vancouver, Canada, in the north. It takes 2½ hours to drive.
• Victoria By ferry (e.g. from Clippervacations) you can reach Victoria on Vancouver Island within 3 hours. To this end, however, the rules on entry into Canada should be respected.