Things to Do in Downtown, Pike Place Market and the Waterfront
The market, the waterfront and the historic streets where Seattle began.
See top-rated activities »About Downtown Seattle
Pike Place Market is the heart of downtown Seattle and one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the country. It opened in 1907 so that farmers could sell straight to shoppers, and it still works that way: farm stands, fishmongers, bakers, florists and craftspeople fill the arcades below the neon Public Market sign. The fish sellers who toss salmon over the counter draw a crowd, the Starbucks store the company calls its original is on Pike Place, and the lower levels hide used bookshops, comic stores and tiny restaurants. Go early on a weekday to see it at its calmest.
Below the market, the waterfront has been rebuilt since the elevated highway that once cut it off from downtown came down. A new promenade and the Overlook Walk now connect the market with the piers, where you will find the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Great Wheel on Pier 57, seafood restaurants and the docks for harbor cruises and the Argosy boats. At Colman Dock, Washington State Ferries leave for Bainbridge Island and Bremerton; a round trip on the Bainbridge ferry is one of the cheapest and best ways to see the skyline and the mountains from the water.
South of the center, Pioneer Square is where Seattle was founded in the 1850s and rebuilt in brick and stone after the Great Fire of 1889. Its Romanesque buildings now house galleries, cafes and bars, and the Underground Tour leads visitors through the old storefronts left below street level when the streets were raised. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, a free museum in the neighborhood, explains how Seattle outfitted the stampede to the Yukon in 1897. Smith Tower, finished in 1914, has an observatory and bar on its 35th floor.
Downtown also holds the Seattle Art Museum, guarded by the giant Hammering Man sculpture, and the striking glass-and-steel Central Library. Alaska cruise passengers often spend a night or two here; Pier 66, one of the two cruise terminals, is on the downtown waterfront a short walk from the market.
Don’t Miss
A public market since 1907, with farm stands, fish counters, bakeries, crafts and dozens of small restaurants spread over several levels.
Sea otters, harbor seals, a Puget Sound tide pool exhibit and a newer Ocean Pavilion across the street focused on tropical reefs.
A Ferris wheel on Pier 57 with enclosed gondolas extending out over Elliott Bay.
A humorous guided walk through the buried sidewalks and storefronts beneath Pioneer Square.
A free National Park Service museum on Seattle's role in the 1897 gold rush.
Northwest Coast Native art, Asian and European collections and changing exhibitions, two blocks from the market.
A roughly 35-minute crossing with wide views of the skyline, the Olympics and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Downtown Seattle
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TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Seattle-Tacoma may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Downtown Seattle — FAQ
When is Pike Place Market least crowded?
Weekday mornings, before about 10 a.m., are the calmest. Midday on summer weekends and days when cruise ships are in port are the busiest.
Is the Seattle Underground Tour worth it?
For history buffs and families, yes. The tour is about an hour and a quarter, mostly underground, with plenty of stories about how the city raised its streets after the 1889 fire.
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