One-Day Itinerary for Seattle, Washington

Has a place ever called you? Randomly spoken to you? While I could argue that everywhere in the world has called (or will call) me at some point, Seattle takes the cake. In 2022, I dropped out of law school to be a full-time travel writer (thanks for being here!) and I kept having dreams I was moving to Seattle. What’s strange, however, is I had never actually been to Seattle.

When I booked my first cruise ever through Alaska, which would be departing from Seattle, I decided to head to Washington a few days early to finally get a taste of this city that has lived in my head rent-free. I ended up only having one FULL day in Seattle, so I knocked everything out of the park in one go. Here’s what I did:

Visit Pike Place Fish Market to see the infamous fish throw

It’s the most cliche thing in Seattle, and you gotta do it. I’d recommend getting to Pike Place Fish Market early, because I learned it gets crowded very quickly. Rumor has it that the infamous fish throw started as a prank, but since it was so entertaining to not only staff, but witnessing customers, that the tradition stayed alive. They throw fish frequently so you don’t have to worry about getting there at a certain hour of the day; simply swing by, hang out for a few minutes, and you’re bound to see it!

• Book a chef-guided food tour of Pike Place Market here.

Get breakfast/brunch at Half Shell

Right by Pike Place Market is Half Shell, a cozy little eatery that serves up some seriously fresh seafood. I highly recommend ordering some oysters and a crab roll, naturally best paired with a Bellini or mimosa.

Visit the OG Starbucks (if you have the patience)

While this is not something I personally did, it’s worth noting that the OG Starbucks location is right by Half Shell. The line had to have had at least 200 people in it, and to me, Starbucks is Starbucks. However, if you’re a big SBUX fan and have the patience, go for it!

Visit the Space Needle & Pacific Science Center with a Seattle City Pass

I had a Seattle CityPASS for my singular day in the city, and because of that, I was able ot visit both the Space Needle and Pacific Science Center. The Space Needle is a wee bit underwhelming, but it’s a nice 20 minute walk from Pike Place Market, and if you’re in town, it certainly doesn’t hurt to check it out!

• If you don’t want to get a CityPASS, you can simply book a tour of the Space Needle here.

Get the shrimp toast from Local Tide

After hanging out in the touristy area, head over to Fremont. This neighborhood is youthful, hip, and artsy, and one of the apparent best restaurants over here is Local Tide. I had to find out for myself, and because I was there on a weekend, I was able to order their weekend-only crab roll. The crab roll is amazing, but I also got the Filipino shrimp toast (which is available 7 days a week), and was my hands-down favorite thing I ate in Seattle.

Head to Pacific Inn Pub for cheap drinks

Who doesn’t love a good Bourdain recommendation? Pacific Inn Pub is a short walk from Local Tide and they offer a steal of $7.50 well cocktails. They also have some of the best fish and chips in town, so if you have space for more eating, go for it. Pacific Inn Pub is a no-frills dive bar with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Walk around Fremont and take in the murals

Now that you’ve been eating and drinking all day, it’s time to take a gander. I personally love just walking around a city and getting lost, and Fremont seems to be the place to do that in Seattle. There are tons of murals, shops, cafes, bars, you name it.

Try oysters at Goldfinch Tavern

Time for more food! Goldfinch Tavern, located inside of the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, has a great bar area with a fabulous wine list and, in true Seattle fashion, fresh seafood. The oysters I ate here were absolutely incredible, and the bartender helped me pair it with a great local glass of Washingtonian wine.

Check out the Alibi Room for late night specials

If you’re looking for nightlife and you don’t want to go too crazy, speakeasy the Alibi Room is a cute and cozy little nook hidden right underneath Pike Place Market. They make great cocktails and also have late night food specials on dishes like homemade pasta and arancini.

Sleep like a baby at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

For a primo hotel in every category, from comfortable bed to ideal location to the only infinity pool in Downtown Seattle (plus a hot tub), rest easy at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. Four Seasons is never a bad idea, but that hot tub and infinity pool definitely sealed the deal for me.

DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!

DISCLAIMER II: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle hosted me for two nights