Top Tourist Attractions at Seattle Center

Including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass, MoPOP, the Monorail and more.

Seattle Center Local Info

The Space Needle from Kerry Park in Seattle, Washington

The Space Needle
at Seattle Center

CitySeattle, Washington, USA
RegionPacific Northwest (2 hours south of the Canadian border)
TimezonePacific Time
Hours of DaylightSummer: 5:15am – 9:15pm with twilight until 10pm; Winter: 8am – 4:15pm
ClimateCooler, rainy days with some sun from September through early June; potential mid-80 degree days in late June, July & August.
NeighborhoodSituated next door to downtown Seattle in the Lower Queen Anne residential neighborhood with surrounding restaurants and bars. Short walk to Lake Union & Elliott Bay in Puget Sound.

Best of the Seattle Center

Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, Seattle Center is a combination open space park and entertainment center. You’ll find the 74-acre complex in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, adjacent to Belltown in downtown and near the waters of Lake Union and Puget Sound.

A timeless place to stroll, take in the sights of the towering Space Needle, larger-than-life twisting blown glass sculpture at Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the shimmering metallic of the Frank Gehry-designed Museum of Pop Culture. Sitting under it all, the now retro-space-age Monorail will whisk you to Downtown Seattle’s Retail Core District in the blink of an eye.

Gliding above 5th Avenue, your view will alternate between terracotta-topped buildings and glimpses of glistening turquoise water as you gaze southwestwardly towards Puget Sound.

Continue reading to learn more about the many attractions the Seattle Center has to offer.

Space Needle

Visible throughout Seattle, this colossal space-aged structure is the heart of the Seattle Center.

Created for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle underwent a major renovation completed in 2018. This architectural feat now boasts two levels of observation decks and a glass floor on the lower level. Check out the inner workings of the structure as it slowly completes one rotation every 45 minutes.

If you’re feeling spendy, enjoy some specially crafted cocktails and bites from 500 feet above the Seattle Center at the Loupe Lounge.

  • Space Needle Website

  • Regular (ages 13-64) $34-37.50; Youth (ages 5-12) $25-30; Senior (ages 65+) $29-32.50

  • CityPASS eligible – Save 46% on 5 top Seattle attractions

  • Through 8/31/21: Daily 9am – 11pm

Seattle Center Monorail

Also a legacy from the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the Seattle Center Monorail whisks you along for a 2-minute elevated ride connecting the Seattle Center to the heart of downtown Seattle’s shopping district.

With views of Seattle like no other, you’ll have alternating images of scenes from second-story windows along Fifth Avenue and glimpses of glimmering Puget Sound water.

Trains leave every 10 minutes. Dogs are allowed on the monorail if they are leashed and well-behaved.

  • Seattle Center Monorail Website

  • Credit, Debit Card & ORCA cards accepted.
    One-Way Fare – Adult 19-64: $3; Youth 6-18: $1.50; Seniors 65+, disabled, U.S. military with ID: $1.50

  • Daily: 11:00am – 7:00pm (closed Christmas Day)

  • Leashed and well-behaved dogs welcome

Chihuly Garden & Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center displays works by world-renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and his team.

The exhibit leads you through eight rooms of distinctive blown glass installations. Themes include sea life, nature, and Native American culture.

MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture)

With shimmering, warped colorful metal, you can’t miss the Museum of Pop Culture Museum. Located near the base of the Space Needle with the Seattle Center Monorail running through it, MoPOP will guide you through some of Seattle’s history of music.

MoPOP seeks to inspire the community at large with creative expression through pop culture. Exhibits include history of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix and Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement.

  • MoPOP Website

  • Tickets are between $26 – $32 (depending on time of your visit)

  • CityPASS eligible – Save 46% on 5 top Seattle attractions

  • Mon-Fri: 10a-6p / Sat & Sun: 9a-6p

International Fountain

The International Fountain is a gathering place for locals and tourists alike. An eclectic soundtrack mix of electronic, urban, jazz, classical and rock accompanies 274 spraying fountain jets as the Space Needle watches from overhead.

Pro Tip: Grab a Deluxe Burger and fries from Seattle staple Dick’s Drive-in, just a 5-minute walk on Queen Anne Avenue. Get grubin’ back at the fountain.

Climate Pledge Arena

Near the International Fountain is the newly redeveloped Climate Pledge Arena, formerly KeyArena. Once home to the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team, it’s home to the women’s basketball team The Storm, the new Seattle NHL Team, the Kraken and hosts concerts by top artists.