Idyllically situated in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is a mecca for foodies, tech experts and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re here to see its city-based attractions like the Olympic Sculpture Park or its natural wonders like Mount Si, the best way to experience this destination is with a guided tour.
Browse through the top Seattle tours, identified by U.S. News using both expert opinions and traveler sentiment, to help plan your ideal getaway.
Price: Adults from $39; kids from $22
Duration: 1 hour
If you’re only in Seattle for a quick trip, reviewers say this scenic cruise is a great way to learn about the city in a short amount of time. As you sail around the Seattle Harbor, you’ll be treated to views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, the shipping port and skyline views. You’ll also hear live narration from the onboard guide – a particular highlight for recent tourgoers, who applaud the guide’s storytelling and vast knowledge of Seattle. Reviewers are also pleased with the boat, which offers indoor and outdoor seating and a full-service bar with snacks and drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic).
Tours depart from Pier 55 multiple times daily. Seating is first-come, first-served, and boarding begins 20 minutes before departure. Toddlers ages 3 and younger ride for free. For a longer cruise and the unique experience of going through the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks, consider the company’s two-hour Locks Cruise.
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Price: Adults from $169; kids from $150
Duration: 10 hours
A trip to Mount Rainier National Park – home to the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States – is a must when visiting Seattle. But if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of driving to the park yourself, consider this day trip with Tours Northwest. You’ll ride in an air-conditioned, 24-passenger coach bus through incredible scenery en route to the mountain. At the park, you’ll have the opportunity to hike as much or as little as you want to see waterfalls, meadows and old-growth forests.
Tourgoers rave about their guides’ knowledge of the park and its trails. They also relish the beautiful scenery and the frequent stops for photos and exploration.
Tours operate at 7 a.m. from May through October. There are pickups from three Seattle locations, a close walk from most downtown hotels. Park fees are included, but you should plan to bring your own lunch (or purchase something during the grocery store stop along the way). Don’t have time for a full-day trip to Mount Rainier? Tours Northwest also runs half-day sightseeing tours of Seattle.
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Price: Adults from $239; kids from $189
Duration: 12 hours
Olympic National Park features a variety of ecosystems, including temperate rainforests, mountains and coastline – and Customized Tours’ daylong outing aims to show you all of them. Tour-takers will be picked up from select Seattle hotels before they take a ferry ride across Puget Sound to explore the park’s top sights like Hurricane Ridge, Crescent Lake and the Sol Duc Valley. Travelers agree that the incredible park makes the long day worth it. They also advise wearing comfortable shoes; you’ll be chauffeured in a bus to different locations, but you will still do a lot of walking (about 5 miles in total).
Pickups start around 7:20 a.m.; tours run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from April through October. The company also operates several other Seattle outings, including city tours and trips to Mount Rainier.
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Price: Adults from $30; kids from $18
Duration: 1 hour
Learn about the formation of Seattle and its original neighborhood, Pioneer Square, on this tour. Expert guides will lead you through underground passageways dating back to the 1890s, sharing historical information and stories of the Klondike Gold Rush, the city’s architecture and the Coast Salish tribes who originally inhabited the area. Tourgoers describe the experience as full of interesting information and praise their well-educated guides.
Limited to 25 people, tours leave every 30 minutes between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. Kids ages 6 and younger pay a discounted rate, though the company notes the history tour may be better suited to older children. Beneath the Streets also runs an adults-only queer history tour that details the community’s roots in Pioneer Square.
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Price: From $60
Duration: 2 hours
Taste your way through Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market with a chef leading the way on this interactive outing – one of the top food tours in the U.S. Guides share insider tips about where area chefs shop and explain the history of the market. Along the way, you’ll make nine stops to sample small bites of chowder, chocolate, pasta and more. Tour-takers say the guides are wonderful and the food is delicious, and many found the samples filling enough to be lunch.
Tours depart several times daily; exact meetings times depend on the month and the day, but there is typically at least one morning tour and one afternoon tour. Food tours focused on coffee, cocktails and more are also available.
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Price: Adults from $145; kids from $115
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Various wildlife species call Seattle home, including several types of whales. The Puget Sound Express whale-watching tour allows visitors to see orcas, humpback whales, otters, sea lions and more in the San Juan Islands. The company’s speedy boats reach the islands in about an hour and feature indoor seating with large windows, outdoor viewing decks and a cafe serving fresh blueberry buckle coffee cake. Tourgoers rave about the wildlife spotted thanks to the courteous, attentive crew and their immense knowledge of the area.
Tours embark daily between April and October; there are sailings on select days in November and December. Exact departure times vary by season. Onboard lunches (sandwiches, chips and drinks) can be preordered up to 3 p.m. the day before your cruise. Puget Sound Express guarantees you will see whales on your tour, or your next trip is free. The company also offers bird-watching and multiday wildlife cruises.
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Price: Adults from $79; kids from $69
Duration: 4 hours
Travelers enjoy this comprehensive tour because it offers a balance of gorgeous natural scenery and an overview of the city’s top sights. Tourgoers will meet at Pike Place Market to board the bus and begin their drive, learning about the Klondike Gold Rush, the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and more. Travelers are then transported to beautiful Snoqualmie Falls.
Next, the tour continues to the famous Fremont Troll, and then on to the Ballard Locks. The outing concludes at Kerry Park, a popular spot to snap photos of the Seattle skyline and see Mount Rainier in the distance (on a clear day). Reviewers recommend booking this tour on your first day in Seattle to get your bearings.
Tours run daily at 10 a.m. throughout the year, with some exceptions; the company switches to a Tulip Festival tour in April, and the Snoqualmie Falls tour does not operate between late October and early December. Shutter Tours also operates a tour to Mount Rainier.
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