StayAreas
Luxury pick
Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
Why we like it: Waterfront luxury hotel with an infinity pool over Elliott Bay.
Typical luxury rate in Downtown: ~$600/night
Downtown
Seattle
Seattle's centre, from Pike Place Market and the waterfront down to the shopping streets around Westlake, with the Seattle Art Museum and the ferry docks.
Best for First visit · Upscale · Families
- Transport
- 5/5
- Sights
- 5/5
- Value
- 2/5
- Quiet
- 2/5
- Food
- 5/5
Typical mid-range hotel ~$280/night · 5 min to Westlake
See hotels in DowntownDowntown on the map
What it's like
Pike Place Market is the heart of Seattle: fish-throwing stalls, flower sellers, the original Starbucks and dozens of small restaurants on the hillside above Elliott Bay. Below it, the rebuilt waterfront has the Seattle Aquarium, the Great Wheel and the ferries to Bainbridge Island, while the downtown streets around Westlake have department stores, the Seattle Art Museum and the striking Central Library.
It's the best base for a first visit and for cruise passengers, with Link light rail to the airport. Some downtown blocks, especially around 3rd Avenue, feel rough at night, and hotels are pricey in summer.
Best streets and sub-areas
Pike Place
The market's cobbled street of stalls and shops.
Alaskan Way
The rebuilt waterfront promenade and piers.
Pine Street
Shopping around Westlake Center.
Where to stay in Downtown
A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.
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Hotels in DowntownMid-range from ~$280/night
See hotels