7 Best Seattle Neighborhoods to Spend a Weekend

Looking for the best Seattle neighborhoods to spend the weekend? These are our favorites.

We have visited Seattle a handful of times and have always rented a car. It wasn’t until our 7th visit that we realized Seattle has excellent public transportation. How are we just learning this now?

It’s freeing to not worry about parking, and walking allowed us to take full advantage of the beautiful PNW summer weather!

During this past trip, we tried to see how much of the city we could explore using only the Link light rail and Water Taxis (except for a couple of Uber rides the day I drank too much coffee and felt too sick to walk. I went too hard).

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Last Updated: October 7, 2024

About Seattle Neighborhoods + Why Trust Us

Seattle is more than just coffee, rain, and the iconic Space Needle. Lately, our favorite way to explore a city is by its neighborhoods. Not only does it help us travel slower, but it means having more time to appreciate each area rather than spending time in a car hopping between places.

Below, we highlight our favorite Seattle neighborhoods for visitors to explore with the help of our local friend, who has lived here for over a decade. Each of these Seattle neighborhoods has a unique vibe, so you can see why locals love their pocket of the city.

Whether visiting for the first time or planning a weekend getaway, here’s a guide to the best Seattle neighborhoods to explore using public transportation.

Downtown Seattle & Pike Place Market

If you’re new to Seattle, you’ll likely start at Pike Place Market in downtown. This area is close to the waterfront, and even if we’ve been multiple times, I always discover a new corner of Pike Place. Our latest favorite find was Osara Commissary, a shop downstairs featuring local artists and Japanese goods collected on their travels in Japan.

We also finally got to eat at Pink Door. Every time we tried for dinner, the wait was too long, so we dropped in for lunch and got seated immediately.

What to Do in Downtown Seattle

• Pike Place Market – See the fishmongers tossing fish, grab some Beecher’s cheese, visit the gum wall, get clam chowder, or explore the unique shops. You can also take a food tour.
• Seattle Art Museum – SAM is the city’s largest museum.
• Seattle Central Library – beautiful architecture.
• “Original” Starbucks – the original one no longer exists, but this shop is the closest to the original. If you’re a Starbucks fan, we recommend visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill as well.

Where to Eat in Downtown Seattle

• The Pink Door (Italian, Read More