Seattle, Washington – the Emerald City, Sea-Town, The Coffee Capital of the World… and now host to IAC24. From the iconic Space Needle to Pike Market (the oldest public market in the US), from public art to public parks galore, from the expansive waters of the Puget Sound and Lake Washington to the snow-capped peaks of the Olympics and the Cascades, Seattle has something for everyone.
Visit Seattle is the best source of useful information that will help you make the most of your time in the city, so be sure to check it out before you arrive and throughout your stay. For news and opinion about what’s happening in the city, visit The Seattle Times and The Stranger (an alternative biweekly newspaper). Below are some community-generated lists of things you may want to do and places you may want to go during your visit to Seattle.
Note: all drive/walk times are Google Map estimates starting from the Seattle Public Library, our IAC24 venue.
Transportation
Airport Transportation
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac Airport) is just 15 miles south of downtown Seattle. It serves 31 airlines with 105 non-stop destinations (81 domestic, 24 international) and handles 37.5 million passengers/year.
- At just $3, Link Light Rail is the cheapest and easiest way to get from Sea-Tac to downtown, though not the fastest. The University Street stop is just 2 blocks away from the Seattle Public Library and 3 blocks from the Renaissance Hotel.
- Taxis are available at the airport from the third floor of the airport parking garage. Fares from SeaTac to downtown Seattle can range from $45 – $80. Returning from the Downtown Seattle Hotel District to SeaTac Airport, there is a flat rate of $40.
- Uber and Lyft ride sharing services will get you from the airport to the hotel and back easily and safely. Meet your ride on the third floor of the SeaTac parking garage.
- Learn more about airport transportation options from Visit Seattle or on the SeaTac website.
Around the city
From the IAC24 venue, there are numerous options for transportation in and around Seattle:
- Walking: The Seattle Public Library and Renaissance Hotel are centrally located and within walking distance of many restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and tourist attractions. Bring your most comfortable walking shoes and start counting your steps.
- Bikes and Scooters: Seattle has multiple bike and scooter services that are a great way to easily get around town while enjoying the fresh air and getting a bit of exercise.
- King Country Metro provides inexpensive buses and streetcars to get you around town. Download their app ahead of time for convenient access to a trip planner, mobile payment and real-time information.
- The ORCA card (and the myORCA app) is your passport to transit in Seattle. Load up your card and use it for buses, ferries, trains, water taxis… even the monorail!
- Uber and Lyft ride sharing services will get you around town easily and safely.
- Taxis
Weather and what to wear
Temperatures in Seattle in April are typically moderate, with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s (F) and lows in the 40s. There’s always a decent chance of rain in Seattle in the spring (and fall, and winter), so be prepared.
Seattleites rarely use umbrellas, preferring waterproof outerwear and just dealing with the odd damp pant leg. (We’re a weird breed.) They’ll also typically dress in layers to accommodate the temperature swings that happen on a typical day. As a result, casual or business casual dress is the rule almost everywhere in Seattle.
As the Norweigans say, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” If you find yourself unprepared for the climate, you’ll find plenty of places to gear up properly. Seattle established itself as an outfitting stop for the Klondike Gold Rush, after all, and home-grown outfitters like Filson and REI carry on that tradition in the city today, along with Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Feathered Friends, and Outdoor Research.
Eat
| Place | Category | Location | Distance (from Seattle Public Library) | Price Range | Yelp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlier | Burgers | 1101 4th Ave | 2 minute walk | $$ | 3.6 |
| Tulio | Italian | 1100 5th Ave | 2 minute walk | $$$ | 4.0 |
| The George | New American | 411 University St, | 2 minute walk | $$$ | 3.8 |
| The Capital Grille | Steak / Seafood | 1301 4th Ave, | 4 minute walk | $$$$ | 4.3 |
| Donburi House | Lunch / Korean / Japanese | 999 3rd Ave STE 201 | 5 minute walk | $$ | 4.9 |
| Purple Cafe and Wine Bar | New American | 1225 4th Ave | 6 minute walk | $$$ | 4.0 |
| Wild Ginger | Southeast Asian | 1401 3rd Ave, | 7 minute walk | $$$ | 3.6 |
| The Victor Tavern – 2nd & University | New American | 1201 2nd Ave Suite D1 | 7 minute walk | $$$ | 4.4 |
| Piroshky Piroshky | Century Square | Bakery / Russian | 1501 4th Ave #110 | 9 minute walk | $ | 4.4 |
| Serious Pie Downtown | Pizza | 2001 4th Ave | 15 minute walk | $$ | 4.1 |
Drink
| Place | Category | Location | Distance (from Seattle Public Library) | Price Range | Yelp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffe Migliore | Coffee / Tea | 1215 4th Ave | 3 minute walk | $$ | 4.2 |
| Olympic Bar | New American / Cocktail Bar | 411 University St | 3 minute walk | $$$ | 3.6 |
| W Living Room | Cocktail Bar | 1112 4th Ave | 3 minute walk | $$$ | 4.7 |
| 4th Avenue Espresso Bar | Cafe | 411 University St | 3 minute walk | $ | 4.3 |
| Starbucks | Coffee / Tea | 800 5th Ave | 3 minute walk | $$ | 3.2 |
| Belle Epicurean | Cafe / French / Bakery | 925 4th Ave Ste 450 | 4 minute walk | $$ | 5.0 |
| Rosebay Cocktail Bar | Cocktail Bar | 1000 1st Ave | 7 minute walk | $$$ | 5.0 |
| Bookstore Bar and Cafe | Bar / New American / Breakfast / Brunch / Dinner | 1007 1st Ave | 7 minute walk | $$ | 3.7 |
| The Shop by Porter | Cafe / Bar / Furniture Store | 1201 2nd Ave #100 | 8 minute walk | $$ | 4.8 |
| Von’s 1000 Spirits | New American / Burger / Pub | 1225 1st Ave | 8 minute walk | $$ | 4.5 |
| White Horse Tavern | Bar / Bookstore | 1908 Post Alley | 16 minute walk | $$ | 4.2 |
Visit
- Seattle Center – a tourism and entertainment landmark built for the 1962 World’s Fair; contains:
- Seattle Space Needle – the instantly recognizable iconic Seattle landmark
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) – Frank Gehry-designed museum
- Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum – mind-blowing collection of glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly
- Seattle Aquarium
- Seattle Ferris Wheel at Pier 57
- Columbia Tower Sky View Observatory & Bar – Liked the Space Needle? You’ll love the view from Seattle’s tallest building.
- Seattle Architecture Foundation Walking Tours
- Seattle Pinball Museum
- Klondike Gold Rush Museum
- Boeing Museum of Flight
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Shop
- Places to shop from Visit Seattle
- Pike Place Market – one of the oldest continually operating farmer’s markets in the US
- The Gum Wall – gross, but oddly compelling and photogenic sight to see
- Pacific Place – shopping mall
- Westlake Center – shopping mall
- Filson – outdoor outfitter
- REI – outdoor outfitter
- Archie McPhee – one-of-a-kind novelty store
- Uwajimaya Asian Market – Asian everything store
- Ada’s Technical Books and Cafe – the ultimate nerd third space
- Elliott Bay Book Company – used and new bookstore… with a cat!