If you’re considering visiting Seattle, are new to the city, or are a long-time resident, the city always has something new to explore. Seattle has increased in popularity because of its fantastic food, outdoor activities, sports, and natural beauty but let’s not forget about the tours.
As a native Seattleite, I can say with complete confidence that that are many great tours in Seattle that you will love, no matter what you’re looking for.
There are hundreds of suitable tours in Seattle, but in this article, I will cover nine of the best tours the Seattle area offers.
The Best Tours in Seattle
- Pike Place Market Food Tour
- Viator Exclusive Tour
- Underground History Tour
- Self-guided Audio Tour
- 3-hour Guided City Tour
- Seattle Seaplane Flight Tour
- Habor Cruise Tour
- Seattle Team Scavenger Hunt
- Site-seeing Hop-off Bus Tour
1. Pike Market Place Food Tour
If you’re a foodie, you’ll love this tour. Pike Place Market has some of the freshest produce and tastiest restaurants in Seattle.
During this chef-guided tour, you’ll sample various foods over two hours. You’ll sample delicious yogurt, dried fruit, some of the world’s best chowder, spices, and truffles. You’ll also learn a lot about food, Northwest cuisine, and some culinary history of Seattle.
This is a family-friendly tour, which is available for everyone 6+. This tour is $63.88, which is an excellent price for what you get. The meeting point is 1600 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
2. Viator Exclusive Tour
The Viator Exclusive Tour is the place to go if you love nature, snow, and getting away from city life. During this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Mt. Rainier, one of Seattle’s biggest attractions.
Your guide will show you some of the best hand-picked viewpoints for the perfect Instagram photo or pictures you can show of to family and friends. During this tour, you’ll also learn about the history behind the volcano, and if the conditions are right, you’ll also get the chance to sled down parts of the mountain.
You’ll also get amazing views of waterfalls, including Nadara and Christine Falls. The Viator Exclusive Tour is offered year-round, but if you plan on going in the winter, be prepared for inclement weather that can make the tour more strenuous.
This tour is $171.29, which is a reasonable price considering this is a 10-12 hour tour. This is also a family-friendly tour and is open to all ages.
3. Underground History Tour
(TomasSereda/Getty Images)
The underground history tour is an excellent choice if you want a short educational tour. Walking through its underground tunnels, you’ll learn important Seattle history and its first established neighborhood, Pioneer Square.
After you learn the city’s history from the turn of the 19th century, you’ll get time for some sightseeing. This is a short one-hour tour that costs $29.03. The meeting place for this tour is 102 Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA, and if you have kids, they’ll need to be at least 7 to enter.
4. Self-Guided Audio Tour
(Jelena Danilovic/Getty Images)
This is the cheapest option on this list since it is self-guided but also allows you to move at your own pace. The tour is time-boxed for 3 hours, but you could finish it faster if you are in a time crunch.
This tour allows you to choose which part of the city to visit, but you can see the first Starbucks to the Space Needle. You’ll get a detailed digital map to reference while you are on the go. This tour is open to all ages, and will cost you $13.99.
5. 3-hour Guided City Tour
(NickyLloyd/Getty Images)
The 3-hour guided city tour is a fantastic option if you want to see the city’s best sites while having a guide to ask questions. This is an ideal first tour when you come to Seattle.
You’ll visit all the most visited places during this guide, including the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Ballard Locks, and much more.
You’ll be in an air-conditioned mini-coach bus, so you will not need to worry about driving around in traffic. This tour will cost you $89.
6. Seattle Seaplane Flight Tour
If you want some adventure and like the idea of flying, you won’t want to miss the Seattle Seaplane Flight Tour. During this short 20-minute tour, you’ll fly over all of Seattle’s most visited places. You’ll have several opportunities to take some spectacular photos from thousands of feet in the sky.
This is a small group tour with a limit of five people, which is ideal for special occasions. While on this tour, your “guide,” the pilot, will narrate some of Seattle’s history and interesting facts. This tour will cost you $118.63, which is worth it if you think flying would be a unique experience.
7. Habor Cruise Tour
(Mark Hatfield/Getty Images)
This affordable cruise will allow you to relax while looking at some beautiful scenery. This harbor cruise is one of the oldest running tours in the area, in operation since the 1940s.
During this family-friendly cruise, you’ll see Seattle from many different viewpoints and enjoy one hour of live commentary by your host. The host will talk about the history of Seattle’s waterfront and more. This cruise is $40.79.
8. Seattle Team Scavenger Hunt
(Robert Kneschke/Canva Pro)
If you’ve ever seen Amazing Race and wanted to try it in real life, this is your chance. It’s the perfect interactive activity for you to do if you don’t like the idea of sitting and listening. This is a self-guided scavenger hunt where you’ll visit several sites, solve clues, and complete challenges.
During this adventure, you’ll travel to various famous places to do sightseeing and have fun finding clues about the area. You’ll need to walk at least 2 miles, so bring comfy shoes and be prepared for the hike. The starting point is Seattle Center; anyone can do this scavenger hunt. Prices start at $44 per group of five people.
9. Site-seeing Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour
(vgajic/Getty Images)
This is a spectacular tour where you’ll visit some of Seattle’s most visited areas on their open-deck bus. You’ll go to 16 bus stops around the city while taking in incredible panoramic views and can spend more time at places you are more interested in seeing. There is also a premium option where you’ll get a walking tour. The pricing starts at $54.
There are several great tours in Seattle offering a variety of memorable activities. There’s something for everyone, with options to relax and sit back while on a cruise to scavenging for clues in the city. So, whatever type of person you are, you’ll have something to do while in Seattle.
