seattle tour buses

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• Hop-On Hop-Off
• Guided Tours
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Discover Seattle

• Ballard Locks
• Chinatown International District
• Gas Works Park
• Historic Seattle Waterfront
• Lake Union Park
• Mount Rainier
• Olympic Sculpture Park
• Pike Place Market
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Must See Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off

• What’s Included

Tour Highlights

Must see seattle, hop-on hop-off sightseeing.

See the best of Seattle and Puget Sound at your own pace with  this 24 or 48-hour Seattle hop-on hop-off bus ticket. Jump aboard your  open-top   double-decker bus at any of the stops throughout the downtown area, and spin through the Emerald City in comfort. Follow an expertly curated route to top attractions including  the Space Needle, Seattle Waterfront and Pioneer Square – where  Seattle’s founders first settled  –  and enjoy the freedom to alight and re-board at your leisure. Recorded commentary in English sheds light on Seattle’s rich history and heritage.

Recorded commentary is provided in English. Choose between a 24 or 48 hour ticket allowing you to explore all the popular highlights in downtown Seattle including the Space Needle, Seattle Center, Sky View Observatory, the International District, Seattle Waterfront and Historic Pioneer Square.

What's Included

Route curated by local experts to see the very best Seattle has to offer

Hassle-free access to top attractions like Seattle Waterfront and Pioneer Square

Choose a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket to match your schedule

Where's My Bus?

Find out when your next bus is with our live, interactive map. The route is updated in real-time with GPS data from each of our buses. It also works on mobile so you can plan your trip on the go. Stay for that extra cup of coffee and take your time — you'll always know where we are in the city!

HOP-ON HOP-OFF ROUTE

Our Must See Seattle Pass is a fun and flexible way to see the best of Seattle! Our 24 or 48 Hour ticket gives you unlimited access to all of the highlights and stops available along our route —a total of 17 stops!

(First tour starts at 10:00 am, last pick-ups of the day start at 4:00 or 5:00 pm – season dependent)

1 : SPACE NEEDLE

2 : frs clipper, 3 : edgewater hotel, 4: pier 66 - cruise terminal (temporarily closed), 5: pier 55 - argosy cruises, 6 : pioneer & occidental square, 7 : historic chinatown gate, 8 : panama hotel & tea house, 9 : sky view observatory, 10 : seattle library, 11 : seattle convention center, 12: pike place market, 13 : pike brewing company, 14: seattle art museum, 15 : seattle waterfront at pier 55, 16 : the original starbucks @ pike place market, 17: amazon spheres.

Prices include applicable taxes. Additional fees may be applicable at the time of booking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For all our tour bundles, all sales are final. Tickets cannot be exchanged or money refunded by Gray Line Seattle.

3 Hour Sightseeing Seattle Tour

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 3 hours
• Clock Start Time: 9am
• Bus Pick-Up Info: General Pick-up at Hyatt Regency or from most downtown Seattle hotels with Hotel Pick-up Option (Hotel pickups may be up to 40 minutes before tour start time)
• Heart COVID Safety: Vehicles sanitized before all tours, driver/guides vaccinated

Explore the City’s Vibrant Culture on a Seattle Bus Tour

Seattle is a cultural mecca where technology, nature, and the arts intersect to produce a rich tapestry of experiences. We’ve curated the quintessential Seattle experience into a three-hour intimate city tour that explores the many forces that have shaped the city from past to present. Your friendly guide keeps you entertained and informed with stories, facts, favorite places, and so much more. Take this city sightseeing Seattle tour early on in your visit in order to benefit from all the information and recommendations!

Seattle City Tour Bus Itinerary

• Chevron down 1. Downtown Area

The city tour begins in Seattle’s bustling downtown core, highlighting the Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, Shopping District, and the world’s first Starbucks.

• Chevron down 2. Pioneer Square & Stadium District

Seattle’s original downtown is now a 35-square-block historic district filled with turn-of-the-century Romanesque architecture, art galleries, and trendy restaurants, all of which border the sports stadiums for the Seahawks, Sounders, and Mariners.

• Chevron down 3. International District & Waterfront

Home to Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian, and Hmong communities, this neighborhood continues to play a role in Seattle’s multicultural identity. Seattle’s waterfront includes the aquarium, Ferris wheel, classic seafood restaurants, funky souvenir shops, historic piers, and ferry and water taxi terminals.

• Chevron down 4. Seattle Center & Queen Anne View Point

The Seattle Center is a 72-acre urban park and is the site of the 1962 World’s Fair. It’s the home of the Space Needle, Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project, Dale Chihuly’s Garden and Glass exhibition, and the Pacific Science Center.

Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill provides a dramatic panoramic photo opportunity of Seattle’s skyline. You also view the spectacular architecture and aesthetic in one of the city’s more exclusive, old-money neighborhoods.

• Chevron down 5. Ballard Locks & Fremont Neighborhood

Opened in 1917, the lock system and ship canal connects the fresh water of lakes Union and Washington with the salt water of the Pacific in Puget Sound. It’s a popular destination for watching boats navigating between the two waterways. It also features a fish ladder for observing the seasonal migration of salmon.

Fremont neighborhood, famous for its outdoor art and nude bicyclists in the Summer Solstice parade, is also a microcosm of the challenges Seattle faces as it grapples with growth. This once-quirky bohemian artist colony is now transforming into a high-tech powerhouse with offices for Google, Tableau, and Adobe while remaining true to its artsy roots.

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Epic Seattle Private Tour

An unforgettable Seattle experience – Seattle Sightseeing + Pike Place Market + The Space Needle and Chihuly Garden & Glass all in one tour.  City Highlights and Seattle’s most famous landmarks make for a truly Epic day! Private guide, transportation and all attraction tickets included.  

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PREMIER SEATTLE CITY TOUR BUS

SPACIOUS COACH BUS TOURS OF SEATTLE CITY

Quick Details

• Users Ages: Ages 3+
• Hour Glass Duration: 3 hours
• Tag Schedule: January 1 - December 31

Seattle City Tour By Bus

Seattle is so much more than just the Space Needle and Starbucks, but you might never discover what makes this city so unique without one of our expert local guides giving you an insider’s perspective on a Seattle tour.

As you ride in comfort up and down the steep downtown hills in a specialized minibus built specifically for sightseeing tours, you’ll be thankful not to be climbing the hills on foot.

Uncover Seattle’s secrets, such as why there’s an underground city beneath the Pioneer Square neighborhood and how the price of onions created the iconic Pike Place Market.

Our nearly 50-mile Seattle tour route will also take you far outside the city center to explore unique neighborhoods such as eccentric Fremont, the self-described “center of the universe” where you can meet its most famous resident, the 18-foot-tall Fremont Troll.  You’ll also witness the bustling maritime activity of the Fisherman’s Terminal and Ballard Locks , which carry more boat traffic than any other lock in the U.S.

Our friendly and knowledgeable licensed guides are the reason we’ve received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for 11 years running and over 2,000 5-star reviews.

If you’ve just arrived, this is the perfect introduction to Seattle’s must-see landmarks, helping you learn what’s worth your time and how to navigate the city, but even lifelong residents are surprised to discover hidden gems and fascinating stories they never knew.

If you are looking for a 3-hour Seattle City Tour with hotel pickup, please see:

Seattle City Tour PLUS Hotel Pickup

• Chevron down Potential Sites Seen on Tour Route

Seattle bus tours!  Sit back and relax in spacious coaches as our knowledgeable guides present Seattle’s neighborhoods and attractions.

• Pike Place Market
• Olympic & Cascade mountain views
• Seattle waterfront
• Historic Pioneer Square
• Waterfall Garden Park
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
• T-Mobile Park & Lumen Field
• Chinatown and International District
• Starbucks Headquarters
• Lake Washington
• I-90 Floating Bridge
• Mercer Island
• Puget Sound views
• Panoramic Seattle city views
• Fremont neighborhood & Troll
• Lake Union & Ship Canal
• Fishermen’s Terminal
• Ballard Locks/salmon ladder
• Discovery Park
• Space Needle
• Seattle Center & MoPOP
• Chevron down Transportation Details & Considerations

Transportation Details

• Meeting location pick-ups commence prior to the tour’s departure time. You should receive an updated email confirmation that includes your meeting location’s pick-up time in the Pickup Location section. If your confirmation doesn’t include your pick up information, contact our office immediately to confirm your pick-up time.
• Please allow up to 5 minutes for your driver to pick you up from your scheduled pickup time. As well, allow extra time for  return.
• Please note that traffic and weather conditions can affect the routes for this tour. Traffic can be a challenge in Seattle, especially from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Please allow for additional time for drop-off during these hours.

Considerations

• Gratuities are optional and not included in the price of your tour. If you feel your tour guide has provided an exceptional experience, gratuities are encouraged — and welcomed — at the end of the trip.
• Seattle City Tour Bus itineraries are subject to change depending on conditions and group dynamics, but rest assured that your guide’s expertise will maximize what you can see, learn, and experience with limited time.

Seattle Bus Tour Booking Instructions

When you’re ready to book, select your date and tour you have in mind to the right. After selecting the number of guests in your party, your pickup options will appear.

The first dropdown menu will ask which hotel you’re staying with; if you don’t see your hotel listed, you’ll select “Not Staying at Listed Hotel”.

A second dropdown menu will then appear. This is where you choose your meeting location:

• Seattle Public Library: 1000 4th Ave Seattle, WA (Pickup is 25 minutes before tour start time)
• Midtown: 1900 4th Ave Seattle, WA (Pickup is 15 minutes before tour start time)
• MoPop Pickup: 325 5th Ave N Seattle, WA (Pickup is 5 minutes before tour start time)

Plan to arrive to your meeting location 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled pickup time. You’ll want to be on the lookout for a white mini coach that says Tours Northwest. Give our office a call if you haven’t been picked up 5 minutes past your scheduled pickup time: 206-768-1234

Seattle City Tour FAQ

• Chevron down What hotels do you pick up at?

We have 2 tours that offer hotel pickup from most downtown Seattle hotels: Seattle City Tour PLUS Hotel Pickup and our Seattle City Tour & Cruise Transportation .

Our Premier 3-hour City Tour and our Mt. Rainier Tour offer 3 meeting locations within a short walk of most downtown hotels:

• Midtown: 1900 4th Ave Seattle, WA in front of the Urban Coffeehouse (Pickup is 15 minutes before tour start time)

Plan to arrive at your meeting location 5 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. You’ll want to be on the lookout for a white mini-coach that says Tours Northwest.

• Chevron down Why don’t you pick up directly at my hotel?

Downtown Seattle has such unpredictable and dynamic traffic conditions that offering hotel pickups on our standard tours (with up to 20 people who could all be staying at different hotels) would take valuable time away from the time we have for the tour.  We have 4 departure points, each very centrally located and very simple to get to, which makes it easier for everyone and means that we don’t waste any precious tour time doing multiple pickups around Seattle, one of which is likely just a few minutes walk from your hotel.  Feel free to contact us directly if you need further guidance on which pickup location is best for you, and if you haven’t yet chosen your accommodations, you can always let us know later.

In addition, if you do need door-to-door service, we offer a Premium City Tour and Pre-Cruise Tour for an additional fee which includes this service – the smaller group size of these tours allows us to pick up at hotels without anyone needing to be on the bus for an unreasonably long time.

• Chevron down What is the best way to get from SeaTac to downtown Seattle?

The easiest option is to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi to your pickup location (Our Seattle Public Library picku p option is the closest to SeaTac).

Another less expensive option is to take the Link light rail from the Airport or Angle Lake station towards the University of Washington Station and exit at the Westlake Stop. When you exit, take the escalator upstairs to get to the street level.  Head north on 4th Avenue to our Midtown pickup at 1900 4th Ave Seattle, WA in front of the Urban Yoga Spa (Pickup is 10 minutes before tour start time)

• Chevron down Where can I park my vehicle in downtown Seattle?

If you’re driving into town to meet up with a tour, we recommend meeting us at our MoPOP pickup location and parking near here.  Next to this pickup location is the Republic Parking (Memorial Stadium Lot) located on 401 5th Ave N, Seattle WA 9109 is right next to our MoPop pickup (they offer a $10 all-day rate if you’re in before 9am)

Other options include:

Pacific Place Garage located at 600 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101 is two blocks from our Midtown pickup at 1900 4th Ave Seattle, WA, and has lower hourly rates than most downtown garages

On weekends (and after 4pm weekdays), take advantage of FREE Parking in the Amazon Doppler Building Garage located at 2021 7th Ave (7am – 2am) – this is about a 5 minute walk from our Midtown pickup at 1900 4th Ave Seattle, WA

• Chevron down Why should I book directly through your website?

All availability on our website is live and up to date – you’ll get instant confirmation after booking.  Booking on our website also opens a direct line of communication so we can let you know about any important information or changes regarding your tour.  Booking direct cuts out the middle man, which means we can spend more money on making your experience perfect while keeping our prices as low as possible for you. We guarantee to offer the lowest prices directly – if you find a tour operated by us anywhere else advertised for cheaper – we will refund the difference.

• Chevron down How do I know which bus is yours?

All of our tour buses are white and marked with Tours Northwest on the front or side.  Our drivers should be wearing a yellow shirt or jacket that says Tours Northwest and will be looking for you by name.

• Chevron down Do I need to bring a printed voucher or copy of my confirmation?

If you book directly on our website or over the phone, a printed voucher or confirmation will not be needed. Our tour guides will check you in by name prior to boarding the bus.

• Chevron down Is there a bathroom on the bus?

None of our mini-coaches are equipped with bathrooms, but our guides make every effort to provide opportunities for a public restroom every 60-90 minutes during our tours.

• Chevron down Can I bring a wheelchair/stroller/luggage?

It may be possible to accommodate a folding wheelchair/stroller/some luggage, but we have limited storage space, so please get in touch with your requirements before booking so that we can advise accordingly.

• Chevron down Do you have wheelchair-accessible buses?

We have a 12-passenger wheelchair-accessible bus that requires a minimum 7 days’ notice to reserve and is based on the availability of tours. We can only accommodate the wheelchair lift bus on our Seattle City Tour PLUS Hotel Pickup. If you will only have a folding wheelchair, it can be stored on any of our buses with advanced notice.

• Chevron down What should I do if I'm running late to my pickup?

Unfortunately, we cannot wait for more than a minute or two past the pickup time at any of our pickup locations. Please contact our office at 206-768-1234 as soon as you are aware you’ll be running late to discuss your options. There are no refunds available if you are not at your designated pickup location at the pickup time.

• Chevron down What is your cancellation policy?

We understand that sometimes plans change or things come up. We offer full refunds on all tours canceled at least 24 hours in advance of the tour’s start time.  There are no refunds in the 24 hours leading up to the tour. For private tours, we ask for a minimum of 48 hours notice for a full refund.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

• January 1 - December 31
• Hour Glass 3 hours
• Users All ages

Seattle City Tour Package PLUS Hotel Pickup

Combine our 3-hour Seattle City Tour with luxury hotel pickup and drop off!

• April 1 - October 31
• Users Ages 3+

Pre-Alaska Cruise Transportation and City Tour

Make the most of your time and money by combining tour and transportation with our Pre-Cruise City Tour! It also includes a 3-hour tour of Seattle. Consider this tour your Seattle hotel cruise port shuttle, with local culture added on top.

THE BEST Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

Hop-on hop-off tours in seattle.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
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• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. CitySightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Bookable Extras

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Hop On Hop Off Seattle - Bus Tours

Seattle sightseeing bus tours.

Top Customer Reviews

Stacey stewart.

Worth the money! A great way to see Seattle.

Barbara Hoerner

Easy to order tickets on line.

Elena Febles

We liked being able to spend more time at a stop than on most tours. The buses run regularly. Some pick up points were a little hard to see but the drivers were very accommodating.

Experience Seattle in Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours

Home to remarkable architecture, sprawling parks, unparalleled cityscapes, and shopping options, Seattle is a major tourist hotspot. It is the largest city in Washington and has been inhabited for 4,000 years. The city is one of the fastest-growing metropolitans in the US and is rightly nicknamed the Emerald City.

The name Seattle is derived from the word ‘Sealth’ which was the language of the first settlers. The first ever gas station in the US was opened in Seattle in 1907.

When in Seattle, don’t forget to check out the world’s first revolving restaurant named Space Needle. It was built in 1961. Seattle has some of the world’s amazing glass studios which are worth checking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: what is the best time to book the seattle hop-on hop-off tour.

June to September is the best time to plan a visit to Seattle and explore its neighbouroods. However, it is the peak tourist season so expect it to be crowded. Make sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid the last-minute rush.

Q: How many days are enough to explore Seattle?

We recommend spending 3 to 5 days in Seattle and exploring the popular attractions of the city. You can also venture for a day trip from Seattle if you plan to spend a week or so.

Q: Where do I exchange my Seattle bus tour voucher or paper ticket?

You will receive the bus tour vouchers on your smartphone. Since it is an E-voucher, you can show it at the time of arrival.

Q: What is the validity of the ticket?

There are several ticket options available to you, depending on your length of stay. Each Seattle bus tour will have validity from 24, 36, 48 to 72 hours. And the great thing is you can plan ahead as the vouchers are valid anywhere between 6 months to 1 year and can be used at any point during that period. Check the product page or bus tour operator for complete details.

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• BUENOS AIRES
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The best ways to get around Seattle

Jun 23, 2023 • 10 min read

Find your way around Seattle with our guide to driving, walking and public transportation © iStockphoto / Getty Images

Considering its size, getting around Seattle  without a car is surprisingly easy. Most of the neighborhoods on the tourist radar are walkable, although a few, like Capitol Hill and Queen Anne, involve some serious uphill climbs. Getting from one neighborhood to another is generally easy, too, thanks to an extensive and affordable public transportation network.

Of course, getting around by car does allow you to explore the city at your own pace, and there’s less risk of getting your hems soaked in Seattle’s famous rain. But it comes with drawbacks. To help you decide the best mode of transport, here’s everything you need to know about getting around Seattle.

Driving in Seattle is not for the faint of heart

Seattle's traffic is disproportionately heavy and chaotic for a city of its size, and parking is scarce and expensive. Add to that the city’s cobbled-together mishmash of skewed grids, the hilly terrain, the inexplicable left-lane freeway exits and the preponderance of one-way streets, and it’s easy to see why driving can be a challenge. And we haven’t even mentioned the address system yet.

If you're feeling brave, rental agencies like Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz are in the Sea-Tac airport. The city also offers share-car services, including Zipcar and GIG. Rules for gas and mileage charges vary, so be sure to read the fine print.

Taxis and rideshares can be pricey (but at least you're not driving)

If you need to get somewhere quickly outside public transit hours – or don’t know how to get from Seattle airport to downtown with all your luggage in tow – taxi cabs and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can help.

You can try hailing a cab from the street, but it’s a safer bet to call and order one. All Seattle taxi-cabs operate at the same rate, set by King County , which is USD$2.60 at meter drop, then $2.50 per mile. Reliable taxi services include Seattle Orange Cab , Seattle Yellow Cab and STITA Taxi .

There may be an additional charge for extra passengers and baggage, and some companies have flat rates for trips from the central business district to the airport. Expect to pay between around $40 and $55 for a trip between downtown and the airport.

Buses are the budget-friendly option – and some run all night

If you’re on a budget, buses are your best friend. Most buses in Seattle are operated by King County Metro Transit , part of the King County Department of Transportation. Go to their website for route schedules and maps, plus a trip planner.

To make things simple, all bus fares within Seattle city limits are a flat $2.75 for adults. You can pay in cash, with a Metro transfer or ticket, or with an ORCA card . 

Have the exact fare as drivers don’t carry cash: your fare goes into a fare box. A transfer ticket is valid for three hours from the time of purchase. Most buses can carry two to three bikes.

There are six RapidRide bus routes (A to F). RapidRide buses have limited stops, so they're faster and more frequent than regular buses, coming every 10 minutes.

Line C connects downtown to West Seattle, and Line D connects downtown to Ballard. Payment is the same as for regular Metro buses, and there may be fare inspections, so hold on to your ticket.

Sound Transit operates regional buses that go beyond Seattle’s city limits and are a good option if you need to get to, say, Tacoma or Everett. Since stops are limited, they’re not very practical for getting around Seattle.

Catching the bus after hours

If you need public transportation in Seattle after a night out, the city runs Night Owl buses between midnight and 5am on some of the most popular routes.

Between 8pm and 5am, there's an additional Night Stop service in some areas. You can ask the driver to drop you off at any point along the route – even if it isn't an official bus stop – to cut down on the distance you need to walk. However, the driver will make this stop at their discretion.

If you’re under 18, you can now travel for free

Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Move Ahead WA package, aimed at improving public transportation and infrastructure in Washington. One of the provisions in this legislation is free transit for youth 18 and under. This means that kids and teens (with a Youth Orca Card or middle school or high school student ID) can ride Seattle’s buses, trains, streetcar and water taxis for free until their 19th birthday.

Beat traffic with Link light rail

There’s one Link line that operates within Seattle running from Angle Lake via the Sea-Tac airport and Westlake Station downtown to the Northgate neighborhood. It's faster than the bus (or car) and runs every 8 to 15 minutes (depending on the time of day) between 5am and 1am, with reduced service (from 6am to midnight only) on Sundays and holidays. 

Fares run from $2.25 to $3.50 depending on the distance traveled. 

There’s another Link line that runs in Tacoma, between the Tacoma Dome and the Theater District.

Take a train to Everett or Tacoma

Sound Transit  operates “Sounder” trains connecting Seattle to its sister cities Tacoma to the south and Everett to the north. Trains are new and clean, and schedules run smoothly. Fares also depend on how far you travel but are between $3.25 and $5.75 for adults. 

Transit takes one to two hours. You can even use connecting bus routes to get all the way to Washington’s capital city,  Olympia .

Experience Seattle history on the Monorail

The Monorail was originally intended as public transportation but has become a tourist favorite. It only goes one mile, from Westlake Center downtown straight to Seattle Center – and the Space Needle – and back every 10 minutes, from 7:30am to 11pm on weekdays and from 8:30am to 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with extended hours for arena events and Kraken (Seattle’s professional hockey team) games.

It’s a fun way to get between the two most tourist-attraction-heavy areas of the city. The Monorail costs $3.25 for adults. You can pay by card or use your ORCA card: the Monorail doesn’t accept cash.

Hop on a Seattle Streetcar 

The revival of the Seattle Streetcar was initiated in 2007 with the opening of the 2.6-mile South Lake Union line that runs between Westlake Center and Lake Union. There are nine stops, and fares are $2.25 for adults. You can also get day passes that allow an unlimited number of rides on that day for $4.50.

A second 10-stop line opened in 2016, running from Pioneer Square via the International District and First Hill to Capitol Hill. The First Hill line has 10 stops. On weekdays, streetcars run from 5am to 10:30pm, passing by every 15 minutes or so (every 12 minutes during rush hour).

Roll-out plans for future streetcar lines are in the offing, with links earmarked for Fremont, Ballard and the U District.

See Puget Sound from a ferry or water taxi

The most useful inter-neighborhood boat route is the water taxi , which connects the downtown waterfront (Pier 50) with West Seattle’s Seacrest Park and the Alki neighborhood. The water taxi is for foot and bicycle passengers only. 

It runs hourly every day in the summer but only on weekdays in the winter. The fare for the 10-minute crossing is $5.75 for adults. Bikes can be brought on board for free.

A second water taxi route takes visitors to nearby Vashon Island. The crossing takes about 15 minutes, and a ticket costs $6.75 for adults. Bus service on the island is limited, and the hills are unforgiving to cyclists.

The much larger Washington State Ferries serve foot, bicycle, and car traffic. The Pier 50 terminal offers routes to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, which both make for excellent day trips from Seattle . Be sure to pick up a route schedule; you don’t want to miss the last ferry back to the city.

Test your cycling skills on Seattle’s hills

Winter might not be the best time for cycling, but you will spot Seattle locals doing it even in the rainy dark.

If you can brave the wet, pick up a copy of the Seattle Bicycling Guide Map . The best non-motor traffic route is the scenic Burke-Gilman Trail, which passes through the northern neighborhoods of the U District, Wallingford, Fremont and Ballard. 

Other handy bike paths are the Ship Canal Trail on the north side of Queen Anne, Myrtle Edwards Park, Green Lake Park and the Cheshiahud Loop around Lake Union. 

While Seattle and all of King County repealed the law that required that cyclists wear helmets in 2022, it’s still recommended that you wear one for your own safety .

Seattle also has bike-sharing options operated by Lime and Veo .

Explore Seattle on foot

Yes, the monorail was highly revolutionary in 1962, and the ferries are a wonderful way to get some salt in your hair, but on a rare clear day, you can’t beat the visceral, oxygen-drinking act of walking. Besides, it is the cheapest way to get around Seattle!

Because most of Seattle’s through traffic is funneled along one of two main arteries – I-5 and SR-99 (also called Aurora, Alaska Way or Pacific Highway, depending on where you are) – the central streets aren’t as manic as you’d imagine. 

In Belltown and Pioneer Square, your worst hassle might be sports fans hanging out by the nearby stadiums. Downtown, the hills might slow your progress slightly, while on the waterfront you’ll need to watch out for the seagulls – and fellow tourists.

Seattle’s most walkable neighborhoods are leafy Capitol Hill and Queen Anne. If you’re really adventurous, ditch the car/bus/train and explore the U District, Wallingford, Fremont and Ballard by taking a walk or bike ride on that entertaining people-watching bonanza, the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Get anywhere with an ORCA card

Seattle offers a unified transit card that works across services, including Sounder trains, King County Metro buses, Link light rail, Seattle Streetcar, Seattle Monorail, water taxis, and Washington State Ferries. 

ORCA cards operate like a digital purse: you input money in your account using a credit or debit card, then tap on and off transit to access your funds. Some services, like the water taxi, offer discounted rates for ORCA card users.

You can order an ORCA card online or buy one at any ORCA refill kiosk in the Link Lightrail transit tunnels or at certain retailers. You can also refill the card at those kiosks or online. If you're going to be traveling a lot, you can purchase a regional day pass or even a monthly pass.

Accessible transportation in Seattle

All public buildings (including hotels, restaurants, theaters and museums) are required by law to provide wheelchair access and to have appropriate restroom facilities available. Telephone companies provide relay operators for the hearing impaired. Many banks provide ATM instructions in Braille. Dropped curbs are standard at intersections throughout the city.

Most of King County Metro’s buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Timetables marked with an “L” indicate wheelchair accessibility. There will be signage at the bus stop to indicate whether the lift or ramp can be used here.

Once you’re on the bus, be sure to let the driver know if you need your stop to be called.

Service animals are allowed on most forms of public transport in Seattle, but emotional support animals may be classified as pets, which means some restrictions may apply. Passengers with disabilities qualify for a reduced fare but first need to contact King County Metro for a permit.

Most large private and chain hotels have suites for guests with disabilities. Many car rental agencies offer hand-controlled models at no extra charge, but you'll need to book ahead with at least a few days' notice.

All major airlines, Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains allow service animals to accompany passengers and often sell two-for-one packages for passengers who require carers.

The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) provides info for travelers with disabilities, and Easter Seals of Washington  provides technology assistance, workplace services and camps for individuals with disabilities and special needs. For more, check out Lonely Planet’s Accessible Travel Guides .

This article was first published May 17, 2021 and updated Jun 23, 2023.

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Location & Hours

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622 S Lane St

Seattle, WA 98104

S Maynard Ave & S 6th Ave

Chinatown, Chinatown International District

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Bus was on time, clean, driver took my suitcases nicely, drove safely, and we got to the destination on time. Price is very reasonable and service is good. My only complaint is that I bought two seats but people sat anywhere, not in the assigned seats, so it was a waste to buy two seats.

Our bus is over an hour late. One púlled up ten minutes ago and disgorged passengers, but when the European tourists asked if it was taking us to Portland the gnomish driver held up a finger like he was trying to assess the direction of the wind, got back onto the empty bus, and drove away without saying a word. UPDATE: Finally on the bus (good). Wi-Fi is not working (bad) UPDATE: The bus driver on this bus is extremely kind and did apologize, even though nothing is her fault--it's Flix, for not having backup drivers and buses for situations where buses get delayed. She reset the Wi-Fi for us (which requires flipping a switch on the outside of the bus) and it's working now.

Wifi status.

First time trying to use this service and definitely the last. I paid extra to reserve specific seats, and while scrolling down to the "finish" button, I must have hit a different seat accidentally and ended up with two seats on opposite ends of the bus. I opened "manage my booking" to cancel the accidental seat, but it didn't give me the option to pick a new seat, it just assigned another random seat I didn't want. Under their FAQs, it was stated that in case of a mistake, you can make changes within 60 minutes of booking without fees, so I opened a customer service chat ASAP. The agent said it was "impossible" to give me the seat I wanted despite there being nearly no other reserved seats on the bus. They said me cancelling the unwanted seat counted as a "change" and you can only change one time. I escalated this to email customer service, who gave me the same answer. Mind you this is all within an hour of booking! I escalated this email to a second agent, who told me I could contact a third agent and get the $8 fee refunded, but still wouldn't let me reserve the seat I wanted. At this point, I wanted to cancel my entire trip with them. I put in a phone call to customer service where the agent repeatedly cut me off and told me they couldn't help without even knowing my problem or booking number. I was told there were no refunds, no higher escalation, and I was basically screwed. All of this because they wouldn't just reassign a seat. Absolutely crazy.

I was driving home today when one of their buses tried to merge into me. Not on accident because he clearly saw me, but tried to crowd me out of the lane. Their customer service won't let you leave feedback without a booking number so this seems like my only option. After witnessing their unsafe behavior there's no way I'd ride one of their busses. Clearly they don't screen or train their drivers well. This was bus 321 on Southbound I-5, south of Seattle at 3:22pm on January 23rd.

The driver's seatbelt sensor was beeping the entire trip. It was so annoying. Could not concentrate on work. Could not rest. So frustrating. We should not have to hear that. The driver told me that it has been like that for multiple weeks. Why isn't Flix Bus repairing it?? Driver said that if it's not a direct "safety" issue then repair is not prioritized. But I would argue that it is a safety issue. The driver mentioned that he doesn't notice other sensors because this one is going off continuously. So what is he missing? What if there is an accident because he misses a warning? But even so, why should I ever ride the bus again if passengers' comfort and enjoyment is blatantly disregarded like this?? I should receive a refund.

Took the flix bus from olympia to seatac. I was worried like, anyone else, about it being on time. Got to olympia 10 minutes late but it's coming from Portland so not bad. Stops in Tacoma for like 5 minutes. Overall it was 30 minutes late from its original arrival time. Clean, yes. Comfortable, yes, I had empty seats around me. The bus drives exactly 60 mph on the freeway but some classic rock and some earbuds, not bad. It drops you off at the far end of the airport so if you're alaska, you got a walk ahead of you.

they canceled the bus at the last minute - customer service was terrible and no explanation....other than I could have rebooked to another bus for free. Unfortunately, my booking was the last one for the day, so I'd have missed my flight if I rebooked for next day. Very disappointed and left scrambling

My experience makes me advise people to think twice if they want to take FlixBus. The Bus from SeaTac Airport to Portland, Oregon on a Tuesday was 52 minutes late to pick up passengers. The 3-hour Bus ride was scheduled 1:35 - 4:35 p.m. Nevertheless, the Bus dropped many passengers at Tacoma, and also picked up many passengers there. The 3-hour schedule was definitely fraudulent, and deceitful to the paying customers because it is impossible to complete the trip in 3 hours with a stop at Tacoma. Flix Bus intentionally and willfully lied to its paying customers. The fraudulent and bad-faith stop at Tacoma made the Bus hit the rush hours in Portland. It arrived at 6:07 p.m. instead of 4:35 p.m. Even though I ordered a ride immediately, with the rush hours, I was still very late for my 6:30 p.m. dinner reservation, which made other people mad at me. I had a no-smile-from-others dinner at a famous restaurant. FlixBus really gave me an extremely bad experience.

Had reservation on the 2:45 pm from Seattle to Eugene. Bus never showed up. Booked another ticket on 3:45 which did show up. Flixbus refuses to refund the 1st ticket claiming I didn't wait 2 hours for the 2:45 to show up. Apparently I was supposed to just hang around and hope the bus would show up since the app had "no data" on when the 2:45 would show up.

Garbage company. not US based. 3 out of 4 trips either cancelled or over 2 hours late. use at your own risk

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