Seattle
United States · Country profile
Seattle is the great city of the Pacific north-west, the rainy, green metropolis of the Puget Sound that spreads its hills, its lakes and its neighbourhoods between the water and the mountains of the region. The city is famous as the home of the global technology, the coffee and the music that have shaped the modern world, and its skyline, its piers, its markets and its rainforest-flavoured setting give it a character all its own. The famous market of the city, the Space Needle of the former world fair and the waterfront of the bay anchor the visitor circuit, while the neighbourhoods, from the historic districts to the hilltop arts, hold the everyday life. Surrounded by the water and the mountains, Seattle is the green, energetic capital of the north-west.
About Seattle
Seattle is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 790,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
The Market, the Needle and the Waterfront of the Sound
Seattle is a green, water-bound city of hills, drizzle and a laid-back northern energy that has become one of the iconic cities of the American west. The famous market, the Space Needle, the waterfront and the museums of the centre anchor the visitor circuit, while the neighbourhoods and the ferry routes of the bay carry the everyday life. The city is compact and easy, and the ferries, the busways and the light rail make the water and the hills navigable. It is a city of the coffee shops, the bookstores and the outdoors, and its setting, with the sea and the mountains on every side, is one of the great urban landscapes of the continent.
The Rain, the Layers and the Light Rail of the City
The climate is famously mild and changeable, with the grey, wet winters and the bright, dry summers, and the drizzle of the spring and the autumn is part of the city, so the layers and the waterproofs matter. The famous market, the Space Needle and the great museums of the city are the essential visits, and the ferry rides of the bay and the viewpoints of the mountains frame the setting. The US dollar is the currency, the cards work everywhere and the city is safe, walkable and easy, with the light rail from the airport and the ferries of the region filling the transport gap. Pack for the rain and the layers whatever the season.
The Ferries, the Mountains and the Coffee of the North-West
The central market of the city, the famous public market on its hill above the water with its flying fish, its farmers, its food stalls and its enormous wall of the gum, is the great living institution of the city, and the piers and the waterfront of the bay below it hold the ferries, the aquarium and the sunset views. The needle of the space, the tower of the former world fair, gives the classic panorama over the whole city and the bay, and the museums of the centre, from the pop and the music museum to the art museum of the waterfront, fill the cultural circuit. The ferries of the bay, the lakes with their floatplanes and the mountains with their parks and their viewpoints complete the picture of the green, sea-girt city.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 790,000
- Coordinates
- 47.4502, -122.3088
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Seattle
Airports we list for Seattle:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Seattle the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Seattle?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Seattle?
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the airport we list for Seattle.
How far is Seattle from the nearest airport?
Seattle is about 208 km from Portland International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Seattle? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.