Last reviewed: November 2026. Opening hours, prices and reservation rules change, so check each attraction’s website before you go.
Seattle is an easy city to please teenagers in. There’s water everywhere, mountains on the horizon, a big music and pop-culture museum, ferries you can ride just for the views, and plenty of food they’ll actually want to eat. Most of the best things are close together, and you don’t need a car for the city itself.
Here are the things to do in Seattle with teens, grouped by interest, plus tips on getting around and when to go.
Seattle Center: the Space Needle, MoPOP and glass art
- Space Needle: the observation level has a rotating glass floor and floor-to-ceiling glass. Go at sunset on a clear day.
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): exhibitions on music, science fiction, fantasy, horror and video games, plus sound labs where you can play instruments. Usually the biggest hit with teens.
- Chihuly Garden and Glass: large glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly, indoors and in a garden. Combination tickets with the Space Needle are available.
From downtown, the Monorail runs to Seattle Center in a couple of minutes, which teens tend to enjoy in itself.
Pike Place Market and the waterfront
Pike Place Market is the city’s most famous sight: fish throwing at the fish market, the original Starbucks, the Gum Wall in Post Alley, and stalls selling flowers, produce, crafts and mini doughnuts. Go in the morning on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds.
Below the market, the redeveloped waterfront has the Seattle Great Wheel, the Seattle Aquarium and a waterfront promenade. The Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion, which opened in 2024, has sharks and rays.
Get out on the water
- Ferry to Bainbridge Island: a walk-on Washington State Ferry from the downtown terminal is one of the cheapest ways to see the skyline and, on clear days, Mount Rainier and the Olympics.
- Kayak or paddleboard on Lake Union: rental shops around the lake rent by the hour. You’ll paddle past houseboats and see seaplanes taking off.
- Visit the Ballard Locks: at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, watch boats being raised and lowered, and see salmon in the fish ladder in summer.
Outdoor adventure
- Discovery Park: Seattle’s largest park, with forest trails, cliffs and a beach walk to the West Point Lighthouse.
- Burke-Gilman Trail: a long, mostly flat bike path through the north of the city. Rent bikes or e-bikes and ride a section past Gas Works Park.
- Kerry Park: the classic skyline viewpoint, best at sunset.
- Climbing gyms: Seattle has several indoor climbing and bouldering gyms with day passes and intro sessions, good on rainy days.
Day trips
- Mount Rainier National Park: about two to three hours away, with summer meadows and glacier views. Timed-entry reservations have been required on some routes in summer, so check the National Park Service site.
- Snoqualmie Falls: a big waterfall about 30 to 40 minutes east of the city, with a short trail to the bottom.
- Victoria, BC: a passenger ferry from downtown makes a full day trip possible. Teens need passports too.
Victoria is also one of my picks for long weekend trips if you want to stay longer.
Quirky and history stops
- The Underground Tour in Pioneer Square visits the buried storefronts and sidewalks of the city rebuilt after the 1889 fire. Guides keep it funny.
- The Fremont Troll, a huge sculpture under a bridge, and the Fremont neighborhood’s vintage shops.
- Museum of Flight, south of downtown, with a Concorde and a former Air Force One you can walk through.
- Capitol Hill for record shops, bookstores and street food.
Recommended Products
Getting around
Link light rail runs from Sea-Tac Airport to downtown and on to the University of Washington and beyond. Buses, the Monorail and walking cover most of the city. An ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app works on most local transit. Teens may be eligible for free youth fares on local transit; check the ORCA website for current rules.
When to go
July to September is usually dry and sunny, and the best time for water and mountain trips. The rest of the year is milder but wetter, so plan indoor options like MoPOP and climbing gyms. Wildfire smoke can affect air quality in late summer.
For more on planning a trip with kids and teens, see my family travel safety checklist, and if you’re flying, the flying with kids tips from parent bloggers cover the airport side.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best thing to do in Seattle with teenagers?
MoPOP is usually the top pick, followed by a ferry ride and Pike Place Market. Active teens tend to love kayaking on Lake Union.
How many days do you need in Seattle with teens?
Three days covers the city. Add a day or two for Mount Rainier or Victoria.
Is Seattle good for teens on a rainy day?
Yes. MoPOP, the Museum of Flight, the Aquarium and climbing gyms are all indoors.
Do you need a car in Seattle?
Not for the city. You’ll want one, or a tour, for Mount Rainier.
