Seattle is the largest city in Washington state, at the northwestern corner of the United States, built on a narrow neck of land between Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east. It grew rich in 1897 as the supply port for the Klondike gold rush, became the home of Boeing in the 20th century and then one of the centres of the computer industry with Microsoft and Amazon. On a clear day Mount Rainier, 4,392 metres high, is visible to the southeast, and locals call such days ones when the mountain is out. This is also the American home of coffee culture.
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See flights to Seattle →When to visit Seattle
June to September is the easiest stretch, with daytime temperatures between 20C and 26C, and summer is the dry season here, with rain rare in July and August. November to March is mild but persistently drizzly, temperatures seldom drop below freezing, and daylight falls to eight and a half hours in December. April and May are green, cool and cheaper.
Things to do in Seattle
The Space Needle
Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the 184 metre tower with its saucer shaped top is the emblem of the city and took only a year to raise. A refit in 2018 added the world's first revolving glass floor to the observation level, with forty one storeys of empty air beneath your feet. On a clear day Puget Sound, the Olympic mountains and Mount Rainier are all in view at once.
Pike Place Market
Opened in 1907, the market is among the oldest continuously running public markets in the United States and spreads over several levels down a slope facing the bay. Throwing salmon through the air to be wrapped is a tradition the fishmongers made themselves. The first Starbucks, opened in 1971, still trades opposite the market at 1912 Pike Place.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Opened at Seattle Center in 2012, the exhibition holds a permanent collection of eight galleries by Dale Chihuly, the glass artist born in Washington state. In the garden section the glass installations are set among living plants, so the work and the planting share the same frame. The glasshouse at the centre carries a suspended ceiling sculpture thirty metres long in reds and yellows.
Museum of Pop Culture
Designed by Frank Gehry and opened in 2000, the building stands at Seattle Center behind curved metal surfaces drawn from the bodies of smashed electric guitars. The collection rests on the musical history of the city, with the Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana sections at its core. There are also permanent galleries given to science fiction, horror film and video games.
Kerry Park
The small terrace on the south slope of Queen Anne hill is where the best known view of the city is taken: the Space Needle in front, the towers behind it, and on a clear day Mount Rainier on the horizon. The park is only a few hundred square metres and was given to the city by a family in 1927. It is busiest just after sunset when the lights come on.
Smith Tower
The 1914 tower on Pioneer Square is 149 metres tall and was the tallest building west of the Mississippi until 1931. The Chinese Room on the thirty fifth floor takes its name from the carved wooden furniture sent by the empress of China and is ringed by an open observation gallery. The original lifts in the building are still run by an operator.
Flights from Turkey to Seattle
Direct flights to Seattle from Turkey leave from Istanbul Airport, operated daily by Turkish Airlines and more than once a day in busy periods, and take about 12 hours 20 minutes. Departure is in the afternoon and arrival the same evening, while the return lands the following day because of the time difference. Seattle-Tacoma Airport is about 22 kilometres south of downtown and the 1 Line light rail reaches the centre in 40 minutes.
Seattle FAQ
How many days do you need in Seattle?
Two days cover downtown, Pike Place and Seattle Center. A third suits Kerry Park, Pioneer Square and the Ballard locks. Adding Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park stretches the trip to five or six days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Seattle-Tacoma Airport is about 22 kilometres from downtown. The 1 Line light rail from the terminal reaches the city centre in 40 minutes and runs until around midnight, while a taxi or ride hailing car takes 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a visa for the United States?
A Turkish passport needs a United States visitor visa. The application consists of an online form and a consular interview, and appointment waiting times can stretch a long way in some periods, so planning should start months before the travel date. Those who hold the visa need no further permit on arrival.
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