I would argue that Seattle, Washington is one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. It’s a great weekend getaway (though let’s be real, once you go you’ll want to come back). A couple of pro notes – I would recommend going in the summer or fall. Winter and Spring can be really cold and rainy.

How to spend 48 hours in Seattle

[ Friday Afternoon & Night ]

Start with a walk around Cap Hill

Arriving on Friday afternoon? Start your trip to Seattle with a walk around Capitol Hill. Check out the Starbucks Reserve & Roastery before walking up Pike towards the heart of Cap Hill. I personally like to skip coffee at the roastery, and then head to Elliot Bay Books for a peruse around the bookstore and a stop for afternoon coffee at the charming Little Oddfellows coffee in the bookstore. You can then keep perusing around and check out the different boutiques until dinner time.

(Arriving around dinner time? Move this part of your itinerary to Saturday or Sunday if you have time!)

Dinner & Drinks in Capitol Hill

After walking around, head for dinner and drinks in the neighborhood. Capitol Hill is known for being Seattle’s gay community, and filled with great nightlife, cafes, and restaurants.

A couple of my favorite spots:

• Bar Melusine (oysters & small bites)
• Frankie & Jo’s (vegan ice cream)
• Stateside (modern Vietnamese)
• Altura (Italian)
• Poquitos (Mexican)
• Chavez (Mexican)
• Optimism Brewery (beer & board games)

Emma’s Edition has a great post on some of Capitol Hill’s most Instagrammable Places here if you’re looking for more fun ideas!

[ Saturday ] 

Early morning at Pike Place

I always tell visitors, either go to Pike Place early or DON’T go at all, I once tested this out and went around 11 AM and was surrounded by wall to wall people and couldn’t see anything. Make sure to spend a good hour or two in Pike Place. There’s more to see than meets the eye!

Make sure to hit:

• Pierogi Pierogi  for a morning snack
• The Gum Wall
• Pike Place Rooftop Garden
• Pike Place underground shops
• Post Alley

If you do end up in the Pike Place area in the afternoon and are looking to have a meal, the following places are some of my favorites:

• Red Cedar & Sage (Pacific Northwest food)
• The Pink Door (Italian)
• Beecher’s Cheese (mac& cheese, & other cheesy delights..)
• Pike Place Chowder (chowders)

Breakfast & coffee at Moore Coffee

After walking around Pike Place, walk a couple of blocks to Moore Coffee (the one next to the Moore Hotel) for breakfast and adorable coffee. They serve waffles, sandwiches, etc.

Looking for more Seattle coffee ideas? Check out my ” Seattle’s Most Instagrammable Coffee Shops” for more options!

Have lunch at the Chihuly Gardens & Glass ( & skip the Space Needle)

After breakfast, you could either do some shopping and visit the Nordstrom Flagship Store (and Nordstrom Rack next door which has AMAZING stuff), OR head over to the Seattle Center.

The Seattle Center consists of the Space Needle, The Chihuly Gardens & Glass, and the Museum of Pop Culture. The Chihuly Gardens & Glass Museum is one of my favorite spots in Seattle. It’s not talked about often, but it is SUCH a hidden gem. I think it is a must see. The Space Needle on the other hand… not so much. You can go up there if you want, but it really isn’t worth the $39 in my opinion.

After visiting Chihuly, stop for lunch at the Collections Cafe, surprising the food is really good!

Pro Tip: 

• If you REALLY want to go to the Space Needle, 1) Make sure it’s a super clear day and 2) I recommend making reservations for brunch at the top. Brunch is a prix fixe menu and comes with a free ticket to visit the observatory. You basically get brunch free for the a little more than the price of the entrance.

Check Out Kerry Park & Queen Anne 

Kerry Park’s claim to fame is that it’s appeared in quite a few movies. I do think that it’s a nice stop on your trip to see the Seattle skyline. Especially if you skipped the Space Needle! It is located in Queen Anne, one of Seattle’s really cute neighborhoods. After checking out the park, head to Queen Anne Avenue. You can stop for coffee or a meal.

Some of my Queen Anne favorites: 

• Storyville Coffee (coffee & pastries)
• El Diablo Coffee (coffee & pastries)
• Betty ( American Modern cuisine)
• Bounty Kitchen (American healthy eats)
• Via Tribunali (pizza, Italian food)

Head for ice cream at Molly Moon’s

There are Molly Moon’s ice cream shops all over Seattle, but if you happen to be wanting a sweet snack while in Queen Anne, there’s one right off the avenue.

Pro Tip: Only want a little ice cream? The kid’s scoop is the way to go! (That’s what is featured above)

[ Sunday ]

Ballard is one of my favorite Sunday morning neighborhoods. Stop for pastries and coffee at Cafe Besalu before heading to the Ballard Farmer’s Market. The market has a mix of fresh produce, food trucks, handmade items and flowers.

Walking tour of Fremont

Lastly, you’ll want to check out the quirky neighborhood of Fremont. There are things like a troll under a bridge, a Lenin statue, and Russian rocket.

To See: 

• Lenin Statue
• GasWorks Park
• Fremont Troll
• Fremont Rocket
• Center of the Universe sign

To Eat & Drink:

• Fremont Brewing (beer)
• Espresso to Go (coffee)
• Fremont Coffee Company (coffee)
• Theo Chocolates (chocolate factory & store – you can take a tour!)
• Uneeda Burger (burgers)
• Sea Wolf (pastries/ bakery)

If you have time:

If you have a little bit of time left at the end of your trip, I’d recommend taking a trip to Pioneer Square. Pioneer Square is Seattle’s historic area with exposed brick buildings.

Some recommended spots in Pioneer Square:

• General Porpoise (donuts & coffee)
• Callus ( boutique, pop-up shops & coffee)
• London Plane (cafe, restaurant & flower shop)
• Moorea Seal (boutique)

What are your favorite Seattle spots?