Seattle, WA, United States

North America: Round-the-World Travel Destinations

Budget Scale: 1-5

1-least expensive; 5-most expensive
3– Seattle is middle of the road when it comes to a budget. It’s not as expensive as cities LA and New York, and it’s just a little behind cities like Chicago, but not far. Like most US cities, there aren’t enough hostels or cheap accommodation options, and while you won’t find super cheap backpacker fare, going out to eat or grabbing a drink isn’t nearly as painful as other big US cities like San Francisco or Miami.

Indie Travel Scale: 1-5

1-not a good Indie Travel destination; 5-a great Indie Travel destination
3– The lower prices in Seattle as compared to other larger US cities combined with the variety of cultures and laid back vibe of the Pacific Northwest makes it a great destination for an indie traveler.
Indie Travel Tips
Seattle is broken up into different neighborhoods, which is how locals give directions and talk about their city. Seattle is not chock full of super touristy sites like other large US cities, which makes having a truly indie experience much easier.

Even though it’s one of the most touristy sites in Seattle, Pike’s Place Market is a great place to spend a day wandering. Pike’s Place offers much more than some guys throwing fish, so be sure to spend plenty of time exploring the rest that this labyrinth of a market has to offer.
Seattle is home to a plethora of parks that are perfect for hanging out in, relaxing, and exploring. Check out Volunteer Park, Carkeek Park, Discovery Park, and the Golden Gardens Park.
If you find yourself in Seattle during the first Thursday of the month, then head to Pioneer Square where most of the galleries are open and free to the public. Many even offer complimentary wine and snacks.
Seattle is split into neighborhoods, all of which have their own unique vibe. Where you stay in Seattle will determine what type of experience you have.
- The downtown area of Seattle is split into several different neighborhoods, all within walking distance of each other – Downtown, Belltown, Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, and Pioneer Square are a few of the different neighborhoods located in the city center.
- About 10 minutes (or a $10 cab ride) from the downtown area is Queen Anne, Capital Hill, Fremont, and the University District. These areas are a bit cheaper, have more parking, and they’re a bit quieter than the central neighborhoods.
- West Seattle is laid back beach type community across Elliot Bay from the city center. The most popular beach in Seattle, Alki, is located here.

Why you should add Seattle to your RTW travel list

Even though the city is spread out, the public transport options are pretty good, with plenty of buses, a light rail, a commuter rail, a streetcar, a monorail, and even a water taxi.
Drink a latte in every Starbucks – we dare you!
Drive out to the Microsoft campus and shake your fist at Bill
The name “Bumbershoot” is reason enough to hit this music festival
Watch out for flying fish at the Pike Place Market
Take in 360-degree views of the city from the Space Needle
Wander around the campus of “U Dub”, the University of Washington
Take a ferry ride on Puget Sound
Hang out under the bridge with the Fremont Troll
Vancouver, Canada is only two hours away
Sample a homebrew from the Pacific Northwest

Why you should not add Seattle to your RTW travel list

The weather is gray and rainy quite often in Seattle, making all the outdoor activities on offer problematic.
While the public transport options are great, the city itself is still extremely spread out and can be expensive and timely to navigate and explore.
Navigating the confusing road names and neighborhoods can be extremely frustrating and difficult if you don’t have a local contact.

Are you heading to Seattle? What do you need to do?

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