Why visit
Seattle is Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Chihuly glass garden, ferry rides, and Mount Rainier + Olympic National Park 2 hours out.
Seattle at a glance
City population
750k
Metro: 4.0 million
Elevation
53 m
174 ft
Time zone
UTC-8 (UTC-7 DST)
America/Los_Angeles
Airport
SEA
Seattle-Tacoma International
Founded
1851
Getting around
Link light rail (growing) + King County Metro buses + Sound Transit + ferries
Signature dish
Salmon (teriyaki or smoked), Dungeness crab, geoduck, Philly-style teriyaki, Ivar's clam chowder
Neighborhoods for travelers
Pike PlaceCapitol HillBallardFremontGeorgetown
United States at a glance
Country center
38.0°, -97.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,372,610 km²
3,618,783 mi²
Country population
334.9 million
36/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
Dial
+1201
Language
English
Demonym
American
Internet
.us
UN
Member state
ISO code
US / USA
Where in the world
38.0° · -97.0°
United States
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Seattle is one of the US's rainiest cities by number of rainy days (150+) but has less total rainfall than NYC or Atlanta.
- Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and Costco were all founded in Seattle or its immediate suburbs.
- Pike Place Market (1907) is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers' markets in the US.
- The US has no official national language: English is de facto but not de jure.
- Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (~2 cents per acre at the time).
Bordering United States
Traveler notes
- Pike Place fish-throwers at dawn
- Ferry to Bainbridge for a half-day escape
- Mount Rainier day-trip (Jul–Sep)
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Bring layered clothing and verify trail/park access before arrival.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Seattle
What currency is used in Seattle?
Seattle uses the United States dollar ($), ISO code USD.
What languages are spoken in United States?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for United States?
The calling code is +1201.
What airport serves Seattle?
Seattle-Tacoma International (IATA: SEA).
Other North America destinations
Miami
Miami is South Beach Art Deco, Little Havana, Wynwood Walls, and Everglades airboats 45 minutes out.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the Strip's theme-park casinos, Red Rock Canyon climbing nearby, and access to Grand Canyon, Zion, and Death Valley on short flights or drives.
Honolulu
Honolulu (Oahu) is Waikiki beach, Diamond Head crater, Pearl Harbor, North Shore surf, and a food culture that invented poke.
Vancouver
Vancouver is Stanley Park's seawall, Granville Island's market, Gastown's restored old streets, and the North Shore mountains + Whistler 2 hours away.
Montreal
Montreal is French-speaking Canada. Old Montreal's stone streets, Plateau Mont-Royal cafés, Mile End's bagels, and festivals every summer weekend.
Quebec City
Quebec City has North America's only walled Old Town. Château Frontenac, Petit Champlain, the Plains of Abraham, and winter Carnaval.