With the Olympic Mountains, the Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay and Puget Sound as a backdrop, Seattle, Washington on the Pacific Northwest Coast, offers breathtaking 360° panoramas. The best way to enjoy them is to take a height and discover the extent of the charms of the city and its surroundings.
The Space Needle (184m)
A true icon of Seattle’s skyline, the Space Needle is a must-see place to climb up. Its outdoor observation deck offers breathtaking 360° views of Seattle’s various neighbourhoods and surrounding natural landscapes. From above, visitors realize that Seattle is truly nestled in a green setting, bordered by the Puget Sound and then understand where the nickname « Emerald City » comes from.
The more adventurous can watch the Seattle Center under their feet through the rotating glass floor of The Loupe platform, inaugurated in 2018, or have a drink at the Atmos Wine Bar. Tickets: from $32.50 (approx. 29€) for adults; $24.50 (approx. 22€) for children aged 5 to 12 and $27.50 (approx. 24€) for seniors over 65. Free for children under 5 years old
Sky View Observatory (212m)
After its construction in 1962 for the Universal Exposition in Seattle, the Space Needle remained for many years the tallest building west of the Mississippi. Today, it is overtaken by another of the city’s landmark buildings: the Columbia Center.
This 76-storey skyscraper, rising to 284 metres, features an observatory, the Sky View Observatory, which offers breathtaking views of Seattle and its surroundings. Located on the 73rd floor of the tower, the Sky View Observatory also houses the Sky View Cafe where visitors can eat more than 200 metres above sea level. Tickets: from $20 (approx. €18) for adults; $14 (approx. €12) for children aged 5 to 13; $17 (approx. €15) for seniors over 65; free for those under 5
Smith Tower (147m)
Although it no longer reaches any altitude records, the Smith Tower was once the tallest building on the West Coast of America. Access to its summit is via a period Otis elevator.
During the ascent, visitors enjoy an exhibition presenting the Seattle of the past. Upon arrival at the observatory, a speakeasy-like bar plunges visitors into the Prohibition era. Tickets: from 18$ (approx. 16€) for adults, 14,40$ (approx. 13€) for children from 6 to 12 years old and seniors over 65 years old. Free for children under 5 years old
Seattle Great Wheel (53m)
The Seattle Giant Ferris Wheel allows visitors to rise about 50 metres above Elliott Bay and enjoy Seattle’s skyline from a different angle.
Located in the Waterfront district at the end of Pier 57, Seattle Great Wheel is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset over the bay and surrounding mountain ranges.
With friends, family or lovers, it is the ideal attraction to conclude a stroll along Seattle’s waterfront and its many shops.
Tickets: $14 (approx. €12) for adults; $9 (approx. €8) for children aged 3 to 11; $12 (approx. €11) for seniors over 65.