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Washington, United States

Seattle Center & Queen Anne

The 1962 World's Fair grounds under the Space Needle; 2 nights for the show, Queen Anne views and dinner. Below: 3 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Seattle Center & Queen Anne fits into a longer trip.

Plan Seattle Center & Queen Anne with friendsBrowse 9 places
Seattle Center & Queen Anne, Washington, United States
Places
9

3 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Seattle New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

24°C / 75°F avg high

Coolest month
December

7°C / 44°F avg high

Wettest month
November

about 188 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Seattle, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Seattle Center & Queen Anne

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Seattle Center & Queen Anne across Seattle Center and Queen Anne. 2 of them are free.

  • See

    New Year's at the Needle

    Seattle's free midnight show, with drones and fireworks launched from the 605-foot Space Needle itself.

    Tip The main show starts about seven minutes before midnight; the earlier light shows run on the half hour from 10 pm.

    • Seattle Center
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • 11:53 pm – 12:10 am
  • Kerry Park in Seattle Center & Queen AnnePhoto: Dllu · Public domain
    See

    Kerry Park

    Small Queen Anne viewpoint with the classic view of the Space Needle in front of downtown and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.

    Tip It fills by 11 pm on New Year's Eve; on Dec 30 you will have room for photos.

    • Queen Anne
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Blue hour
  • See

    Chihuly Garden and Glass

    Dale Chihuly's blown-glass works in galleries, a glasshouse and a garden at the foot of the Space Needle.

    Tip Go after dark on Dec 30, when the glasshouse and garden pieces are lit.

    • Seattle Center
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Seattle Center & Queen Anne in Seattle Center.

  • International Fountain in Seattle Center & Queen AnnePhoto: DimiTalen · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    International Fountain

    Domed fountain at the heart of Seattle Center whose lawn becomes a dance floor with projections on New Year's Eve.

    Tip The lawn and Fisher Pavilion roof are the closest public views; arrive before 10 pm.

    • Seattle Center
    • Free
    • 3 hr
    • From 9 pm

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Seattle Center & Queen Anne.

  • Gas Works Park in Seattle Center & Queen AnnePhoto: WikiPedant · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Gas Works Park

    Lakeside park around the towers of a 1906 gasification plant, with a grassy hill facing the skyline across Lake Union.

    Tip The fireworks are far off but the whole skyline and the Needle line up; it is less crowded than Kerry Park.

    • Wallingford
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Before midnight

Eat

2 places to eat across Queen Anne and Pike Place Market, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Canlis

    Family-run fine dining since 1950 in a mid-century glass house on a hillside above Lake Union.

    Tip Reservations open months ahead, and guests dress up; New Year's Eve is one of its most sought-after nights.

    • Queen Anne
    • $$$$
    • 3 hr
    • Dinner
  • The Pink Door in Seattle Center & Queen AnnePhoto: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Eat

    The Pink Door

    Italian-American trattoria behind an unmarked pink door in Post Alley since 1981, with cabaret acts and a terrace.

    Tip Book an early seating, then ride the Monorail from Westlake to Seattle Center before it pauses at 10:30 pm.

    • Pike Place Market
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Early dinner

Drink

1 bar or café in Pike Place Market for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Zig Zag Café in Seattle Center & Queen AnnePhoto: Benjamin Robert Dougherty · CC0
    Drink

    Zig Zag Café

    Cocktail bar tucked into the Pike Street Hill Climb, credited with reviving the Last Word cocktail.

    Tip It is small and fills fast; go for a drink before heading up to Seattle Center.

    • Pike Place Market
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Early evening

Stay

Places to stay in Seattle Center & Queen Anne in Downtown.

  • Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle Center & Queen AnnePhoto: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Stay

    Fairmont Olympic Hotel

    Seattle's grand hotel since 1924, an Italian Renaissance building downtown with a marble lobby.

    Tip It is a short walk to Westlake for the Monorail and to the Market on Jan 1.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$

How to fit Seattle Center & Queen Anne into a trip

Seattle Center & Queen Anne is stop 1 of 2 on our Seattle New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Seattle Center & Queen Anne into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Seattle

Our climate figures for Seattle Center & Queen Anne come from Seattle, about 2 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 7°C / 44°F in December to 24°C / 75°F in August. November is the wettest month, with about 188 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Seattle. Seattle weather (covers Seattle Center & Queen Anne) →

Near Seattle Center & Queen Anne

8 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.

Seattle Center & Queen Anne questions, answered

How many days do you need in Seattle Center & Queen Anne?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Seattle Center & Queen Anne. On our Seattle New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Seattle Center & Queen Anne best known for?

The 1962 World's Fair grounds under the Space Needle; 2 nights for the show, Queen Anne views and dinner. Standouts on our list: New Year's at the Needle (Seattle's free midnight show, with drones and fireworks launched from the 605-foot Space Needle itself); Kerry Park (Small Queen Anne viewpoint with the classic view of the Space Needle in front of downtown and, on clear days, Mount Rainier); Chihuly Garden and Glass (Dale Chihuly's blown-glass works in galleries, a glasshouse and a garden at the foot of the Space Needle).

When is the best time to visit Seattle Center & Queen Anne?

Our Seattle New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Seattle put the warmest highs in August (24°C / 75°F), the coolest in December (7°C / 44°F) and the most rain in November (about 188 mm).

What are the best things to do in Seattle Center & Queen Anne?

Start with New Year's at the Needle, International Fountain, Kerry Park, Gas Works Park and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Seattle Center & Queen Anne?

Our picks: Canlis (Queen Anne); The Pink Door (Pike Place Market). Reservations open months ahead, and guests dress up; New Year's Eve is one of its most sought-after nights (Canlis).

What is near Seattle Center & Queen Anne?

The closest destinations in our guides are Pike Place Market & Waterfront (about 1 km / 1 mi), Seattle (about 2 km / 1 mi) and Bainbridge Island (about 13 km / 8 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Seattle Center & Queen Anne with your crew

Open the Seattle New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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