Activity Seattle Center & Queen Anne
International Fountain
An activity in Seattle Center & Queen Anne, free to visit and worth about 3 hours. Best time to go: From 9 pm.
Why go
Domed fountain at the heart of Seattle Center whose lawn becomes a dance floor with projections on New Year's Eve.
It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Seattle Center & Queen Anne, alongside 3 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall and Chihuly Garden and Glass.
- Type
- Activity · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- Seattle Center
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 3 hr
- Best time
- From 9 pm
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Seattle Center & Queen Anne. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall
Pacific Northwest Ballet's annual Nutcracker, staged at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center from late November through late December.
Activity · Seattle · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2Chihuly Garden and Glass
Dale Chihuly's glasswork in galleries and a garden beside the Space Needle.
Sight · Seattle · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3Chihuly Garden and Glass
Dale Chihuly's blown-glass works in galleries, a glasshouse and a garden at the foot of the Space Needle.
Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4Space Needle
1962 tower with a rotating glass floor at 500 feet.
Sight · Seattle · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5New Year's at the Needle
Seattle's free midnight show, with drones and fireworks launched from the 605-foot Space Needle itself.
Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line - 6Olympic Sculpture Park
Free outdoor park of the Seattle Art Museum, zigzagging down to Elliott Bay past Calder's red Eagle.
Outdoors · Pike Place Market & Waterfront · 0.4 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
International Fountain is a stop on our Seattle New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Seattle Center & Queen Anne
International Fountain is our only activity pick in Seattle Center & Queen Anne; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Seattle Center & Queen Anne guide.
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Kerry Park
Small Queen Anne viewpoint with the classic view of the Space Needle in front of downtown and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.
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Gas Works Park
Lakeside park around the towers of a 1906 gasification plant, with a grassy hill facing the skyline across Lake Union.
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Canlis
Family-run fine dining since 1950 in a mid-century glass house on a hillside above Lake Union.
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The Pink Door
Italian-American trattoria behind an unmarked pink door in Post Alley since 1981, with cabaret acts and a terrace.
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Zig Zag Café
Cocktail bar tucked into the Pike Street Hill Climb, credited with reviving the Last Word cocktail.
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Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Seattle's grand hotel since 1924, an Italian Renaissance building downtown with a marble lobby.
When to go: weather by month, based on Seattle
Our climate figures for Seattle Center & Queen Anne come from nearby Seattle. Average daily highs in Seattle run from 44°F in December to 75°F in August; November is usually the wettest month. For International Fountain itself, we suggest: From 9 pm.
Modelled monthly averages for Seattle from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Seattle weather by month (covers Seattle Center & Queen Anne).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for International Fountain, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 47.62252, -122.35201
- Destination
- Seattle Center & Queen Anne, Washington
- Website
- seattlecenter.com
International Fountain: quick answers
How much time do you need at International Fountain?
Plan on about 3 hours at International Fountain. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit International Fountain?
Our pick: From 9 pm. Insider tip: The lawn and Fisher Pavilion roof are the closest public views; arrive before 10 pm.
Is International Fountain free?
Yes, we list International Fountain as free to visit. Check the official website before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include International Fountain?
International Fountain appears on Seattle New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add International Fountain to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Seattle Center & Queen Anne.
Plan Seattle Center & Queen Anne
- Seattle Center & Queen Anne travel guide 9 places
- Seattle weather (covers Seattle Center & Queen Anne) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Seattle Center & Queen Anne
- Canlis Food
- Zig Zag Café Drinks
- Gas Works Park Outdoors
- Kerry Park Sight
- Fairmont Olympic Hotel Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.