Space Needle
The basics
The Space Needle is a must for first-time visitors to Seattle. A high-speed elevator brings you to the flying saucer–esque top, where you can enjoy sweeping views of downtown Seattle as well as Lake Union, Mt. Rainier, and the Olympic Mountains on clear days.
A visit to this Seattle staple is included on many city sightseeing tours, some of which also include Pike Place Market. For a real treat, reserve a table at the Loupe Lounge to enjoy cocktails and contemporary dishes on a revolving glass floor.
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Things to know before you go
Book admission tickets in advance to avoid waiting in long ticket lines.
At the observation deck, check out the interpretive displays, which identify more than 60 activities in the Seattle area.
All bags are subject to search prior to entry.
The Space Needle is wheelchair accessible.
How to get there
The Space Needle is located in the Seattle Center cultural and entertainment park, just northwest of downtown. The complex also houses Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Pacific Science Center, and the Seattle Children’s Museum. You can get to the Space Needle by bus or monorail, and the site offers valet parking and limited general parking. The Seattle Center's nearby parking facilities are just a short walk away.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The Space Needle is open year-round and daily; times vary depending on day of week and season, so be sure to check prior to arriving. The site is most crowded on weekends and around sunset, when visitors are afforded prime lighting for the panoramic skyline views. The skies tend to be clearest during spring and summer.
The Wheedle on the needle
The 1974 children’s book Wheedle on the Needle tells the tale of a large furry creature called the Wheedle. Bothered by the whistling of workers first settling the city of Seattle, the grumpy Wheedle moved to Mt. Rainier in an effort to escape the noise. Eventually, the Wheedle gathered clouds in a large sack, returned to Seattle, climbed up the Space Needle, and threw them into the sky to make it rain. The Wheedle has since become a Seattle fixture, even acting as the mascot to the Seattle SuperSonics NBA team before they moved to Oklahoma City.
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Seattle Center
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
- Pacific Science Center
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center
- Belltown
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Myrtle Edwards Park
- Elliott Bay
- Seattle Cruise Port
- Kerry Park (Franklin Place)
- Queen Anne Hill
- Original Starbucks
- Hard Rock Cafe Seattle
- Seattle Aquarium