Event Planning Guide
Seattle
Source the best vendors and venues for your event.
Welcome to Seattle
Situated on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle combines awe-inspiring natural beauty with tech industry titans, serving as the home of big-name companies including Microsoft and Amazon. It also boasts a growing medical research and health care community, which meeting and event planners can tap into for keynote speeches and lectures. Nicknamed the Emerald City, Seattle features an award-winning food and restaurant scene, along with an intense coffee culture that can fuel all of those morning meetings.
Seattle Highlights
Of course, there is more to Seattle than Starbucks. The city boasts unique attractions and sights like the famous fish-tossing tradition at Pike Place Market, the iconic Space Needle, and colorful Chihuly sculptures. Visitors can also take advantage of the surrounding landscape with outdoor activities like scenic hikes and whale-watching cruises.
Pike Place MarketInstantly recognizable by its iconic sign, this marketplace has over 225 local artisans selling their wares.
The Seattle Art Museum The city’s largest museum, dating back to the 1930s, houses artwork that spans multiple eras and geographic regions.
Museum of Pop CultureColorful exhibits cover pop culture history inside a Frank Gehry-designed building that looks like a smashed guitar from above.
Chihuly Garden and GlassDedicated to the work of locally born glassblower Dale Chihuly, this museum features a vibrant 100-foot-long sculpture suspended from the ceiling.
Space NeedleBuilt for the 1962 World’s Fair, the 605-foot-tall attraction is the city’s most iconic landmark.
Pacific Science CenterThis family-friendly museum includes a planetarium, the Tropical Butterfly House, and more science exhibits to explore.
Seattle Great WheelA fixture of the skyline, this attraction offers views of the city, water, and mountains.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting RoomThis Willy Wonka–esque coffee wonderland with a unique food and beverage menu is a must for fans of the brand.
Pike Place MarketInstantly recognizable by its iconic sign, this marketplace has over 225 local artisans selling their wares.
The Seattle Art Museum The city’s largest museum, dating back to the 1930s, houses artwork that spans multiple eras and geographic regions.
Museum of Pop CultureColorful exhibits cover pop culture history inside a Frank Gehry-designed building that looks like a smashed guitar from above.
Chihuly Garden and GlassDedicated to the work of locally born glassblower Dale Chihuly, this museum features a vibrant 100-foot-long sculpture suspended from the ceiling.
Space NeedleBuilt for the 1962 World’s Fair, the 605-foot-tall attraction is the city’s most iconic landmark.
Pacific Science CenterThis family-friendly museum includes a planetarium, the Tropical Butterfly House, and more science exhibits to explore.
Seattle Great WheelA fixture of the skyline, this attraction offers views of the city, water, and mountains.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting RoomThis Willy Wonka–esque coffee wonderland with a unique food and beverage menu is a must for fans of the brand.
Seattle Weather
Seattle is known as the rainiest city in the country, with more rainy days than both New York City and Miami. But it’s typically light rain or a drizzle, which means the total amount of rain is low. You can expect heavy rains between January and May and October and December. Because of this, the summer months are the most popular time to visit, when temperatures are around 75 degrees.
Today
Haze
55°
Friday, Jun 09
Seattle Weather Essentials
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 69° | 52° | 1.4 in |
| July | 72° | 54° | 0.63 in |
| August | 73° | 55° | 0.75 in |
| September | 67° | 52° | 1.6 in |
| October | 59° | 47° | 3.3 in |
| November | 51° | 41° | 5.0 in |
| December | 47° | 38° | 5.4 in |
7 Day Forecast
Fri, Jun 09
54°
Rain
Precipitation: 99%
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 6.69 m/s
Sat, Jun 10
54°
Rain
Precipitation: 100%
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 4.36 m/s
Sun, Jun 11
71°
Clear
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 49%
Wind: 8.66 m/s
Mon, Jun 12
82°
Clear
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 37%
Wind: 6.82 m/s
Tue, Jun 13
64°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 64%
Wind: 10.42 m/s
Wed, Jun 14
69°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 36%
Wind: 8.55 m/s
Thu, Jun 15
64°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 50%
Wind: 6.64 m/s
Fri, Jun 16
76°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 39%
Wind: 5.99 m/s
Fri, Jun 09
54°
Rain
Precipitation: 99%
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 6.69 m/s
Sat, Jun 10
54°
Rain
Precipitation: 100%
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 4.36 m/s
Sun, Jun 11
71°
Clear
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 49%
Wind: 8.66 m/s
Mon, Jun 12
82°
Clear
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 37%
Wind: 6.82 m/s
Tue, Jun 13
64°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 64%
Wind: 10.42 m/s
Wed, Jun 14
69°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 36%
Wind: 8.55 m/s
Thu, Jun 15
64°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 50%
Wind: 6.64 m/s
Fri, Jun 16
76°
Clouds
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 39%
Wind: 5.99 m/s
Seattle Resources
Helpful Resources
Get There
What is the best way to get to Seattle?
Flying: Commonly referred to as Sea-Tac, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located in the city’s southern suburbs, about 13 miles south of downtown.
Train: Five train routes service Seattle’s King Street Station, located south of downtown, including Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter train; Amtrak’s Coast Starlight, Cascades, and Empire Builder routes, and the Rocky Mountaineer, which travels between Seattle, Vancouver, and the Canadian Rockies.
Car: Interstate Highway 5 (I-5) runs north and south through the middle of Seattle and connects to I-90, which crosses the entire U.S., all the way to Boston. Keep in mind that the city is known for terrible traffic, especially during rush hour, so factor that into any travel plans.
What is the best time to visit Seattle?
In Seattle, summer is the most popular time to visit because of the comfortable temps, but that also means rates might be higher and there can be limited availability. If you’re planning outdoor activities, July, August, and September are the best times to head to Seattle. That’s because many high-elevation roads are often closed from late September through June due to the weather. Early fall, from September to October, offers mild weather and autumn festivals, while spring usually brings rain and chilly breezes. As for notable events, the Seattle International Film Festival takes place during the spring; the city’s most popular music and arts festival, Bumbershoot, happens annually over Labor Day Weekend; and orca whales are best spotted during the spring and summer, from May through October.
Get Around
Walking: Seattle's neighborhoods including downtown are relatively compact and walkable. But be prepared for encounter elevation and hills.
Transit: The city’s main mode of public transportation, King County Metro Transit bus service runs in downtown Seattle and the outlying neighborhoods. Other options include the light rail, the Seattle Streetcar, the tourist-friendly monorail, and ferries and water taxis. ORCA Cards can be used on streetcars, light rail, buses, and more, but they do not work on Washington State Ferries or the monorail.
Taxi: Hailing a taxi on the street in Seattle can be difficult, so call ahead to schedule a pick-up. In downtown Seattle, ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber are available.
Get Inspiration From Previous Events in Seattle
Want to be inspired? Browse our Seattle galleries by event type, industry, vendor, venue and even attendee count.
