Rainy-day Seattle: indoor plans from downtown

Plan around three hubs

On a wet day, the trick is short outdoor hops between indoor stops. From our building at 1400 Hubbell Place, three hubs cover a full day:

1. Downtown on foot: the Seattle Art Museum, the Central Library and Pike Place Market.
2. Seattle Center by monorail: MoPOP, Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Pacific Science Center.
3. Capitol Hill: cafés and bookshops, about 10 minutes on foot or one light rail stop from Westlake.

Always check opening hours on the official sites before you go; days and times change by season.

Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) downtown is at 1300 First Avenue, about a 12-minute walk from us. Its collection spans global art, from ancient to contemporary, and it hosts touring exhibitions. SAM's visit page lists hours, tickets and current shows.

Seattle Central Library

The Central Library at 1000 Fourth Avenue is one of downtown's landmark buildings, and a public library is a free way to spend an hour out of the rain. Check The Seattle Public Library's site for hours.

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is about a 15-minute walk from us, and much of it is covered: the main arcade, the lower levels and the shops below the street. It is busiest late morning and on weekends. See our Pike Place walking guide for a route and tips.

Seattle Center by monorail

Walk about 7 minutes to Westlake Center and take the Seattle Center Monorail; the monorail's FAQ says the ride takes about 2 minutes, with trains normally every 10 minutes. At Seattle Center:

• MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture), 325 5th Ave N. Exhibits cover music, film, science fiction and games.
• Chihuly Garden and Glass, 305 Harrison St, showing Dale Chihuly's glass art in galleries and a glasshouse. The garden is outdoors, but the galleries and glasshouse are covered.
• Pacific Science Center, 200 2nd Ave N, with hands-on science exhibits that suit families.

The Space Needle is next door, about 1.0 mile from our building; on a cloudy day, check the forecast before buying tickets for the view.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is about a 10-minute walk uphill from us, or one light rail stop from Westlake. On a wet afternoon, its cafés, bookshops and record stores along Pike, Pine and Broadway make an easy indoor crawl. See our Capitol Hill food walk.

Shopping and covered spaces downtown

Pacific Place and Westlake Center are each about 7 minutes on foot. Both are indoor shopping centers, handy for a coffee or a break between stops.

Theater and shows

The Paramount Theatre is about a 2-minute walk and the 5th Avenue Theatre about 8 minutes. An evening show is a good end to a rainy day; check our events calendar for official listings.

Rainy-day packing list

• A light waterproof jacket with a hood.
• Shoes with grip for wet, hilly sidewalks.
• An ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app for light rail.

Stay in downtown Seattle

A downtown base keeps every hop short. Our three 2-bedroom apartments are in one building, a 3-minute walk from the Seattle Convention Center:

• The Lumière 2BR: sleeps 6, 65-inch 4K TV for movie nights.
• The Top-Floor 2BR: sleeps 5, skyline views over the rain.
• The Two-Bath 2BR: sleeps 6, two full bathrooms.

Each has a full kitchen and an in-unit washer & dryer for drying wet clothes. Check dates on our booking search or our secure booking site. You get 10% off when you book direct.