Seattle’s famous food market. From light bites to full meals and fresh produce, this is the place to be if your stomach's rumbling. Take your time exploring the vast space and try a little bit of everything.

For great cocktails, where you can sit at the bar to watch your drinks being made. If you can’t decide what to eat, go with the Dutch Baby pancakes - we promise you won’t be disappointed.

Andaluca is a secluded Mediterranean restaurant specialising in tapas and paella. The cosy atmosphere is just right if you’re celebrating a romantic occasion. Be sure to book ahead, as it can get busy.

Drop by The Crumpet Shop to experience crumpets in a whole new way, with topping combinations such as smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber slices – there are plenty of delicious sweet and savoury options to try. 

Known as the original downtown neighbourhood, Pioneer Square is an arty spot, packed full of bohemian boutiques and brimming with history. If you've got a couple of hours to spare, take the underground tour to learn about the gold rush.

Seattle Central Public Library is a feat of modern architecture. This 11-storey glass and steel building is stunning outside and in. You can take a self-guided tour using your phone.

See a different side to Seattle in the Chinatown-International District. Delicious, aromatic food and stunning buildings make this a feast for all the senses. And if you’re lucky, you might catch one of the many festivals the locals organise.

The Seattle Art Museum is walking distance from Pike Place Market and a great way to spend a quiet morning. Download the museum's podcasts to get a bit of extra insight into the exhibits.

Art meets nature at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Explore beachside trails and cycle paths while taking in sculptures by renowned artists such as Richard Serra.

The Museum of Pop Culture is a must-visit for music fans. Learn about the history of bands like Nirvana, then create your own tunes in the interactive Sound Lab. Put aside a full afternoon to get the most out of the three floors of exhibits.

For a clear view of Mount Rainier, take a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. A round-trip is usually around $10 and you can board at Pier 52. Go to Kerry Park and hike up the south side of Queen Anne Hill for a breathtaking skyline view. If the weather’s right, you should be able to see Mount Rainier from here, too.

The Seattle Great Wheel is relatively new and a relaxing way to see the sights from up high (175 feet high, to be exact). Head to Pier 57 to ride. The Nest, at the top of the Thompson Seattle hotel, is a rooftop bar, lounge and terrace, overlooks a land and sea scape beyond words.

The iconic Space Needle offers panoramic views of the city and a fine dining experience. To skip the queues, book a table in the restaurant and head straight up. If you don't fancy eating, it's most quiet first thing in the mornings – arrive at opening time on a weekday and you might even get the observation deck all to yourself.

The largest boat show on the West Coast features everything from stand-up paddleboards to superyachts, along with wine and beer events, seminars and kid zones.

During February, guests at participating Downtown Seattle hotels receive half-price admission to dozens of Seattle museums..

Featuring hundreds of local wineries, farms and restaurants, this is the biggest single-region food and wine event in the USA.

With more than 165 participating restaurants across almost every Seattle neighbourhood, Restaurant Week is an opportunity to sample discounted fine-dining in some of the city’s most acclaimed venues.

With a diverse line-up of more than 450 documentaries, shorts and full-length features, this 25-day event is the largest and most highly attended film festival in the USA.

Complete with a finish-line concert featuring some of the music world’s biggest names, this road race weaves its way past some of the Emerald City’s best known landmarks.

More than just your average food festival, Bite of Seattle features four live music stages, outdoor beer gardens and a free movie night in addition to its 60+ restaurants and pop-up vendors.

A longstanding Seattle tradition, Seafair Weekend is the culmination of the summer-long Seafair festival. Highlights include superfast hydroplane races, vintage aircraft and an air show starring the U.S Navy Blue Angels.

Now in its fifth decade, Bumbershoot is one of Seattle’s best-attended festivals, featuring live music, comedy, film, dance, theatre and visual arts.

Held on the grounds of the Seattle Center, this one-day event celebrates multi-cultural, inter-generational living with live performances and interactive workshops.

The autumn outing of this art and fine craft show (also held in the spring) promotes the work of more than 100 Pacific Northwest artists to a wider audience.

A holiday tradition since 1949, the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship sails to the waterfront communities of Puget Sound to broadcast a festive choir performance to the gathered crowds.