Tucked away in the Puget Sound, the water-surrounded hills of Seattle have vibrant districts blending rugged Pacific Northwest wilderness with a modern cosmopolitan city. The most popular attractions in Seattle are its defining skyline building, the Space Needle, and the famous seaside market, Pike Place Market, which is home to 'thrown fish'.

Two downtown cruise terminals, Bell Street Pier number 66 and the Smith Cove Terminal on pier 91, welcome over 800,000 passengers a year on more than 200 ships, mostly starting on their voyage to Alaska. Pier 91 is north of the city centre near Magnolia Bridge and Pier 66 is directly downtown.

Contact

Tel: +1 206 461 5840
www.portseattle.org/seaport/cruise
visinfo@visitseattle.org
The tourist information centre is east of Pike's Place Market on Pike St.

Transport

Taxis from both terminals at the port are available as is a bus service from the Bell Street stop near Pier 66. Both terminals also have kiosks for rental cars. Walking to the city centre from Pier 66 is a short jaunt but difficult from Pier 91.

Attractions

The most well known attractions near the port is the towering Space Needle and shopping in Pikes Place Market. Paul Allen's ode to rock music, the Experience the Music Project wonderfully combines museum, concert hall and music laboratory. A great airplane and flight museum, Seattle Aquarium and the famous Seattle Arts Museum are all tourist hot spots. Improbably, so is the new downtown library.

Restaurants

2120 - contemporary menu and a broad selection of wines

Pike Place Chowder - authentic and award-winning chowder

Chandler's Crabhouse - upscale, with many different varieties of crab.

Best Dish

Baked salmon

Shopping

The best tourist shopping in Seattle happens in the many eclectic shops in Pike Place Market and the surrounding neighbourhood. Downtown Seattle has upscale shopping centres and a series of boutique stores. The Seattle areas of Freemont, University District and Capitol Hill all have many unique stores.

Best Buy

Smoked salmon

Excursions

Ride the ferry to the Puget Sound Islands

Hike or bike Mt. Rainier

Go whale watching in the Islands

Tour the Boeing Factory

Go skiing in Snoqualmie