20 Most Romantic Things to Do in Seattle

To spice things up for date nights, I’m always looking for romantic things to do in Seattle. Especially early on in our relationship, Dan and I would always try to outdo each other with unique and memorable dates exploring the best of our city.

For example, I remember some of our early dates included comedy shows, picnics in secret parks, mini golf that popped up at warehouses, board game cafes…gosh, we used to be so much fun! 😂

Rather than keep all our dates locked away in my memory, I thought I’d share them with you. If you’re in need of some inspiration, here are the most romantic things to do in Seattle…perfect for long-term couples and new relationships alike.

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Romantic Things to Do in Seattle

If Valentine’s Day is soon, pair one of the experiences below with one of these thoughtful Valentines Day gifts! If it’s the holidays, check out my other gift guides.

Take an unforgettable couple’s trip with the help of a travel planner

Surprise your loved one with a custom trip planned just for you two! A licensed travel planner will do all the work so all you have to do is enjoy each other’s company. This is how it works:

You fill out a travel questionnaire
I’ll send you accommodations that match your preferences
You book a stay at your favorite property directly
I’ll send you a list of activities to review
You provide feedback on the activities
I’ll send you a draft itinerary for review
You provide feedback on the itinerary
Once I send you the final itinerary, you book any reservations directly
Both of you show up and enjoy your trip!

Go on a tour together

I think tours are one of the most romantic things to do in Seattle. They get you exploring the city in quirky and interesting ways, plus offer a nice reprieve from talking if the conversation isn’t flowing in a newer relationship.

One idea for a tour is taking a self-guided food crawl of some of Seattle’s best foodie neighborhoods. Or make your way to Pike Place Market and taste your way around the best vendors on a self-guided Pike Place Market food tour.

If you’d prefer an in-person food tour, I’ve been eyeing this Seattle Doughnut Tour because, well, doughnuts. There’s also this Seattle Coffee Tour that sounds equally as scrumptious and is a great way to try a few of the best Seattle coffee roasters.

Chocolate lovers will want to know about this Chocolate Tour of Pike Place Market. It’s a super interesting way to learn about chocolate while also tasting your way through different bars and discovering some of the best chocolate in Seattle.

If you’re looking for non-eating tour ideas, try these:

Take a cooking class

I love getting in the kitchen as a date idea. When it’s a new relationship, it offers something to do for those awkward pauses. If it’s a long-term relationship, you practice your patience and teamwork.

Some of my favorite places to go for in-person cooking classes in Seattle are The Pantry, PCC Natural Food Markets, and Book Larder.

If you’d prefer to take a cooking class from the comfort of your own home, check out some of these virtual cooking classes instead:

Go wine, beer, or spirits tasting

Y’all know I’m always on the hunt for the best wineries in the Pacific Northwest. We’re lucky to have a slew of Seattle urban wineries right in the city! Many of them are in SODO, so you can hit up a bunch of tasting rooms boom, boom, boom and try some of the best Washington state wines.

If you don’t want to have to figure out your own itinerary or designated drivers, check out the best Seattle wine tours.

Beer more your thing? Ballard is my favorite area to go on a Seattle brewery crawl. There are about 15 breweries within walking distance of each other so you can have a fun afternoon stumbling, er, I mean moving between breweries.

Spirit lovers have options too! Check out distilleries like Fast Penny Spirits, Batch 206, Oola, Westland, and Mischief for a lesson in spirits, tours, and flights.

Have a spa day

I think one of the most fun experience gifts in Seattle is to get your loved one a day at the spa. But why not do it together?

You can get a couples massage at one of the best spas in Seattle. I have a whole list of favorites, but Little Red Day Spa is one option that often has Groupon Spa Deals.

Want to try something a bit different? Check out these sauna and float experiences around Seattle:

Enjoy a romantic picnic in a park

We have so many awesome parks and water view points in Seattle. Some of my favorites for taking a romantic walk followed by a picnic include Discovery Park in Magnolia, Washington Park Arboretum in the U-District, and Olympic Sculpture Park downtown.

If you want ideas for items to grab for a picnic, check out my guide to the best Pacific Northwest food gifts. Feeling adventurous? Let a company plan a mystery picnic for you!

Learn a craft together

There are a bunch of cool crafty classes you can take around Seattle. For example, The Works offers DIY craft kits and quirky in-person classes like watercolor art, embroidery, succulents, and more. Noir Lux Candle Bar lets you pour your own candles. Or find your inner Dale Chihuly with this glass blowing class.

If you’d prefer to do a virtual class, check out these fun options:

See a show

I’m a 5th Avenue Theatre member, so one of the romantic things to do in Seattle for us is to see a musical. Other theaters great for seeing shows are Seattle Theater Group, The Moisture Festival, and Can Can Cabaret. If it’s the holidays, seeing shows like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite Seattle Christmas activities.

Another fun way to partake in a show is going to a dinner theater. Head to a Marrakesh for some Moroccan food and belly dancing or The Pink Door for burlesque/cabaret.

Do you two love music? Then why not not check out Concert Under the Stars to watch cover bands of Nirvana, Frank Sinatra, ABBA, and more from some of Seattle’s best rooftops.

If orchestral music is more your thing, don’t miss Seattle’s Candlelight Concerts. You’ll hear classical takes on popular musicians like Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift, and more while surrounded by thousands of twinkling candles.

See Seattle from above

There are so many fun ways to see Seattle from the sky. One of the most romantic things to do in Seattle is to take a helicopter tour of Seattle to see the Space Needle up close. You can even learn how to fly a helicopter if you want!

Or for a truly magical experience, take in the beauty of Seattle from a hot air balloon. I’ve been on one twice and am amazed at how peaceful it is gliding in the air without barely a bump.

The Seattle Great Wheel is another great option for seeing views of the city. It sits right on Puget Sound and offers uninterrupted views of the Olympic Mountains.

hot air balloon rides, one of the most romantic things to do in Seattle — Photo courtesy of Ashley Cook

Enjoy the views and a swank drink from a rooftop bar

If paying the price tag of a plane or hot air balloon isn’t in budget, you can still take in the views of the city from one of the best rooftop bars in Seattle while enjoying cocktails.

Some great options include Smith Tower in Pioneer Square, mbar in South Lake Union during summer, The Mountaineering Club in the U-District, and The Nest in the Thompson Hotel Downtown.

The Space Needle also has the Loupe Lounge. You can enjoy cocktail flights, food pairings, and stunning views of the city and Seattle skyline. If you want a full meal, take your loved one to one of the best restaurants in Seattle for views.

Visit the zoo or aquarium

I’ve always found visiting zoos to be one of the most romantic things to do in Seattle. Maybe because I used to be a photo intern at the Woodland Park Zoo, but I have fond memories of roaming the grounds finding quiet spots to people and animal watch. Or checkout the sea creatures at the Seattle Aquarium and try to take a selfie kissing in front the glow of the jellyfish tank.

Seek out the cherry blossoms or tulip fields

If it’s spring break in Seattle, get up super early to see the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington campus. It gets crowded, particularly on weekends, so I’m talking before 8 am. Sunrise would be better to have the space to yourself for epic photos and a romantic morning sipping coffee under the falling flower petals.

Another options for flowers is heading to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April. It’s the perfect excuse for exploring all the fun things to do in Skagit County while seeing thousands of colorful flowers.

Learn together at museums

Being a tourist in your own city is a fun romantic date idea in Seattle. There’s no better way to do that than heading to a museum!

Pop art and music lovers should head to MoPop at Seattle Center. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Seattle Art Museum and Chihuly Garden & Glass. History buffs will fall for the Museum of History and Industry. Culture fiends should check out the Wing Luke Museum or National Nordic Museum. Science nerds should check out the Pacific Science Center.

glass installation at Chihuly Glass Museum, a must visit during 2 days in Seattle — *Photo courtesy of Mickey JT via Flickr*

Partake in lightweight recreational sports

I love me some good-natured competition (ok, that doesn’t exist with me. I play to win.). There are a ton of fun options for sporty date night ideas.

For example, play mini golf at Interbay Golf Center. Try your hand at axe throwing at Blade and Timber. Challenge each other to some ping pong at SPIN downtown. Head to The Garage for some bowling, billiards, and good vibes. Go indoor skydiving at iFly.

If you want to get some exercise without the competition, go on a leisurely bike ride. One of my favorite spots to do that is the Burke-Gilman Trail. It’s a paved bike and walking path that weaves around Seattle from Ballard all the way to Lake Washington!

See a comedy show

I love bonding over humor. I used to go to the now-defunct Parlor in Bellevue regularly because they used to give out free tickets to the first 25 people who responded to their newsletter. Since I worked on the internet and sat on my email all day, I snagged them weekly.

Two options for comedy shows in Seattle are Laughs Comedy Club in the U-District and Club Comedy Seattle in Capitol Hill.

Go on a foraging adventure

One of my favorite Seattle for foodies bucket list adventures is to go foraging for food. For example, you can forage for oysters, learn mushroom picking, or go truffle hunting with dogs! Keep an eye out for more foraging classes listed by The Field Trip Society.

Another quirky date option is to check out the Beacon Hill Food Forest in South Seattle. You can volunteer to garden or forage goodies from the urban forest.

Get on the water

Given how beautiful the Puget Sound is, one of the most romantic things to do in Seattle is obviously take in the views from the water.

One of my favorite date ideas is to rent a kayak or canoe and paddle around Lake Union while snooping in all the house boats. You can rent tandems at NWOC or canoes at the University of Washington. Or if it’s the best time to kayak with orcas, take a day trip to the San Juan Islands.

If you’d prefer not to do much manual work while on the water, you can also go on one of these cruises:

Or get into your bathing suit and rent a electric hot tub boat to take around Lake Union. You can enjoy this year round!

Catch the sunset at a beach

If you’d prefer to stay on dry land, head to one of the many awesome beaches for sunset views. One of my favorites is the small beach by the Ballard Elk’s Lodge a bit before Golden Gardens. It’s tiny, but there’s rarely anyone there so it’s extra romantic and peaceful. Plus if it’s a clear night you’ll be able to spend more time there stargazing.

Discovery Park is another great west facing beach perfect for sunset. Or head to West Seattle and Alki Beach, an ideal spot for soaking up views of the Seattle skyline. Make sure to also check out the best restaurants in West Seattle while you’re there!

Splurge for a fancy meal

Fancy restaurants are romantic for a reason! If you have the means, splurge at one of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle or take a road trip to one of the restaurants worth the the drive from Seattle. A lot of these restaurants offer take home meals, particularly for holidays like Valentine’s Day, so you can recreate a fancy candlelit dinner at home without all the work.

Take a day trip on a romantic ferry ride

I love cozying up for a romantic ride on the ferry to one of the islands near Seattle. Some of my favorites perfect for a day trip are Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and Whidbey Island, all of which have great hikes, beaches, restaurants, wineries, and shops.

Book an overnight trip

One of the most romantic things to do in Seattle is to plan an overnight getaway. You can book a staycation at one of these cool places to stay in Seattle, or check out my other guides on unique accommodations around the Pacific Northwest: