What to Do in Seattle During Winter

I was wondering what to do in Seattle during winter when I first moved here because Seattle isn’t known as a snowy winter destination. However, I learned that this city has a ton of holiday spirit and fun things to do come winter. Plus, it’s perfectly situated for a snow day within a few hours drive.

And since we’re a city that deals with rain, Seattle has a ton of indoor activities for when the winter weather becomes too much. From coffee shops and museums to beaches and urban hikes, here are my favorite things to do in Seattle during winter.

What to Do in Seattle During Winter

Seattle is an awesome place to visit in winter because there are less tourists and the weather is mild, meaning you can partake in both indoor and outdoor activities in winter. Here are my favorites, whether you’re visiting for 2 days in Seattle or live here!

Partake in snow sports

Seattle doesn’t usually get snow, but I’m writing this two weeks after we had an intense snowstorm. We were literally sledding and cross-country skiing in our neighborhood!

If you’re looking for winter activities in Seattle but there isn’t snow, check out my guide to cross-country skiing in Washington state. There are a few places within 2 hours drive of Seattle where you can find both cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. And some even have tubing!

If you want to spend a winter day in Seattle, head to Kraken Community Iceplex in Northgate for some ice skating.

Visit Seattle museums

We’re lucky to have a lot of Seattle museums perfect for spending rainy days. Here are some of the most popular worth seeking out.

Seattle Art Museum

website | 1300 1st Ave (Downtown) | price: ~$30 per adult

This is probably my favorite Seattle museum. It’s right downtown and has a great collection of modern art exhibits, both permanent and rotating. They also have special late nights once a month where they turn the lobby into a posh lounge with music and drinks.

SAM also owns Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s a gorgeous park right along the Seattle waterfront that gives you beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. I used to walk the trail that runs through the park on my way home from work, admiring the larger-than-life modern sculptures scattered throughout. If you only have one day in Seattle, make sure this spot is on your list of places to visit!

MoPop

website | 325 5th Ave N (Queen Anne) | price: ~$30 per adult

I had a holiday work party at the Museum of Pop Culture once. It’s the perfect venue because it’s funky and has a lot of fun exhibits ranging from music to horror films.

Since this museum sits right in Seattle Center, it’s also perfectly located for checking out the Space Needle. The needle’s new observation deck offers dining with a gorgeous view, plus a glass floor for seeing the ground from above.

Pacific Science Center

website | 200 2nd Ave N (Queen Anne) | price: ~$26 per adult

I used to go to Pac-Sci all the time to see IMAX movies, but this is also a great museum if you love science and techie things. My nieces really enjoy this museum because there are a lot of interactive exhibits.

MOHAI

website | 860 Terry Ave N (South Lake Union) | price: ~$22 per adult

The Museum of History and Industry sits right on beautiful Lake Union and has multiple floors of exhibits taking you through the history of how the Emerald City came to be. It’s interesting learning about how different neighborhoods were formed and the various professions that boomed and waned here over time.

Nordic Heritage Museum

website | 2655 NW Market St (Ballard) | price: ~$20 per adult

The Nordic Museum is perfectly located in Ballard, a north Seattle neighborhood that is known for its Scandinavian roots. This museum takes a look at the history of Nordic heritage and how they made their way to Seattle. They also host cool traveling exhibits, such as an immersive look at the Northern Lights.

Wing Luke Museum

website | 719 S King St (International District) | price: ~$17 per adult

The Wing Luke Museum is located in the vibrant Chinatown-International District. Its exhibits share the history of Asian and Pacific Island people in the Pacific Northwest. They also host really fun educational programs, like food crawls throughout the neighborhood to learn more about Asian cuisine.

Visit Woodland Park Zoo

website | 5500 Phinney Ave N (Phinney Ridge) | price: ~$22 per adult

Fun fact, I used to work at the Woodland Park Zoo! I was a photo intern one summer between my junior and senior year of college. My job was to organize my boss’ photos (not fun) and roam the grounds taking photos.

I used to love getting lost in the exhibits, but it was hard to do in the summer with all the crowds. Adding the zoo to your list of what to do in Seattle during winter is perfect because there are less people this time of year.

Head to the Seattle Aquarium

website | 1483 Alaska Way (Downtown) | price: ~$40 per adult depending on day

If you love animals, the Seattle Aquarium is another gem worth visiting. It’s right on the Seattle waterfront, offering uninterrupted views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains from its pier. They have a great selection of animals, such as playful otters and hypnotizing jellyfish.

They also have a bunch of interactive exhibits, like this one where you can touch starfish. I used to do this with my nieces when they were young and they absolutely loved it (and ok, I did too!).

Explore Discovery Park

website | 3801 Discovery Park Blvd (Magnolia) | price: free

Discovery Park offers one of the best Seattle viewpoints. It sits right on the Puget Sound and has landscape not too unlike San Juan Island with its grassy meadow, beach cliffs, and pebbly beach.

You might be thinking, “The beach? In winter?” and I’m here to say yes. You’ll have the place virtually to yourself, particularly if you go on a weekday, and it offers really cool moody vibes perfect for photos.

Catch sunset at Golden Gardens

website | 8498 Seaview Pl NW (Ballard) | price: free

Another great beach to spend a winter day in Seattle is Golden Gardens. This beach is super crowded in summer, but you can roam the sand freely and take in views of the Olympic Mountains with barely a soul in sight come winter or spring break in Seattle.

Enjoy Pike Place Market without tourists

website | 85 Pike St (Downtown) | price: free

When I only have 24 hours in downtown Seattle, visiting Pike Place Market during non-peak times is a must-do when I explore the city. If there’s only one “what to do in Seattle during winter” list item, this would be it. That’s because it’s way less crowded in winter, particularly during the week, so you can roam the vendors and restaurants freely without bumping into people.

When you visit, use my guides as you explore:

Discover coffee shops

There’s nothing more cozy than spending a winter day parked in a coffee shop to get some creative work done. I love visiting some of the best coffee roasters in Seattle, grabbing a cup or three, and spending a few hours people watching over my laptop.

Go on a wine or beer crawl

We’re so lucky to have a ton of awesome Pacific Northwest wineries and breweries right here in Seattle. Many in Seattle offer covered heated patios and allow both kids and dogs, so you can still feel as if you’re outside with the whole fam even when it’s a rainy day in winter.

For beer, check out the Ballard neighborhood and do your own self-guided Seattle brewery tour of the approximately 15 breweries within walking distance of each other. While you’re at it, take a self-guided Seattle food tour for a bite between breweries.

For wine, head to SODO to check out the Seattle urban wineries. There are about 12 all within a short drive of each other, which is a fun way to spend a winter day in Seattle.

Catch a show

There’s a ton of theaters and music venues around Seattle. You can catch a musical at 5th Avenue Theatre, a play at one of the Seattle Theater Groups venues, or a concert at Neumos in Capitol Hill.

If it’s the holiday season, there are a ton of Seattle Christmas activities involving performing arts, like the hip hop or burlesque nutcracker. Or get some of your gift shopping done at one of the 50+ holiday craft shows happening around the city.

Rent a hot tub boat

website | 2520 Westlake Ave N (South Lake Union) | price: ~$400 for 2 hours

You heard that right: you can rent a hot tub boat and take it out on Lake Union! Since it’s heated, this is a fun thing to do during winter in Seattle. You can catch beautiful views of Gas Works Park and the Seattle skyline while soaking in steamy waters. Then get dinner at one of the best South Lake Union restaurants in Seattle.