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The iconic Space Needle is one of the unmistakeable symbols of Seattle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. It features an observation deck and rotating restaurant and is located at Seattle Center.
Admission
We visited the Space Needle on our first day in Seattle. Adult admission starts at US$35 (as of November 2023), and there are combo tickets if you’re planning to visit other attractions at Seattle Center. You can purchase tickets online or at the Space Needle itself.
Observation Deck
While waiting in line for the elevators, you can read about the history of the tower and its construction. Before going up, a photographer takes your photo in front of a green screen. Then it’s off to the elevator, which takes 41 seconds to get to the observation deck.
At the top, on a clear day, you can see beyond the Seattle skyline to Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, and Puget Sound. Unfortunately for us, it was one of Seattle’s typical gloomy and rainy days. If you’re hungry, it’s possible to get snacks and drinks as well as use telescopes for a closer view.
Once we finished at the top, we exited through the gift shop, where we were able to email ourselves a cheesy souvenir photo from the one that was taken before riding up the elevator.
Conclusion
Was it worth it? It wasn’t the most spectacular view (could’ve been better with sunny weather) and it’s got “tourist trap” written all over it. It was crowded at the top and slightly overpriced, but we felt we wouldn’t have properly seen Seattle without visiting. However, other lookout points with the Space Needle in view, especially Kerry Park, give you a more complete look at the city.
