Is the Seattle CityPASS Really Worth It?
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If it’s your first time visiting Seattle you probably have an idea of the top attractions you want to see, like the Space Needle, the aquarium, the bubblegum wall, Pike Place Market, Smith Tower, or the underground walking tour. There’s so much to do and see in Seattle and while some things on your list may be free, like Pike Place Market and the Bubblegum Wall, some sites can easily set you back $40 per person. This is where the Seattle CityPASS comes into play! The Seattle CityPASS is your ticket to Seattle’s main attractions, and it saves you money. After moving to Seattle in October of 2021, I immediately made a list of all the things I wanted to see in my new hometown and was thrilled when I received a Seattle CityPASS for Christmas. Since then, I’ve been a huge advocate of the pass and recommend it to anyone I know who’s visiting!
What is the Seattle CityPASS and how does it work?
The Seattle CityPASS is essentially a bundled ticket that gets you into five attractions for one price, and they recently launched a smaller package called C3 which gets you into your choice of three attractions. Never heard of CityPASS? It’s actually a company that offers these bundled tickets in almost every major city around the world. I purchased the Paris CityPASS a couple of years ago and it not only saved me money but a lot of headaches trying to keep up with multiple tickets. Yes, of course, you can book any of these attractions separately, but the Seattle CityPASS will save you almost 50%.
You can purchase the pass online and activate it the same day you want to begin using it. You’ll go to the link provided on your e-voucher, select the attraction you’re ready to visit, reserve a time slot if necessary, and then show your barcode once you arrive, and that’s it!
How much does the Seattle CityPASS cost?
There are two pricing options based on age. The price of the Seattle CityPASS for an adult (ages 13+) is $119 and for children (ages 5-12) is $89. As I mentioned before, purchasing this pass will save you almost 50% versus purchasing individually from each attraction. If you purchased separately, it would come out to a little over $200 for an adult. The smaller C3 package that CityPASS offers is $89 and is great if you don’t want to see all of the tourist attractions. But at the end of the day, the best bang for your buck is choosing the original Seattle CityPASS which includes admission to five attractions.
What does the Seattle CityPASS include?
You get admission to a total of 5 attractions with the Seattle CityPASS. Two automatically come with the pass and they let you select the other three from four options, which is really nice and allows you to tailor your experience a bit based on your group and interests.
Automatically included attractions:
The Space Needle (reg. price/person: $39.00)
Seattle Aquarium (reg. price/person: $33.95)
Select three of the below attractions:
Museum of Pop Culture (reg. price/person: $32.00)
Chihuly Garden & Glass (reg. price/person: $35.00)
Argosy Harbor Tour (reg. price/person: $39.00)
Woodland Park Zoo (reg. price/person: $19.95)
*Prices are current as of January 2024
Seattle CityPASS Attraction Guide
The Space Needle
This is probably the most iconic thing to do while visiting Seattle and I really enjoyed it. I’ve been on both clear and cloudy days, and both are unique experiences. The CityPASS gets you into the Space Needle during the day and then it also allows you back in for sunset and a night viewing which the regular ticket doesn’t do. It only takes about 40 seconds to reach the top where you'll find panoramic views of the city and Puget Sound. Walk down one level and you’ll find a clear, glass floor that rotates slowly over the city! The Space Needle is located at Seattle Center and right next to the Chihuly Gardens & Glass and Museum of Pop Culture. If you’re staying in a hotel in downtown Seattle or near Pike Place, you can be at Seattle Center in a few minutes via the Monorail that departs from Westlake Center. There’s only one stop on this unique mode of transportation so there’s no way you’ll get lost in the city if you’re visiting for the first time!
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is the perfect size and it’s fun for people of all ages! Here, you’ll see Leopard Seals, Otters, and even an Octopus! You’ll also learn about local marine life and shorebirds. Fun fact, the Seattle Aquarium uses water straight from the Puget Sound in their exhibits. Most marine mammals here were injured and are being rehabilitated. They even recently opened a care center that visitors can peer into to see what kind of animals are being cared for. Overall, the Seattle Aquarium has done an amazing job and it’s one of my favorite places to take people.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
It's newer to Seattle, but not to be missed is the Museum of Pop Culture. This museum showcases the major events and people that have affected pop culture over the years. The museum also highlights Seattle’s finest like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Jimi Hendrix. They have special, limited-time exhibits throughout the year like Disney’s Heroes & Villains that display costumes from iconic movies throughout the years. I’ve visited twice now and love it every time!
Chihuly Garden & Glass
As you explore Seattle, you’ll see that we’re very much into hand-blown glass and Dave Chihuly is an iconic glass blower from Seattle. This museum displays his iconic works and studio glass which can be seen both indoors and outside in the enclosed garden. They even have daily glass-blowing events where you can sit and watch artists craft new pieces. This is by far one of my favorite places in Seattle so please don’t skip this one! I was stunned from the moment I walked in until I left. All of the pieces are insanely beautiful and true mindblowing works of art!
Argosy Harbor Tour
You can’t visit Seattle and not see it by water! Whether you take a boat tour or ride the ferry to West Seattle or to Bainbridge Island. This tour offered by Argosy lasts about an hour and is jam-packed with information. There is so much history and fun facts about Seattle that you’ll get slightly different information each time you book this excursion! So if you loved your tour, consider taking it again on one of their other boats. The Argosy Harbor Tour takes you North in the Puget Sound and circles back past West Seattle and down to the port. They have indoor and outdoor seating and serve beverages and light snacks. And don’t forget to leave a tip on your way off the ship!
Woodland Park Zoo
The Woodland Park Zoo is another great option, especially if you are visiting with children. The zoo is located north of downtown Seattle in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. It’s a bit out of the way, but again, zoos are usually crowd-pleasers with little ones. If you’re visiting during the Christmas holidays, the Woodland Park Zoo puts on a massive display of lights and lanterns at night that can’t be missed!
How long is the Seattle CityPASS good for?
Once activated, you have 9 days to use your Seattle CityPASS, which is more than enough time. The Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, and Chihuly Glass Gardens are all located at the Seattle Center, so I highly suggest doing those all on the same day. I would allow yourself an hour each for the Space Needle & Chihuly Gardens and then at least two hours for the Museum of Pop Culture since it’s rather large with tons to see. The Seattle Aquarium is located near the pier where the Argosy Harbor Tour leaves from so grouping these together would be ideal. You’ll need about two hours to spend in the aquarium and should arrive at the harbor tour at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Pros and Cons of the Seattle CityPASS
Pros:
You save up to 46% off by using the Seattle CityPASS vs booking 5 of the attractions yourself.
You have 9 days to use the pass so there’s no need to rush.
All of the attractions aside from the Woodland Zoo are located near one another so you can see them without running all over town.
The Seattle CityPASS is great for groups, families, and first-time visitors.
Cons:
I wouldn’t recommend this pass for repeat visitors since you’ve most likely already been to most of these top attractions in Seattle.
It would be nice if there were more options and that you could choose more than five attractions. There are other top attractions in Seattle that would be great additions to the Seattle CityPASS such as the Seattle Great Wheel, Smith Tower, an underground tour, Museum of Flight, and the Seattle Art Museum.
I hope this article helps you understand what exactly the Seattle CityPASS is and helps you decide if it would be beneficial for you when visiting the Emerald City! If it’s you’re first time visiting Seattle and have any questions or want recommendations, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help!
Happy travels!
-Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
