Where to stay when visiting Seattle.

Known as the Emerald City, Seattle is the largest city in not just the state of Washington but the entire Pacific Northwest. Located on the shores of the Puget Sound, it is filled with tourist attractions, luxury hotels and iconic locations, such as the Space Needle. With so much choice on offer, it can make finding the ideal place to stay in Seattle quite challenging, particularly for first time visitors. This article will outline the best areas, tell you why each has made the cut, and explain exactly who will get the most from staying there. This should give you everything you need to ensure your stay in Seattle is absolutely perfect. The first area is Seattle’s most popular area, Downtown Seattle. Located at the heart of the city, Downtown Seattle sits on the shores of Elliot Bay. Made up of numerous districts that include Pioneer Square, Belltown and Pike Place Market, it is a diverse destination that makes a great choice for all manner of visitors to stay in Seattle. As is usually the case in a major city center, the Downtown area is filled with major attractions, some of the best luxury hotels, and a plenty of amenities like bars, shops and restaurants, all walking distance apart. This means that even those on a budget will be able to find affordable accommodation within walking distance of some of the most popular attractions and amenities in the city. Beyond that, it even has a number of popular attractions in its own right for you to enjoy as well. 

Located immediately to the north of Downtown, Uptown is the more common name for the neighborhood of Lower Queen Anne. After Downtown, it is the most popular place for tourists to stay in Seattle. Not only is it near all of the other districts we have looked at so far, but it also has a number of its own attractions, including the most popular destination in the city, the Space Needle. Queen Anne is a large district spread across the Queen Anne Hill, made up from the individual neighborhoods of North Queen Anne, East Queen Anne, West Queen Anne and Lower Queen Anne, which is also known as Uptown. Queen Anne Hill quickly became a popular spot for the rich and wealthy after the settling of the city, due to the fabulous views available from atop it. It gets its name from the Queen Anne architectural style that many of the mansions and homes were built in. Capitol Hill is located to the northwest of Downtown Seattle and offers a diverse landscape, suitable for various different travelers to the city. Despite what the name suggests, Capitol Hill is not actually the location of the Washington State Capitol, which lies over 60 miles away, in the city of Olympia. Capitol Hill in Seattle is instead known for a number of other reasons. Firstly, much like Queen Anne, Capitol Hill is home to one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Seattle. “Millionaire’s Row” features some of the most expensive housing in the city, surrounded by amenities to match its price tag. 

The South Lake Union Neighborhood is sandwiched between Capitol Hill to the east, Downtown to the south, Queen Anne to the west and Lake Union to the north. This already makes South Lake Union a fabulous place to stay in Seattle for anyone planning to explore all of those areas. However, it is the latter of those areas that makes the South Lake Union district so attractive. On the south end of Lake Union, you will find Lake Union Park. The University District, also known as the U District, is located just to the north of Capitol Hill, on the other side of Portage Bay. 

Named after the main campus of the University Of Washington, which is located there, the U District is unsurprisingly incredibly popular with students. If you are looking for where to stay in Seattle to best experience the bohemian culture that often goes hand in hand with student dominated areas, the University District is it. Fremont is located on the other side of the Aurora Bridge from Queen Anne. It used to be referred to as the “Republic Of Fremont” and was well known for its counterculture. Many artists moved to the area to embrace the atmosphere and develop their latest works in the friendly surroundings. In recent years, the area has seen a lot of gentrification and this culture has become a lot less prominent, although it does still exist. However, many of the pieces of art the neighborhood was known for remain to this day. Phinney Ridge is located immediately to the north or Fremont, with its eastern boundary running around the western shore of Green Lake. Green Lake and the neighboring Woodland Park draw the vast majority of visitors to Phinney Ridge. With a near 3-mile path running around its shore, Green Lake is a popular destination for hikers, cyclists, roller skaters etc. Numerous species of birds and fish, as well as mammals like rabbits, make it a great way to spend time outdoors and do some wildlife spotting. On the north edge of Phinney Ridge, you will find the neighborhood of Greenwood. Fairly detached from the center of the city, it offers a much more relaxed experience than you’ll find elsewhere. Numerous bars, restaurants, coffee shops, theaters and stores are present throughout Greenwood, offering an incredible range of things to do and see. No matter your budget, you will have plenty of entertainment, without having to be surrounded by mobs of tourists the whole time.  

Whether you want to see iconic sights like the Space Needle, or simply enjoy the views of the Seattle skyline while dining in local restaurants, you should now have everything you need to make your Seattle trip a successful one. So, now you know where to stay in Seattle, all that’s left is to go and start getting things booked, so you can look forward to uncovering its wonders for yourself as soon as possible.