All About the Seattle CityPASS

After living in Seattle for an internship for six months, this modern, green city has always been in my heart. When my kids were old enough to appreciate it truly, I took them to the Pacific Northwest to experience Seattle for a week.

Although it’s mostly known for the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, Seattle offers many other fantastic family-friendly activities. There’s so much to do.

If you are planning to visit Seattle, you may be wondering about the top attractions and how to save money on your trip. The Seattle CityPASS is a great way to save money. With one CityPASS ticket fee, you’ll receive admission to many of the most popular Seattle attractions.

Disclosure: We received two free CityPASS passes during our trip to Seattle. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission being paid to us.

All About the Seattle CityPASS

Is a Seattle CityPASS Worth It?

The CityPASS can be a great way to save money on the best things to do in Seattle. Before deciding to purchase, take a look at the list of attractions. If you plan to do most of these things, a CityPASS can be a great idea.

How the CityPass Works

To purchase a CityPASS, go to their website and select the destination you are visiting. There are currently 16 cities offered: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay, and Toronto.

Seattle has two types of tickets: one for adults 13 and older and one for children aged 5 to 12. Currently, the ticket price for the CityPASS gives you admission to five different attractions, representing a savings of over 40%. There’s also a C3 pass that gives admission to three attractions.

Once you purchase the CityPASS, it’s valid for a year. Upon the first use, you have nine consecutive days to visit all of the included attractions. IDs may be required, and you must show the pass to gain admission. If your group members want to split up, you’ll each need to possess your own pass.

Before deciding to purchase a CityPASS, look at the attractions offered. Make sure that you plan to visit most of them to get the maximum value for the pass’s cost.

Since 2020, some attractions require advance reservations. Review operating procedures and hours to ensure you’ll be able to visit while you’re there. You can make the required reservations right from their website.

What’s Included in the Seattle CityPASS

In 2024, your CityPASS purchase will include five attractions, including the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium.

Then, you can choose three from the following list:

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour (one-hour tour)
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Woodland Park Zoo
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Pacific Science Center

Space Needle

With the Seattle CityPASS, you can visit the iconic Space Needle twice—once during the day and once at night. Both visits must occur within a 24-hour period. You’ll only need reservations for your first visit.

We have a full guide to the Space Needle here—check it out before your first visit. If possible, we recommend looking at the weather forecast in advance. Visibility is much lower when it’s cloudy and/or rainy.

The views of Seattle from the Space Needle are absolutely beautiful. You can get a 360-degree view by walking all the way around the observation deck, so be sure to save time for a full visit.

Before going, be sure to download the Space Needle app. We found it helpful, and it was nice to have immediate access to the official photos we took there.

Reservations are currently required.

MoPOP: Museum of Pop Culture

The Museum of Pop Culture is a unique museum located near the Space Needle in Seattle Center. Formerly known as the Experience Music Project, this museum’s focus has expanded to include more than just music. However, pop music is still a significant part of the museum.

We enjoyed visiting MoPOP with our kids. It was great for them to experience some of the music we enjoyed, including local Seattle bands like Pearl Jam.

The Museum of Pop Culture also includes several traveling exhibitions (past exhibits have included Minecraft and Tattoo Culture). We spent several hours exploring the museum and felt it was worthwhile.

The Museum of Pop Culture is closed on Wednesdays.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

One of the most unique and beautiful museums I’ve visited is the Chihuly Garden and Glass, also located in Seattle Center. This museum features gorgeous glass sculptures, both indoors and outdoors.

If you are planning a trip to Chihuly Garden and Glass, I’d recommend visiting with older kids. Younger kids may not understand the museum or appreciate the exhibits.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum isn’t too large, so you can definitely combine a visit there with another of the Seattle Center attractions. We visited the Space Needle first thing in the morning and then went next door to the Garden and Glass.

Be sure to take plenty of photos because it is beautiful. While you can walk through quickly, I’d recommend taking your time to admire each sculpture.

Reservations are currently required.

Woodland Park Zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo is located on Phinney Avenue in Seattle. Paid parking is available in several on-site lots.

Advanced tickets are recommended. With a CityPASS, you can use the barcode info on your tickets to get your reserved tickets.

The Woodland Park Zoo has many different exhibits, including an African Savanna, a Rhino Preserve, a butterfly garden, and a tropical rainforest.

A new exhibit, Living Northwest, focuses on nature and wildlife in the Northwest of the United States. It’s a reimagination of the prior exhibit, the Northern Trail.

The Woodland Park Zoo is open daily, except for Christmas. In the cooler months, it closes earlier in the evening.

Seattle Aquarium

Located along the Seattle Waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium is one of my favorites. Advance reservations are currently required and can be made online before your visit.

The aquarium features many fun exhibits for families. Our favorites include the tide pools, river otters, harbor seals, sea otters, and the Pacific coral reef.

Some exhibits are outdoors, so it’s best to choose a nice day to visit. We spent several hours there.

Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour

You’ll need a reservation for your Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour. We did this on our Seattle vacation, and it was definitely one of the highlights.

During the one-hour experience, you’ll get a guided tour of the waterfront. It’s a unique perspective on the beautiful Seattle waterfront. You’ll board the boat not too far from the Seattle Aquarium, so it’s a good combination for a day.

Pacific Science Center

The Pacific Science Center, Seattle’s science museum, is in Seattle Center. It was recently added back to the Seattle CityPASS and is worth a visit.

The Seattle CityPASS includes general admission to the museum, including the Tropical Butterfly House, Tinker Tank maker space, Dinosaurs, and Live Science StageGeneral admission. The planetarium and daytime laser shows are also included, but you must make separate reservations.

Wondering where to stay in Seattle? Check out the map below for lodging options.