24 Rainy Day Activities in Seattle (From a Local!)
Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by Kelly
This probably won’t come as much of a surprise, but it rains a lot in Seattle. It rains, on average, 152 days per year. (That’s 42% of the time!) The annual rainfall, though, is only 38 inches. For comparison, Miami receives 59 inches of rainfall per year. There are a few different types of rain that Seattle receives: mist, drizzle, light rain, and heavy rain. Instead of having 152 days of heavy downpours, a lot of these rainy days in Seattle consist of more of a drizzle. It’s not exactly picnic weather, but definitely not worth canceling all plans either. Since frequent precipitation is a fact of life in Seattle, it’s important to learn how to live with the rain and still have fun. My list of 24 rainy day activities will make sure that you enjoy this amazing city regardless of the weather!
What to Do on a Rainy Day
1. Space Needle
The Space Needle is one of the best attractions in Seattle, and it’s the perfect place to go on a rainy day. The views might not be as expansive as what they would be on a clear day, but you’ll definitely get a great view of the downtown Seattle area.
It’s also worth it to head to the outside viewing deck and temporarily brave the rain. The Space Needle underwent a renovation in 2018 and it now has glass walls with glass benches outside, called skyrisers, that make for some pretty epic photos.
The Space Needle also has a trendy lounge for cocktails, a cafe for drinks and snacks, and a gift shop. It’s centrally located to other attractions as well, so it’s an accessible and fun stop for a rainy day.
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2. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Seattle is famous for its handblown glass due to the incredible artwork of Dale Chihuly. He’s one of the most famous artists in the field. The Chihuly Garden and Glass museum is just adjacent to the Space Needle, and it’s the perfect indoor activity for a rainy day in Seattle.
The museum contains eight different galleries and three Drawing Walls. Each gallery is distinct and showcases how Chihuly advanced glass art throughout his career.
One of the best places to see at the museum is the Glasshouse, which is a 40-foot-tall building that resembles a conservatory. Suspended from the ceiling is a large 100-foot-long glass sculpture. The sculpture subtly changes colors depending on the time of day and lighting conditions. You can also see the Space Needle from the Glasshouse, which makes for a beautiful photo.
Outside, you can explore a glass garden. Chihuly’s glass pieces are blended seamlessly into the plant collection. It’s truly a unique experience to walk through this garden of glass!
3. Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is another great place to spend a rainy day in Seattle. The majority of the exhibits are indoors, and you’ll get to learn a lot about what’s below the surface of Washington’s waters! (If you’re planning on visiting, be sure to see our full review of the Seattle Aquarium.)
The aquarium is located on Pier 59. It’s within walking distance of Pike Place Market, so it’s easy to see both during the same day. The aquarium has six primary exhibits: Window on Washington Waters, Life on the Edge, Pacific Coral Reef, Birds & Shores, the Underwater Dome, and Marine Mammals. My favorite thing to do at the aquarium is to look at the large 120,000 gallon tank at the entrance!
4. Pike Place Market
Whether you’re visiting Seattle for the first time or hundredth time, it’s always fun to go to Pike Place Market. The market is largely indoors and contains over 500 vendors. We have been to the market (as it’s commonly referred) more times than we count, and we always find something new. If you’re planning to visit, be sure to check out our guide to our favorite places in the Pike Place Market. We also recommend that you go on a chef’s food tour of the market!
While at the market, you can find Pacific Northwest classics like clam chowder served in sourdough bread bowls, raw oysters on the half shell, or brunch favorites like dungeness crab benedicts. But the market also has a significant international presence. You can find French pastries, Russian piroshkis, Persian kebobs, Thai curries, Taiwanese hombows, Turkish baklava, Japanese bento, English crumpets, and much, much more.
Also be sure to check out the gum wall! Bring your rain jacket because the gum wall is outdoors, but it’s just a very quick walk down to the alley below the market.
5. The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
This museum was introduced to Seattle in 2000 as the Experience Music Project. Since then, it has evolved and changed its name to reflect its wider dedication to popular culture, hence the rebranding to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP).
Just from the outside, you can tell that this is a unique experience. The building’s exterior is curved and made from thousands of iridescent and metal panels. Inside the museum, you will find exhibits dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Fantasy Fiction, Horror Films, and more.
This is my husband’s favorite attraction in Seattle. If you like music or film, you’re sure to find something interesting and noteworthy in the museum. We wrote all about the MoPOP in our blog post. If you plan on visiting, be sure to check it out for more info on what to see!
6. Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum is a great place to spend a rainy day. Inside, you’ll see a number of art exhibits that will get you thinking and feeling. The museum features artworks from Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Muslims.
The Seattle Art Museum also operates the Seattle Asian Art Museum. This museum was newly renovated and features artworks and displays that showcase the diversity within Asia.
7. Seattle Underground Tour
The underground tour is one of the most popular tours in Seattle. Although I’ve lived here nearly my entire life, I only recently completed the tour and got a look at Seattle’s underground! The tour was super interesting, and I learned a lot about my hometown.
After the Great Fire of 1889, the city of Seattle was rebuilt on top of the old city. That means that beneath the busy streets of Seattle lies the old storefronts and sidewalks. You’ll learn all about the hidden history of Seattle when you go on this tour!
8. Smith Tower
The Smith Tower used to be the tallest building in Seattle. Built in 1914, it was the first skyscraper in the city. A lot of tourists go to visit the Space Needle for views of the city, but fewer people know that there is an observatory at the top of the Smith Tower. We highly recommend that you visit the observatory, it’s a lot of fun! The entire experience is themed as a speakeasy-style bar from the 1920s. When you purchase an admission ticket, a historic elevator will take you to the 35th floor. There’s a bar and lounge that are perfect for a date night. The observatory has an open-air observation deck that provides 360 degree views of the city.
9. Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center hosts a number of educational and community events. At the time of this writing, the current exhibit is Spirit Returns 2.0. The exhibit addresses the complex stories between the Duwamish tribe and the white settlers that arrived to the Seattle area.
10. Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center is an interactive science museum located in Seattle. In addition to a number of engaging exhibits, the Pacific Science Center has a planetarium, laser dome, virtual reality, and two IMAX theaters. We especially enjoyed our visit to the planetarium. (Be sure to reserve those tickets in tandem with your admission ticket!) We learned so much about the solar system, how to find constellations, and what the sky above Seattle looks like. The guide was very knowledgeable and happy to answer our questions!
11. The Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is a giant ferris wheel located on Pier 57. It’s the largest observation wheel on the west coast. There are 42 gondolas, one of which is a VIP cabin with a glass bottom floor. Each gondola is fully enclosed, so it makes for a good activity to do on a rainy day. The waiting line is also covered which is nice. I’ve ridden on the ferris wheel a few times and it’s definitely a fun experience.
12. Wings Over Washington
The Wings Over Washington attraction is located near the ferris wheel. When you book admission tickets, you’ll be strapped into a theater seat and experience the most state-of-the-art theater in the world. The theater uses 5k cameras, laser projection, surround sound, and more to offer a very realistic look at the geography of Washington State.
13. Boeing Future of Flight Tour
Learn all about the work Boeing is doing when you take their Future of Flight Tour. There are all sorts of aviation exhibits located within the tour.
14. Seattle Central Library
Another unique building in Seattle from an architectural standpoint is the Seattle Central Library. Whether or not you plan on sitting down and reading for awhile, walking through the library on a rainy day is worth a visit if you have never been inside before. The building is 11 stories tall and features a glass and steel honeycomb design.
15. Flatstick Pub
Flatstick Pub has several locations in the Seattle area. It’s a great idea for a rainy day because it’s a bar that also has an indoor miniature golf course. If you’re looking for an indoor activity, it’s a really fun place to hang out. I’ve been a to a couple of their locations and I’d recommend it to others.
16. University of Washington
The University of Washington has a beautiful campus, and there are a number of buildings open to the public. If you get the chance, Suzzallo Library is beautiful and the Burke Museum is an interesting place to spend the afternoon.
17. Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is one of the largest aviation museums in the world. There are a variety of aircraft and spacecraft for viewing at this museum. Learn about untold stories of World War II, see aircrafts from the 1930s, and see a contemporary duplicate of the Sputnik 1 satellite.
18. Volunteer Park Conservatory
On a rainy day, head to the indoor botanical gardens at the Volunteer Park Conservatory. The conservatory has been a part of the Capitol Hill neighborhood since 1912. They are currently open Tuesday through Sunday. There is an admission charge, but it is pretty affordable. ($4 for an adult and children 12 and under are free.)
19. Visit a Brewery
Seattle is known for its craft beers, and there are plenty of breweries that are a fun place to spend a rainy day. Rooftop Brewing Company is a fun brewery that is both dog-friendly and kid-friendly. There are a number of seating options, and they have lots of interesting beers to try. They have three flight options if you want to taste a few of their beers. This brewery is also a fun place to go to because they have rotating food trucks on-site.
Pike Brewing Company is another brewery worth visiting. It’s located within Pike Place Market. (So if you’re already planning on visiting the market, make a pit stop at the brewery and grab a pint!) This brewery is also a good place to pick up some souvenirs to take home, like the Space Needle IPA.
20. Visit a Barcade
There are a few barcades in Seattle that are super fun. (Barcade = bar + arcade.) If you like video games, pinball, and drinking, a barcade is a good idea! In the Fremont neighborhood there is Add-a-Ball, and in the downtown area there is GameWorks. Wait out the rain while you play games, eat wings, and drink beers.
21. Grab a Cup of Coffee
Seattle is famous for its coffee shops. On a rainy day, head to one of the signature coffee shops to enjoy latte art, have a good conversation with a friend, or cozy up with a book. The Moore Coffee Shop, in particular, is known for its latte art. If you want that perfect Instagram photo of Seattle coffee, be sure to head there.
22. Ice Cream Cruise
Take an Ice Cream Cruise with Seattle Water Tours! The cruise is typically open on weekends seasonally and departs from Lake Union Park. The cruise is 45-minutes long and contains a narrated tour. Of course, there’s ice cream and treats for sale on board!
23. Catch a Show
The 5th Avenue Theatre and the Paramount Theatre are two theaters in Seattle that host a variety of productions and musicals. If rain is in the forecast, book a show to pass the time!
24. Indoor Playground
If you have young children, you might be interested in checking out an indoor playground like PlayDate SEA. There are three levels that feature fun activities, slides, and even ball cannons. For the adults, they serve coffee, beer, and wine.
Bonus: WhirlyBall
If you have a group of at least 10 people, you should try out a game of WhirlyBall! WhirlyBall is a team sport in which you drive a bumper car and try to score points by tossing a whiffle ball with scoopers. It’s kind of a like a mix between lacrosse and basketball. It is such a blast to play! We played recently with my family, and we haven’t laughed that hard in a very long time. In our full post on WhirlyBall, you’ll learn how to play this really fun game!
Tip: If you have kids, consider getting them a Rain Suit. They’ll be able to play outside and you won’t have to worry about them getting wet!
Summary
Seattle was built for the rain! There’s plenty of indoor activities to enjoy a rainy day. We particularly enjoy going to Pike Place Market on a rainy day. There tends to be less crowds, and most of the market is covered. We also like exploring one of Seattle’s many museums.
We’ve found that most rainy days in Seattle are just drizzle, so the rain doesn’t stop us from exploring the outdoors either. We’ve enjoyed many rainy hikes with the right gear. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.