The Seattle Space Needle: Complete Guide from a Local’s Perspective
Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by Kelly
I’ve been to the Space Needle numerous times throughout my life, and it’s a place I never get tired of visiting. It’s definitely not an overrated attraction! I love every part of the experience: The ride up in the elevator, walking across the glass rotating floor, and gazing out at the city.
in this post I’m sharing everything you need to know to visit the Space Needle. I’ll share my best tips, my favorite time to visit, and the unique experiences the attraction offers.
About the Space Needle
The Space Needle is the most iconic symbol of Seattle. It was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair to symbolize humanity’s exploration of space. At 605 feet tall, you will surely feel a rush of adrenaline when the elevator takes you to the upper viewing decks!
Tip: When entering the elevator, ask the operator where to stand for a window view. When you first board the elevator on the ground level, the entire elevator will seem opaque. However, there are a few spots that turn into windows, and those are the best places to stand! If you get one of those spots, you’ll be able to see outside as you rise up the needle. i
The Space Needle was built in about 400 days. It was built specifically for the World’s Fair in 1962, which Seattle hosted. During that first year, millions of people visited the Space Needle, including Elvis Presley!
The Space Needle has changed a lot over the years. Today the Space Needle is painted white, but when it was first built, it was a lot more colorful. The core was painted an olive green, the saucer was a red-ish orange, and the roof was painted gold. (Only the legs were painted white at the time.)
The Space Needle continued to make headlines over the years. In 1989, a local news station ran a fake report on April Fools Days saying that the Space Needle had fallen over. Emergency lines were flooded with concerned callers! (Obviously it was just a practical joke.)
In 1999, the Space Needle officially became a City of Seattle Landmark.
In 2018, the Space Needle underwent a major renovation to enhance the viewing experience. Glass walls and benches (“Skyrisers”) were placed in the outdoor viewing platform. Guests can now take photos on the top deck with no fences obstructing the view! Additionally, the world’s first and only rotating, glass-floor (“The Loupe”) was installed in the lower viewing deck. Now, you can literally see Seattle beneath your feet!
Currently, the Space Needle receives over one million visitors each year!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Travel Tip: If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, consider buying a Seattle CityPASS. You’ll be able to save money if you plan on visiting multiple attractions.
Tickets and Visiting Information
Address: 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
Operating hours at the Space Needle vary by day of the week and time of year, so it’s important that you check the official website to see hours of operation on the day you want to visit. The last entry is 45 minutes before closing time.
You can purchase tickets at the Space Needle’s main website. It’s best to purchase tickets in advance of your visit, as they are subject to availability.
Parking in downtown Seattle can sometimes be stressful. If you’re bringing your own vehicle, we recommend that you park at the Seattle Center’s 5th Avenue N Parking Garage. (It’s a quick walk from there to the Space Needle.) You can also take the monorail, bus, or a ride share.
| See our guide The Best Hotels in Downtown Seattle to help you plan your trip! |
If you have young children and are bringing a stroller, please note that strollers aren’t permitted to the top of the Space Needle. You’ll have to park them in a specially designated area outside at the ground level. There was an attendant nearby, but we removed all of our belongings from our stroller before it leaving it there. (We didn’t bring our ergo baby carrier that day, but I wish we would have! If we had brought it, we wouldn’t have had to carry our baby the entire visit.)
Visiting at Night
There’s no doubt that when you visit during the day, you’ll likely get excellent views of the city, the Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Mountains. But what if you want to visit at night? Is it still worth it? We think so!
We’ve been to the Space Needle at night and really enjoyed the experience. We got to see the city lit up at night, and still experience all the adrenaline of traveling to the top of the needle.
To get the best of both worlds, we recommend that you visit the Space Needle at sunset if possible. That way, you’ll see the daytime and nighttime views during the same visit.
What to See at the Space Needle
You might think of a visit to the Space Needle as a singular experience, but there’s actually a lot to do during your visit!
Riding the Elevator
The elevators to the top have glass windows, so you can see the city as you rise up 520 feet to the viewing platforms. It takes 43 seconds to travel to the top. When you first enter the elevator, try to get a spot next to one of the windows for the best views. When you’re boarding the elevator, it won’t be immediately obvious where the windows are, so you can always ask the operator where you should stand for a good view.
Welcome Photo
A professional photographer will take your photo and you can have the digital copy. You can choose from several Seattle backdrops. The digital downloads are easy for sharing!
Indoor Observation Deck
Even on a rainy day, you can enjoy a visit to the Space Needle. The indoor observation deck has glass panels that will still let you see the city around you.
Open-Air Viewing Area
This is one of my favorite areas of the Space Needle. The glass benches are called “Skyrisers.” Although they are securely placed against glass walls, they are not for the faint of heart! They provide unobstructed views of the city.
The Loupe
The Loupe floor below features the world’s only glass, rotating floor. You can even see the gears turn below your feet! If you’re afraid of heights, this might be a difficult experience. But don’t worry, engineers have worked hard to make the glass floor safe. There are 10 different layers of structural glass in the Loupe floor.
Walk the Oculus Stairs
The staircase the connects the Loupe with the upper viewing deck is made from glass, steel, and wood.
Try the Stratos VR
The Stratos VR is a virtual reality experience that visually simulates what it would be like to bungee jump.
Atmos Café
No reservations required, this cafe sells coffee and espresso (a Seattle staple!), beer and wine, and local snacks.
The Loupe Lounge
If you have a larger budget, you might enjoy making reservations for seating at the Loupe Lounge. They offer curated meals and drinks for adults ages 21 and over. This experience would make for a fabulous date night.
Gift Shop
At the base of the Space Needle is a gift shop filled with all sorts of local souvenirs. As far as gift shops go, it’s one of our favorites! There’s lot of things to choose from across every budget. If you need to pick up some gifts, this is a good spot to do your shopping. We also recommend purchasing souvenirs at Pike Place Market.
Special Events Held at the Space Needle
Base 2 Space
Ever wondered what it would be like to skip the elevator and take the stairs to the top? During the Base 2 Space event, you will scale 832 open-air stairs to support cancer research.
New Years Eve Fireworks
Every New Year’s Eve, fireworks are lit atop the Space Needle. Last year, the event was purely virtual due to covid. I’m not sure if they will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year, but hopefully the tradition will return as soon as it’s safe to participate!
Places in Seattle to View the Space Needle
In addition to taking photos while at the Space Needle itself, we recommend the following locations for excellent photos of the Space Needle.
Kerry Park
One of my favorite places to view the Space Needle is from Kerry Park. This small park has expansive views of the Seattle skyline, and it’s where many postcards of Seattle are photographed. Chances are, if you’ve seen a postcard of Seattle, the photo was taken from this spot! On a clear day, you can even see Mount Rainier in the background.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
With admission to the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum, you can see the Space Needle through the glass roof in one of the final exhibits. It makes for a cool photo due to the sharp contrast between the steel Space Needle and the delicate glass flowers of the museum. Both space and earth are represented symbolically.
MoPOP
If you head to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), you can take photos of the Space Needle in the background with the metal panels of the museum in the foreground. It’s the perfect spot to capture Seattle’s funky vibe! See our full post on the MoPOP for more information on what to do at this interactive museum.
Pacific Science Center
You can also view the Seattle from the Pacific Science Center. You’ll see the top of the Space Needle next to the famous arches of the science center.
Nearby Hotels
The closest hotel to the MoPOP is the Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown. It’s just 400 feet (a 2-minute walk) from the Space Needle. The hotel has free breakfast and a restaurant on-site.
The Four Seasons Hotel Seattle is 1.2 miles from the Space Needle. It’s a gorgeous 5-Star hotel located centrally in downtown Seattle. If you can afford it, this is our first recommendation. The hotel has an outdoor infinity pool with a view of the Seattle waterfront, lots of amenities, and is within walking distance of a lot of Seattle attractions.
The Seattle Marriott Waterfront has views of the water, as well as an indoor-outdoor pool. Every room has a view of the mountains and water. It’s located just .9 miles away from the Space Needle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you visit the Space Needle if you have a fear of heights?
The entire Space Needle experience is based on showcasing its elevation. If you have a fear of heights, you may feel uncomfortable visiting the Space Needle. The elevators have windows, the outdoor viewing deck has glass walls, and the Loupe observation deck has a glass floor. That being said, it’s possible to remain on the upper deck (inside) with the non-glass floor if you desire.
How long should you spend at the Space Needle?
We recommend at least spending 2-3 hours at the Space Needle. By the time you ride to the top and look at all three viewing areas, you could easily spend an hour or two. If you want to have beverages or snacks, you might need more time.
Is visiting the Space Needle worth it?
Don’t leave Seattle without visiting the Space Needle! You’ll get to see sweeping views of the city, and you’ll get to experience the world’s only rotating, glass floor. You will also be able to take amazing photos on the Skyrisers.
When is the best time to visit the Space Needle?
We recommend visiting the Space Needle at sunset, if possible, so you can get both daytime and nighttime views during the same visit. If you’re able to choose your date based on the weather, a clear day will give you more expansive views. (You might also be more comfortable on the outdoor viewing deck.)
Summary
We hope you enjoyed this post on the Space Needle! We worked hard on researching the information for this article. I’ve been to the Space Needle more times than I can count, and it never disappoints. It’s truly an iconic Seattle landmark. If you’re visiting Seattle, you absolutely must add the Space Needle to your itinerary. The Space Needle is one of our favorite places to take guests – we hope you enjoy it too!
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.
