Pike Place Market

Some of Pike Place Market's most popular attractions include the First Starbucks, Pike Brewing Company, and Pike Place Chowder. Don't miss Chukar Cherries, famous for their chocolate-covered dried cherries grown right in Washington. There's even a Hellenika Cultured Creamery, which serves frozen Greek yogurt. The main and north arcades are the most popular areas in the market. 

The best way to experience Seattle's top gastronomic attraction is by tasting your way through it, and the market is a main stop on most Seattle food tours. Chef-guided food tours, cooking classes, and cultural walking tours of the market are all excellent ways to experience what the market has to offer.

Going with a tour guide is particularly useful for helping you find small businesses that you may have missed on your own. You can even book an early-bird Pike Place Market tour to avoid the crowds.

• You won't need Pike Place Market tickets, as admission is free.

• The market has lots of eateries, and many can accommodate dietary restrictions. 

• Save some pocket change for Rachel, the bronze charity piggy bank that serves as Pike Place Market's unofficial mascot.

• After browsing the farmers market, head to Victor Steinbrueck Park for a picnic.

• Pike Place Market is completely accessible for wheelchair users and has several elevators and accessible bathrooms.

Pike Place Market is located in downtown Seattle's Pike Place Market Historic District, overlooking Puget Sound. It's easy to get to via bus and streetcar. There's an information booth below the Pike Place Market sign, where you can pick up a free guide and market map. Nearby attractions include the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Waterfront, and the Seattle Aquarium.

Because most of the action at Pike Place Market takes place indoors, it's a great place to visit year-round. The market is open from dawn to dusk. While you should always expect crowds, it's sometimes a bit quieter on weekday mornings.

One of the market's most entertaining spectacles takes place at the seafood stalls, where fishmongers throw salmon and other fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. Place an order and watch as an employee theatrically hurls a fish in the air, passing it to a second employee who will catch it and prep it for sale. Vendors can pack fish for travel, and most ship throughout the US.

The best days to visit Pike Place Market are Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid crowds and lines. Though most shops, stalls, and vendors open by 9am, mornings are generally relatively quiet. To maximize your room to explore the market, come before noon on Tuesday or Wednesday.

There's a lot to see and do at Pike Place Market, which has hundreds of shops, farmstands, crafts, and buskers. Guided tours of Pike Place Market generally take two hours, pausing to sample local products along the way. Plan to spend longer if you're sticking around for a restaurant meal.

Walking tours are a great way to explore the best of Pike Place Market. Some tours are gourmet-themed, featuring tastings of locally caught seafood, pastries, produce, and more. Pike Place Market is also included on many Seattle sightseeing tours, along with some of the city's other top landmarks.

Pike Place Market was founded in 1907 and is among the oldest and biggest public markets in the United States. It's also the place to explore hundreds of independent Seattle businesses under one roof—it's home to dozens of restaurants and market vendors, including fishmongers, artisans, artists, bakers, and more.

Yes, there are restrooms at Pike Place Market. Wheelchair-friendly restrooms are in the Sanitary Market building, the Soames Dunn Building, and beneath the Public Market Sign at Pike Place and Pine. Another restroom, accessible via a flight of stairs, is a floor down from the Public Market Center Clock Sign.

Tours of Pike Place Market generally highlight market vendors, from famous shops to lesser-known artisans. They're a great way to discover the best of the market while learning about local history and culture. Many tours also include tastings, so you can try some of everything along the way.