Shopping · Seattle · United States
Shopping in Seattle
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Seattle shopping mixes outdoor-gear flagships, independent bookshops and design stores, and market stalls. Washington sales tax is added at the register. Best souvenirs: Smoked salmon, Local coffee beans and Outdoor gear.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Smoked salmon
Where to shop
Downtown retail core
Department stores and big brands around Pine Street, Westlake Center and Pacific Place.
Capitol Hill
Independent bookshops, record stores and vintage clothing around Broadway and Pike/Pine.
Ballard Avenue
Boutiques, design shops and Scandinavian goods along the historic street.
University Village
An open-air shopping centre near the University of Washington with outdoor brands and restaurants.
Markets
Pike Place Market
Produce, flowers, crafts, smoked salmon and small shops across several levels.
Ballard Farmers Market
Year-round Sunday market on Ballard Avenue with farm produce, seafood and food stalls.
Fremont Sunday Market
Sunday market of vintage, crafts and street food beside the ship canal.
What to buy
Smoked salmon
Vacuum-packed smoked salmon from Pike Place fishmongers travels well; check your home country's import rules.
Local coffee beans
Bags from Seattle roasters, including beans roasted at the Reserve Roastery.
Outdoor gear
REI's flagship store and local brands sell waterproofs and camping gear.
Northwest Coast Native art
Prints and carvings by Indigenous artists from reputable galleries in Pioneer Square and downtown.
Chihuly-style glass
Art glass from local studios and gallery shops, including the Chihuly Garden and Glass shop.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Downtown and Pike Place
Pike Place Market
Seattle's public market has run since 1907 across several levels above the waterfront, with fish stalls where workers throw salmon to each other, farmers, flower sellers, bakeries and small restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Espresso, Rainier cherries and Washington wine and craft beer. Independent cafés on Capitol Hill and in Fremont and Ballard; the original Starbucks shop at Pike Place Market. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and Pike Place | $$$ | Hotels, shopping and the market above the waterfront |
| Capitol Hill | $$ | Bars, independent restaurants and the city's LGBTQ+ heart around Broadway and Pike/Pine |
| Pioneer Square | $$ | Red-brick Romanesque Revival blocks, galleries and the Underground Tour |
| Ballard | $$ | Scandinavian roots, breweries and the Sunday market on Ballard Avenue |
| Fremont | $$ | Quirky public art, the Fremont Troll and canal-side paths |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Some restaurants add service charges instead; read the bill.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are July–August.
- April: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (usually throughout April)
- May: Seattle International Film Festival (usually May)
- May: Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center (Memorial Day weekend)
- July: Seafair festival events (usually July to early August)
- August: Seafair Weekend with hydroplane races and an air show (usually early August)
- September: Bumbershoot arts and music festival at Seattle Center (usually Labor Day weekend)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, families and food lovers
Downtown and Pike Place
Hotels, shopping and the market above the waterfront
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Seattle?
Smoked salmon, Local coffee beans, Outdoor gear and Northwest Coast Native art.
+Where is the best shopping in Seattle?
Downtown retail core: Department stores and big brands around Pine Street, Westlake Center and Pacific Place.
+What are the best markets in Seattle?
Pike Place Market, Ballard Farmers Market and Fremont Sunday Market.