Travel tips · Seattle · United States
Seattle travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jeffery Hayes, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Seattle is casual, outdoorsy and tech-driven, shaped by Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon, a strong music history from Jimi Hendrix to the grunge era, and the Coast Salish peoples whose art and place names appear across the region. Locals are polite but reserved — the 'Seattle Freeze' is a running joke — and dress is practical rather than formal.
Key facts
- Language
- English
- Currency
- USD
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and good to drink; much of it comes from protected mountain…
- Emergency
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Things to know
- Wait for the walk signal; jaywalking is uncommon and drivers do not expect it.
- Sort waste carefully into recycling, compost and landfill bins; it is taken seriously.
- Stand on the right on escalators and let people off the light rail before boarding.
- Few locals use umbrellas in light rain; a hooded waterproof jacket is the local uniform.
- Tip at sit-down restaurants and bars, but check for service charges first.
- Book Space Needle ahead: Timed tickets are sold online; sunset slots sell out on clear summer evenings.
- The Olympic Sculpture Park, the Frye Art Museum, Klondike Gold Rush museum, Ballard Locks and most big parks are free.
Tipping
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.
Language
English is spoken.
What to wear
Layers and a waterproof jacket work all year; even summer evenings can be cool by the water.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe and good to drink; much of it comes from protected mountain watersheds.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- US SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to buy; free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, libraries and at the airport.
- Time zone
- America/Los Angeles
Car break-ins are common, so leave nothing in parked cars. Parts of downtown and Pioneer Square have visible homelessness and drug use; stay on busier streets after dark. Puget Sound and the lakes are cold enough to cause cold-water shock even in summer.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check United States's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Seattle?
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.
+Can you drink the tap water in Seattle?
Tap water is safe and good to drink; much of it comes from protected mountain watersheds.
+What plugs are used in Seattle?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Seattle?
English.