Construction was planned to finish in stages, so a few pieces may still be wrapping up when you arrive. Check the City of Seattle's Waterfront Seattle website for project updates.
Free Things to Do Between Cruises
The best value here is simply walking the shoreline. Most of the new features are public spaces, so they suit cruise passengers with a few spare hours just as well as locals showing friends around town.
Overlook Walk
Start on this structure, which works as both a pedestrian bridge and a park. It spans Alaskan Way and connects Pike Place Market with the aquarium below. Look for the play elements and the native plantings chosen by Indigenous landscape architect Valerie Segrest, then grab a coffee with the view at the cafe.
The Promenade and Its Art
Stroll the landscaped promenade beside the two-way bike lanes, where native plants and shade trees also help filter stormwater runoff. Between Columbia and Spring streets, carved post-and-beam house posts frame the bike lanes in honor of the Salish longhouse tradition. Oscar Tuazon designed them with Suquamish and Muckleshoot carvers Randi Purser, Tyson Simmons and Keith Stevenson.
Glance down at the seawall, too, where Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan's Seawall Strata gives the concrete a textured face. Near the Union Street Pedestrian Bridge, Norie Sato's Unfurling a Gesture (The Nature of Persistence) wraps a nature-inspired sculpture around the stairway.
The Elliott Bay Seawall
Finished in 2017, the seawall includes habitat features such as sidewalk sections set with translucent panels. These let sunlight reach the water below, supporting the salmon migration corridor along the shore. It is a quiet detail that many people walk right over without noticing.
Dzidzilalich
Watch for this honorary name on street signs. In Lushootseed, a Coast Salish language, it means "little crossing-over place" and refers to one of several villages that once stood here. The name honors the lands and shared waters of the Puget Sound Coast Salish people.
Head South for a Beach and a Square
Keep walking south toward Pioneer Square, and the longer stroll rewards you with some of the most thoughtful new spaces on the waterfront.
Pioneer Square Habitat Beach
This roughly 200-foot green space restores a small piece of natural shoreline with shallow water, local rocks and streamside plants. It supports salmon heading through the bay while giving you a direct way down to the water, plus a glimpse of a natural Pacific Northwest coastline right downtown.
Nearby, Buster Simpson's concrete sculptures, called Migration Stage, double as seating, and kids enjoy climbing all over them.
Shoreline Alley and Occidental Square
Between South Main and Washington streets, follow the painted paving stones that trace the curve of the city's original shoreline. Renovated sidewalks and landscaping lead you from the waterfront to Occidental Square. Settle in under the shade trees, play ping-pong or bocce, or let the kids loose on the playground, all for a free break.
Railroad Way and Stadium Plaza
Railroad Way is a broad pedestrian path that links Waterfront Park with Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park. At Stadium Plaza, catch rotating art installations by Indigenous local artists. The first exhibit there came from Kimberly Saladin of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
Where to Spend a Little
A few paid attractions turn a waterfront walk into a proper outing. Prices and schedules change, so confirm details with each operator before you go.
- Harbor cruises: Head out on the water with Argosy Cruises, which runs sightseeing trips from the waterfront with up to 16 daily departures in summer. Its 90-minute Summer Views Cruise keeps narration lighter, leaving more room for conversation at golden hour.
- The Seattle Great Wheel: Find this waterfront landmark along the pedestrian path between Pioneer Square and Pier 62.
- Seattle Aquarium: Located at Pier 59, it connects to the market by way of Overlook Walk.
- A sweet stop: Treat yourself at the restored Washington Street Boat Landing pergola, home to a branch of Molly Moon's, the well-loved local ice cream shop.
Making the Most of a Short Stay
Pair a free walk with one paid highlight to keep costs down. Begin at Pike Place Market, cross Overlook Walk and stroll south to Habitat Beach to see the biggest changes without spending a thing. Then choose a cruise or the aquarium if your budget allows.
Friends of Waterfront Park has run programming on Pier 62 since 2020, so it pays to look for free events. Explore our guide to Waterfront Park for more, or browse things to do in Seattle to plan the rest of your trip.
