Seattle really came into its own in the nineties, with Starbucks, Frasier, Sleepless in Seattle and Nirvana – and it hasn’t slowed down since. Today, the Emerald City offers a flourishing foodie scene, dozens of cool and quirky museums and a whole myriad of outdoor adventure activities. While there may be plenty to keep you occupied during the daytime, nothing compares with Seattle at night, when the city sparkles. Looking for fun things to do in Seattle? We’ve cherry-picked 10 cool things to do in Seattle at night. 

Fun things to in Seattle:

Climb the Space Needle Tower

The city’s most iconic landmark offers the best views of the Seattle skyline at night. The 605-foot tower weighs an impressive 9,550 tons and can withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour. It was constructed as part of the 1962 World’s Fair, but recent renovations have given it some serious pazas.

The 41-second elevator ride to the observation deck is worth the trip alone, but now you can head to the ‘Skyriser’, a tilting glass wall that gives the illusion of floating in open air, and ‘The Loupe’, the world’s first-ever revolving glass floor.

Head high for a big night out

Portland may have the reputation for a buzzing club scene, but there are big nights out a plenty in Seattle. The Capitol Hill neighbourhood is known to have the best Seattle nightlife, with an enviable range of karaoke bars, night markets and cocktail bars. For the ultimate night out, head above ground level to one of the city’s skyhigh bars. The Fog Room is frequently voted the best in the city.

Sitting atop the Charter Hotel, the 16th-storey bar boasts impressive views of the waterfront, with delicious cocktails too. 

Hop on one of the largest ferris wheels in America

Some may think it’s corny, but we call those people boring. The Seattle Great Wheel, located on Pier 57, is one of the largest wheels in the United States. Reaching 175-foot high, the views from the top are incredible, sweeping out over the Pacific Ocean and out to the Olympic Mountains. The gondolas are enclosed too, which means you can enjoy it even when it’s raining. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy Seattle at night, with sparkling views of the twinkling city lights.

Laugh until you cry

OK, so the Seattle comedy scene may not have the prestige of bigger cities like New York and LA but it’s up to the same quality. The clubs are always busy with happy punters looking for fun things to do in Seattle, regardless of whether it’s an improv performance or a kooky movie.

The Comedy Underground is one of the most renowned comedy clubs in the state, having hosted big names like Ellen DeGeneres and Jerry Seinfeld. Drinks are cheap and there’s a food menu too. 

Take a dinner cruise with views 

Around 41% of Seattle is made up of water, so it makes sense to spend a good chunk of your time off shore. There’s nothing quite like cruising away from the Seattle skyline at night either. You can take your pick from a variety of different cruise providers but Waterway Cruises offer an epic cruise dinner aboard a yacht – complete with a delicious dinner, champagne and stunning views of Seattle’s lakes. 

Indulge in some old-school arcade games 

If you’ve had your fill of sophisticated skyhigh drinking and lake cruises, hotfoot to Add-a-Ball. The retro-style arcade and pinball joint is open from 2pm until 12am, serving up cheap drinks and plenty of unpretentious fun. There’s a range of games to get emotionally invested in, from Pac-Man and Tetris to Lethal Weapon 3. You’ll also find the only popcorn vending machine with a coin-operated microwave in the world. Games cost just a quarter too. 

Visit the oldest winery in Washington State 

Washington State prides itself on excellent wine – nowhere more so than Chateau Ste. Michelle. Located around 20 miles from the city, it’s the oldest winery in the whole state. The French-style mansion is set in 105-acres of beautifully manicured gardens and the house is complete with Rapunzel-style turrets too.

The winery produces a variety of different wines, including chardonnay, cabernet, merlot and riesling, and you can taste all of them at one of their tasting sessions. Throughout the summer, they host a summer concert series too. It’s all very sophisticated.

Grab a beer!

Seattle is a big beer town and home to some brilliant breweries and taprooms. For the best brews, you can either book yourself onto a walking tour or make one of your own. At the historic Pike Place Market, you can take a tour of the craft brewery Pike Brewing Company. Other highly regarded breweries include the Cloudburst Brewery, Elysian Brewing Company and Holy Mountain Brewing Company too. 

Fly high above the city 

The Seattle Seaplanes are real pros. You can take a 20-minute scenic flight tour over Seattle in a single-engine seaplane for birdseye views over the city. One of the most fun things to do in Seattle is to take the dinner flights. A pilot flies you to a neighbouring island, waits for you to finish a tasty dinner and picks you up again. There are a range of islands to choose from, San Juan island, Orcas Island and Poulsbo. 

Snap a seriously-good selfie 

At the new Seattle Selfie Museum, you are the art – it was literally built to provide excellent fodder for your Instagram feed. Located around the corner from Pike Place Market, the Selfie Museum features a ton of selfie-ready attractions, in vibrantly colourful booths that serve as backdrops for your selfies. There are over 25 different installations, murals and creative backdrops, from pop art bananas to ball pits.

Slots last an hour but it’s open until 8pm from Sunday to Thursday, 9pm on Friday and 10pm on Saturday. The perfect pitstop on your Seattle nightlife bar crawl.