Seattle CityPASS Review 2023: Should You Buy?

Using CityPASS can be a great way to see the city’s most important attractions at reduced costs. We are bringing you a thorough Seattle CityPASS Review in order to help you decide if should you buy the pass.

Have you always wanted to know what is CityPASS, how to use it, and does it really save money? If so, you are in the right place. Keep reading our Seattle CityPASS review and get answers to all of your questions.

Learn how to save up money while visiting one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest. Create your own Seattle itinerary and have a full-time cultural experience. Spend less and experience more.

Explore all the possibilities Seattle CityPASS offers.

How the CityPASS works

The Seattle CityPASS is a popular sightseeing card that provides entry to the city’s top tourist highlights. It also allows you to make a significant 49% savings on regular ticket prices for selected tourist attractions in Seattle.

This way, you will not only save money but also save time, as you will skip waiting in ticket lines and paying admission at the door.

After buying the Seattle CityPASS, you will gain access to five of the seven most interesting attractions in the city. Three main attractions are included in every pass. Of the remaining four, you can select the two you would like to see.

As a result, you are able to create an individual Seattle itinerary based on attractions of your own choice. Moreover, it provides you with the flexibility to visit attractions in any order you wish. Just keep in mind the pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of visiting the first attraction.

Finally, the best part about this CityPASS for Seattle is its own practicality. Despite its name, the CityPASS is not a pass or card. It is a ticket booklet with convenient mobile or printable options.

In other words, you can choose the booklet to be mailed to you or you can opt for a mobile voucher, which can later be exchanged for a physical booklet.

No matter which option you choose, every ticket has a useful purpose. Flip it over and find all the important information about Seattle attractions such as opening hours, addresses, and how to get there using public transportation.

Furthermore, you will find information about the best time to visit each attraction, as well as extra tips and tricks on dining, gifts, etc. Even though you can find this info online, it is cool to have it by your side without having to research when and where to go.

What attractions are included in the CityPASS?

As we already mentioned at the beginning of this Seattle CityPASS review, CityPASS allows you entry to five of the top seven attractions. The three main attractions are:

• Space Needle
• Seattle Aquarium
• Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

Of the remaining four, you can combine:

• Museum of Pop Culture OR Woodland Park Zoo
• Chihuly Garden and Glass OR Pacific Science Center

Below you can find a list of all the attractions included in the Seattle CityPASS. To make the most of your sightseeing, for each attraction we will highlight the following information:

• Overview of the attraction
• Cost of admission
• Who should visit the attraction

Let’s discover more about each attraction included in the Seattle CityPASS.

Space Needle

A city’s must-visit attraction that is included in every pass. After a multimillion-dollar renovation, Space Needle has become a combination of an amazing restaurant and an observation deck.

A 41-second elevator will ride you up to the observation deck, with tilting glass walls and open-air decks floating over the city. Experience never-seen-before views of Seattle by stepping out on The Loupe, the world’s first revolving glass floor.

Sit back on one of the inclined glass benches while enjoying the thrilling views. Have the whole city at your feet. Can’t decide if you would rather see sunset or sunrise from the top of the Space Needle?

No worries, because the Seattle CityPASS includes both day and night admission within 24 hours. Reserve your daytime entry and come back again the same night during the last 3 hours of operations. Reservations are not required for the second visit, but keep your ticket from the daytime visit.

Moreover, the attraction is open 365 days a year.

• Extra tip: Don’t forget to bring your camera and prepare for the wind as you will be at 520 ft (160m).
• Regular day/night admission: $59

See Related: Ways to Book the Cheapest First Class Flights

Seattle Aquarium

Why not use Seattle CityPASS and enjoy quality family time? Seattle Aquarium is another interesting attraction provided by the CityPASS for Seattle and it is a treat for the whole family.

Discover an amazing underwater dome with a 360-degree view into the tank filled with hundreds of Puget Sound fish. Immerse yourself into the fascinating sea life and learn more about seals, octopuses, luminous moon jellies, and more.

Be part of daily dive shows or touch live sea creatures in tide pools. Take a virtual trip to the tropics and gather information about the Aquarium’s most important mission: Inspiring Conservation of the Marine Environment.

With Seattle CityPASS, you will get general admission to all major exhibits, as well as interpretive shows.

• Extra tip: Use your CityPASS to skip waiting in lines. Instead, head to the prepaid/member ticket line.
• Regular admission: $32.95

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

Seattle CityPASS brings you a unique opportunity to learn more about the city of Seattle.

Embark on a one-hour, live-narrated cruise while admiring views of the Elliot Bay waterfront and the Seattle skyline. Learn interesting facts about historic neighborhoods, waterfront piers, and the city’s maritime history.

Catch a glimpse of the Washington State ferry fleet, the largest in the U.S. Observe spectacular views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. A breathtaking natural beauty will sweep you off your feet.

Reservations must be made in person, so present your tickets at the Argosy Reservation Center and select a departure time to get a boarding pass.

On the other hand, you can visit Pier 55 anytime within the 9-day validity period and get your boarding pass in advance. For various offers and upgrades, click here for details.

• Extra tip: Arrive at least one hour prior to departure time.
• Regular admission: $34.13

Taking a tour may even lead you on a day trip excursion. Check out these other best day trips from Seattle if you have extra time while you explore this iconic Northwest city.

One option is taking a road trip to Vancouver Island to see the great Pacific Northwest.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

With Seattle CityPASS, you will be able to explore some of the most important moments in popular culture, rock music, and science fiction. Dive into hands-on experiences and award-winning exhibitions.

Discover iconic artifacts or view original manuscripts from popular shows such as Game of Thrones.

If you are coming with your family, head to the Indie Game Revolution and play one of the featured single and multiplayer games. Admire 55 vintage, world-famous guitars from the 1770s to the present.

Finally, when you want to show off your skills, visit Sound Lab where you can play instruments or record your own song. Jam out and give a vent because Sound Lab has soundproof rooms.

The Museum of Pop Culture has something for everyone who cherishes music, TV shows, video games, and movies.

• Extra tip: Give yourself at least 90 minutes to experience the best of MoPOP.
• Regular admission: $28

Woodland Park Zoo

Another family-friendly attraction included in the Seattle CityPASS is the Woodland Park Zoo. Visit this cool Park Zoo and connect with nature while discovering the world of giraffes, lions, gorillas, birds, reptiles, and more. See the world’s first sustainable penguin exhibit that uses geothermal technology in order to heat and cool the water.

Moreover, learn more about naturalistic habitats from South America and Africa, from Alaska’s tundra to Australia and New Zealand. Finally, there is an indoor nature play space dedicated to kids as well as a seasonal garden with free-flying butterflies.

• Extra tip: You can feed animals such as giraffes, rhinos, and penguins at extra cost ($5 – $10).
• Regular admission: $15.50 (off-peak season from October 1 until March 31), $22.95 (from April 1 until September 30)

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Explore the world of creativity, curiosity, and colors in Chihuly Garden and Glass. Dale Chihuly’s passion and innovation inspired this amazing, ever-changing Garden full of different trees, flowers, and plants.

If you think you’ve seen it all, enter the 40-foot tall glass and steel Glasshouse, the fascinating centerpiece of this attraction. It is home to a 100-foot-long sculpture in a bold color palette of reds, yellows, oranges, and amber. A beautiful blend of botanicals and art.

Moreover, you can find Chihuly’s impressive collection of work in the eight galleries and three Drawing Walls within the Garden and Glass.

• Extra tip: The Seattle CityPASS includes general admission, as well as a complimentary audio tour (smartphone required!)
• Regular admission: $32 ($22 after 4 pm)

See Related: Best Museums in the United States

Pacific Science Center

For all those fans of science and nature in general, the Seattle CityPASS provided an entrance to the amazing Pacific Science Center. If you are interested in health and wellness, visit a 7000-square-foot permanent exhibit that presents health as a life-long process.

On the other hand, if you are more of a fan of astronomy, take an individual tour of the universe in a planetarium. Animal lovers will enjoy seeing live creatures of all kinds, from domestic to exotic. Likewise, history buffs can travel back to the Mesozoic Era and meet seven dinosaurs in a lifelike environment.

A great place with a mix of different exhibits will definitely enchant every member of your travel group.

• Extra tip: Live, immersive presentation in Pacific Science Center’s Planetarium is included in the general admission.
• Regular admission: $25.95

Seattle CityPASS: How much does the CityPASS costs?

With the regular admissions listed above, if you want to visit the top five most expensive attractions, you are likely to spend more money than you planned.

Consequently, any money savings come in handy. How then can Seattle CityPASS help you save money?

See the table below.

Adult (ages 13+)	Children (ages 5-12)
$99	$79

*Children under 5 can get free or discounted tickets for some sites. Visit the official Seattle CityPASS website for more information.

Therefore, if you buy one adult Seattle CityPASS for $99, your overall savings are $95.63! On the other hand, when buying one CityPASS for children, you will save $51.82, which is not a small amount of money.

As a result, with the CityPASS, you will save up to 49%! Use Seattle CityPASS and spend less, but experience more. 

How to buy the CityPASS

Buying the pass is simple and easy. All you have to do is visit the website and buy it online.

Alternatively, you can buy the CityPASS ticket booklets at the first attractions you plan to visit. After an online purchase, you get to choose the option that suits you best:

1. Get a mobile voucher that you can later exchange for a booklet
2. Print a paper voucher that you can later exchange for a booklet
3. Have a booklet mailed directly to your home address

All of the options are convenient; it’s up to you to decide which one is better. If you opt for vouchers, you can exchange them for a booklet at any of the attractions.

On the other hand, shipping booklets directly to your home saves you a step of printing/exchange, but there is a risk of losing it in the post or accidentally ripping out some of the tickets. No matter which option you select, there are a few things to know before buying the pass.

The booklets have an expiry date of one year. Moreover, if you buy a voucher, you have six months to replace it with a booklet. Therefore, plan your Seattle itinerary on time, and don’t buy the pass too early.

Who should (not) buy the Seattle CityPASS?

Even though the Seattle CityPASS is a great sightseeing card, it is not suitable for everyone. First-time visitors who would like to see all the main attractions may find it useful. The same thing goes for tourists who want to enjoy panoramic views from Space Needle together with at least two other attractions.

In this case, using the Seattle CityPASS will save you a lot of money, as well if you are sightseeing with your family.

On the other hand, if you have already visited Seattle and most of its attractions, CityPASS is not an option for you. The same goes for tourists who are not interested in sightseeing or for those who would like to see only one, eventually two attractions.

Overall, the Seattle CityPASS has its own advantages and disadvantages. To decide if this is a good option for you, think about the attractions you’d like to visit and your travel preferences.

Tips for using Seattle CityPASS

If you’ve already decided the pass is a good option, here are some tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your Seattle sightseeing.

• Use the maximum of the pass and visit all five attractions. It is the best value for money.
• Visit Space Needle before 11 am and after 7 pm to avoid the crowd.
• The average amount of time spent in Chihuly Garden and Glass is 1-2 hours. Moreover, an adult should accompany those under the age of 14.
• While visiting Seattle Aquarium, get your hand stamped in order to leave and re-enter the aquarium all day. Furthermore, mammal feeding time also includes informative training demonstrations.
• For the best views during Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, go to the top and choose a seat on the city side (your right when you are facing the front of the boat).
• MoPOP can be planned together with Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, or Chihuly Garden and Glass, as it is located alongside these attractions.
• Woodland Park Zoo offers a free app for both iPhone and Android devices in order to enhance your experience.

Seattle CityPASS Review: Conclusion

The Seattle CityPASS is a must-have card for all those who are planning to make the most of sightseeing at the city’s attractions. It provides you significant savings of up to 49%, plus it saves your precious vacation time.

As you have nine days to use your pass, you can spend less time rushing and more time experiencing. Choose the attractions you like the most and a Seattle adventure can begin.

However, just like any other CityPASS, this one also has its own disadvantages. The most important thing is to know how would you like to spend your time and do you find buying the pass a suitable option.

Overall, Seattle CityPASS is worth the look.

Did you find our Seattle CityPASS Review useful? Have you already used the pass? Share your experiences. We would love to hear from you.

Other CityPASS Reviews

• Chicago CityPASS Review
• Denver CityPASS Review
• Orlando CityPASS Review
• Boston CityPASS Review
• Tampa CityPASS Review
• Award Wallet Review
• San Francisco CityPASS Review

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