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Viewpoint · Seattle, Washington State
Space Needle
The 184-meter tower built for the 1962 world’s fair, a symbol of Seattle. From the observation level, at 160 meters, the view covers downtown, Puget Sound and, on clear days, Mount Rainier; on the lower floor, the glass floor slowly rotates.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Space Needle
The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, Century 21, whose theme was the space age. Its design combines a skinny-legged base and a disk at the top, inspired by the era’s visions of the future. The tower rises 184 meters to the tip of the antenna and was erected in just over a year; the elevator takes less than a minute to reach the top.
The main observation level is at 160 meters and has angled glass panels open to the air, with benches facing the scenery. The view covers the downtown skyscrapers, the port, Puget Sound with its ferries, Lake Union and, on clear days, the Cascade Range, the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier to the southeast.
One level below, a renovation completed in 2018 created the world’s first rotating glass floor, which makes a full turn in about 45 minutes. Through the glass floor you can see the tower’s structure and the Seattle Center below. The two platforms are connected by a spiral staircase.
The tower is located in the Seattle Center, the former fairgrounds, next to the Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture. The 1962 monorail still runs the route to downtown in about two minutes.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour to go up, circle the observation level and cross the glass floor; on busy days add elevator wait time.
Best time
On clear-sky days, more common from July to September, when Mount Rainier appears on the horizon. Late afternoon combines sunset light over the Olympic Mountains and the city lights coming on. With low clouds the view disappears; check the forecast before buying a ticket.
How to get there
At the Seattle Center, about 2 km from downtown. The monorail departs Westlake Center downtown and reaches the base of the tower in about two minutes. City buses stop in the area. Tickets are sold for specific entry times; check the current schedule.
Tip
There is a combined ticket with Chihuly Garden and Glass next door: useful if you want to see both on the same day. Buy a time slot in advance for summer and, if the weather turns bad, change the day when possible.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Space Needle
How tall is the Space Needle?
It is 184 meters to the top of the antenna; the main observation deck is 160 meters above the ground.
How do you get to the Space Needle from downtown Seattle?
By the monorail, which departs Westlake Center and reaches Seattle Center in about two minutes, or on foot in a roughly 25-minute walk.
Is it worth going up the Space Needle when it’s cloudy?
With low clouds the view is limited. Check the forecast and choose clear days when Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains are visible.