Neighborhood guide
Where to Stay in Seattle
The 3 areas worth basing yourself in Seattle, United States — ranked by our editors, with walking distances from the center. First-timers: start with Capitol Hill.
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We’ll match Seattle’s neighborhoods to how you travel — and show you why.
Top pick
Capitol Hill
Bar district — coffee shops, music venues, brunch lines on weekends.
31 min walk from center
#2
Ballard
Old fishing town turned cool — locks, breweries, Sunday farmers market.
8.8 km from center
#3
Fremont
Quirky neighborhood — the troll, public art, weekend flea market.
5.1 km from center
Getting around
Light rail connects the airport to downtown; ferries reach Bainbridge, Bremerton, the San Juans.
Get an ORCA card for transit; the streetcar is fun but skip in favor of light rail for distance.