Best Museums in Seattle

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Washington's state natural history and culture museum on the University of Washington campus, known for dinosaur fossils, a working paleontology lab visible to visitors, and a major collection of Northwest Native art and culture. Go for the see-through 'museum inside out' design where you watch researchers at work. Practical note: open Tuesday-Sunday 10 AM-5 PM, open late on first Thursdays.

Museums

Chihuly Garden and Glass

A dazzling indoor-and-outdoor showcase of Dale Chihuly's blown-glass sculptures, including a soaring suspended ceiling installation and a glasshouse beneath the Space Needle. Go for the vivid color and the contrast of glass against the garden and skyline. Practical note: timed-entry tickets are recommended and hours shift seasonally, so check the site before visiting.

Museums

Frye Art Museum

An intimate art museum on First Hill built around the founders' collection of 19th- and early 20th-century European paintings, alongside ambitious contemporary exhibitions. Go for a quieter, high-quality art experience away from the downtown crowds. Practical note: admission is always free; open Wednesday-Sunday (until 8 PM Thursday), closed Monday and Tuesday.

Museums

Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)

Set in a former naval armory on Lake Union, MOHAI tells the story of Seattle and the Puget Sound region, from Indigenous communities and the Great Seattle Fire to Boeing, grunge, and the tech boom. Go for engaging, interactive local history with great waterfront views. Practical note: open daily 10 AM-5 PM, with free admission on the first Thursday of each month.

Museums

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Housed in a swooping Frank Gehry-designed building at Seattle Center, MoPOP celebrates music, sci-fi, fantasy, video games, and horror, with strong roots in Seattle's grunge and Jimi Hendrix legacy. Go for the immersive, hands-on exhibits and rotating pop-culture shows. Practical note: it shares the Seattle Center campus with the Space Needle and Chihuly, so easy to bundle; weekend doors open early at 8:30 AM.

Museums

National Nordic Museum

A sleek, Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Ballard exploring the history, art, and immigrant heritage of the five Nordic nations, fittingly placed in a historically Scandinavian neighborhood. Go for its striking modern architecture, the immersive Nordic Journey exhibit, and strong rotating design and art shows. Practical note: open Tuesday-Sunday 10 AM-5 PM (until 8 PM Thursday); pair it with Ballard's breweries and Sunday farmers market.

Museums

Pacific Science Center

A family-favorite hands-on science museum at Seattle Center with interactive exhibits, a tropical butterfly house, planetarium, and IMAX theaters under its landmark white arches. Go if you're traveling with kids or want a break from art and history. Practical note: open daily 10 AM-5 PM; some attractions like the laser dome and IMAX require separate or add-on tickets.

Museums

Seattle Art Museum (SAM)

Seattle's flagship art museum sits downtown a block from Pike Place Market, with a wide-ranging collection spanning Native American, African, Asian, European, and contemporary art plus major traveling exhibitions. Go for a well-curated, walkable survey of art in the heart of downtown. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday, open late on Thursdays, with free admission on the first Thursday of the month.

Museums

The Museum of Flight

One of the world's largest air-and-space museums, with retired aircraft you can board including a former Air Force One, a Concorde, and a Space Shuttle trainer, plus exhibits from early aviation through spaceflight. Go for the sheer scale and the walk-through aircraft in the Aviation Pavilion. Practical note: it's south of downtown at Boeing Field (allow travel time), open daily 10 AM-5 PM with free parking, and free 5-9 PM on first Thursdays.

Museums

Wing Luke Museum

A Smithsonian-affiliated museum in the Chinatown-International District devoted to Asian Pacific American art, history, and culture, set in a restored 1910 hotel. Go for deeply community-rooted, story-driven exhibits and guided neighborhood and historic-hotel tours. Practical note: open Wednesday-Sunday (closed Mon-Tue); free general admission on first Thursdays, May through October, 5-8 PM.