Seattle Great Wheel: Self-Guided Audio Tours

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Seattle: Aquarium Entry Ticket & Downtown Landmarks Audio Tour
Seattle: Aquarium Entry Ticket & Downtown Lan...

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Seattle: Downtown Landmarks Audio Tour
Seattle: Downtown Landmarks Audio Tour

Welcome to Seattle! This self-guided audio tour will walk you around downtown, share historic tidbits and point out the stunning postcard-like architecture. To begin with, you will learn about the glory days and rebirth of the ornate 5th Avenue Theatre, hosting popular musical premieres like Hairspray before the Broadway does. Next, you will get to the iconic Pike Place Market to catch up with its daring history and meet Rachel the Bronze Pig, its mascot. Beneath the Market, you will see a quirky urban artwork, the Gum Wall, which is two million gum pieces attached to the wall by passersby. By the Seattle Art Museum' facade you will spot the famous Hammering Man, a hard-working kinetic sculpture that moves nonstop, and you will learn why it does. Passing by the quaint building of Seattle's oldest and most prestigious social club called Rainier Club, you will hear about its high-profile members like Mark Twain and Bill Clinton. Don't miss an aerial view of Seattle while on the tour. For that, you can climb the 73d floor of the tallest building in the entire Washington, the modern Columbia Center. Or, you can take the old-fashioned elevator to the deck on the 35th floor of the Smith Tower, the oldest one in the area. Finally, you will get a glimpse of the city's early days in the 1850s at the Pioneer Square, its fisrt neighborhood. Join the tour to see how old and new images of Seattle are mixed!

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Welcome to Seattle, a city that treats to an intricate array of giant public artworks scattered at every step. Art lovers will be delighted to experience it with this in-app audio tour! The tour starts at the Seattle Center, a civic gathering place and home to the city's foremost structures and several large-scale creations at once. You will pass by the Museum of Pop Culture, which looks like a striking sculpture rather than just a building and houses legendary pop culture artifacts. While going to your next location, see the iconic Space Needle, the city's tallest observation tower. Get to "Sonic Bloom," an installation educating about solar energy. You will also get a chance to visit the captivating Chihuly Garden and Glass botanist-themed exhibition. Then, you will walk down to the waterfront and the lawny Olympic Sculpture Park and can accompany the monumental enigmatic ECHO sculpture in looking at Elliott Bay. On your way, downtown, be all eyes and see the weather played by Angie's umbrella sculpture, a lovely kinetic art piece. Next, stroll the vibrant Pike Market, where you will go through fishmongers to discover a special spot to admire the views over Puget Sound fjord. In the end, consider visiting the Seattle Art Museum with artworks from all over the world, including those of the original residents of the Northwest Coast. Get ready to explore Seattle's urban art scene that makes the city so unique and cozy!

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Seattle Aquarium: Entry Ticket
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Seattle: Self-Guided Audio Tour
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Seattle: Ballard's Heritage Audio Tour
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Seattle Center Monorail: Transport Ticket
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About Seattle Great Wheel

The wheel is open daily Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. On Thanksgiving Day, it works from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

We recommend visiting the Wheel on weekday mornings if you wish to avoid the crowds and queues; it is at its busiest in the evenings, and in summer. Besides, when it’s less busy, you are more likely to get a cabin all for yourself and not be grouped with strangers.

The iconic Seattle Great Wheel, one of the most recognisable sites of Seattle, is 175 feet high and offers spectacular views of the city and Elliott Bay. One of the tallest ferris wheels in the US, it opened in 2012 and has since become one of the favorite attractions for both tourists and locals.

Parts of the wheel were built in Europe and elsewhere in the States, and assembled right there at the pier. Come rain or shine, this climate-controled ride gives you a bird’s eye view of Seattle, although it is definitely more enjoyable when the sun is out or when the evening city lights start shining and flickering below.

  • The wheel has 41 regular gondolas and one VIP. The VIP cabin has leather seats, a stereo system, glass bottom floor, and can seat up to four people.
  • Over 300 people can ride the wheel at the same time.
  • A ride may last between 10 and 20 minutes and always includes three complete revolutions of the wheel.
  • LED light shows are organized on the evenings of special events, like holidays or football games.
  • New Year’s Midnight Ride is also available (reservation required!).
  • The wheel was featured in the movie Death Note and in the game The Last of Us Part II.

The Great Wheel is located at Pier 57, Miners Landing, 1301 Alaskan Way. It is within walking distance of many of the key points of interest in the centre of the city.

University Street tram stop is about 7 min away, numerous buses also stop nearby.

If you’re travelling by car, there are a few parking lots in the vicinity. 

Our walking tours of downtown Seattle take place in the vicinity, so it is possible to combine two experiences in one day:

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