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Seattle Basics

Seattle--the Emerald City--is located on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, less than 100 miles from the US-Canadian border. Surveys have posited that Seattle has the most educated, most literate and most caffeinated residents in the country. The Seattle metro area is the largest in the Pacific Northwest, with a population of about 3.2 million inhabitants (the city itself has a population of about 600,000 residents).

The mainstays of Seattle's economy are technology (including IT, biotechnology and health care), education, manufacturing, retailing and other services. In 2009, an estimated 9 million tourists made a visit to Seattle.

Seattle enjoys a mild Mediterranean or Marine west coast climate. The city's temperature extremes are moderated by the local topography, and the area is partially protected from Pacific storms by the Olympic Mountains and from Arctic air by the Cascade Range. It's gloomy in Seattle, with the city experiencing an average of 226 days of cloudy weather each year. But it only gets 37 inches of rain each year, as most of the precipitation falls as drizzle or light rain, with only occasional downpours. Summer is the nicest time of the year to visit the city.

First Impressions

Seattle is not your typical American city. Owing to its location, it has been heavily influenced by its neighbor to the north. At the same time, the city seems to have held onto its Scandinavian heritage, giving it an eclectic charm of being cultured, quiet and clean. Seattle's "vibe" has attracted people with money and intellect; at the same time, the city has a mysterious side that seduces artists and misfits. It's probably the coffee.

Seattle has been described as a city of neighborhood, each with its own charm and attractions. Whether you're visiting Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle; Pike Place Market, home to green grocers, fish mongers and over 60 restaurants and take-out joints; the University district, home to the University of Washington; or the city's downtown shopping district, there's something for everybody and every taste.

Your ship will depart from and return to one of the two cruise terminals in Seattle. Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America dock at the new Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, located at Pier 91 just north of downtown Seattle. Celebrity and NCL dock at the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal, located at Pier 66 in the heart of Seattle's downtown waterfront. At both facilities, tour and shuttle buses, taxis and other forms of transportation are readily available for passenger excursions to the city center and major tour attractions.

The summer is the nicest time of the year in Seattle; there are more sunny days, the average daily high is in the mid-70s (F), and the events and festivals that take place in the city liven the spirits of residents and tourists alike.

Time Zone

Seattle is on Pacific Time, eight hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or seven hours during daylight savings time. Daylight savings time begins on the second Sunday of March, and ends on the first Sunday of November.

Language

English is universally spoken in Seattle.

Currency

The U.S. dollar is the official currency in Washington State.

Banks and ATMs

ATM machines in Seattle are plentiful and can be found at bank branches, hotels, restaurants, drug stores and other establishments throughout the city. Bank branches with ATM machines can be found at the following locations:

Bank of America: has dozens of locations in Seattle. You'll find an ATM at the following branch bank locations: 800 5th Avenue, at Fifth Avenue Plaza; 1001 4th Street, at Madison; 566 Denny Way; and 1100 2nd Avenue.

JP Morgan Chase: Chase's Seattle ATM locations include 1301 2nd Avenue; 1201 3rd Avenue; and 1501 4th Avenue, among dozens of other sites.

Wells Fargo: Wells also has many branches in Seattle. You'll find ATMs at the following branch bank locations: 999 3rd Avenue; 1215 4th Avenue; and 2800 3rd Avenue.

U.S. Bank: U.S. Bank has several branches in Seattle. You'll find ATMs at the following branch bank locations: 1221 1st Avenue; 723 1st Avenue; and 1301 5th Avenue.

To see the locations of Seattle's ATMs, see our Seattle ATM map.

Weather

Seattle enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, which is also referred to as a Marine west coast climate. The city's temperature extremes are moderated by the local topography, and the area is partially protected from Pacific storms by the Olympic Mountains and from Arctic air by the Cascade Range.

Seattle is no place for sun worshipers, as it is cloudy an average of 226 days per year. But despite the clouds and a reputation for rain, Seattle's average annual rainfall of 37 inches is less than that experienced in New York City and other cities on the Eastern seaboard. Most of the precipitation falls as drizzle or light rain, with only occasional downpours.

The summer season is the driest time of the year, with average daytime highs around 73 to 80° F (22 to 27° C). Winters are cool and wet, with average lows around 35 to 40° F (2 to 4° C) on winter nights.

Seattle Average Temperatures
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High - F	47	51	55	59	65	70	75	75	70	60	52	47
Avg High - C	8	11	13	15	18	21	24	24	21	16	11	8
Avg Low - F	36	37	39	43	48	53	56	57	53	46	40	36
Avg Low - C	2	3	4	6	9	12	13	14	12	8	4	2

Seattle Average Precipitation
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg, Inches	5.1	4.2	3.8	2.6	1.8	1.5	0.8	1.0	1.6	3.2	5.9	5.6
Avg, mm	130	107	97	66	46	38	20	25	41	81	150	142

Seattle Weather Forecast, WA

Keeping In Touch

Internet Cafes & Wi-Fi Access

Internet Cafes

In this age of smartphones, it's odd to think that Cyber Cafes are doing well, especially in a wired town like Seattle. But they seem to be thriving--especially in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. You can find a number of cyber cafes in the downtown area of Seattle.

Cyber-Dogs, located at 909 Pike Street in downtown Seattle, near the Capitol Hill area. Veggie hot dogs and internet access in a cramped, "truly Seattle" space. Open daily 10:00 am to midnight.
Phone: (206) 405-3047.

Uncle Elizabeth's Internet, located at 1123 Pike Street in the Capitol Hill/downtown area. Good music, nice atmosphere, excellent coffees and teas. Phone: (206) 381-1600.

The Online Cafe, located at 1720 E. Olive Way in the Capitol Hill area. Provides specialty coffee and espresso, in a comfortable atmosphere in which to work, study or simply enjoy a great drink.
Phone: (206) 381-1600.

Wi-Fi Access

There are scads of places in Seattle where you can find free Wi-Fi:

Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi in their Seattle stores, which blanket the Seattle area--which seems about right, since the company originated in Seattle. If you don't see a Starbucks location in front of you, just turn around.

McDonalds also offers free Wi-Fi in their Seattle stores.

Top Pot Doughnuts, a Seattle-based chain with a rabid loyal following, offers free Wi-Fi in their 14 stores in the Puget Sound area.

Seattle is home to dozens of independent coffee houses, each more unique than the last. For the most part, they all offer free Wi-Fi.

To see the locations of Seattle's Internet Cafes/Wi-Fi locations, see our Map of Seattle Internet Cafes/Wi-Fi locations.

Cellular Phone & Data Services

	Cell service: Verizon's CDMA service provides digital coverage to Seattle and the surrounding areas. Data services: Verizon offers extensive 4G LTE coverage in Seattle and much of the surrounding areas. Rated #1. See details on Verizon's cell and data services coverage in the Seattle area.
	Cell service: AT&T's GSM service covers Seattle and much of the surrounding areas. Data services: AT&T offers extensive 4G LTE coverage in Seattle and much of the surrounding areas. Rated #3. See details on AT&T's cell and data services coverage in the Seattle area.
	Cell service: Sprint's CDMA service covers Seattle and much of the surrounding areas. Data services: Sprint offers extensive 3G service in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Rated #4. See details on Sprint's cell and data services coverage in the Seattle area.
	Cell service: T-Mobile's GSM service covers Seattle and much of the surrounding areas. Data services: T-Mobile offers extensive 3G/4G service in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Rated #2. See details on T-Mobile's cell and data services coverage in the Seattle area.
	Seattle rankings per RootMetrics* report, July 2012.*

Kindle Connectivity

In Seattle, you can download your Kindle 3G data through AT&T's 3G coverage in the city.

Local Holidays & Festivals

Look for the following local festivals, holidays and events taking place in Seattle in 2013:

New Year's Day, January 1.

Irish Festival, March 16-17. Activities include Irish music, step dancing, genealogical explorations, Gaelic games and other Irish cultural activities.

St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 17. An Irish tradition that's a lot of fun in Seattle.

Good Friday, March 29.

Easter, March 31. The most important Christian holiday.

Seattle International Film Festival, May 16 to June 9. This is the 39th year of the Annual Seattle Film Festival, with 25 Days of intense film viewing.

Northwest Folklife Festival, May 24 to 27. The country's largest Folk Festival, celebrating ethnic traditions through food, dance, art and crafts.

Seafair 2013, June 21 to August 4. Seafair Seattle is the largest Festival in the Northwest. Activities include live music, arts & crafts, parades, athletic events, festivals and much more.

Independence Day, July 4. Day-long celebrations at a number of venues in the city.

Seattle International BeerFest, July 5 to 7. Outdoor festival featuring a "Grand Beer Garden" with over 130 beers from 15 countries, food, live music and other activities. Held in the Seattle Center.

Bite of Seattle, July 19 to 21. One of Seattle's largest summer festivals, with more than 50 of Seattle's finest restaurants, 30 food companies, 5 beer gardens, live entertainment, a comedy club, wine tasting and more. Held in the Seattle Center.

Bumbershoot Festival, August 31 to September 2. A 3-day party celebrating the end of summer, held over Labor Day weekend, showcasing the works of more than 2,500 artists from all over the world.

Festa Seattle Italian Festival, September 27 to 29. The Italian Festival is Seattle's second largest Ethnic Festival, celebrating Italy and Italian Culture. Expect authentic presentations of art, great food and live entertainment.

Thanksgiving Day, November 28. A day to give thanks for the things one has at the close of the harvest season.

Winterfest 2011, November 29 to December 31. The city celebrates the Holiday Season with traditional holiday foods, family activities, concerts and exhibits.

Christmas Day, December 25. Celebrates the birth of Christ.

Cruise Port Schedules

In 2012, Seattle ranked number one as an embarkation/debarkation port for the seasonal Alaskan cruise ship trade. For 2013, Seattle will share the top spot with Vancouver. The Alaska cruise ship season extends from May through September.

As a rule, ships arrive at the Seattle cruise ship docks between 7:00 am and 8:00 am, and depart between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

In 2013, Seattle is slated to host 416,000 passengers sailing on 182 ships, down 5% and 8%, respectively, from 2012. For further information, see our Seattle Cruise Ship Schedule - 2013.