Discover Seattle, a city where nature and innovation blend seamlessly. Known for its iconic Space Needle, stunning waterfront, and thriving tech scene, Seattle offers student travelers a dynamic mix of outdoor adventure, culture, and creativity. Explore Pike Place Market, enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, and dive into the city's lively arts and music scenes in this Pacific Northwest gem!
If you’re itching for a vacation, or even just a quick weekend trip, why not add Seattle to your list? With direct flights from most major airports in the US, it’s an easy city to fly into and there’s plenty to do. On sunny days, explore the local parks and seaside picnics around Puget Sound or Elliott Bay. On rainy days, you’ve got plenty of indoor activities to choose from, like Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture or the Seattle Art Museum. And of course, no matter the weather, there’s plenty of coffee to be had.
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The main airport in Seattle is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (known as Sea-Tac to locals). It’s about 13 miles from the city center or about a 20 minute drive. The easiest way to get from the airport to downtown is by taking an Uber/Lyft, which is typically about $35-$40. If you want to save on cash, you can also take the Link Light Rail, which is just a few dollars and runs between the airport and downtown Seattle (with some stops along the way).
Seattle’s main airport is pretty busy and well-connected both to the rest of the US and internationally. It’s pretty easy to get to Seattle—you can fly here nonstop from 91 different cities in the US!
The Seattle airport is a big hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, but you can also fly American, United, Jetblue or other airlines. Keep reading for more details on flights to Seattle from some major US cities.
Despite Seattle’s reputation for being cold and rainy, it gets some sunshine too—and a sunny day in Seattle can be pretty amazing! October through April tend to be the rainiest months, so the summer is a good time to visit. July and August are the hottest, and the most crowded. Generally, the best time to visit Seattle is either in May-June or September-October.
No matter what time of year you’re visiting, be prepared for a bit of rain with a good rain jacket and a pocket-sized umbrella. May and June is also when the city hosts its International Film Festival, showcasing over 400 international films. It’s one of Seattle’s most popular events!
From the amazing food and drink culture (coffee, beer, wine, kombucha—you name it!) to Seattle’s fantastic location right near Puget Sound, Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainer to tons of amazing companies and universities to work and study at, Seattle has a lot to offer young people—whether you’re coming for a few weeks or a few years.
Seattle universities and campuses
Seattle has plenty of university options, the two biggest of which being the University of Washington and Seattle University. Both universities are pretty close to the center of the city, offering plenty of opportunities to get out and explore, easy access to downtown internships and jobs and loads of coffee shops to study in. Whether you want to study business, art or something else, Seattle has plenty of opportunities for you!
Seattle lifestyle and culture
Seattle may be known for being home to hipsters who work in tech and drink fancy coffee and while that may be (at least partially) true, there’s lots more to Seattle than just coffee and tech! If you’re the adventurous type, the Pacific Northwest has loads of parks, forests, mountains and beaches to explore. Seattle’s a great city that’s right in the heart of it all, so you won’t have to go far from home for a bit of adventure. If you’re artsy, Seattle is home to lots of arts, from museums to the annual film festival to dance performances and more.
Exploring Seattle on a student budget
Seattle may be a bit expensive to live in, but you can easily explore on a student budget if you know where to go! Rent bikes and ride them around the city or explore the city’s public parks and gardens and take in the beautiful scenery of Seattle for free. Explore Pike Place Market and snag some cheap eats. Or go to one of Seattle’s free museums, like the Frye Art Museum. The Seattle Center also hosts tons of free events and festivals, so check what’s on while you’ll be in town.