There are three observatories in Seattle. The Space Needle, Sky View at Columbia Center, and Smith Tower. The Space Needle is definitely the the most famous of the Seattle observatories. But is it the best? Let’s find out.

Space Needle

The Space Needle was built to be the center piece of the 1962 World’s Fair. It’s the only of the three observatories with a glass elevator. It’s the only of the three observatories with an open air level. It’s the only of three observatories with rotating glass floor and restaurant. The biggest downside to the Space Needle may be any picture you take from it, will not have the Space Needle in it. And what is Seattle without the Space Needle? For full coverage of my trips to the Space Needle, check out Space Needle.

Sky View 

The Sky View observatory is on the 73rd floor of Columbia Center which is the tallest building in the state of Washington. They wanted to make a taller but since it is in the landing path for SEATAC, the FAA wouldn’t allow it. 

Depending on which side of the building you enter from you may need to go down one floor to get to the elevator that goes to the top. You purchase your ticket at the kiosk and get in line. It cost me $27 for a general admission ticket to go to the top. There were about five other people in line so I was on the first elevator up. You can also purchase tickets online at Sky View Observatory. There are $35 and $45 VIP packages as well. 

One of the upsides to Columbia Center is you can have the Space Needle in your pictures. It is quite distant without a zoom though. 

I think this may be my favorite picture from Seattle. Being on the 73rd floor definitely makes a difference.

They do have the Sky View Cafe where you can sit and enjoy a snack or beverage.

They also have monitors displaying information about what you’re looking at.

From here we can see the waterfront.

I caught a helicopter flying by.

This is a good look at the Seattle Stadiums.

Smith Tower also has an observatory and bar.

This leads us to our next observatory

Smith Tower

Smith Tower, built in 1914, was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River all the way up until 1931. It remained the tallest building on the west coast until the completion of the Space Needle in 1962.

Smith Tower has been renovated and is still open today with a speakeasy themed bar and restaurant in the top floor observatory.

The Smith Tower Observatory is open Thursday-Sunday. I was thinking it was closed Sunday but opened on Monday so I missed out on the Smith Tower observatory. If you do wish to visit, they charge $19 per person. 

It is extremely easy to get to Smith Tower via LINK. The Pioneer Square stop is right next to. If you happen to be in town Wednesday-Friday, they have a weekday happy hour menu from 3-6pm.

While I haven’t been to the Smith Tower observatory, the pictures I’ve seen are very nice with a closer view of the buildings and waterfront than what you get from Columbia Center and the Space Needle.

Seattle Central Library

I’m throwing in a surprise at the end. If you’re doing Seattle on a budget, try the atrium outlook at the Seattle Central Library. It isn’t as tall as the others and it isn’t an official observatory, but as you can see it is an interesting building. I hear it has a some nice views from the top floor and it’s free! Unfortunately the two times I walked past the library it was closed. It will definitely be on my list for the next Seattle trip along with Smith Tower.

If you can only do one observatory, I think you have to go with the iconic Space Needle. There you get the glass elevator, the indoor/outdoor experience, the level with the rotating glass floor. I enjoyed Columbia Center as well. If you can do both, I would do both. But if  you have to pick just one, I think you have to go with the Space Needle.

 

 

 

 

 

• Seattle