Seattle may be famous for rain, coffee, and grunge, but there’s a lot more to our hometown than that. With the 2026 World Cup bringing visitors from around the globe to the Emerald City, there’s never been a better time to explore Seattle.
Whether you’re here for a single match or staying the entire tournament, we wanted to share some insider tips for our favorite local spots, neighborhoods, views, eats, and, of course, where to watch the games.
While You’re Here, Stop By TOM BIHN
We’re just a short ride from downtown and minutes from Lumen Field (7 minutes by car to be exact). If you’ve been wanting to check out our bags in person, compare fabrics and colors side-by-side, and meet some of the wonderful faces who design, sew, and ship your favorite bags, we’d love to welcome you to stop by!
TOM BIHN Factory & Showroom
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4750A Ohio Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
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Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Where to Watch the Games
If you’re trying to find a place to watch the game, these are all the most popular places to view.
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Pier 62: Just minutes from Pike Place, Pier 62 is hosting live watch parties, dockside, and on-water viewing! Registration is required for both Pier 62 and the floating barge (registration does not guarantee access for Pier 62, as it's subject to capacity restrictions). The floating barge requires a paid ticket, whose price varies by day and match.
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Seattle Center Armory: Located next to the Space Needle, the Armory is hosting daily watch parties.
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Mural Amphitheater: Just steps from the Armory, the Mural Amphitheater is hosting special events with live DJs, beer gardens, and outdoor viewing.
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Tom’s Watch Bar: Also located in Seattle Center, Tom’s Watch Bar has plenty of screens to go around.
- KEXP: Seattle’s beloved radio station is hosting free viewing parties from its gathering space.
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Pacific Place: In the heart of downtown Seattle, the mall has been transformed into a multi-story football house with 360-degree viewing.
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Occidental Park: A massive 25-foot LED screen and plenty of grab-and-go food and drink options wherever you go. This is also one of the largest viewing locations due to its proximity to the stadium.
Wherever you decide to watch, arrive early! Viewing areas fill up quickly.
Catch the Match, then Catch the View
No first-time Seattle trip is complete without catching the iconic view of the Puget Sound and downtown skyline.
Space Needle
The Space Needle is a great option, but in our opinion, there are better views for free (and without lines).
Kerry Park
Just north of the Space Needle and Seattle Center is Kerry Park. The views of the Puget Sound, Space Needle, Mount Rainer (if she decides to show herself), and the city skyline are so worth it.
Gasworks
Another great viewpoint is Gasworks Park, located in Wallingford on the north shore of Lake Union. Take in the views from across the water while admiring the old gasification plant that transports you straight into a Studio Ghibli movie.
Golden Gardens
Golden Gardens is a picturesque beach park in Ballard. If you’re lucky, you can snag a fire pit on the beach and have a campfire while surrounded by sand and sea. Get there early; during summer months, parking and fire pit availability are limited and highly competitive.
Alki Beach
Alki Beach in West Seattle is another iconic beach park with sweeping views of the city and the Sound. You can hop on the West Seattle Water Taxi straight from downtown Seattle to Alki.
Washington State Ferry
Walk onto a Washington State Ferry and head to Bainbridge Island. The ride itself gives you one of the best skyline views in the city for the cost of a ferry ticket ($11.35 for an adult walk-on). Grab coffee, wander the island, then catch a sunset ferry back to the city.
Pike Place Market: More Than Flying Fish
Pike Place Market is famous, and for good reason! Even as someone who’s been living in Seattle for six years, I still pass through the market once a week or so. Wander the lower levels, grab fresh pastries, browse bookstores, find handmade goods, and try snacks you didn’t plan on eating. For me, a must-do is to grab a pastry, coffee, and find a good seat in the nearby Victor Steinbrueck Park, and just take in the views and maybe share a few crumbs with our very friendly pigeons.
A few Pike Place staples:
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Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
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Meesum Pastry
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Piroshky Piroshky
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Pike Place Chowder
While you’re at Pike Place, don’t forget to walk down to the waterfront and Pier 62! If you’re visiting for the World Cup, that’s where all the action is. And if you’re carrying a new bag from the TOM BIHN showroom, Pike Place is the perfect place to put it to work.
Explore Seattle’s Neighborhoods
Seattle is best experienced neighborhood by neighborhood.
Fremont
Home to the Fremont Troll (quite literally a troll under the bridge), the Fremont Sunday Market, vintage shops, breweries, and plenty of places to post up with a good cup of coffee. If vintage shopping and coffee are your thing, you’ll feel right at home.
Ballard
Waterfront views, the Ballard Sunday Market, seafood, breweries, and the Ballard Locks – where boats (and occasionally Salmon during mid-June-November) put on a very entertaining show.
Queen Anne
Space Needle, Chuhully Gardens, Museum of Pop Culture, Kerry Park, need we say more?
Capitol Hill
Amazing food, nightlife, indie shops, bookstores, and more coffee shops than you know what to do with.
International District
Come hungry. Seattle’s International District is packed with incredible dumplings, noodles, bakeries, and late-night eats.
Pioneer Square
Vintage shops, art galleries, good eats, and home to the Pioneer Square Art Walk, which happens the first Thursday of every month – check out the local galleries for free and mingle with Seattle’s bustling arts and fashion scene.
University District
Visit the iconic UW campus, check out some cheap eats, and visit University Village to scratch your shopping itch.
Georgetown and SoDo
Industrial, creative, and full of character. You’ll find breweries, art studios, music venues, and some of Seattle’s most underrated food spots tucked between warehouses and historic brick buildings. You’ll also find the TOM BIHN factory and showroom (convenient, isn’t it?).
Guide to Transit
Seattle is very easy to navigate via public transportation, and during the World Cup, this will be your saving grace!
Light Rail
Running north to south is the 1 Line light rail, which takes you from Lynwood to Federal Way. Along this route, you can explore most major neighborhoods. From west to east is the 2 Line, which takes you across Lake Washington on the I-90 floating bridge to Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond. The 1 and 2 lines are super easy to navigate and can help you avoid all the heavy traffic on the roads. With that being said, the cars get packed (especially before and after games), so be patient, come prepared, and be ready to feel like a sardine in an overstuffed can.
Monorail
The Monorail is a quick ride that takes you from Westlake to Seattle Center in roughly 2 minutes. It drops you off right next to the Space Needle and the Seattle Center Armory, and if you’re planning to watch matches in the area, the Monorail will be your best friend.
Streetcar
Streetcars are another great option to quickly get around. There are two lines: The First Hill Line, which takes you from Capitol Hill to Pioneer Square, and the South Lake Union Line, which connects SLU to downtown.
Bus
Seattle has a very abundant bus system – whatever neighborhood you can’t reach by light rail, you can (most likely) reach by bus. However, as an avid bus rider, I must admit they’re not the most reliable. Some come early, some come late, and some simply skip the stop entirely. And if there’s heavy traffic, know you’re now a part of it. So, take the early bus, throw your headphones in, and enjoy the air conditioning while it lasts.
Your Own Two Feet
Seattle is walkable, at least until you encounter a massive hill that stands between you and your destination. But personally, I walk everywhere. It’s a great way to get to know the city and find hidden gems tucked away off the beaten path. You can walk all the way from Pike Place to the Space Needle along the waterfront or through Belltown in roughly 20-30 minutes. Another great walk is along the Burke Gilman Trail, which in its entirety is 20 miles long, but you can pick and choose your destinations – Fremont to Gasworks Park is only 15 minutes.
Seattle Food Staples
You can’t leave without trying a few Seattle staples.
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Seattle Dog: Hot dog, toasted bun, cream cheese, grilled onions, saurkraut, and jalapeños. Trust us on this one.
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Dicks Burgers: Grab a Dicks Deluxe and fries after a late night.
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Teriyaki: Seattle Teriyaki is really its own thing and can’t be skipped.
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Fresh seafood: Salmon, oysters, crab, oh my!
Welcome to Seattle
Whether you’re here for the World Cup, a weekend getaway, or simply passing through, we hope you get a chance to explore the city beyond the stadium.
Watch a match, catch a ferry, and eat too many pastries at Pike Place. And if your adventure takes you through SoDo, stop by the TOM BIHN factory and showroom and say hello!
We hope you enjoy Seattle – get out there and explore!
