Best Seattle Boat Tours

In Seattle you'll find a wide variety of activities to see and do, both in and around the city, and a boat tour for a unique experience is one of them.

You'll sail along the calm waters of Seattle's coastline and take in the best views of the city while you soak up the history and culture around every corner, thanks to the expertise of the local guide who will accompany you on your tour. You'll also pass through Puget Sound, Gig Harbor and Narrows Bridges for an unforgettable time.

On this experience, the ship will set sail from the Seattle waterfront and you'll be able to take in the history of the city from the water.

You'll get the best views of the Space Needle, Seattle Great Wheel, the Cascade and Olympic Mountains and the historic Seattle waterfront.

In addition, weather permitting, you can view Mount Rainer, the most prominent mountain in the United States and one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. If you want to learn more about this stunning natural wonder, I recommend you take a tour of Mount Rainer.

This cruise departs from Pier 55, located on Alaskan Way. This pier is home to the city's main marina.

Tour Details

• Duration: approximately 1 hour.
• Price: You can enjoy this experience for approximately €31 per person.
• What's included: a one-hour guided tour of the waters of Seattle's harbour and Elliott Bay.

This is an ideal adventure to take in the best views of Seattle and relax as you watch the city's skyline melt into the reddish sky aboard a historic sailboat.

You'll get a chance to see the iconic Seattle Waterfront neighbourhood, a privileged view of the Space Needle and other popular landmarks in and around the city.

This tour departs from Pier 66, located on Alaskan Way. The Bell Harbor Marina is located there and you can even purchase your tickets for the tour.

Tour Details

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
• Price: You can enjoy this experience for around €55 per person.
• What's included: A dreamy sunset from an exclusive sailboat with the best views of the city from Seattle's waters.

On this tour you'll learn a little more about Seattle's maritime and fishing history and discover the famous Ballard Locks and many other highlights worth seeing. This unique experience will allow you to travel between the fresh waters of Lake Union and the salt waters of Puget Sound.

At Lake Union, you'll see all kinds of attractions, from Lake Union Drydock Co and the large commercial fishing boats pulled from the water in one of the oldest businesses on Lake Union, to the Floating Homes Association where you'll find several of the lake's famous floating home communities, including the one in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle".

You'll also witness Gas Works Park, the decommissioned coal gasification plant that became one of Seattle's favourite parks, cruise the Lake Washington Ship Canal and see several of Seattle's historic neighbourhoods from the water.

The final stop is at Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront so I recommend you take in the surrounding sites such as the Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum.

Please note that this cruise is a good option for you to use as an exclusive means of transportation to avoid traffic and travel between the Seattle Waterfront and the AGC Marina in South Lake Union.

This cruise departs from Pier 55 which is located on Alaskan Way.

Tour Details

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
• Price: You can enjoy this experience for about €54 per person.
• What's included: A tour of Seattle's maritime history, including key points along the way and the company of an expert guide to give you a thorough understanding of every corner you pass.

Aboard this boat ride you'll take in the splendours and wildlife of Puget Sound and get the best views from the shore along a journey that stretches some 19 kilometres along the Tacoma coastline.

This is a journey full of history and wildlife, on this adventure you'll pass the 1933 Brown's Point Lighthouse, Old Town which was the historic centre of the lumber heyday when Tacoma was one of the richest cities in the world, and the Port of Tacoma.

This cruise begins and ends at Pier D of the Elliott Bay Marina.

Tour Details

• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Price: You can enjoy this experience for a price starting from €55 per person.
• What's included: This is an expert-guided and exclusive experience, as it is designed for small groups.

Aboard an old navy ship you'll enjoy the main sights of the picturesque town of Gig Harbor and pass over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to see one of the iconic structures and learn about its history.

You'll see 2 bridges, as the first of 3 initial bridges collapsed in a windstorm just 4 months after opening.

You'll also see Point Defiance Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, and the quaint community that lives along Salmon Beach Road.

It's a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience that will also give you the chance to enjoy a relaxing stroll through the wilderness of Puget Sound and see eagles, seals, porpoises and so many other animals.

This tour departs from Gig Harbor Pier, located on Harborview Dr., where the legendary Anthony's Restaurant is located.

Tour Details

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
• Price: You can enjoy this experience for a price starting at €55 per person.
• What's included: This is a guided tour with a Coast Guard-certified captain.

Aboard this exclusive vessel, a skilled steward will be on hand to give you a one-hour tour of Seattle on a pleasant boat tour.

The adventure will begin on the north side of Lake Union, on Northlake Way, and you will cruise with a delicious cocktail in hand. You're sure to experience a moment so special and pleasurable that you won't want to get off the boat at the end of the ride.

Tour Details

• Duration: approximately 1 hour.
• Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at €253.
• What's included: this is an excursion with an exclusive captain/waiter to serve cocktails while you enjoy the ride and the views.

All of these experiences are digitally ticketed, which is a great advantage. So you can buy your pass online, receive immediate confirmation by email and have it available to use directly from your mobile device. It's that simple and quick to access an unforgettable tour of Seattle.

Although less recommended, as you may run out of seats, another option to purchase your tickets is to buy them at the respective departure ports, either at Argosy Cruises, Bell Harbor Marina, Elliott Bay Marina or Gig Harbor Pier.

The only experience you will not be able to book in person is the private cocktail cruise around Seattle.

Please note that in case your plans change for any reason or you simply have regrets, you can cancel your purchase for free at least 24 hours prior to the date of your experience.

All of these tours have a relatively short duration of between 1 and 2 hours. This makes them an excellent option to combine with other city tours.

Here you can find a wide variety of Seattle tours to choose from.

You can enjoy a pleasant boat tour of Seattle for between 31 and 55 Euros. Keep in mind that the price will depend on the route, the duration, the number of people you share the tour with and the services included.

Therefore, I recommend you analyse all the variables before choosing the tour that best suits you.

Seattle is a city full of contrasts, you will be impressed by its futuristic and modern side and you will fall in love with its nature and the outdoor activities it offers. Undoubtedly, from the waters of Seattle you will find the best views of the city and you will get the best pictures of your trip.

These excursions will show you its particular attraction, you will be able to observe the city from the outside and see how the huge skyscrapers are mixed with the vegetation and the most natural landscapes. Here are some of the sights you'll see on your boat trip.

• Mount Rainer: if the sky is clear on the day of your excursion, you will be able to have incredible views of one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and without a doubt the most famous attraction in Seattle.

• Space Needle: you will be able to observe from the waters of Seattle one of the most popular structures of the city and take unpublished pictures of this attraction.

• Seattle Waterfront: you will have a privileged and panoramic view of one of Seattle's most famous neighbourhoods, home to several of the city's attractions, including the famous Seattle Great Wheel, which you will also see on board the boat.

• Lake Union: a popular lake that is entirely located in the city of Seattle and has glacial origins. You'll probably learn more about its history as you cruise its fresh waters.

• Puget Sound: this is the deep strait at the entrance to the Pacific Ocean, where you will have views of the islands and bays that make up the Sound, which are interconnected.

• Gig Harbor: you will have access to the most picturesque views of this small town with unique natural landscapes.

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge: it is a set of two parallel suspension bridges of 1800 metres, with a very particular history that you will learn about on your walk.

I recommend that you wear comfortable clothing for these excursions. Also, keep in mind that you will spend some hours outdoors, so sunscreen will be your best ally.

Before the excursion, it is essential that you check the weather to choose the most appropriate attire and not suffer neither cold nor heat on board the boat, also taking into account the temperature of the day and the date on which you are going to do it.

Please note that all of these Seattle boat tours are weather dependent, as good weather is necessary for them to take place, otherwise they will have to be rescheduled or you will be refunded.

Since it's impossible to guess the exact weather on the day of your tour, I'll tell you the best months to visit Seattle and enjoy this type of experience.

I'll start by saying that you're lucky, because Seattle has good weather most of the year. However, there are some months when temperatures are warmer and others when they are colder or unsettled.

The best time is between May and September, with the mildest months being July and August. But the coldest, most unstable and rainiest months are January, November and December. Although February is cold, it doesn't tend to rain as much as the other months.

Here's a complete guide to the best things to do and see in Seattle in summer, so you can combine your boat ride with other activities in the city: 10 things to see and do in Seattle in summer, 10 things to see and do in Seattle in July and 10 things to see and do in Seattle in August.

I've got good news for you: with the Seattle City Pass, you'll get a one-hour boat tour of Seattle included.

With this exclusive city pass, you will have access to the most popular attractions and activities in Seattle, including the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium and you can choose 3 more from a wide list: a 1 hour boat ride or tickets to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo or Chihuly Garden and Glass.

This way, by purchasing the Seattle City Pass at a fixed and exclusive price you will be saving on access to all these activities and you will also be able to enjoy a relaxing boat ride around Seattle included in your pass - a great value!

This is a special and different excursion that I definitely recommend you to do. You'll be able to get the best views of Seattle from its calm waters and get to know another part of its history in a unique and unrepeatable excursion.

It is the ideal option to get to know its most eccentric and aesthetically impressive natural wonders, its wildlife and maritime life and one of the main activities that take place in this city, such as sea fishing.

You will have the chance to take away the best views and a more complete knowledge of the city. You won't regret getting on the boat, relaxing, absorbing all the knowledge that the guide can give you, getting the best pictures and having a relaxing and comforting time on board.

If you would love to do this plan, but you have little time in the city, I have a solution: a boat ride is an ideal plan for you to combine with the tour bus around Seattle.

This way, you can take a boat ride on the waters of Seattle without worrying about not having time to visit the main attractions of the city.

The length of these tours makes them perfectly combinable with other tours and experiences so you can get to know Seattle in depth.

You will have a wide variety of excursions to do from Seattle to surrounding areas full of nature and attractions to visit. You can get more information at: best excursions from Seattle.

In addition, you can complete the experience by including a food tour of Seattle and discover the most unique flavours of the city. Here you will find more information: best food tours in Seattle.