When to Go

Unless you’re planning an all-indoor museum trip, Seattle is most enjoyable May through October. June can be surprisingly rainy, but July through September is almost always dry, with warm days that range from the mid-70s and 80s with the occasional serious scorcher; nights are cooler, though it doesn’t get dark until 9 or 10 pm. Although the weather can be dodgy, spring (particularly April) and fall are also excellent times to visit, as lodging and tour costs are usually much lower (and the crowds much smaller). In winter, the days are short, dark, and wet, but temperatures rarely dip below the low 40s, and winter events—especially around the holidays—are plentiful. You might even luck into a sunny winter day with crisp air and clear views of snowy mountains.