10 Must-Do Activities at Seattle’s Pike Place Market

10 Best Things to Do at Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is way more than a farmers market, offering a real variety of activities and attractions. The Market sprawls across several city blocks packed with a broad cross-section of urban life. A large chunk of Pike Place Market is officially designated as a National Historic District. It operates all year round and includes well-established businesses as well as stalls and crafts booths that change vendors on a daily basis.

Pike Place Market is a colorful and exciting place to hang out and explore. There is much more there than you could possibly see and do in a single visit. Each time of day and season of the year brings new experiences. Yet there are certain things that are a part of every visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, fun things to do and see that keep visitors coming back time and time again. Here are the top 10 activities and attractions that are always part of a Pike Place Market experience. Many of them are free!

1. Ogle the Bounty of Land and Sea

No matter where you’re from or what your background, there’s something beautiful and satisfying about the sight of abundant fresh foodstuffs. Baskets spilling over with fresh berries, ice bins filled with salmon, crab, and shrimp, tables stacked high with plump tomatoes and blushing peaches, and strings of bright chili peppers await you at Pike Place Market, particularly in the Main Arcade and the Corner Market and Sanitary Market buildings.

2. Sample Foods from the Northwest & Around the World

Fresh food, food products, and dining options at Pike Place Market come from the Northwest and around the world. Food producers, particularly those along the Main Arcade, offer sample tastes of local cheeses, preserves, and candies. Fresh nectarines or cherries can be so enticing you’ll want to buy and eat them right there. Throughout Seattle’s Market area, you will find food counters serving cuisine from Russia, Greece, Italy, Vietnam, and more, as well as bakeries and delis. Choices range from casual counter service to fine dining—good food is definitely among the top things to do at Pike Place Market.

3. Marvel at the Fresh Flower Bouquets

As you stroll through Pike Place Market’s Main Arcade, you will encounter long stretches of gorgeous flower bouquets, most of which are locally grown and brought fresh to the Market each day in colorful masses carried in five-gallon buckets. The abundance and variety of flowers lead to beautiful scenes and are a favorite photo opportunity. You can pick up a stunning mix wrapped in paper for as little as five dollars.

4. Browse the Pike Place Market Crafts Booths

Clustered at the north end of the Main Arcade, you’ll find the Market’s day stalls, which are rented out to craftspeople on a daily basis. The rule here is that all vendors’ offerings must be handmade. You will discover an array of handcrafted goods, from fine woodwork and musical instruments to colorful jewelry and art prints. Products such as soap, lotions, pet toys, leather goods, and pottery are also typically found at Pike Place Market.

5. Take a Photo with Rachel the Pig

Located under the iconic “Public Market Center” sign and clock is a large bronze piggy bank known as Rachel, named after the real pig that served as the inspiration. Rachel has become the mascot of Seattle’s Market. Coins and bills placed in Rachel’s drop slot fund the Pike Place Market Foundation. Taking a photograph with this large bronze pig is among the most popular things to do for first-time visitors. Not only does Rachel provide an excellent photo opportunity with the colorful Pike Place Fish Market in the background, but she is also a convenient landmark to meet up with friends.

6. Explore the Market’s Nooks and Crannies

The shops and businesses facing Pike Place, which include the first floor of the Main Arcade, the Corner Market, and the Sanitary Market buildings, are at the heart of the Pike Place Market district. However, there’s a lot more to see and do at Seattle’s public market. Many shops and service providers can be found “Down Under,” the floors below the Main Arcade. Post Alley, home to a myriad of great restaurants and specialty shops, cuts through the neighborhood. Taking time to explore will lead you to unexpected discoveries.

7. Purchase a Souvenir of Your Seattle Visit

Whether you’re searching for a conventional T-shirt, a tasty treat, or something truly unique, you’ll discover that the stalls and shops at Pike Place Market are filled with Seattle souvenirs of all kinds. Consider items like smoked salmon, Market Spice Tea, or a jar of cherry preserves as thoughtful gifts for those back home. Matted photos, Northwest Coast art, and watercolor paintings depicting the Seattle Market are wonderful mementos of your Seattle journey. Whatever you have in mind, you’ll find it at Pike Place Market.

8. Enjoy the Talents of Pike Place Market Buskers

A busker is a street performer, and you will encounter numerous talented buskers throughout the market. These performers are permitted and regulated by the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. Acts encompass a range from guitar soloists to entire bands, including pianists, fiddlers, magic shows, and jugglers. Many have been delighting Pike Place Market visitors for years. Buskers typically perform for tips, so if you enjoy their act, consider showing your appreciation.

9. Dodge Flying Fish

Unless you’re particularly unfortunate where you stand, you are not at risk of being hit by a flying fish. Full-sized fish—usually salmon—do fly through the air at Pike Place Fish, accompanied by the fishmongers yelling out the order. Pike Place Market visitors love to gather and watch the spectacle, enjoying the entertainment as the fishmongers clearly relish their jobs.

10. Enjoy Beautiful Views of Elliott Bay

As you wander through Seattle’s public market, you will encounter some fantastic viewpoints overlooking Elliott Bay. You can see ferries, cruise ships, container ships, and sailboats all coming and going around Puget Sound. Across the bay lies West Seattle, and in the distance, the Olympic Peninsula. On clear days, the view of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains is breathtaking. Viewpoints at Pike Place Market include Steinbrueck Park, the windows of the bridge/arcade area filled with crafts booths, and the western sky bridge.