Seattle Gay Attractions

Right next to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass immerses visitors in the bold, colourful world of artist Dale Chihuly. The experience spans three distinct spaces: light-filled indoor galleries showcasing more than four decades of his work, the Glasshouse with its 100-foot suspended sculpture in vivid reds, oranges, and yellows, and a vibrant outdoor garden designed to frame and complement the glass installations.

Seasonal plantings keep the garden fresh year-round, making each visit unique. Guests can watch live glassblowing demonstrations, explore the theater’s behind-the-scenes videos, and even stop by The Bar at Chihuly for Pacific Northwest bites alongside over 30 of Chihuly’s eclectic personal collections.

Next to the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture celebrates music, film, gaming, and more inside a striking Frank Gehry–designed building. Its rotating exhibitions explore everything from sci-fi and fantasy to rock legends and indie video games, with immersive displays and rare artifacts.

MoPOP offers a deep dive into the cultural moments and creative icons that have shaped generations.

Seattle Art Museum, or SAM, is Seattle’s flagship visual arts destination, showcasing work from around the globe across three unique locations. The downtown museum, just a block from Pike Place Market, is home to bright galleries featuring everything from contemporary pieces to African, Native American, Asian, European, and Meso-American art. The Native American galleries, with striking Northwest Coast works, are a highlight for many visitors.

At the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, the focus shifts to Asian art in a beautifully restored space, while the Olympic Sculpture Park offers an open-air waterfront setting for large-scale works. Together, the three sites make it easy to experience art from different cultures and centuries in one city.

On Seattle’s downtown waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium is home to more than 20,000 marine animals and plants, from playful otters to colorful coral and sharks. Visitors can explore touch pools, watch feedings, and learn about marine conservation. The aquarium also hosts LGBTQ-centered events like Queer Community Day and its Pride After Hours celebration.

Smith Tower is a 1914 architectural landmark and Seattle’s original skyscraper, now home to an observatory, craft cocktail bar, and engaging self-guided tour. Ride the city’s last manually operated elevator to the Observatory & Bar for panoramic 360° views, Prohibition-inspired cocktails, and locally influenced small plates.

Along the way, museum-style exhibits share the tower’s colourful history, including its time as home to the Submarine Room, a basement bar that offered a rare safe space for the LGBTQ+ community in the 1940s and 50s.

Seattle’s most famous landmark, the Space Needle soars 605 feet above the city, offering unmatched 360° views of downtown, Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and the surrounding mountains. Visitors can step onto the world’s only rotating glass floor, sip cocktails at The Loupe Lounge, or enjoy drinks and snacks from its observation level bars. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it remains a symbol of Seattle’s forward-thinking spirit and a must-see for first-time visitors.