Pike Place Market
Market Historic Seattle public market with fish-throwing tradition
Seattle’s Pike Place Market mixes fish stalls, flower vendors and small restaurants along the waterfront. Visitors watch the fish markets, sample local seafood and buy artisanal goods.
Pike Place Market is a public market and historic commercial district in downtown Seattle, established in 1907. It is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ markets in the United States.
The market complex spans several blocks and includes farmers’ stalls, produce vendors, specialty food shops, craftspeople, restaurants and bakeries. Notable features include the theatrical fish market stalls where vendors routinely throw fish, a covered arcade, and the original Starbucks location at 1912 Pike Place.
Created in 1907 to connect farmers directly with city residents and bypass middlemen, the market expanded over the 20th century and was preserved through community activism in the 1970s. It now functions as a managed public market district with a historic designation.
Pike Place Market occupies a central waterfront-adjacent site in Seattle’s downtown, overlooking Elliott Bay and within a short walk of the waterfront piers and the central business district.
- Opening and crowds: The market opened in 1907 and operates daily with a mix of farmers, craftspeople, and independent merchants; weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends.
- Fish-throwing: The fish vendors are famous for their fish-throwing routine; expect queues and photo opportunities in the main arcade area near the fish stalls.
What to See #
- Pike Place Marketcore: A covered market stall and arcade area near the intersection of Pike Place and Pike Street that forms the historic core of the market. It connects the main market to the waterfront and contains many of the market's oldest vendors.
- Pike Place Fish Market: A public fish market stall famous for the theatrical fish-throwing tradition and a major tourist draw. The stall operates as a retail fish vendor within the larger market.
- Original Starbucks location: The original Starbucks store, established in 1971, located at 1912 Pike Place within the market district and marked with an early-style logo and signage.
How to Get to Pike Place Market #
Pike Place Market is in downtown Seattle and is easiest reached on public transit. Take Sound Transit’s Link light rail to Westlake Station (downtown) or the Seattle Center Monorail to Westlake; the market is about a 10-minute walk (roughly 0.4 miles / 600 m) southwest from Westlake. Many King County Metro buses run along 3rd Avenue/1st Avenue with stops within a few minutes’ walk of the market.
By car, Pike Place is in central Seattle - Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is about 14 miles (≈22 km) south of downtown and typically a 20-30 minute drive to the market depending on traffic; there are several public and private parking garages near the market.
Tips for Visiting Pike Place Market #
- Visit early on weekday mornings (before 9:00) to see the market at work with far fewer tourists and better chances of watching vendors set out produce and flowers.
- Enter from the Pike Place/First Avenue side to catch the classic fish market action, but slip down to the lower levels and Post Alley to find quieter craft stalls, specialty food vendors and the Gum Wall away from the main plaza crowds.
- If you want the original Starbucks experience without peak-line waits, go very early or late in the day; otherwise explore nearby independent cafés and the MarketFront for better seating and views over Elliott Bay.
- Schedule time to wander the market's lesser-used corridors and back stairways - many visitors stick to the main square and miss the small artisan stalls and local food vendors tucked into the upper and lower levels.
Best Time to Visit Pike Place Market #
Go in late spring or early autumn for pleasant weather and fewer crowds; expect peak crowds in summer.
Weather & Climate near Pike Place Market #
Pike Place Market's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 24°C. Moderate rainfall (989 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (135 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. The driest month with just 24 mm.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (145 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (160 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
