Seattle Art Museum: A Cultural Cornerstone
Explore global art collections in the heart of Seattle, from ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces at the Seattle Art Museum.
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) in downtown Seattle invites visitors to explore global art collections, temporary installations, and special exhibitions. With over 25,000 pieces, SAM offers a diverse artistic journey, from ancient artifacts to contemporary works, including notable Native American galleries [3, 5, 4].
A brief summary to Seattle Art Museum
- 1300 1st Ave, Seattle, Central Business District, Washington, 98101, US
- +1206-654-3100
- Visit website
- Wednesday 10 am-5 pm
- Thursday 10 am-5 pm
- Friday 10 am-5 pm
- Saturday 10 am-5 pm
- Sunday 10 am-5 pm
Local tips
- Visit on the first Thursday of the month for free admission, but be prepared for larger crowds [22, 7].
- Check the museum's website for current and upcoming exhibitions to plan your visit around specific interests [3].
- Take advantage of the free three-minute loading zones on Union Street and First Avenue for convenient drop-offs between 9 am and 3 pm [2, 14].
- Consider purchasing tickets online in advance to save time and guarantee entry, especially for special exhibitions [5].
- Combine your visit to SAM with a trip to nearby Pike Place Market, just a block away, for a full Seattle experience [5, 2].
Getting There
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Walking
From Pike Place Market, walk one block east on Union Street to 1st Avenue. The museum entrance is located at the corner of 1st Avenue and Union Street [2, 5]. Allow 5 minutes. No cost.
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Public Transport
From the Seattle Center, take the Seattle Center Monorail to Westlake Center [18]. From Westlake, walk two blocks south on 4th Avenue to University Street, then one block west to 1st Avenue. The museum will be on your right. Alternatively, use the Transit Go Ticket app to purchase a digital ticket for King County Metro buses or the Sound Transit Light Rail [18]. An ORCA card can also be used [16, 18, 19]. A one-way trip costs approximately $3.00 [25].
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Taxi/Ride-Share
From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac), a taxi or ride-share service to the Seattle Art Museum will cost approximately $40-$70 [10, 18]. The ride is about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic. Taxi fares within the city have a base fee of $2.60, plus $2.72 per mile [6, 21]. A 5-mile trip in the city would cost around $17 [9].
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Parking
Several parking garages are located near the Seattle Art Museum. The Russell Investments Center Garage offers designated accessible parking on a first-come, first-served basis [14]. The entrance to the garage is on Union Street between First and Second Avenues [2, 14]. Other nearby options include the 2nd and Union Garage and the Financial Center Garage [11]. Expect to pay $11-$20 for 2 hours of parking [11]. Discounted rates are available with a voucher from the Ticketing Desk [2].
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