Sky View Observatory Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Sky View Observatory. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Seattle City Highlights Tour

• Seattle, Space Needle, Pike Place Market & Gas Works Park 1-Day Tour

• Sky View Observatory at the Columbia Center Admission Tickets

• Downtown Seattle Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

• 2 Day Washington State Tour in Mt Rainier and Seattle Highlights

General admission tickets to Sky View Observatory start at US$27 for adults and young people aged 14 and over, US$23 for seniors aged 65 and over, and US$20 for children aged 5–13. Kids aged 4 and under enter for free. You can upgrade your experience for an additional cost to include extras, such as merchandise and a café voucher.

The opening days and times for Seattle Sky View Observatory vary by season and are subject to change, so it’s always best to check its website for an up-to-date calendar. When open, its operating hours are typically from late morning to evening. Always adhere to the time listed on your ticket.

By the numbers, it’s no contest: Sky View Observatory is considerably taller, considerably cheaper, and almost always less crowded than the Space Needle. Plus, most people who want views of Seattle want to see the Space Needle—and you can’t do that from inside it. For the record, the Space Needle is 605 feet (184 meters) tall, and Sky View Observatory is 902 feet (275 meters) tall.

From Sky View Observatory, you’ll get a 360-degree view of Seattle and beyond, including Mt. Rainier, the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Baker, Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, the Space Needle, Lake Union, and the city of Seattle itself. You’ll be a whopping 300 feet (91 meters) above even the Space Needle.

It depends on what you want to get out of the experience. About an hour before sunset can be great for a golden-hour experience and photos; if you want to avoid the crowds, come right when the observatory opens—or risk it and go up during the rain for a fascinating, ethereal experience (as long as it’s not too foggy).