Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Seattle, USA
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Seattle’s original neighborhood, Pioneer Square, on this guided walking tour that is great for locals and tourists alike who want to learn more about this city. Explore the underground pathways that were built in the southwest corner of the Emerald City more than 120 years ago. Learn about Seattle’s history and the events that transformed this once-small Indigenous dwelling place into one of the most popular and thriving cities in the United States.
- Seea whole new side of Seattle that most tourists miss
- Leave the Seattle guidebook at home—your local guide has better stories
- Compare modern-day Pioneer Square with that of yesteryear
- Numerous tour times make it easy to fit in your schedule
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 102 Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Look for the black awning over the sidewalk; the stairs beneath will lead right to the check-in desk.
End point
- Union Trust Building, 119 South Main St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Itinerary
Get ready to discover the original Emerald City, the city of Seattle, Washington, from its inception in the 1890s. This entertaining and educational underground voyage travels beneath the streets to uncover three blocks of historic, old Pioneer Square. Explore not only the underground passageways that were built more than 120 years ago, but also the modern Pioneer Square that exists today.
Make your way to 102 Cherry Street near Pioneer Street to start your tour. Hear tales from the past, including the story of the stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle's crucial role in what would become the Klondike Gold Rush. Find out about Skid Row, a dilapidated urban area that served as the main street in Pioneer Square. And get to know the history of a group of people called the Coast Salish, the ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples that first settled here.
The tour ends at Occidental Square.
Make your way to 102 Cherry Street near Pioneer Street to start your tour. Hear tales from the past, including the story of the stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle's crucial role in what would become the Klondike Gold Rush. Find out about Skid Row, a dilapidated urban area that served as the main street in Pioneer Square. And get to know the history of a group of people called the Coast Salish, the ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples that first settled here.
The tour ends at Occidental Square.
1
Beneath the Streets
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Pioneer Square
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates rain or shine, please dress appropriately
- Tours need 2 or more people on the tour for the tour to run. Full refunds given in the event only one person signed up for the tour.
- Additional hours/tours added during busy times,check website or call for more info.
- There are 3 flights of stairs, up and down each flight, throughout the one hour tour. We travel 4 blocks ( apporx. half a mile, .8k) at a leisurley pace during the one hour tour.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 8,785 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Aliye_L, Jul 2026
Our tour guide Eowyn has made this tour extremely enjoyable. She was very informative, witty and thorough. The tour was extremely pleasant and professional. Money well spent!!!
Laura_H, Jul 2026
Great informative tour led by a great guide. Who knew the founders of Seattle went through what they did to make the town a success.
Daniel_F, Jul 2026
Only 50% spent beneath the streets, rest above the streets. Good but not as good as I hoped. Guide was excellent.
Melanie_C, Jul 2026
Much better than I expected! Learned a lot about Seattle history. And our guide Imogen was captivating!
K_B, Jul 2026
This was a fun experience with our great guide Richard. He made it fun and informative.
So interesting finding out Seattle's early history.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle. Richard does a great job of making the tour fun and engaging for everyone. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
Korrie_C, Jul 2026
Who would have guessed the history of present day Seattle started with a fire that wiped it out first! Great info delivered with humor. Eowyn was a great guide!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us. Eowyn does a great job of making the tour fun and engaging for everyone. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
Janice_N, Jul 2026
I loved the history of the city, and there was enough information ion from Dave about the music scene in Seattle to satisfy the teenager with us.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dave has been giving tours for a long time, and there isn't much about the underground he doesn't know. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
Eula_F, Jul 2026
Tour guide was great and i lesrned alot about the history of Seattle. Our guide was very energetic and engaging.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for leaving us a kind review. We're glad you had a five star experience on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
Jailan_G, Jul 2026
Really interesting. Dave’s general knowledge kept us entertained. Had no idea about the tunnels and the making of Seattle
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. Dave does a great job of making sure the tour is fun and engaging for everyone. We're glad you enjoyed the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
janicedefazio, Jul 2026
It is quite a bit of walking including uneven grounds and stairs so just be prepared. It was a fabulous and very educational tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
Calista_C, Jul 2026
Don’t miss out! This is such a great tour! It is well-organized and truly fascinating. What made it one if the best city tours we’ve taken was our tour guide, Mike. He was truly passionate about the Seattle Underground and had a great sense of humor! We learned. We laughed. We had a great time! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Mike brings a great level of energy to the tour, while keeping it informative. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
Laura_C, Jul 2026
Very informative and very humorously presented. Learn a great deal about the early years in the city.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
Emily_M, Jul 2026
Fun and interesting explanation by Jenn as to how the fire destroyed Seattle in the 1800’s and how it was rebuilt.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Jenn does a great job of making the tour fun and engaging for everyone. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
Katie_Z, Jul 2026
Very interesting tour of Seattle's history including some information even a local hadn’t heard before
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're glad you had a fun time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
Mark_C, Jul 2026
I think it could be good, but very rushed and good was super hyper. No time for questions. A good guide and slower pace would help greatly.
Terence_M, Jul 2026
It was a very interesting tour giving a good idea what the sea front of Seattle used to look like and how they had to move the sea wall back and build the city up to a more stable height.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. We're glad you had a fun time on the underground history tour with here in Seattle.
Regina_S, Jul 2026
I would miss this …. It was extremely smelly and pointless tour …. Not fun at all … tour guide tried and was nice but talked more about her kid than some interesting facts about seattle
Melanie_D, Jul 2026
5 Stars – Fun, Interesting, and Totally Worth It
We took the Beneath the Streets Underground History Tour during our trip to Seattle, and it ended up being one of our favorite activities in the city. Our guide, Dave, was fantastic. He clearly knows Seattle's history inside and out, but what made the tour stand out was how engaging he was. He didn't just rattle off facts, he told stories that really brought the city's history to life. You could tell he enjoys what he does, and that enthusiasm made the entire experience more enjoyable. We were traveling with two teenagers, and Dave did a great job keeping them interested throughout the tour. He mixed in plenty of humor and jokes along with the history, which kept everyone entertained and engaged from start to finish. It's not always easy to keep teenagers interested in a historical tour, but Dave absolutely pulled it off. I've actually taken underground tours with both companies that offer them in Seattle, and while I think both are worthwhile, I would definitely choose Beneath the Streets if I were doing it again. The experience felt a little more personal, and Dave's storytelling and personality really made the difference. If you're visiting Seattle and trying to decide which underground tour to book, I'd highly recommend Beneath the Streets. And if Dave is your guide, you'll learn a lot, laugh a lot, and come away with a much better appreciation for Seattle's fascinating history!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
AllisonB_G, Jul 2026
Our guide, Jen, was very knowledgeable and put in a lot of extra research and effort. Tour was interesting and we learned a lot. If you have mobility issues, you may have some difficulties. There are a lot of steps. All in our party enjoyed it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. Jen does a great job of making the tour fun and engaging for everyone. We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle.
Rosemary_M, Jul 2026
Our guide Carter was great! She was very informative and funny too. We learned a lot about the founding of Seattle that we were not aware of. Would totally recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words and giving a big shoutout to Carter! She is a great guide who has so much knowledge of both the Underground and Seattle. Thank you for the recommendation!
Rich_G, Jul 2026
Dave was our tour guide and was great! Great knowledge, answered tons of questions, fun and funny! I learned tons about Seattle both old and new. I've done the underground tour a couple times and booked Beneath the Streets by mistake... what a great mistake! It was awesome! Cheers and enjoy the tour!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for leaving such a wonderful review! Dave is one of our most experienced guides, and knows this city like the back of his hand! He truly loves giving people a great experience of our Underground History! Have a great day, we hope to see you again!
Cynthia_G, Jul 2026
Jennifer was very knowledgeable and informative. Very interesting history of how Seattle came to be.
Great tour! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the 5 stars and giving Jennifer a well deserved shoutout. Jennifer is a 4th generation Seattleite and is passionate about sharing the history of her hometown. We are so glad you enjoyed learning about the Underground with her!
Kaili_Z, Jul 2026
The host was knowledgeable and entertaining. We got to witness an important but generally invisible part of Seattle history.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for taking our Underground History Tour, as well as leaving such a wonderful review! We hope you have a great day!
John_L, Jul 2026
Great tour that tells a lot of interesting facts about Seattle. Would definitely recommend for new visitors.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for leaving such a wonderful review! Richard is definitely one of our most experienced, and has a way of bringing our history to life. Have a great day, and we hope to see you again!
Yvette_G, Jul 2026
This is a must do to experience! It tells you about what Seattle truly was like and how it was destroyed and rebuilt. Our guide was spectacular!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the kind words and stellar review! We are thrilled you had an awesome time learning about the wild and wonderful history of Seattle. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Seattle.
Robert_D, Jul 2026
Carter was a fantastic guide through the underground of Seattle. She was funny, knowledgeable, and kept the large group engaged.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice review for Carter. We are so glad you enjoyed learning about the history of Seattle and the Underground with her. Her deadpan delivery and historical accuracy makes her tour so engaging. Enjoy Seattle and Thank You!
Melissa_L, Jul 2026
Definitely a neat tour. Dave had some interesting stories (not sure we believed all of them) but it was nice to get some history of the city although I will probably fact quite a bit.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are glad you enjoyed your time exploring the Underground with Dave. We pride ourselves on being historically and accurate to the best of our knowledge. We hope that you learned something about Seattle that helped bring the rest of your stay to life.
Manasi_C, Jul 2026
This was terrible. The tour guide talked too much and was making it longer and longer. Its not worth it. Just look3e like a basement save your money
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello, Thank you for taking our tour and taking the time to give us feedback. We take reviews seriously and we are sorry to hear you did not enjoy the experience. Our tours are slated to go 60-65 minutes and I hope your guide did not go much beyond that. The underground itself is historic and anyone doing any tours of the area lease the spaces. We have no control over the fact that the original facades of the buildings and old signs have been stolen by antique collectors over the years or have simply rotted away. The underground has seen many changes in use of the years as well. We strive to explain the connection of what is present today and what was present in the past in each of the 3 underground spaces. We have pictures and have staged portions of our leased areas as well. The original brick and stone is still present and unadorned, but we understand that maybe we fell short in making visible the past with the present.
And yes, tour guides by nature are chatty and they love sharing their knowledge with you. We would like to get more information from you about the duration of the tour and if the guide was on topic or not, so if you are inclined, please email the owner and GM at Admin@beneath-the-streets.com as they would love to get as much information as possible and maybe offer a refund to you. We apologize we did not meet your expectations and we want to improve where we can, so yes, input from guests is valued.
Lisa_N, Jul 2026
It was such a neat way to learn more about old Seattle. The tour takes you through the hidden underground passageways in historic Pioneer Square, which is Seattle’s original neighborhood. It was fascinating to see a different side of the city and hear the stories of what Seattle used to look like before the modern streets were built up above it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're glad you had a five star experience on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
Anita_K, Jul 2026
Knowledgeable and friendly guide. Learned so much. Nice tour just the right amount of time. Took our 11 year old and he loved it
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're glad you had a good time on the underground history tour with us here in Seattle. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review.
From $32.00
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