Top Rated Shopping in Seattle

One of Seattle's most famous landmarks, Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously working public market in the United States and one of the world's top 50 most visited attractions. Pike Place opened in 1907 as the city's first public market, expanding to keep up with its growing popularity as a convenient option for both shoppers and merchants. The market remains a veritable cornucopia of culinary and artisanal options, its crowded aisles and bustling halls thronged with customers jostled between vendors of fresh produce and gourmet eats, alongside fishmongers and craftsmen. The street level is dominated by the food and produce stalls, while the lower levels house a fantastic variety of shops including antique dealers, head shops, florists, and local artisans. A whirlwind of sights, sounds and aromas, Pike Place Market is nothing short of paradise for foodies and connoisseurs of unique wares.

Fremont, which up until 1891 used to be a city in itself, is now a neighborhood of Seattle bordered by others like Queen Anne and Ballard. The statue of Lenin and the Fremont Troll are two of the main attractions of this area, and there is lots more to see and do as well. If you're in the mood to shop, you would definitely like to check out the many, varied stores in the area. The Sunday street market is another highlight of the area.

Opened as a shoe store in 1901, Nordstrom is now one of the nation's leading fashion retailers, offering fine apparel and accessories for everyone in the family. Nordstrom Rack Downtown Seattle, located in Seattle's Downtown neighborhood, is surely a one stop destination for fashion lovers and shopaholics, with many brand names housed on their shelves. Shoes remain the specialty, with a huge selection that includes unusual sizes. Designer labels like Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein fill the clothing racks. You're sure to find something suitable for every occasion.

Here, where the streets of downtown's business district angle down around Elliott Bay to the south, are the flatlands where Seattle was first built. Nightclubs, art galleries, tourist shops, design firms and restaurants dominate Pioneer Square. The area's First Thursday art walk draws huge crowds to the studios, galleries and street performers, and the nightclubs keep the neighbourhood buzzing with activity till wee hours of the morn'. The kitschy Underground Tour explaining Seattle's early history is a perennial tourist favorite, as is the more sober Klondike Gold Rush Museum, which details the Yukon gold fever that made Seattle richer. Yesler Way, which slices the neighbourhood in half, has a footnote in history as the original "skid row". There are also several small parks in the area, including the quiet Waterfall Park, the shady cobblestones of Occidental Park, and the totem-pole decorated triangle at First and Yesler, Pioneer Place Park. The neighbourhood also marks the popular shopping destination of the city, famous for all kinds of knickknacks such as tapestries, rare artworks, books and what-nots!

Located about 10 minutes from downtown Seattle, immediately off Interstate 5, this mall features major department stores that include Nordstrom, the Bon Marche, Gottschalks and JC Penney, as well as a large variety of smaller retail shops. In addition, the mall has a large food court and a cinema with one of Seattle's largest screens. You can park the car for free and spend the day indoors without worrying about inclement weather.

Nestled in downtown, Westlake Center is a pure delight for any shopaholic. As you enter through the doors of this mall, you can wander around the light, airy floors and browse for clothing, books, jewelry and other accessories. From designer labels to department stores, all kinds of shops are housed under one roof. When hunger pangs set in, ride the escalators to the top floor and gorge on meals at the food court with its views of the city. This is a great place to spend a rainy day.