Seattle is small and compact with decent enough public transportation that a car isn’t necessary to visit. However, for the best experience, book accommodation in a central location such as Downtown, Belltown, Capitol Hill, or the University District. There are numerous bus lines, a growing light rail system, well-connected bike lanes, as well as ferries, should you want to take day trips across Puget Sound. Most neighborhoods are walkable, just be prepared to tackle some hills. Save the car rental for when you’ve had your fill of Seattle and are ready for adventures outside the city to the mountains, oceans, and national parks.

Everyone knows that it rains often in Seattle. Popular lore even says no one in the city uses an umbrella, but that’s not entirely true. 

Yes, Seattle has more rainy days than elsewhere in the U.S. Usually though, it doesn’t pour, but just drizzles a bit. All day. If does happen to pour, however, you can use an umbrella without labeling yourself as a tourist. Most days though, a rain jacket with a hood will suffice. So make sure to pack one, along with waterproof covers for backpacks and bags and waterproof shoes. This is true throughout all seasons.

Okay, you’re in Starbucks’ hometown, but Seattleites know that’s the lowest-tier cup in the city. And chances are you go to Starbucks so often back home that it’s not going to feel much different in Seattle. So sure, check out the “original” Starbucks, snap a pic (by the way, it’s fake, we recommend the Reserve Roastery instead), and then go to literally any other cafe. The city is full of amazing ones, most serving better brew than the corporate giant.

About 10 years ago the city would truly empty out after about 6 p.m. But Seattle has grown and people from all over have moved here (and brought nightlife expectations with them), so that isn’t entirely true anymore. However, it’s still pretty quiet in the evenings, outside of the few main places to go out—Ballard around the breweries, Cap Hill, and the main strip of Fremont.

So don’t visit planning to make “going out” a central part of your trip. Instead, get up early for sunrise at one of the city lookouts, embrace daytime activities like cafe and bookstore-hopping, take one of the summer shuttles to a trailhead, or take a ferry to the Peninsula (or West Seattle).

Yes, the city is compact and has decent public transportation. However, it sprawls a bit more than you might realize and it can be time-consuming to cross the city from east to west or north to south. So instead of planning to visit the Space Needle (in the heart of downtown), Golden Gardens (almost an hour away by bus), and Greenlake (another 30 to 40-minute ride) in a single day, concentrate your days in one or two neighboring areas.