If you live in Seattle, you’re lucky enough to live in a city that is on many people’s bucket list of destinations to visit. And if you don’t live here, you should consider being among the many people planning to visit! According to Travel + Leisure’s new list of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026, Seattle is a must-visit this coming year for “big city thrills.” In addition to Seattle’s natural beauty and its reputation as a walkable city, Travel + Leisure highlighted several new attractions in the Emerald City that will draw visitors in 2026.
Read on for all the details!
Waterfront Park
Right off the bat, T+L praised Seattle’s new Waterfront Park that officially opened in September after decades of work. The new park adds accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists between downtown Seattle, the waterfront, Pioneer Square, and the city’s sports stadiums. The design also includes the new Overlook Walk: an elevated walkway that connects Pike Place Market to the waterfront and the aquarium while providing a scenic view of Elliot Bay and the mountain ranges beyond.
T+L quoted Michael Woody, Visit Seattle’s chief strategy officer, who described the park thusly: “The just-completed Waterfront Park revitalization offers unobstructed views of mountains meeting the sea, alongside a futuristic jellyfish playground, outdoor concerts, and a 1.2-mile bike path.”
Read more about Seattle’s new Waterfront Park.
Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion
Another fairly new attraction for visitors to Seattle in 2026 is the addition to the aquarium. At the Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion, “visitors get face-to-face encounters with eagle rays, leopard sharks, and rare bowmouth guitarfish.” The addition is in a new, separate building next to the aquarium’s main facility, but is included in regular admission.
New sustainable hotels
Another bonus that visitors to Seattle in 2026 can enjoy, according to T+L, is new “eco-minded accommodations.” They specifically highlighted Populus Hotel in Pioneer Square (which boasts the neighborhood’s first rooftop bar) and 1 Hotel in South Lake Union. Both hotels opened in May 2025 and focus on sustainability.
FIFA World Cup 2026
Finally, T+L mentioned the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seattle will be hosting six matches this June and July, prompting “an influx of fans.” It certainly will be the time and place for, as they called it, “big city thrills.”