Seattle is one of the few large American cities, like San Diego for example, that do not have subway service. However, getting around by public transport, and reaching the main sights of the city will be easy thanks to the tram services that also mean you can avoid the problem of traffic.
Here are the most important things you need to know in order to organize your itinerary without wasting too much precious time moving around.
Contents
Link Light Rail
One of the most popular means of public transport is this fast tramway. One of the good things is that there is only one line, so it’s really hard to go wrong. The two terminals are the University of Washington to the north and Angel Lake to the south. The service also runs through Downtown Seattle and the most useful stops here are Capitol Hill, Westlake, University Street, Pioneer Square and International District/Chinatown.
Fare and Schedule
At the time of writing this article, the price of the ride varies from 2.25$ to 3.25$. The cost is therefore not fixed but calculated according to the distance you travel. This standard fare applies to those who are 19 to 65 years old. Children up to 5 years old do not pay if with a ticket-paying adult, while those aged 6 – 18 years will pay $1.50 regardless of the route.
You can buy your ticket directly at the ticket machines at the stops, or by purchasing a service card called ORCA Card (One Regional Card for All), which will certainly simplify your life if you plan to stay in the city for several days. You can also download the local transport company’s official app and pay for the ticket directly from your phone.
The frequency of the service is very good, with a run every 6, 10 or 15 minutes depending on the time of day.
The timetable is as follows:
- from 5:00 am to 1:00 am Monday to Saturday
- from 6:00 a.m. to midnight Sundays and public holidays
Seattle Streetcars
Another tram service in the city of Seattle. At the moment there are two lines but in the future, they will be joined together to form a single one.
- South Lake Union Streetcar: active since 2007, this line connects Downtown Seattle with the neighborhood of South Lake Union, located south of the lake with the same name. There are 7 stops along a route of about 1.2 miles. The frequency is good as it runs every 10 to 15 minutes depending on the time of day. The only two days of the year when there is no service are Christmas Day and Thanksgiving. Hours of service are as follows:
- from Monday to Thursday: from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m
- Fridays and Saturdays: from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m
- Sundays and public holidays: from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m
- First Hill Streetcar: the newer of the two routes, it actually opened in 2016, and connects the Capitol Hill neighborhood with the Pioneer Square neighborhood. This service runs every day of the year with a frequency of 10 – 25 minutes with the following schedules:
- Monday to Saturday: from 05:00 to 01:00
- Sundays and holidays: from 10:00 to 20:00
It is possible to use ORCA Cards on both lines. The price of a ride is $2.25 for adults, $1.50 for children from 6 to 18 years old, and free for children under 5 years old. There is also a day pass at a cost of $4.50 for adults and $3 for children, with unlimited use (only on the two Seattle Streetcars lines) for the entire day of purchase. If you don’t have an ORCA Card, tickets can still be purchased at every stop along the lines either with cash or major credit cards.
Seattle Center Monorail
It is one of the symbols of the city itself. It is a convenient service for moving between two very busy areas of the city such as Westlake Center and Seattle Center. Particularly on the many rainy days here, it can definitely be considered so as to minimize exposure to bad weather. The frequency is very good as it runs every 10 minutes. The trip takes just over two minutes. 
The cost of a ticket for one ride is $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for children ages 5-12; younger children can ride for free. There are no round-trip discounts available. At the time of writing, ORCA Cards are not yet accepted.
Operating hours vary depending on the time of year (however, please check the official website for any changes). The only two days during the year when there is no service are Christmas Day and Thanksgiving:
- Summer months (May through December):
- Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 11:00 pm
- Saturday, Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m
- Winter months (January through May):
- Monday to Thursday: 7:30 am to 9:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am to 11:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:30 am to 11:00 pm
- Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m
King County Metro Transit
As in all cities, there is a bus service that connects the various areas of Seattle to its suburbs located in King County. As tourists equipped with a car, unless you have special requirements, I doubt you will need to use this type of transport. As you can imagine, there are many routes, as well as frequencies and schedules, so, should you need it, please use the transport company’s convenient and effective trip planner to help you plan the best solution for you.
How to Get from Seattle Airport to Downtown
Reaching Seattle – Tacoma International Airport is very convenient and easy. Just use the Central Link city tramway line from downtown and you will get to the airport in about 40 minutes.
Located near the tramway station, along International Boulevard, there are also stops for King County Metro Transit buses. The following lines provide services to and from the airport:
- Rapid Ride A line (Federal Way)
- Route 180 (Burien/Auburn)
- Route 156 (Southcenter/Des Moines)
Finally, if you prefer to rely on a private shuttle service to get from the airport to your hotel in Seattle, you can check out the link below.
