Alki Beach and West Seattle

Sandy beaches, incredible views and a lively street scene – all this and more can be found at Alki Beach and West Seattle. This is as close as Seattle gets to resembling a Southern California beach town. Here you’ll find a mix of mid-century bungalows, waterfront businesses, a narrow beach and a road with a bike/foot trail that runs for several miles along the water.

The beach itself is the main attraction in this neighborhood. People come here for the great views of downtown Seattle, soft sand and the waterfront atmosphere. You can rent a bike or boat and there’s food and drink, too. Try Pegasus for pizza and the Alki Bakery for cookies and other sweets. From here you can walk, bike or skate the 2.5 miles (4 km) to Duwamish Head. Or continue further south along the water to Lincoln Park, which features an outdoor saltwater pool and waterslide.

Alki Beach is a favorite scuba diving spot, but only for diehard divers as the water temperature ranges between 46 to 56 F (8 to 14 C). Most people dive at the eastern end of the beach, near Salty’s Restaurant.

View Other Seattle Attractions