Pike Place Market
Flying fish, a gum-covered wall and more than a century of farmers and makers above Elliott Bay.
Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pike Place Market guide: the fish throwers, the Public Market sign, Rachel the pig, the Gum Wall, the first Starbucks, what to eat and when to go.
What to expect
Opened in 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operating public farmers markets in the United States, a maze of stalls, shops and restaurants on several levels above Seattle’s waterfront.
Under the famous Public Market Center sign and clock, fishmongers at Pike Place Fish Market toss salmon over the counter to cheers, and Rachel, a bronze piggy bank, collects coins for the market’s charities. Down an alley below, the Gum Wall is covered in layers of chewing gum, and across the street the Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place is the chain’s oldest store still in business.
Food stalls sell everything from clam chowder to piroshky and fresh fruit, and the lower levels hide small shops of comics, magic tricks and antiques. A newer terrace and the Overlook Walk lead down to the waterfront and the Seattle Aquarium.
Weekday mornings are the least crowded, and many stalls close by early evening.
Don’t miss
- 1Fish throwing at Pike Place Fish Market
- 2The Public Market Center sign at sunset
- 3The Gum Wall in Post Alley
- 4Chowder and pastries from the stalls
Best time to visit
All year; weekday mornings are the quietest.
Insider tips
- Arrive before 10 a.m. to beat the crowds.
- Take transit or walk from downtown; parking nearby is expensive.
- Walk down the Overlook Walk to the waterfront after your visit.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Entrance | Free |
- Federal park passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
- Downtown parking is expensive and hard to find; book a garage in advance with a parking app or leave the car at the hotel.
- Public transit is the easiest way to get around the center.
Gas and fast charging nearby
307 gas stations within 20 km
- 1.0 km Shell open 24 hours
- 1.2 km 76 open 24 hours
- 1.4 km 76
- 1.5 km Shell open 24 hours · diesel
- 1.7 km 76 open 24 hours
- 1.8 km Shell
- 0.5 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 0.5 km City Light Waterfront Fast chargers (ChargePoint)
- 0.8 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 1.0 km Greenlots Fast chargers (Shell Recharge Solutions)
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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