Seattle Great Wheel

Located at 1301 Alaskan Way, at the end of Pier 57 on Seattle’s waterfront, the Seattle Great Wheel boasts 42 climate-controlled gondolas, each of which can carry up to eight passengers; a luxe VIP gondola with red leather seats and a glass floor seats four. During the summer, ride times are between 12 and 20 minutes due to the time needed to load and unload larger crowds; during winter, the ride usually lasts 10 to 15 minutes.

While the Ferris wheel offers wonderful views of Seattle, a Puget Sound sailing excursion provides unique views of the Great Wheel itself.

• Children 2 years old and younger ride for free but still require a ticket.

• The ride is wheelchair-accessible; a lift and ramp allow wheelchairs to roll directly into the gondolas.

• The wheel will stop operating if winds reach sustained speeds of 55 mph (88.5 kph) or higher, or if there are lightning strikes within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers).

The Seattle Great Wheel is located at the end of Pier 57 on the waterfront, and within short walking distance from most of the city’s main attractions like Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Aquarium, and more. From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, it’s about 25 minutes’ drive. The nearest light-rail station, University Street Station-Bay A, is a few blocks away.

The Seattle Great Wheel operates year-round. Open hours are Monday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday 11am to 12am, Saturday 10am to 12am, and Sunday 10am to 10pm. In the fall, the wheel lights up on the evening of any University of Washington or Seattle Seahawks home football game; light shows also take place during other special occasions and holidays.

The Seattle Aquarium, located on Pier 59 right next to the Seattle Great Wheel, features six major animal exhibits. Window on Washington Waters, for example, includes a 120,000-gallon tank that replicates the coastal waters of Washington state. The museum also has a gift shop and café.

Rides around the Seattle Great Wheel typically clock in at 10–20 minutes, but the timing depends on the crowds, the time of year, and the number of loaded gondolas. During summer, when there are larger crowds, rides last 12–20 minutes, while in winter, rides are slightly shorter, lasting 10–15 minutes.

The Seattle Great Wheel Private Dining experience costs US$152.50 without wine, which you can add. The 4-course dinner, courtesy of the Fisherman's Restaurant nearby, is designed for 2–4 people and features a set menu with prawn cocktails, a Caesar salad, grilled salmon, vegetables, and rice pilaf.

The light show at the Seattle Great Wheel typically starts at 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. During evenings in the middle of the week, the ring beam of the wheel becomes illuminated; on holidays, special occasions, and evenings when the University of Washington or Seattle Seahawks play, the light show plays.

No, the Seattle Great Wheel is not the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Standing 175 feet (53 meters) over Elliott Bay, the wheel has been the tallest on the US West Coast since it opened in 2012. Yet it's shorter than the Myrtle Beach Skywheel in South Carolina and the London Eye.

Tickets for the Seattle Great Wheel are US$18 for adults, US$16 for seniors, US$13 for youth 3–11 years old, and free for children two and under. Tickets for the private, glass-bottom VIP Gondola are US$50. All tickets are valid for one ride for one year from the date of purchase.

No, there isn't free parking at the Seattle Great Wheel. However, there is parking in the metered lots in front of the Ferris Wheel on Alaskan Way and the paid lots on Western Avenue—you can find additional parking in garages on Third Street, Stewart Street, and Seneca Street.