Updated in September 2026, this Seattle Art Museum guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is the largest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, standing one block from Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. As of September 2026, the museum’s south wing and its First and University entrance remain temporarily closed until 10 December 2026, and its café is closed ahead of reopening as Bar Dojo. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website in September 2026, when this guide was last updated.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Mon–Tue closed; Wed 10am–5pm; Thu 10am–8pm; Fri–Sun 10am–5pm |
| Ticket prices | Adult $29.99; senior/military $24.99; student/teen $19.99; 14 & under free |
| Address | 1300 First Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101 |
| Nearest transport/parking | Downtown Seattle; free public transit with a ticket; garage parking from about $10 |
| Typical time needed | 2–3 hours |
Seattle Art Museum opening hours
The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday, opens Wednesday from 10am to 5pm, stays open late on Thursday until 8pm, and keeps standard hours Friday through Sunday (10am–5pm).
It stays open for select hours on Veterans Day, Native American Heritage Day, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Juneteenth, but closes for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Five of the best things to do in Seattle
- 🍴 Take a chef-guided food tour of Pike Place Market.
- 🕳️ Discover the hidden streets beneath Pioneer Square on an underground tour.
- ✈️ Go on the Boeing Factory tour and see how planes are made.
- 🚢 See the city from the water on a harbour cruise.
- 🏔️ Take in mountains and waterfalls on a Mt Rainier National Park day trip.
Seattle Art Museum ticket prices
Standard admission is $29.99 for adults, $24.99 for seniors (65+) and military (with ID), and $19.99 for students and teens (15–19); members and children 14 and under are always free.
Admission is free for everyone on Free First Thursdays, and seniors pay just $5 on First Fridays. Groups of 10 or more receive reduced pricing, and the Seattle C3 combination ticket saves up to 28% across SAM and two other top Seattle attractions.
Buying a ticket to SAM also gives visitors free public transit on the day of their visit. The museum currently has no timed ticketing for any exhibition.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026.
Why book a Seattle CityPASS?
- 🗼 Space Needle included: Enjoy timed entry to Seattle’s most recognisable landmark, with panoramic views over Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier on clear days.
- 🐠 Seattle Aquarium admission: Get up close to local marine life, including sea otters, harbour seals and colourful tide-pool species.
- 🎨 Choose three more attractions: Pick from favourites such as Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Pop Culture, Argosy Cruises harbour tour, Woodland Park Zoo or Pacific Science Center.
- 📱 Mobile pass with flexible sightseeing: Your CityPASS is delivered digitally and stays valid for nine consecutive days once activated.
- 💰 Save on entry fees: Bundled pricing offers significant savings compared with buying tickets separately, making it ideal for first-time visitors.
How to get to the Seattle Art Museum
The museum stands at 1300 First Avenue, one block from Pike Place Market, with its entrance at First Avenue and Union Street.
Visitors with a SAM ticket ride public transit free on the day of their visit. Bike racks are available on the streets around the museum, and drop-off areas for drivers sit on the south side of Union Street and the east side of First Avenue, between 9am and 3pm.
Parking at the Seattle Art Museum
SAM partners with two nearby garages for discounted parking: the 1301 Garage on Union Street (ADA-accessible, with elevator access to the museum’s second floor) and the 3rd & Stewart Garage, four blocks away.
Weekday rates at the 1301 Garage run from $20 for up to 2 hours to $35 for 4-plus hours, with a $10 evening rate after 5pm; weekends are a flat $12. The 3rd & Stewart Garage charges from $14 for up to 2 hours to $36 for 4-plus hours. Discounted parking vouchers are available at the ticketing desk on select days.
How long to spend at the Seattle Art Museum
Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours exploring the museum’s galleries.
Visitors joining a Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection, which runs roughly hourly on busy days, or a family-focused tour on weekends, should factor in an extra hour.
Accessibility at the Seattle Art Museum
SAM provides a large-print map, a social narrative and a sensory map as downloadable guides for visitors with access needs.
Strollers are available at coat check, and wheelchairs and other accessibility services are outlined on the museum’s dedicated accessibility page.
Inside the Seattle Art Museum
SAM’s collection spans more than 25,000 works of art from around the world, displayed across galleries including the ornate Porcelain Room and Italian Room, and a recreated Japanese Tea House.
Long-running installations include American Art: The Stories We Carry, Impressionisms: The Global Nineteenth Century, Chronicles of a Global East, and Art and Life Along the Northwest Coast, alongside collections of Mesoamerican, Andean, Korean and Japanese art.
As of September 2026, temporary exhibitions include Monochrome: Calder and Tara Donovan (through January 2027) and A Room for Animal Intelligence (also through January 2027); Samantha Yun Wall: What We Leave Behind closes on 4 October 2026.
Outside the main entrance stands Hammering Man, Jonathan Borofsky’s towering kinetic sculpture, one of Seattle’s best-known public artworks.
Free smartphone tours offer audio and interactive content on visitors’ own devices throughout the galleries.
Practical visitor tips
| Focus | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on Free First Thursday for free admission, though expect the busiest crowds of the month. |
| Crowds | Thursday evenings and weekends tend to be busiest; Wednesday mornings are quietest. |
| Layout | The south wing is closed until 10 December 2026, so check current gallery access before visiting. |
| Entry process | Backpacks and bags larger than 11×15 inches must go to the free coat check. |
| On-site logistics | Bring pencils only if you’d like to sketch in the galleries; pens, paints and pastels aren’t allowed. |
Frequently asked questions about the Seattle Art Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Seattle Art Museum suitable for children? | Yes. Children 14 and under enter free, though they must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No. There is currently no timed ticketing, though booking online is available. |
| Is the Seattle Art Museum open on Mondays? | No. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. |
| Is photography allowed at the Seattle Art Museum? | Yes, non-flash, non-commercial photography is welcome except where signed otherwise. |
| Is public transit included with Seattle Art Museum tickets? | Yes, ticket holders ride public transit free on the day of their visit. |
Things to do near the Seattle Art Museum
- Pike Place Market — Seattle’s famous public market, one block from the museum.
- Olympic Sculpture Park — SAM’s free outdoor sculpture park on the waterfront, about a 15-minute walk away.
- Chihuly Garden and Glass — a glass art museum near the Space Needle, about a 10-minute drive away.
- Seattle Aquarium — a waterfront aquarium, about a 10-minute walk away.
- Pioneer Square — Seattle’s historic founding neighbourhood, about a 10-minute walk away.
Alternative attractions
- Seattle Asian Art Museum — SAM’s sister site in Volunteer Park, about a 15-minute drive away.
- Frye Art Museum — about a 10-minute drive away, with free admission to its collection of representational art.
- Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington — about 20 minutes away, focused on contemporary art.
- Bellevue Arts Museum — about 20–25 minutes away, dedicated to craft, design and art.
- Tacoma Art Museum — about 40 minutes away, known for its Chihuly glass and Northwest art collections.
More Seattle travel
Other Seattle travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Watch the salmon run at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.
- Discover Seattle’s Scandinavian heritage at the National Nordic Museum.
- How to get the best view of Seattle from Kerry Park.
- How to see the Fremont Troll in Seattle.
- Seattle attraction guides: Plan your visit to the Pacific Science Center, Museum of History and Industry, Museum of Flight and Smith Tower Observatory.
