The Best Museums in Seattle for Curious Travelers

I’ve visited Seattle multiple times in recent years, and exploring its museums has become one of my favorite ways to experience the city. The best museums in Seattle encompass a wide range of themes, from art and aviation to history and pop culture.

The city’s cultural scene is impressive, and it’s been fun to uncover more of what makes Seattle unique with each trip. When planning your trip to the Emerald City, consider visiting a few of these fantastic museums.

Top Museums

1. Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

The Museum of Pop Culture celebrates contemporary popular culture in a visually stunning building. It was designed by architect Frank Gehry to evoke the smashed and twisted pieces of a guitar. Its flowing, metallic exterior, made of colorful aluminum and stainless steel panels, captures the energy and chaos of rock ‘n’ roll, setting the tone before you even step inside.

Home to eclectic exhibits showcasing Seattle’s influential music scene, movies, video games, and science fiction, the museum invites visitors to engage in interactive experiences.

Of all the museums I’ve visited in Seattle, the MoPOP is the one I was most excited about. As a Gen Xer, the grunge music phenomenon struck when I was in my early to mid-teens. I idolized Kurt Cobain and loved Nirvana’s music (in addition to Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, etc.).

For 14 years at MoPOP, the exhibit “Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses” traced the band’s evolution and showcased plenty of guitars and memorabilia. It’s scheduled to close on September 7, 2025, so I’m grateful I saw it.

I also enjoyed “Wild Blue Angel: Hendrix Abroad, 1966-70,” part of the permanent collection. When I visited in 2022, there was also a sizeable, albeit temporary, Pearl Jam exhibit on the top floor. And “A Visual History of Hip-Hop” used photography to document the rise of a new musical genre from the 1970s to the present day.

Though the music exhibits drew me in, sci-fi fans will find plenty to geek out over, too. MoPOP is home to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Timed general admission tickets start at $33 and vary with demand. mopop.org

2. Chihuly Garden and Glass

Adjacent to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass impresses visitors with its mesmerizing collection of Dale Chihuly’s glass art. This incredible museum combines indoor galleries featuring intricate sculptures, chandeliers, and colorful…