Booking choice: The Premier 3-Hour City Tour, from $88 per person. Check dates Tour details
Every Seattle city tour on this site passes the Space Needle. None includes a ticket, and none takes you inside. You see it from the bus, or from the curb when a tour ends next to it.
If you want the view from the top, you buy that separately on the Space Needle's own site. The prices below come from spaceneedle.com.
The quick answer
General admission costs $35 to $55 per adult in 2026, depending on the date and time slot. A combo with Chihuly Garden and Glass is $74. Children 4 and under go free. The tower opens at 10:30 AM Monday to Thursday and closes between 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM. Tours drive past; tickets are separate.
How much are Space Needle tickets in 2026?
General admission runs from $35 to $55 per adult. The price depends on the day and the time slot you pick.
The Space Needle uses dynamic pricing, so the same ticket costs more at popular hours. Youth tickets (ages 5 to 12) and senior tickets (65 and over) are discounted when you book online or at the kiosks, and children 4 and under visit free. Military, tribal and King County resident rates exist too, but only at the admissions office with ID.
Check the price for two or three time slots before you pick one. The spread between the cheapest and dearest slot is $20 per adult, which adds up fast for a family.
| Ticket | Price (USD, 2026) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | $35 to $55 | Timed entry, both observation levels |
| Chihuly Garden & Glass + IMAX combo | $74 | Space Needle plus the glass museum next door |
| Fast Pass combo | $129 | Combo ticket sold on spaceneedle.com |
| Seattle CityPASS | $119 to $139 | Space Needle plus other Seattle attractions |
| Children 4 and under | Free | With a paying adult |
What are the Space Needle opening hours?
Monday to Thursday 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Friday 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 9:30 PM, Sunday 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
Those are the current daily hours on the official plan-your-visit page. Tickets are timed: you choose a 15-minute arrival window, and once inside you can stay until closing. The Space Needle says guests take about 30 minutes to get from the entrance to the top, counting security, the exhibits and the elevator.
At the top there are two levels: the Upper Observation Level and the Loupe Level with its rotating glass floor. The tower is 605 feet tall and opened for the 1962 World's Fair.
Do Seattle city tours go up the Space Needle?
No. The tours drive past it or end beside it. Entry is never included.
The 3 Hour Seattle City Tour lists the Space Needle as a pass-by, and guests describe it as seen "from the outside". The Premier 3-Hour City Tour can end in front of the Space Needle, and the 1 PM tour from the Hyatt Regency offers a Space Needle drop-off at the end. Those two are the easy pairings: finish the tour, walk to the entrance, scan your ticket.
More on how each tour handles the tower is in our Space Needle guide.
Three downtown meeting points, about 3 hours, and an ending in front of the Space Needle.
Check dates for the Premier 3-Hour City TourWhen is the best time to go up the Space Needle?
On a clear afternoon, timed to arrive about half an hour before sunset. Weekday mornings are cheaper and calmer.
Since a ticket lets you stay until closing, the classic move is to arrive in daylight and watch the city light up. In winter that is easy: the sun sets around 4:20 PM in December, and the tower stays open until at least 7:30 PM. In summer the sun sets far later, so plan a later slot.
Skip a cloudy day. If the cloud sits on the city, the view from 520 feet is grey on grey. Check the sky that morning and book then.
How do you get to the Space Needle after a city tour?
Walk if your tour ends there. From downtown, take the monorail from Westlake Center for $4 one way.
The Seattle Center Monorail runs between Westlake Center and Seattle Center, and an adult one-way fare is $4.00. That is the simplest route after the flagship tour, which drops you back at your hotel. The Welcome to Seattle walk includes a monorail ride and finishes at KEXP on 1st Ave N, a short walk from the tower.
Leave big bags behind. The Space Needle says bags too big to carry on a plane are not allowed inside; medium bags go in free lockers. That rules out going up with your suitcase on the day you leave a cruise ship.
About 2.5 miles of downtown with a local guide, monorail ride included, ending near Seattle Center.
Explore the Welcome to Seattle walk Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
How much is a Space Needle ticket in 2026?
General admission costs $35 to $55 per adult depending on the date and time. A combo with Chihuly Garden and Glass is $74, and children 4 and under go free.
Is the Space Needle included in a Seattle city tour?
No. The city tours drive past it or end next to it, but entry is never included. Buy tickets separately on spaceneedle.com.
How long do you need at the Space Needle?
Allow about 30 minutes from the entrance to the top, then as long as you like: a timed ticket lets you stay until closing.
Can I bring luggage to the Space Needle?
Not large bags. Anything too big to carry on a plane is not allowed; medium bags fit in free lockers.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Premier 3-Hour Seattle City Tour by Mini Coach
- Local guide and air-conditioned mini coach
- Choice of three downtown meeting points
- Stops at Pioneer Square, Kerry Park and the Ballard Locks; Pike Place Market is a pass-by
Seattle Bus Tour with Space Needle & Fremont Troll
- Guided bus tour starting at the Hyatt Regency Seattle (8th Avenue side)
- Stops listed at Lake Union, Kerry Park, MoPOP by the Space Needle and the Ballard Locks
- Bottled water
3 Hour Seattle City Tour with Hotel Pickup
- Local guide and fully narrated tour in English
- Pickup and drop-off at select downtown Seattle and airport hotels
- Air-conditioned vehicle; groups of 4 to 24
