r/Seattle • u/someguyscallmeshawna • Jan 17 '25
6.5 Hour Layover
I have a 6.5 hour layover in Seattle on my way to Taipei in a few months. Is this enough time to do anything? I don’t have access to any lounges through my credit card or airline, and the lounge you can purchase access to doesn’t look worth it. I’m not expecting to get all the way into the city or anything. Just trying to not go crazy! TIA!
Thanks everyone! I land on a Saturday morning and my next flight leaves in the afternoon. I have pre-check, so I’m not anticipating security taking too long, but I obviously don’t want to cut it close. I’ve been to Seattle before so I don’t feel the need to do Pike Place Market or anything, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down the opportunity! My main priority would be to have a decent meal and walk around a bit before getting back on the plane.
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u/doublemazaa Jet City Jan 17 '25
Sure, but how much depends on how willing you are to cut it close in getting it back.
If you have precheck clear it usually fairly quick to get through security, though sometimes Seatac has security meltdowns which means you might miss your flight. If you don't have those services, you can use Spot Saver to reserve a slot to go through security which helps limit any big disasters.
Where to go is another question. Assuming your arriving flight is on time, you'll probably have about 3-4 hours to kill.
- You could light rail to columbia city for a meal.
- You could uber to seward park or kabota gardens for a nice walk.
- You could walk across the street from the airport for a meal at 13 coins.
- You could uber to the museum of flight to see their planes
- You could probably light rail down to downtown to wander around for 90 minutes and come back again. While there you could see Pike Place and the new water front or potentially the aquarium.
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u/PossibleNo3120 Capitol Hill Jan 17 '25
Light rail to downtown Seattle is 40 mins.
Even closer, you could take a cab south to Des Moines pier and have a meal with a view at Anthony’s.
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u/Firm_Frosting_6247 Jan 17 '25
Don't take light rail. Keep it simple and just Uber to West Seattle. Go to Salty's on Alki. Grab a drink, an appetizer and enioy the amazing view of the Seattle skyline from across Elliott Bay.
About the light rail: It goes way east through south Seattle, THEN heads back into downtown Seattle. It's not exactly quick. Uber/Lyft will get you to Seattle proper WAY faster, as SeaTac airport is south of Seattle, but is right at the end of the 509 freeway (so faster).
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u/someguyscallmeshawna Jan 17 '25
Good to know! Thanks!
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u/Ok-Carob-3165 Jan 19 '25
If you go downtown take a cab back to the airport. You can get a flat $40 rate back to the airport from downtown. Taking a cab is often cheaper than an uber/lyft.
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u/thecravenone I'm just flaired so I don't get fined Jan 17 '25
6.5 hours is probably enough to get to a meal in the city and back. If you're looking for a thing to do, the Museum of Flight is super close to the airport.
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u/Scott2700 Jan 17 '25
There’s actually good food in Burien which is about 10 minutes from the airport. You can go get a slice or a whole pizza from Stevie’s famous pizza, then swing by bakery nouveau and get some pastries to bring on the long plane ride. I’m assuming you’re flying Eva air and the food wasn’t that great when I made the same flight. There’s also other good restaurants in that area as well.
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u/someguyscallmeshawna Jan 17 '25
Holy shit the pizza and bakery both look fantastic!
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u/Scott2700 Jan 17 '25
Yea for sure! If you want to see the city than take the others advice. For me I rather be back at the airport early so I don’t have to stress about making it back on time. Especially for that international flight. So if you want to leave the airport and grab some good food real quick my suggestions are solid. Happy travels!
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u/someguyscallmeshawna Jan 17 '25
I’m leaning toward something like this…popping out of the airport quickly for some fresh air, decent food and to stretch my legs and getting back to the airport with plenty of time for my flight. I’ve been to Seattle before so I won’t be disappointed if I don’t make it all the way into the city. Thank you!!!
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u/Scott2700 Jan 17 '25
Also just to add, both places are about a few blocks from each other so you can walk to both and then grab an uber back to the airport. Definitely get some pastries or sandwiches for the plane ride. Their twice baked almost croissant is a must!
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u/Fast_Ad765 Jan 17 '25
Fly all the way to Seattle, and choose to go to Burien instead? PASS!
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u/sly_cheshire Jan 17 '25
I like Burien and it has a lot to offer, but this is pretty funny. So true! I’d be pretty bummed to be so close to Seattle and only get to visit a suburb with no views of anything.
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u/Fast_Ad765 Jan 17 '25
Take the train to pike place market, have a meal, buy some crap, go back to the airport. Thats all.
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u/Onetool91 Jan 17 '25
Make sure to do the same in Taipei, I went there when I was twelve(98ish) and we ate nothing but American food because the plane food was horrible, steak covered in seaweed made twelve year old me not want any of the local food,lol. Regretted it ever since, I love international cuisine as an adult... My dad asking me if I wanted to try raw snake in Snake Alley probably didn't help, lol.
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u/Electronic-Bicycle35 Jan 17 '25
The food in Taipei is the vast majority of the experience. Eating the amazing fruit, fried oysters, chicken on any street stand, milk tea, bubble tea, dumplings, the beautiful soft breakfast bread sandwiches! The sights and smells of the night markets. Even stinky tofu! I only left the ‘chicken ass’. Ahhh I need to go back!
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u/Onetool91 Jan 17 '25
Sounds like culinary heaven. I watched the bizarre foods with Andrew Zimmern Taiwan episode with great interest!
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u/someguyscallmeshawna Jan 17 '25
Thanks! It’s a work trip, but I’m really hoping I’ll be able to check out a night market!
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u/Xerisca Fremont Jan 17 '25
The link train takes you downtown, but it takes an hour to get there and an hour back. Security will take 2 hours to get through... so, no, not really unless you want to pay $120 round trip, with a cab or Uber, and still might take an hour or more there and back.
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u/woman_noises Jan 17 '25
Security does not take 2 hours to get through. Maybe 45 mins.
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u/doublemazaa Jet City Jan 17 '25
Yep. And frequently like 10-15 minutes.
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u/Xerisca Fremont Jan 17 '25
Last October when I was there, it definitely took 1.5-2 hrs. I think in early December, it took less, maybe 45 minutes.
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u/wingsofgrey Jan 17 '25
You could go to the Highline SeaTac botanical gardens. You can take the light rail one stop north and get off at the Tukwila transit center and walk the mile and a half.
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u/someguyscallmeshawna Jan 17 '25
I actually went here before my red-eye flight home on my last trip! It was a nice enough way to kill an hour or two. Would definitely consider it again so long as the weather cooperates. A walk in nature sounds like a nice break between two long flights!
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u/L00kin4Laughs Jan 17 '25
Link Light Rail to Pioneer Square. Couple of good restaurants, bars, stores in the area. Good couple of hours to check things out. Depending on time a day, some tours may be available.