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Getting from Seattle Airport to Downtown Seattle

Seattle, located on the Pacific Northwest of the US, is a vibrant region packed with fun activities, delicious food, and flourishing nature. It is no wonder that the city influenced many movies, leading tech companies and music legends, attracting millions of visitors a year.

When visiting ‘Emerald City’, you have 2 transportation options to get from Seattle airport to downtown; you can either take a taxi or private shuttle, or you can take the Light Rail train. Taking a Seattle cab or private airport transfer is an easy and comfortable way to get to downtown Seattle. Taxis are available 24/7 and provide door-to-door services, meaning you can be at your accommodation within 15 minutes. Alternatively, the most cost-savvy transportation option from Seattle airport to downtown would be to take the airport’s Light Rail, taking 35 minutes.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Seattle at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €35 15min 24/7
Train €5.30 35min 05:00–00:00

How to get from Seattle International Airport to Downtown by taxi

Choosing to take a Seattle taxi or private airport shuttle is a convenient, reliable and fast way to travel from SEATAC to downtown Seattle. Taxis are available 24/7 and provide safe and comfortable door-to-door transportation from Seattle Airport to downtown in just 15 minutes.

Taxi fare from Seattle airport to the city centre

Cabs in Seattle calculate their fares using a taximeter based on the time and distance travelled to your exact location. However, Seattle airport taxi services offer flat-rate fares to downtown Seattle for the price of $40 (€35), excluding tips.

Please note that there are no price differences for day, night or weekend trips.

Cost

$40 (€35)

Trip Duration

15 Min.

*Cab prices from Seattle Airport to Downtown are fixed.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Seattle International Airport

Where do I get it from?

The official Seattle-Tacoma airport taxi ranks are stationed on the 3rd floor of the parking garage located at the airport’s north and south curb.

Convenience

SEA Airport taxis offer flat-rate fares, door-to-door services and are available 24/7, making them a reliable option for your transportation from Seattle airport to downtown. Moreover, the taxi journey is only 15 minutes, which is a great convenience, especially after a long flight and if you are travelling with children and heavy luggage.

Editor’s Note

It is customary to tip your taxi driver in Seattle; a tip of around 15% is the norm. Nonetheless, if your cab driver provided assistance with luggage and offered friendly conversation you can always leave a 20% tip.

Useful Tips

It is good to know that although Seattle cabs offer fixed rate prices to downtown Seattle, they use a taximeter to calculate their prices to all other destinations.
All taxis should accept bank card payments and traveller's checks including Visa, American Express, and MasterCard, but you can always confirm with your driver to be on the safe side!
There are no price differences for day and night or for weekend trips in Seattle.

How to get from Seattle Airport to Downtown by train

A great cost-savvy transportation from Seattle airport to downtown is on the Light Rail. The airport’s train provides fast and direct transportation to Seattle’s city centre, taking just 35 minutes to reach Westlake Center station.

How much is a Light Rail train ticket to downtown Seattle?

A one-way ticket on the Light Rail train costs $3 (€2.65). You can purchase your ticket for the Link light rail or Sounder at all Link Light Rail stations or Sounder stations. You can pay with cash or by credit/debit card.

Cost

$3 (€2.65)

Trip Duration

35 Min.

The Light Rail runs every 8 to 10 minutes from SEATAC airport to downtown Seattle.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The Light Rail is available Monday to Saturday from 05:00 to 01:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 06:00 to 00:00.

Where do I get it from?

The SeaTac railway station is connected to Seattle airport’s fourth floor at the parking garage and on the walkway from International Boulevard. In order to access the garage from the terminal, you will have to use the sky bridges and walk to the station, which takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Furthermore, Seattle’s downtown station is located at Westlake Center.

When coming back to the airport from downtown Seattle, the two closest stations to downtown are the University Street Station at Benaroya Hall and the Westlake Station at 5th and Pine, at the Nordstrom building.

Convenience

Taking Seattle’s airport Light Rail train is a great alternative to a cab. Getting to downtown Seattle by train is direct and a cheaper mode of transport compared to a taxi. However, for those travelling with children and/or heavy luggage, getting from Westlake Center (downtown Seattle) to your accommodation can be challenging.

Editor’s Note

Luggage storage is plentiful on the Light Rail with overhead storage running the entire length of the vehicle, similar to a plane. Also, there are two designated luggage storage racks per vehicle.

Useful Tips

The Light Rail provides discounted tickets for seniors, youth and disabled passengers on the presentation of an identity card.
It is good to know that children aged 5 and younger ride for free with a fare-paying passenger.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How to get from Seattle airport to downtown?

There are two transportation options to get from SEATAC to downtown Seattle. You can take a taxi or private shuttle, taking just 15 minutes, or you can take the airport’s Light Rail train, taking 35 minutes.

How much is a taxi from Seattle airport to downtown Seattle?

Cabs in Seattle calculate their fares using a taximeter, however, Seattle airport taxi services offer flat-rate fares to downtown Seattle for the price of $40 (€35), excluding tips. If you like planning in advance, you can consider pre-booking your Seattle private airport transfer with Welcome for a friendly, reliable, top-rated service!

Is there a train from Seattle airport to downtown Seattle?

Yes, the Light Rail train takes you from Seattle airport to downtown in 35 minutes. This is the more cost-savvy option, with a one-way ticket costing $3 (€2.65).

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