Nestled between the two awe-inspiring and majestic mountain ranges of the Olympics and Cascades, Seattle is adorned by many enchanting bodies of water, including the pacifying Puget Sound, the very lively conclave of Lake Union, alongside the serene and alluring Lake Washington. Visitors and residents also have a generous selection of bays and inlets to explore.
Coincidentally, Seattle is the only major U.S. city situated on an isthmus. (For the sake of trivia, Madison, Wisconsin, is the only U.S. state capital that’s located on an isthmus).
By itself, Seattle is unique because it’s the only city in the entire world that owns its name exclusively. There is no other location on Earth called “Seattle”.
Seattle is also the city that gave TIA International Photography the opportunity to build a solid and substantial portfolio of digital images and, inevitably, a headquarters of operations.
Therefore, after nearly 20 years as a resident and 17 years as a small business entrepreneur, TIA International Photography is proud to finally provide its Top 5 best vantages to capture the immensely alluring skyline of the Emerald City.
Most lists will include Kerry Park as the best, ultimate, and quintessential spot — similar to how Top 100 music video countdowns almost always had Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as #1. If you grew up in the MTV/VH1/BET era, you know what I’m talking about — Michael was NUMERO UNO by default on any “Best of” countdown for music videos.
As someone who used to love music videos from my teens well into my early 30s, such rankings were so commonplace, they became anticlimactic. (There was one random exception when “Thriller” was ranked at #2, which was startling in a comical way).
Getting back to Seattle skyline vantages…
Although Kerry Park in the Queen Anne neighborhood does offer what is arguably THE definitive view of the Seattle skyline (especially when Mount Rainier makes a cameo on a clear day), it’s for that very reason that I’ve decided to exclude it. As a professional photographer who has captured cityscapes for years, I would like to offer some thoughtful alternatives whether you’re a long-term resident of Seattle or a visitor with an eye for urban landscapes. Interestingly, it’s amazing how many native Seattleites are unaware of the numerous vantages and viewpoints available — not just of downtown, but of the Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and other landscapes within the region.
Here we go!
5. Jefferson Park, Beacon Hill
Here is another one of Seattle’s most magnificent parks that is easily accessible by automobile, bike, bus, and foot. Yet, I rarely see that many cityscapes of the skyline captured from here. Located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood southeast of downtown, Jefferson Park is a massive recreational space featuring walking trails, children’s playgrounds, a basketball court, a community center, a golf complex, a skating park — all adorned with a glorious view of the skyline rising above the houses of the neighborhood!
Even if you’re (preposterously) uninterested in the downtown skyline, definitely visit Jefferson Park for the experience. It’s a lot of fun! Jefferson Park seems underrated in my view.
4. Bhy Kracke Park, Queen Anne
While the name of this park frequently “cracks” a chuckle and some giggles given its inadvertent double entendre, make no mistake — the view of the Seattle skyline from this vantage is phenomenal!
Funnily enough, given Kerry Park is considered the epitome of viewpoints for the skyline, Bhy Kracke is only a fifteen-minute walk from Kerry and, in my view, is completely overshadowed and overlooked as a result. Even more quizzically, Bhy Kracke is accessible by car as well!
Perhaps the key difference is that, with Kerry, you have the Space Needle front and center dominating the skyline. Bhy Kracke’s view also features the Needle, but it is separated at a distance. Upon arrival, the photographer will need to determine whether the landmark should or should not be incorporated within the composition.
After living here for so long, I don’t know why Bhy Kracke seems to be a hidden secret when it really isn’t at all.
3. Overpasses along Interstate 5 between South Holgate Street and North 92nd Street
Without equivocation, I opine that Interstate 5 is as much a part of Seattle’s identity as is the Space Needle, Kerry Park, and Pike Place Market. If you live in Seattle, or must commute to Seattle for work or play, you have probably already developed a love-hate relationship with this notorious thoroughfare (with Route 99/Aurora Avenue a fraction of a millimeter behind in second place). During the good times (a.k.a. low traffic), the interstate might shockingly get you to your destination ahead of time. However, if you are not so lucky, running late, or have the bitter misfortune to experience the opposite of serendipity, this same highway can cause you to miss your flight at SeaTac, be late for the ferry you needed to get to Bainbridge Island, or miss the first 15 to 30 minutes of that play or musical you really wanted to see at the theater.
Be that as it may (and as it will), there are a multitude of intersections with Interstate 5 that will provide some illustrious views of the Seattle skyline. Your best bet is to drive as close to the intersection as possible and find nearby street parking. Below is a list of the streets that cross above Interstate 5 and offer some terrific views:
Holgate Street
Yesler Way
Olive Way
Denny Way
Lakeview Boulevard
45th Street
50th Street
Madison Street
Spring Street
Pike Street
Pine Street
Boren Avenue
70th Street
92nd Street
There are so many more buildings in this scene in 2026.
2. Columbia Sky View Observatory, Downtown
One can make an argument that the view of downtown from Columbia Sky View Observatory isn’t necessarily a “skyline” view. However, instead of wasting time with semantics, let’s talk about the quality of the view you will receive atop the Columbia Center which is the tallest skyscraper in Washington State.
Another debate exists that the view of downtown Seattle from Columbia severely rivals the view from the Space Needle, with the financial advantage of admission being significantly less expensive. Both as a cityscape photographer and an enthusiasts of cities in general, I can spend hours at the observatory. In fact, I have many times in the past. The last two times when I went there to record some timelapse footage, I must have spent eight to 10 hours there on both occasions (and it felt like only two hours had passed).
There is a cafe or bar at the observatory if you get hungry or thirsty. If you like different types of pop and light rock music, you’ll hear some familiar tunes playing while you admire the 360-degree view.
NOTE: If you do plan to photograph here, remember that you’re photographing the landscape against glass. Make sure you have a black t-shirt, hand-towel, or cloth — any material that’s very dark in color — to surround your camera lens against the window to prevent capturing the reflection of the observatory and people who may be behind you. Emphatically, I “quadruple-down” with this counsel should you plan to photograph the city at night from Columbia. It’s a horror to make this voyage only to go home, review your photos, and find cameos of all the activity taking place behind your camera because you forgot to block out the glare and/or reflection!
To learn more about Columbia Sky View Observatory, please click here.
Enjoy one of my timelapse videos from this location:
1. Colorado Avenue / Atlantic Street Flyover @ Route 99
The reason why this vantage is not more widespread, popular, or prominent is because it takes some effort to reach it.
In other words, you must have a determination to go there.
Photographers of various subject matters will concur that your automobile (assuming you have one in possession) will only get you so far. In my view, most well-known vantages are popular because accessibility is easy. With the Colorado Avenue-Atlantic Street overpass above Route 99, located roughly two blocks west of T-Mobile Park, your best bet is — if you drive — to find nearby street parking (preferably on a day when there isn’t a sports event taking place), and walk to the overpass using the sidewalk. You can also use a bike to get up there. The sidewalk is wide enough that you won’t obstruct another pedestrian who’s walking past you.
Personally, this has forever been one of the most stunning views of the Seattle skyline. I have frequented it for cityscape photography ever since the overpass was erected in preparation for the construction of the Route 99 tunnel that replaced the aging and decrepit Alaskan Way Viaduct — previously a signature feature of the Seattle waterfront for nearly seven decades.
One of my first timelapse scenes was from this vantage, and I am still so proud of it to this day. If interested, please check out my blog article which shows you the vantage point that I have described with yours truly standing there.
Here’s another timelapse from this vantage. Enjoy.
This list of five actually turns out to be several more given the intersections with Interstate 5, but overall, it’s still achingly incomplete! There are so many other recommendations I could specify. Perhaps, I’ll save them for a future blog post. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or need more tips!
