We rode the The Seattle Great Wheel | What to Expect in 2026

It's currently Mid-Winter break, so my sons are off of school for the week. My mom was visiting us, and we took her around Seattle to do some tourist things. Since she had never rode The Seattle Great Wheel, my sons and I rode with her. This attraction, located on Pier 57 on the Seattle waterfront, opened in 2012 and is 175 feet tall. The ride is around twenty minutes and goes around slowly three or four times. 

This Ferris wheel is not scary or thrilling and is more for the views of Seattle than anything. They raised the prices substantially since they first opened in 2012. An adult ticket was $13 and it's currently $25. They take a photo of your group before you wait in line to get on, and then you can purchase a digital download for $8. I thought that was a good price, so I bought the download and then sent it to my mom. They have other photo options for purchasing the print in a frame for $20 and up, I believe. 

We didn't purchase our tickets ahead of time, but luckily there wasn't a wait at the booth. We visited around noon on a Sunday. Then we waited in line for just 10 minutes. When we got off of the wheel, twenty minutes later, the line was substantially longer. We had four people in our group, and we had our own pod. You have to stay seated the whole time. When they first opened, my husband and I rode with another group, probably because of the high demand at the time to ride. 

The day we went, we got lucky with the weather, and it was really sunny. It was cold, but clear, and the views of Seattle, West Seattle, and Elliot Bay, were stunning. I enjoyed seeing the completed waterfront from above, it was gorgeous! You can see the new Pier 58 Playground and the Overlook Park. This was my third time riding the Ferris wheel, and the last time we rode in 2020, they were doing construction still. 

The Seattle Great Wheel would be so fun for visitors, especially first-time visitors, since the views are unmatched from above! 

After we got off of the Ferris wheel, we were all really hungry for lunch. We decided to walk close by to Pier 54 to Ivar's Fish Bar. This is the quick service location, which is next to Ivar's full-service restaurant. There was a little bit of a line, but it got much longer by the time we left. My son's and I got the Chicken Strips and Fries, and they also each got a Vanilla Soft Serve cone. 

They only have covered outdoor seating here, and it's really a fun time. My family and I have been eating at this Ivar's my whole life, and the seafood and fries just hits different here. You can hear the sounds of the pier and see the seagulls flying around, looking for fries to eat. We used to feed the seagulls our leftover fries after our meal, but I have a feeling that's not a thing anymore. After our lunch, we went into a souvenir store and then the boys played at the Pier 58 Playground. 

We had so much fun at the waterfront with my mom, and I'm glad the construction is complete these days. I felt like I was on vacation in my own city. If you're a local or planning a trip to Seattle, don't miss visiting the waterfront area. It has changed for the better and is now a top destination when checking out Seattle!  

The Seattle Great Wheel 

1301 Alaskan Wy

Seattle, WA 

Ivar's Pier 54 Fish Bar 

1001 Alaskan Wy

Seattle, WA