Seattle Tours
Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour
4.5

Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour

By Beneath the Streets
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Get to know Seattle's first established neighborhood, Pioneer Square, by walking its underground pathways as they existed in the 1890s in the company of a guide. Trace the city’s history, from an Indigenous dwelling to its Gold Rush days and up through its current state as a thriving modern neighborhood on this walking tour.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 7-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 1h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Learn the history of Pioneer Square from a unique, below-ground perspective
  • Walk the neighborhood's subterranean tunnels with a knowledgeable guide
  • Trace Seattle’s history from an Indigenous encampment to the 1890s to today
  • Seattle history tour covers the basics while leaving time for other sightseeing
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024

  • Professional guide
What's not included
  • Gratuities

Meet your guide and group at 102 Cherry Street, near Pioneer Square, at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. Be sure to wear good walking shoes as this underground walking tour covers uneven terrain and involves ascending and descending about six flights of stairs. After a brief introduction from your guide, set off to explore one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods and its subterranean tunnels on this guided tour. Listen to stories of Seattle's past, from the Klondike Gold Rush to Skid Row, as you wander dark passageways and then back up to street level. Over the course of three blocks, you'll cover a century of history, from the neighborhood's origins as a Coast Salish settlement to its modern iteration. It’s a perspective you can’t get by wandering on your own. The tour concludes at Occidental Park.

Start:
  • 102 Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
    Look for the black awning over the sidewalk; the stairs beneath will lead right to the check-in desk.
End:
  • 119 South Main St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36129P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travellers can participate
  • Operates rain or shine, please dress appropriately
  • Tours need 2 or more people on the tour for the tour to run. Full refunds given in the event only one person signed up for the tour.
  • There are 6 flights of stairs throughout the one hour tour. We travel 4 blocks ( apporx. half a mile, .8k) at a leisurley pace during the one hour tour.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36129P1

From
C$42.54
per adult
Select date and travellers

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • 102 Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
    Look for the black awning over the sidewalk; the stairs beneath will lead right to the check-in desk.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 119 South Main St, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Beneath the Streets
    4,931
    Seattle, Washington
    Joined in June 2013
  • Connector02069403495
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfect tour in Seattle
    Mike was truly a fun and excellent guide. Throughout the tour, he continuously shared fascinating stories and history about Seattle. He genuinely left us with wonderful memories, and my son also said that this was the most enjoyable and refreshing experience of our trip to Seattle. Thank you!
    Written February 1, 2025
  • tiaraa513
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Red Light District Tour
    We had a great time! Jennifer was great and very informative. We learned a lot about the formative years of Seattle and how it’s impacting the city today. The tour was fun and would do it again.
    Written August 24, 2024
  • TomM314159
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great value for an hour-long guided tour of Seattle's history.
    Great tour and wonderful explanation of how Seattle took shape. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the experience fun.
    Written August 24, 2024
  • bixiee
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Definite Recommendation - Will Do Again!
    Imogen was a great guide - humorous, knowledgeable, and so so friendly. The tour itself was fascinating, with just the right mix of walking, photo-ops and huddling with the tour group to hear Imogen tell another tale from this city's rich history. She also acknowledged the fact that the entire region, while hugely terraformed by settlers, could never have been settled in the first place had it not been for the local chief's support - and how land rights, reparations for historic injustices and Indigenous rights are a hot topic in the Pacific Northwest. We definitely want to return for Beaneath the Streets' queer and red light district tours next time we're in Seattle.
    Written August 23, 2024
  • Navigate45102605377
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommended!
    Due to a variety of circumstances, we were about 5 minutes late for the start of our tour. We called and the operator was able to change our tour time from 12:00 to 12:15. We greatly appreciated the flexibility! Our tardiness turned out to be serendipitous as we ended up with the excellent tour guide, Jennifer. She has a wonderful passion for Seattle and its history! Jennifer is exceptionally knowledgeable and was able to pack an extraordinary amount of information into our one-hour tour. The history of Seattle is fascinating and Jennifer describes many pivotal events in a way that’s both easy to understand and entertaining. Our kids (ages 9 & 12) didn’t even complain about learning during summer vacation! Beneath the Streets is one of our favorite Seattle memories - time and money well spent!
    Written August 11, 2024
  • dimaggios2023
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    ATL TO SEATTLE TRIP
    GREAT TOUR VERY INFORMATIVE! The wife & I truly enjoyed ourselves. Just be ready to have comfortable walking shoes on. The tour is a bit lengthy.
    Written July 5, 2024
  • Lesa F
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour
    Tour was definitely a highlight of our trip to Seattle. Richard the guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Very worthwhile.
    Written January 30, 2024
  • C4810YHkateh
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mike is the best!!
    This tour was super fun! Honestly and truly the best part was Mike! His energy was infectious his knowledge was extensive, his humor was spot on, is outfit was darling! I think he should be an actor if he's not already performing somewhere on the stage he should be!
    Written October 29, 2023
  • JulieH243
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun and informative historical underground tour
    It was fun and informative. Richard was a great historian and teacher. Would recommend for a lighthearted tour of historic Seattle.
    Written October 28, 2023
  • bobbW5127GI
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    amazing tour
    the tour was very interesting our tour guide sara was amazing i learned so much and the tour ended too quickly i highly recomend the tour and our guid
    Written October 14, 2023
  • Robert B
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sarah’s tour of Seattle was amazing
    Our guide Sarah was absolutely fantastic. The tour was informative, funny, and engaging. She was able to provide so much information about the town, but not make it a constant drone of information. If you are able to take this tour, ask for when Sarah does it
    Written October 14, 2023
  • Christy C
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun and informative
    Loved that Sarah was not only informative but was enthusiastic. You can tell she loves her job and loves the city. Fun fun
    Written October 9, 2023
  • danielhN2074QD
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Terri and her tour
    A great weekend tour underground Seattle by a very knowledgeable, professional and funny guide Terri. Just don't buy her any coffee.
    Written October 9, 2023
  • Kimberly P
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great guide (Sarah) & informative
    It was very informative! Learned a lot about the beginnings of Seattle. Sarah was fantastic!!! Very knowledgeable and fun!!
    Written September 22, 2023
  • SherrieD508
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour
    Fun history lesson of Seattle. Great perspective of the city. Mike made it great. It’s a great addition to any visit here and doesn’t take long and learned about the city would not have learned anywhere else. Worth it.
    Written September 18, 2023
See all 4,931 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles4,578 reviews
Excellent
3,699
Very good
547
Average
183
Poor
77
Terrible
72

Hannah O
16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
Dave was an excellent tour guide and we learned so much about Seattle’s history! Highly recommend stopping by to hear about the stories of building the city up and seeing some of the old streets. Great value for the money and opportunity to use tickets for discounts at local businesses. Great opportunity to experience something fun with family and/or friends!
Written July 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lemon4lime
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Solo
Prior to attending this tour, I spent time in the Museum of History and Industry, which was a great introduction to some of the information and stories provided on this tour. Our tour guide, Dave, was knowledgeable and passionate. He was cognizant of where our group was when walking around to ensure everyone stayed together and could hear him before giving details about that spot.

One suggestion for travelers who consider booking this tour: don’t book it on the last day of your trip/end of the day when it is dark later. The tour guide mentions many things on the tour that are recommended to visit later in the day after the tour when it is light out or the next day if you have a tour later in the day. (These spots require it to be daytime/stores to be open to get the sneak peeks that are shared with you.)

Great tour from start to finish!

If you have interest in the Smith Building (Seattle’s first skyscraper), the stories in the small museum there complement the stories from Beneath the Streets and is only a short walk from where the tour ends.
Written November 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience and for highlighting how our tour complemented your visit to the Museum of History and Industry! We’re thrilled that Dave’s passion and attention to detail enhanced your experience. Your advice for future guests is spot on—Seattle’s hidden gems, mentioned on tour, are often best explored during daylight or when nearby businesses are open. We love that you made the connection to the Smith Tower museum, as it offers such a fascinating extension of the history we cover on our tour. We’re so glad you enjoyed your time with us from start to finish, and we hope to welcome you back for more Seattle stories!
Written November 4, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ana Paredes A
Seattle, WA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
My 8 year old son and I had the pleasure of taking the tour with Mike as our guide, and it was an absolute delight! Mike's witty humor and in-depth knowledge of the city made the tour not only informative but also incredibly entertaining.

Mike's storytelling skills brought the history of Seattle to life as he led us through the hidden underground passages. His passion for the city's history and construction was evident, and it was contagious.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the tour to anyone visiting the city or even locals looking to discover more about their hometown. It's a fantastic way to learn about Seattle's past while having a great time. Thanks, Mike!
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
The Beneath the Streets tour in Seattle was awesome. Our guide David was great and very knowledgeable of the history of Seattle and the city today. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn more about what makes Seattle a great city.
Written June 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SWredeAK
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Friends
Very informative tour presented by a guy who clearly loves what he does! He was extremely knowledgeable about the architecture and history of the area and told fantastic stories, bringing the characters to life. The time flew by, as it does when you're having a great time! Highly recommend the evening tour with the more risqué stories (nothing extreme, but a better understanding of how rough and tumble Seattle actually was)
Written May 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FarAway14094298038
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
My wife and I took a trip to Seattle and saw this pop up as a recommendation. We enjoy doing unique experiences while out and about. This tour did not disappoint! Our tour guide, Sarah, was extremely knowledgeable and funny. The tour takes tou to three underground locations near and around Pioneer Square in Seattle, WA. There is some walking and going down stairs. The tour takes about an hour but Sarah made it such a fun hour with her jokes and manner of delivering the information. There is definitely some history about Seattle that you will be surprised to find out if you aren't- or even if you are - from the area. We were accompanied by four other people, two couples... young couples.
Written November 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cricketblue99
Kingsland, GA130 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I can’t say enough great things about this tour! Our guide, Jim Gall, is not only incredibly knowledgeable about Seattle’s history but also very theatrical in his presentation. He engaged the group throughout the tour so it wasn’t a strict monologue. We would love to come back and do the Red Light District tour as well!
Written August 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Venture39735716184
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Business
Mike is an amicable cowboy who lost his way in time. He breathed life into the walls of the waiting hall as he walked onto the stage, whisking his herd into the primitive age of Seattle’s founding. Armed with non-decaf in his right and an invisible lasso in his right, he assailed us with a robust knowledge of history and a burning passion for the past. It was an incredible journey that took us up and down Seattle’s streets and planted in me a renewed appreciation for the unique city if Seattle and the
Written May 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

C T
Tucson, AZ1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Couples
Visiting underground Seattle was an unforgettable experience! The tour was fascinating, filled with rich history, and our guide Patti truly made it exceptional. She was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing captivating stories about Seattle’s past while weaving in humor and engaging anecdotes. Patti’s ability to bring history to life kept the entire group entertained and eager to learn more.

Exploring the underground pathways and seeing remnants of the old city offered a unique perspective on Seattle’s evolution, from its early days to the bustling metropolis it is today. This tour is a must for anyone interested in history or looking for a unique adventure in Seattle. Highly recommend, especially if you’re lucky enough to have Patti as your guide!
Written December 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patti loves sharing the history of Seattle and the Underground. She is an engaging and brilliant storyteller. Thank you for the review and sharing your experience with us.
Written December 31, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kimberly H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
I learned a lot about the origins of Seattle that I did not know before. The tour guide was funny and engaging! I didn’t expect that there would be walking above ground too, but I appreciated it because our tour guide pointed out sights and gave more information about the Pioneer Square neighborhood. I’d recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the city’s unique history.
Written February 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 4,563
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour provided by Beneath the Streets

All Seattle HotelsSeattle Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Seattle
All things to do in Seattle
Day Trips in Seattle
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars