Seattle is the largest city in Washington State and is a year-round destination offering iconic sights, outdoor recreation, arts and culture, world-class sports and a thriving culinary scene given its proximity to quality local produce.
Known as the Emerald City because of the easily accessible evergreen landscape that surrounds it, Seattle caters to all types of traveller including city breakers, outdoor adventurers, family holidaymakers and everyone in between.
Direct flights from London with British Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines cement the city’s status as the gateway to the Pacific Northwest. Visit Seattle cannot wait to safely welcome back its visitors from the UK.
Can British travellers visit Seattle?
The US reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers on November 8.
Fully vaccinated travellers can enter the US without having to quarantine, but must take a test three to five days after arriving.
Travellers who aren’t fully vaccinated should quarantine for seven days, and also take a test three to five days after arriving.
Those under the age of 18 are exempt from quarantine but it is recommended that they still take the test.
The most up-to-date information on US border controls for UK citizens can be found here.
As of January 9, fully vaccinated travellers returning to the UK must take a Covid-19 test, which can be a lateral flow test, on or before day two, and fill out a passenger locator form.
Travellers returning to the UK who aren’t fully vaccinated must fill out a passenger locator form and take a Covid-19 test before arriving, as well as PCR tests on day two and day eight, and quarantine for 10 days.
What protocols are in place to ensure visitors feel safe in Seattle?
Those over the age of five are required to wear a face covering in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
Visit Seattle and Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority are asking tourism and hospitality businesses to take the All Clear King County Pledge, backed by public health protocols, to help the region reopen responsibly. Find out more information here.
What restrictions are currently in place in Seattle?
Throughout the pandemic, Seattle and Washington State have taken safety precautions extremely seriously.
In Seattle and the wider King County, proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test is required to enter indoor restaurants, bars, indoor recreational events and establishments, including live music and performing arts, and outdoor events of 500 people or more. For more information on mask-wearing rules and when proof of vaccination is needed, click here.
Resources and updates for some of the city’s most popular attractions and their safety measures can be found below:
- Pike Place Market
- Space Needle
- Museum of Pop Culture
- Seattle Center
- Seattle Center Monorail
- Other museums
Many museums require the advance purchase of timed tickets, access to certain galleries may be limited or restricted, and face coverings are required.
What measures are in place at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport?
The Port of Seattle, the organisation overseeing the seaport and airport of Seattle, has gone to great lengths to limit the spread of Covid-19 while maintaining essential operations. It has launched a FlyHealthy@SEA programme, which includes requiring employees and passengers to wear face masks, cleaning and disinfecting, making physical distancing possible, making space at the airport for on-site testing, and deploying contactless technologies.
The organisation is working with the federal government to continue to develop new protocols. For more information, click here.
Airlines are also implementing their own stringent cleaning and safety measures. American Airlines has set out the following protocols:
- Carrying out enhanced cleaning of all high-touch areas and electrostatic spraying of all areas.
- Using digital menus and free digital magazines in lounges.
- Treating aircrafts with antiviral surface coating SurfaceWise2.
- Following guidance from its Travel Health Advisory Panel and implementing stringent biosecurity measures.
- Using Hepa filters to refresh cabin air, removing 99.97% of airborne particles and renewing air every two to four minutes.
- Supplying sanitisers throughout the airport at departures, arrivals and lounges.
- Being the first US airline to introduce a health passport for inbound travel to the United States from all international destinations. Customers traveling to the US can use the VeriFLY app to confirm testing and other Covid-19 travel requirements.
How can visitors reach Seattle?
American Airlines
American Airlines has started a direct flight between London and Seattle. It is currently due to operate the 777-200 route three times a week.
Services are also available with British Airways and Delta Air Lines.
What plans are in place to reopen the cruise port in Seattle?
Canada’s transport ministry has announced an extended suspension of cruise operations in its waters until February 2022. This will affect the 2021 cruise season schedule as under federal law, cruise vessels must stop at a Canadian port on their Alaska itineraries. The Port of Seattle has indicated that “there remains a possibility of a limited cruise season in Seattle this year.” Read the Port of Seattle’s full statement on the Canadian government’s continued suspension of cruise here.
Keep up to date with the Port of Seattle’s latest information about the 2021 cruise season here.
PICTURES: Alabastro Photography
Last updated January 7, 2022