Pioneer Square, technically a neighborhood, not just a 'square', is in the oldest area of Seattle. Two 'underground' tours originate from this area and take you below the streets for a look at newly settled Seattle. Very interesting - can recommend. In the paved, triangular center of Pioneer square you will find a lovely Iron Pergola serving as a bus stop. There is also a Tlingit totem pole here; the original apparently stolen by Seattlites from it's Alasken artisans, causing a bit of a tiff. You can read more here if you like: https://www.historylink.org/File/2076 This same area includes many businesses, trees, benches, tables and chairs. There are many businesses here, restaurants, craft shops, coffee shops, bakery, arts galleries. Smith Tower is not to be missed. Take in the views from the too and stop for a nosh or beve while up there if you have time. There are a number of homeless persons in Seattle and from time to time they will wander into Pioneer square. This may be uncomfortable for you. If so, remove yourself from the situation by taking a walk around the neighborhood or visiting one of the many businesses. It's worth a look, so wander around and enjoy the history. read more

Pioneer Square - Tables and chairs, some in the shade, totem pole (behind lamp) and pavilion bus stop. A city oasis of sorts. - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Pioneer Square is beautiful and contains the historical 2nd totem pole with an interesting back story. Public art is prolific and detailed architecture speaks to the overall emphasis Seattle places on aesthetics. Very much admired and appreciated. read more

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This neighborhood feels like stepping into a different time--cobblestone streets, elegant brick buildings, and a mix of Romanesque Revival and early 20th-century design that gives it a unique, old-world vibe you won't find elsewhere in the city. One of my favorite moments in Seattle was just strolling around these streets and admiring the architecture. There are also beautiful old façades that now house art galleries, cafés, and cool independent shops, blending the historic with the modern in a way that just works. Don't miss the Underground Tour--it gives you a fascinating look at the original street level of the city and how it all evolved after the Great Fire. It really made me appreciate the resilience and creativity of Seattle's early days. read more

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If you love Seattle and want to get to know more about its history, this is the place to hang out at. I have gotten to know this area well from doing the Underground Tour on many occasions. Pioneer Square was built in 1853, but was mostly destroyed by the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. It was rebuilt not too long later and is a popular destination for tourists today. A couple of historic things to check out in Pioneer Square include the Iron Victorian Pergola and a Tlingit Totem Pole. The Merchants Cafe is Seattle's oldest restaurant. You can see the "Sinking Ship" garage and the pencil-shaped Smith Tower from the plaza area. Pioneer Building is a cool old building that is one of over fifty buildings that were rebuilt in Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style after the fire. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is located in Pioneer Square and is a popular tour that tells the story of the early days of Seattle. This was always a favorite thing for my Dad and I to do when he lived here. In addition to the Underground Tour, my favorite things about Pioneer Square are the cafes, bookstores and art galleries. Pioneer Park is the heart of Pioneer Square and a great place to hang out, play games and relax. Check out First Thursday Art Walk when all of the nearby art galleries open up for people to enjoy. My only knock is that a lot of homeless people camp out in the park. read more

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Nice open park with family friendly games to take part in There are tables and chairs for sitting Lots of store fronts and restaurants near Underground city tour is available Lots of history There are some sketchy parts and or vagrants laying around so be alert read more

Pioneer Square - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We did it for the stroll. There are totem polls and a small park in the area. There is a firefighter sculpture as a photo op. Most spots were closed so not much to look at. There were a few sus people around. read more

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The Pioneer Square area - which as others have noted is not just the 'square' - represents perhaps the best and worst of Seattle. So many drug-adled people; lots of great restaurants and pubs, activities. From what I can tell based on a few days' stay (not enough to form a solid opinion, I know) the two aspects of the neighborhood co-exist fairly peacefully. We were never bothered by anyone despite walking just about every street and block. Sad to see, though. read more

We hung out in Pioneer Square before our Bill Speidel's Underground tour and again after lunch. Check out the park with the Totem Pole and Chief Seattle bust. There are some shopping options around the square and places to get some food. Pioneer Square lays claim to be Seattle's first neighborhood. It's really cool to learn of the history of the area and how the street and store fronts were originally one floor below. You can still check out some of the underground city and walk underneath Pioneer Square in some areas. read more

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This is a neighborhood in Seattle that covers a certain historic area and I walked around and discovered some museums parks and buildings

This is a nice park with jumbo sized games such as Chess and Connect 4 that were available for the public to use free of charge. There were lots of trees for shading and tables/chairs for sitting. It was clean and well kept. read more

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Do not come here, especially with children. As of 9/20/2021, the entire place is now a very unsafe homeless camp. It is completely unusable for the general public. Homeless people who are on drugs are so numerous, that they line the streets because the entire square is filled with tents. Do NOT go there. read more

Pioneer Square - Signs near the square. 9/20/2021 - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I really want to love Pioneer Square. Beautiful, old-style architecture, unique shops, used to be filled with galleries, used to be filled with restaurants and bars, etc. Then the drugs and the houseless gathered here, then it was all downhill with crime, violence, threats against the businesses and patrons. And then the pandemic and protests made things even worse, as if that was possible. When we visited back in April, the Seattle mayor had swept through these streets removing, I'll just say, "a lot of things." It was daylight at about 7pm on a Sunday, it felt safe enough, but it also had an eerie vibe. The city blocks felt void of life and sound, minus a bar or two that had outside seating. Many businesses had permanently closed. The store fronts are covered with the decorated boards that protected the businesses since 2020. In many cases, those businesses never returned. We wandered, taking photos of the art, sculptures, and the decorated boards. We visited businesses that were still open, such as Arundel Books. I think realistically, Pioneer Square is 2 Stars during the evening time. If you're there during the day time and enjoying the art and architecture, then it's 3+ Stars. read more

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Beautiful brownstones, art galleries, coffee shops and trendy bars fill Pioneer Square's late-1800s Romanesque Revival buildings. Underground tours explore subterranean streets, and learn about Seattle's roots at the Klondike Gold Rush National Park. There are supposed to be Food Trucks in Occidental Square, but it looked pretty quiet. read more

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Do not go here unless you have a specific reason. There are a lot of tents and homeless people hanging around. There are people using drugs right near the light rail stop. It's probably the most run down part of the city. I went here 20 years ago and it was much different. If you are sightseeing in Seattle, there's no point in going here just to see the area. read more

This is classic "Old Seattle" that dates back to the earlier days of development here. From the age of the buildings and streets, it's clear that this area was intensively rebuilt after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Brick and stone buildings for blocks surround the square. Smith Tower is nearby and you can't miss the tall totem pole in the square. Art galleries, cafes, sports bars and more are here. Other than a few homeless (who generally stay uphill at the City Hall Park), it's a cool hangout. read more

Pioneer Square - Seattle's Pioneer Square - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had never visited this area of Seattle before but SO's family had organized a family photo shoot and they picked this place. For a weekday and coming off the tail of COVID restrictions it was pretty desolate. The only other people were other people doing photo shoots and the occasional *ahem* domicile challenged individual. There are art pieces, a jungle gym in a setting with historic buildings and trees that allow dappled light. I can see why people choose it for a backdrop for photoshoots the other photo group happened to be an engagement shoot and they were getting some good shots as well. I can imagine this place bustling after a game or during a weekend drinking night so the place does seem a bit rough if you're looking at it purely objectively....we did notice some "leavings" from the aforementioned bums or dogs...or both. Still, the pictures looked nice so mission accomplished there! read more

Pioneer Square - Old arcade - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cool neighborhood and has a light rail link station. And is one of the oldest neighbor hoods in Seattle WA

What used to be a pretty place to visit has turned into a rough homeless camp. You can't even check out the land mark because of the tight homeless cluster there. read more

By day, Pioneer Square is a rain-soaked "playground" for tourists and underground tours. At night, it's a homeless haven where the word "skid row" actually originated. Much like Rudy Giuliani, this area gets old and scary quick. Little-known fact: The square is actually a triangle ... because the small plaza near 1st Ave and Yesler Way only has three sides. Of course, this is the section of town hyped as the main location that settlers settled in Seattle back in 1852. Nowadays, you'll settle for a discount hotel in Pioneer Square within walking distance of the Waterfront, Centurylink Field, Safeco Field, or even Pike Place Market. My wife and I have done the tours, gone to concerts and sporting events, eaten at many of the area restaurants, and stayed in hotels around Pioneer Square several times. At night, stick with Uber for transportation, otherwise, Pioneer Square is an ok part of town convenient to several better parts of Seattle. read more

Pioneer Square - Totem Pole in Pioneer Square - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Nah. This is a small park, with that noun used loosely, where the bums live with a couple trees and it's paved with a few park benches. Lots of bad smells great you as you walk through here. You will not want to stop and look around. The area is torn apart for construction and has been for over a year. read more

Vibrant neighborhood to visit in Seattle. Enjoyed touring the area and learning about the area's rich history during our underground tour. read more

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When I was younger, I would constantly confuse Pioneer Square of Seattle with Pioneer (Courthouse) Square of Portland. They're not even remotely the same, with one being a block within the inner downtown and the other being a historic district that doubles as an actual neighborhood. It might not be obvious to first time visitors, but this area has served as an important historical location that was the epicenter of Seattle's development as a world class city. After being completely annihilated from the "Great Seattle Fire" it was reborn again with newly paved streets, newer buildings, just at the turn of the major gold rush of the late 19th century. Less than half a century later, it was downtrodden, rundown by the time the 1970s rolled around becoming a common place for homeless, petty crime, and general sleaze. It sounds almost like Times Square in Manhattan, but with less people and government plans of a district revival. By then it was also labeled as a "historic" area of the city and was at the height of preservation for the city's gain. After a couple of decades of street car rampage and a small boom in the local economy, Seattle has gained traction again and Pioneer Square has become a blend of city life: restaurants, homelessness, hipster central, high rise apartments, boutique stores, and the unofficial haven for all things nightlife. It goes without saying: there's all sorts of characters here. Come during the daytime and take a few photos of the urban architecture and marvel at the never ending changes to the neighborhood. Beware of the scene at night, unless of course you're with a group of super responsible adults. read more

B O R I N G mixture of not much to look at and homelessness One time visit all that's necessary read more

Pioneer Square - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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WHERE SKID ROW BEGAN IT IS HIP TO BE SQUARE Where skid row began Pioneer Square is a hip square shaped district in southwest Seattle. It is a hip district with abundant historical buildings . Many of its brick buildings are protected through historic preservation. Inside its historic brick buildings are hip bars, night clubs, eateries, Starbuck's, offices, lofts, and shops. There is no definitive boundaries of Pioneer Square. The way I experienced Pioneer Square it is bounded by Alaskan Way/ Seattle Waterfront to the west, Columbia Street/ downtown to the north, 3rd Avenue to the east, and King Street/ Stadiums to the south. Both the landmark and heart of Pioneer Square is the totem pole towering over the triangular park at Yesler Way (a main east to west thoroughfare) at 1st Avenue. When I experienced Pioneer Square, the mature canopy of trees and infrastructure differentiated it from the adjacent districts. For example when I was walking along 1st Avenue, I knew I was in Pioneer Square when the street lamps changed from the arms to the Victorian lamps. And when I walked on 2nd Avenue when the traffic lights changed from poles and wires to pole mounted. The drastic change in mature tree canopy was another sign of entering Pioneer Square. I have always been fascinated by urban planning and historical districts. There was no way that I was going to pass over spending time in the neighborhood where Seattle began. The problem is that I would have liked to have spent more time here. Then again it was quality time that I had spent here. It was quality time hanging out over a few PBRs in the Pioneer Square Saloon. Then there was quality time sipping Starbucks under the totem pole watching people, cars, and horse drawn carriages. I enjoyed walking along the cobbled 1st Avenue from downtown to Safeco Field. Walking from Safeco Field to downtown on 2nd Avenue I enjoyed looking at the bars and Waterfall Park. After Pioneer Square Saloon, the shaded pedestrian Occidental Way was a nice break in the city from the city. If I had been here at night, I am aware that there are over twenty bars and clubs for quality nightlife. Pioneer Square is more hip than skid row. Yeah there are homeless and crime in Pioneer Square. But is everywhere including a power center parking lot. In all honesty I felt safer here than at 3rd Avenue by Pine Street in downtown. Just like in any city, stick to the populated streets during the busier times. And be alert of your surroundings. There is so much to see and do in Seattle. Spending time in Pioneer Square, where it is hip to be square and where Seattle began is a must see and do when visiting the downtown Seattle area. read more

A cool area to walk through and visit, but there were homeless people sleeping nearby.

Oh, Pioneer Square. As Amazon and their employees invade the city and the high rise apartment buildings envelop everything historic areas here are becoming few and far between. Pioneer Square is one of those places, but in general is hasn't been cared for well. Strtictly from a safety standpoint, It can be okay during the day, but I would strongly advise staying away at night. Regardless of the time of day: I don't always enouter agressive panhandlers in Seattle, but when I do it's in/around Pioneer Square. People urinating in the Square? Check. Taking sponge baths?Check (Oh, how I wish I were kidding). Pioneer Square will be demolished and become part of the distant past, so stop on by and see it while you still can, but prepare to be underwhelmed and probably disappointed. read more

Unlike other yelpers, I actually like Pioneer Square. Some people just hate cities, tourist areas and Seattle in particular. I happen to like this historic district and I don't think it's scary at all. This area was the original heart of the city and I think the locals should appreciate that. Pioneer Square is surrounded by blocks of shops, cafes, clubs, restaurants and galleries which make it a fun place to browse on a sunny day. It's also the area where you catch the spooky Underground tour and it's within walking distance from the International district. They also have the outdoor market on saturdays with local artist selling their goods and mobile food vendors such as Skillet, Ram & Rooster Dumplings and Parfait Organic Ice Cream. If you are staying downtown, you can catch the bus for free! read more

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Lots of construction. Watch your step. Easy chance for a good twisted ankle. Cool little historic area of Seattle. read more

Pioneer Square - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Do not go to Seattle's Pioneer Square and look for a square, instead go to the southwest corner of downtown Seattle and look for a small triangle on the corner of First Avenue and Yester Way. The triangle is actually Pioneer square. Somebody skipped out of a lot of Geometry classes. This area is the oldest part of Seattle dating to about 1852. I am a sucker for old places and will overlook a lot of negatives to tour through them. Many people are going to find enough negatives to stay away which has been well documented by other reviews. I'm just going to say, the area is called Pioneer Square-Skid Road Historic District. It is on the National Historic Registry of Historic Places. There is a hotel with a hanging sign that says , Rooms for $.75". What you are seeing today in the brick buildings and general architecture is the result of building after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Much of the architecture is Richardsonian Romanesque. Well you learn something everyday, hopefully. Before the fire most buildings were constructed of wood. Did somebody say WOOD and FIRE in the same sentence? . I'm a positive person so let me tell you what interested me and emphasize me. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour interested me. The first tour starts at 6 pm and I love the drama of night tours. It's underground like in tunnels and tight crawl spaces, also to my liking. Finally there is great story telling about Seattle's less than pristine past. I think you know what I mean. Can I interest you in the Waterfall Garden Park. The falls are cascading about 22' through an artfully designed landscape. Occidental Park has a firefighters statue, food trucks and live music sometimes. Who does not like firefighters, think 911? Then there is the statue of Chief Seattle and the 1909 iron Pergola. Just when I figured out the difference between a square and a triangle, Seattle hit me with the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. The park is actually a building, do not act surprised. I would write some more but I am too confused. I'm going stream some Nirvana and walk on over to the Merchant's Cafe which is billed as the oldest restaurant in Seattle. I hope it is a restaurant and they serve food and 20 ounce pints of beer. There are no guarantees in Pioneer square/triangle. read more

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What a beautiful cityscape. I love all the outdoor art and sculptors this city offers! Brick lined outdoor area and cute shops. Trees in full autumn change. Love it! There was a group of perhaps homeless people by the totem poles that seemed to occupy the outdoor games , checker boards that were smoking and just made what looked like a beautiful city neighborhood outdoor space seem a little less appealing. But overall, I love it all. Seattle is just an amazing city. read more

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Pioneer Square is worth coming at least once if you want to know about the History of Seattle. There are quite a few interesting bars, restaurants and stores in the immediate area. But I strongly recommend not walking in the area after dark. Especially if you are travelling alone. There are a lot of homeless and panhandlers which made me feel unsafe. With all these newer business moving in, hopefully the area will be clean up a little next time when I am back in town. read more

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Cool square with history, but has clusters of homeless people that deter you from hanging out. read more

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This place is scary. We went to the restaurant biscuit bitch because we heard sooooo many great things... let me tell you it's not great. We found a seat next to the window and had watched homeless people stick their tongues out at us, spit on the ground, throw food on the ground, etc. I lost all my appetite. I felt unsafe and it was 8:30-9:30am! I would not recommend. read more

Amazing neighborhood. Endless bars and restaurants. Cobble stone streets and ghost tours. This place is great for locals and tourists. Great walking neighborhood.. it's close to the water and offers many of Seattle's local trades. read more

Very nice Square in a historical district. Compearble wth SanDiego´s gaslamp quarter. People are somehow starnge; mix of homeless and alcoholics, but the rest of the ambience is nice. Especially during sunset, the view to the Smiths Tower is just beautifull! Several nice small restaurants have opened in that area as well. Go and try it ;) read more

Located in the downtown area of Seattle. This charming old part of Seattle has its perk. With coffee shops all over the place and all kinds of eateries, it makes for a difficult lunch decision. You can also tour the underground tour here. I didn't want to because I was a little scared. Keep in mind this area is frequented by transients and homeless, so it may be a little discouraging. read more

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Awesome part of downtown Seattle to explore- definitely check out Rain Shadow and Umbria in the area, Tat's is also good. There are some cool statues in the park, as well. One of the coolest attractions is the underground tour offered in this area. For all of the people complaining about the homeless in this area, welcome to the fact that you're in a major city. Stick to Capitol Hill if you can't handle reality. Or maybe don't visit at all. read more

Not my favorite city square. There's history here, but the square is traditionally overrun with vagrants and drunks. During a big event, Pioneer Square is a nice place, but just after dark on a March evening, the square is pretty seedy. read more

Welcome to the Seattle's original downtown! The neighborhood is lined with beautiful historic buildings and tall trees. Stroll the cobblestone streets and see interesting architecture and cool outdoor art, shop in funky boutiques and art galleries, and eat at great local restaurants. As others have mentioned, Seattle has a horrible homeless problem. Pioneer Park is a popular homeless hangout, so maybe don't visit it after dark. But it's worth a stop during the day to see the big totem pole and the bust of Chief Seattle. The Underground Tour starts here also (and is on my list for my next visit). read more

This place is more for the younger adults. We didn't go to the underground tour, or in any stores because they were on the high end or bars for drinkers. My sons were tired walking around since it's very hilly and some areas were sketchy. One interesting thing we saw were two men playing a huge chess board in the park. read more

Pioneer Square - Men playing chess - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington