IMDRF 26th Session  |  September 16-20, 2024  |  Seattle, Washington

 

SEATTLE WASHINGTON INFORMATION

A place of surprising contrasts.

Seattle is a place of surprising contrasts. An urban city surrounded by natural beauty, it is sophisticated yet unpretentious.

Start your day kayaking on Lake Union, then end it with a spectacular meal at a 5-star restaurant. Catch an indie band at the Crocodile or a Beethoven symphony at Benaroya Hall. See a Broadway-bound play or ride a waterfront Ferris wheel.

Stroll through historic Pike Place Market, marvel at Chihuly Garden and Glass, then visit a dozen wineries—all in one day.

Seattle is clean, green and vibrant: a city for all seasons. Visitors can ski in the winter, hike in the spring, sail in the summer and cycle in the fall—all just a short hop from a comfortable city hotel.

Seattle is two cities in one. It’s a world-class metropolis set within wild, beautiful natural surroundings, offering the best of urban lifestyle while embracing the rugged outdoors.

Many of Seattle’s top visitor attractions are within the downtown core including the Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Symphony, ferries, world-class restaurants and a historic theatre district. Three national parks lie within a two-hour drive of Seattle and the city is a gateway to the San Juan Islands, Olympic Peninsula, Washington Wine Country and British Columbia.

AIR TRAVEL INFORMATION

Attendees may make flight arrangements to arrive into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), often referred to as Sea-Tac Airport:

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) - accessible via the Light Rail.

For more information:

Airport Terminal map. 

International Travel via SEA Airport

Airlines & Destinations to/from SEA

Ground Transportation to/from SEA

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) and Taxis are available to/from SEA airport. 

All Photos Courtesy of Visit Seattle

VISIT SEATTLE

Plan your visit to Seattle, Washington: https://visitseattle.org

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Seattle, Washington is connected by a light rail system.  It is a popular, convenient, and affordable way to tour the area.  The Sound Transit Light Rail System has one northbound-southbound line from the airport north to downtown and the northern neighborhoods. Each train car has an external sign with the direction of the train. The southern terminus is Angle Lake. The northern terminus is either Northgate or Lynnwood (scheduled to open 30 August).

LIGHT RAIL MAP

From Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) Airport at the south to downtown and beyond to the Northern districts.

WEATHER IN SEPTEMBER

In mid-September, the average daytime temperature is 67 degrees Fahrenheit / 19.5 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperature is 52 degrees Fahrenheit / 11 degrees Celsius. Weather website.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

The United States has one telephone number to call for medical, fire, or criminal emergencies – 911. The number is available 24 hours per day, free of charge, from any telephone.   

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Important Information For International Travelers Including Passport & Visa requirements.

CURRENCY

The United States dollar is the official currency of the US. Credit cards are widely accepted in the U.S., but it is recommended to carry some cash for smaller vendors. Visit the current exchange rate converter for more information here.

ATMs are widely available at most banks, hotels and convenience stores throughout the Seattle area.  Many are located in a terminal external to the bank.  

VOLTAGE

Since voltage in the U.S. is 110-120 V (60 Hz) and varies from many other countries, consider bringing a travel adapter with voltage transformer to charge devices. 

MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

Should you wish to have mobile service on your device while you are in the US, check with your existing service provider in your home country to see if they offer international service in the US. Alternatively, you can opt to purchase a temporary US based SIM card for your mobile device. If your device accepts an eSIM card, then you will not need to remove your existing SIM to use it.