Quick Guide to Visiting the Seattle Spheres
The Seattle Spheres are a free attraction in the heart of downtown. Inside the three interconnected glass domes is a combination workspace and conservatory with over 20,000 tropical plants. The Spheres are open to the public twice a month. It’s not hard to get a reservation to visit. It just takes some planning in advance. Here’s a quick rundown of how to get inside the Seattle Spheres and what to expect while you’re there.
How to visit the Spheres
There are two ways to get inside the Seattle Spheres:
Make an online reservation for the first or third Saturday of the month when the Spheres are open to the public.
Be an Amazon employee or a guest of one.
Public visits reservations
Reservations for the Seattle Spheres open 15 days before each public visit day. Here’s how to get one:
Go to the online reservation page 15 days before the Saturday you want to visit.
Click on “book a visit.”
Select an open time and click “check out.”
Reservations appear in real time from 10 AM to 5 PM PST. More become available every 15 minutes. If you don’t see any open reservations, wait 15 minutes and try again.
If you look for a reservation on the day they open up, you have a good chance of getting one. After a day or two, you’ll probably have limited choices on the time. After a few days, they’ll be full.
Up to four people can visit on a reservation. Adults will need to present a photo ID at check-in. Reservations are for an hour, which is plenty of time to see the Seattle Spheres.
The sundeck
Visiting as a guest
If you happen to know an Amazon employee in Seattle, you’ll have more flexibility on when you can visit the Spheres. The employee presents their badge at the check-in desk. The guest receives a clip-on badge to wear during the visit. Employees can bring up to six guests. If you’re a guest, you must stay with your host while you’re in the Spheres. I wandered away from the friend who got me in to go use the bathroom. A couple of security guards stopped me on the way. They were nice about it, but heads up, they are keeping track.
The bird’s nest
Know before you go
It’s free to visit the Seattle Spheres.
Large bags, outside food, pets, and weapons are not allowed inside.
Taking photos and videos is fine. Flash photography and tripods are not allowed.
Restrooms are on every level of the Spheres. Look for them near the elevator.
Please stay on the paths and don’t touch the plants.
The Spheres are open from 10 AM to 6 PM on public Saturdays. For Amazon employees and their guests, they’re open Monday - Friday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM.
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
About the Spheres
The Seattle Spheres (colloquially called Bezos’ Balls) are one of the city’s newest attractions. Construction began with the groundbreaking in 2015 and lasted for several years until the grand opening in 2018. They are now among Seattle’s most distinctive buildings. In contrast with the typical boxy skyscrapers around them, the glass domes have, shall we say, anatomical contours. In all, 2,643 panes of glass form the exterior of the Spheres. The design of the glass maximizes the light that enters the interior while limiting the heat build-up.
Inside the Seattle Spheres is both a greenhouse and a workspace. The plants were part of the design from the beginning. A horticultural team began sourcing and growing plants while the building was still in the planning stages. To plant the 50-foot-tall ficus tree, a crane lowered it through a temporary hole in the ceiling. Today, more than 1,000 tropical plant species live inside the Seattle Spheres. The temperature stays at 72 F with 60% humidity to keep them happy. It’s also comfortable for humans, and you won’t need a coat.
What to see
Outside the Seattle Spheres is the urban arboretum, which you can see anytime without a reservation. The trees, bushes, and shrubs along the sidewalks come from different regions and climate zones around the world. As you walk around the arboretum, make sure to stop by the banana stand for a free banana.
Look for the banana stand outside the Spheres
The best way to see the inside of the Seattle Spheres is to wander. The space is large and open, with multiple levels of walkways. As you enter, you’ll pass a small waterway. The most eye-catching features are the 50-foot ficus tree and the 4,000-square-foot living plant wall. Around 200 species of plants live on the wall. They are arranged by the growing conditions they prefer. The plants toward the top of the wall get more light and heat than those at the bottom, mimicking the conditions they would have in nature.
The living wall
The upper level has some of the building’s most interesting architectural features, like the human-sized bird’s nest and the sundeck at the top. The second level of the Spheres has a cafe and a water station. Fish tanks decorate the wall nearby. Staff members in pink T-shirts, called ambassadors, are there to answer any questions you have about the design and plant life of the Spheres.
Beneath the Seattle Spheres are a couple more points of interest:
The Understory has exhibits on the design and technology of the Spheres. Visit on Tuesday–Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
Deep Dive is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in the base of the Spheres. Visit in the evenings to grab a drink and see the curios on display.
You don’t need a reservation to visit the lower level of the Spheres.
Is it worth it?
I’d say yes, it’s worth it to visit the Seattle Spheres. It’s a free attraction downtown, and the plants are awesome. On a typical drizzly Pacific Northwest day, it’s an indoor activity that still feels a little like being outside in natural light. If the timing of your visit to Seattle doesn’t line up with the available reservations, don’t let it ruin your trip. There are more than enough things to do in Seattle to fill up your time without visiting the Spheres.
The urban arboretum
How to get to the Seattle Spheres
Address: 2111 7th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
The Seattle Spheres are in downtown Seattle. Parking nearby is limited and can be expensive. Look for parking at 2021 7th Avenue or 2121 7th Avenue. It’s about $5 for two hours. Metered street parking may also be available.
The Spheres are an easy walk from the Westlake light rail station, about five minutes. They’re also walkable from multiple bus lines.
Downtown attractions
The Seattle Spheres are an easy walking distance (within a mile) from many other attractions in downtown Seattle. Here are some of the highlights:
Pike’s Market
Seattle Aquarium
Space Needle, Chihuly Garden, and the Museum of Pop Culture
Seattle Art Museum
Olympic Sculpture Park
Lake Union
Enjoy your trip to the Seattle Spheres and downtown!
With love,
Emma
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