Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle: history, what to see, how to get there, hours and tickets

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle is a long-term exhibition of glass by the artist Dale Chihuly. It sits on the Seattle Center campus, next to the Space Needle, at 305 Harrison St. It has three parts: indoor galleries, the Glasshouse, a glass and steel conservatory, and an outdoor garden where sculptures stand among trees and flowers. People come for the color and light: more than 40 years of Chihuly's work, from drawings to huge suspended sculptures. For the city itself, see our Seattle page.

Chihuly Garden and Glass history and Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He studied interior design at the University of Washington, graduating in 1965, then enrolled in the country's first glass program at the University of Wisconsin. He went on to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he later set up the glass program and taught for more than a decade.

In 1968 a Fulbright Fellowship took him to the Venini glass factory in Venice. In 1971 he cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. Major shows followed: the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris (1986), Chihuly Over Venice (from 1995), Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem (1999), the Victoria and Albert Museum (2001), the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2005), the de Young Museum in San Francisco (2008) and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2011). The exhibition says his work is in more than 200 museum collections.

The Wright family invited Chihuly to exhibit at Seattle Center, and he planned the 1.5-acre site with Center Art. An existing building became the Exhibition Hall and the outdoor space became the Garden. Ground was broken in August 2011, artwork installation began in March 2012, and the exhibition opened on May 21, 2012. Chihuly chose existing pieces and made new ones for it.

Seattle Center itself grew out of the 1962 World's Fair, the Century 21 Exposition, which President John Kennedy opened on April 21, 1962 and which closed on October 21. The Coliseum and the Space Needle were built for it. The campus covers 74 acres today.

What to see: the galleries, the Glasshouse and the garden

Galleries. The galleries cover more than 40 years of Chihuly's experiments with color, form and light, and his works on paper trace how the sculpture developed. The site lists the rooms in order: Welcome, Winter Brilliance, Chihuly's Inspirations, Sealife Room, Persian Ceiling, Mille Fiori, Ikebana and Float Boats, Drawing Wall, Chandeliers and Macchia Forest. Several share names with his series: Persians and Macchia (1980s), Chandeliers and Niijima Floats (1990s), Fiori (2000s), while Cylinders and Baskets date from the 1970s.

Glasshouse. A glass and steel building 40 feet tall with 4,500 square feet of space, reflecting what the exhibition calls Chihuly's lifelong love of conservatories. Overhead hangs a 100-foot sculpture of hundreds of hand-blown red, yellow and orange forms, one of his largest suspended works. The Glasshouse is sometimes reserved for private events; parts of the exhibition and the garden stay open.

Garden. It was Chihuly's first chance to work with a garden designer, and the garden was built from the ground up. Plants are chosen to set off the glass and change with the seasons, so the garden looks different through the year. The site publishes a Master Plant List.

Theater and bar. The Theater shows short films on Chihuly's process: interviews, glassblowing and installations around the world. The Bar at Chihuly serves cocktails and small bites among the artist's personal collections, no reservation needed. The Community Hot Shop gives glassblowing demonstrations, which the site says begin at 11 AM.

An audio tour, included with every visit, runs on the exhibition's website, one track per room. Transcripts exist in English, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and Korean.

How to get to Chihuly Garden and Glass

Monorail. The easiest way from downtown. The Seattle Center Monorail runs from Westlake Station to Seattle Center in about two minutes, the operator says, and Seattle Center says trains leave about every 10 minutes. A one-way adult fare (19 to 64) is $4, a round trip $8; youth 6 to 18 pay $2 (free with a youth ORCA card) and reduced-fare riders (65+, disabled and others) $2; children under 5 ride free. Pay with ORCA (tap only on entry), a credit or contactless card at the ticket machine, or a mobile ticket. Regular hours: Monday to Thursday 7:30 AM to 9 PM, Friday 7:30 AM to 11 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM to 11 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM to 9 PM; hours change around Climate Pledge Arena events.

Light rail. Westlake Station is served by Sound Transit's 1 Line and 2 Line and connects to the monorail.

Bus. King County Metro routes 1, 2, 4, 8, 13, 24, 29, 31, 33 and the RapidRide D Line serve Seattle Center; the RapidRide E Line and routes 5 and 28 stop along Aurora Ave N.

Car. The exhibition recommends city garages: the Fifth Ave N Garage (Fifth Ave N and Republican St) is closest, and the Mercer Garage (Third Ave N and Roy St) is another option. Valet parking is available at the Space Needle.

Hours and tickets

Hours and prices checked on November 5, 2026 at chihulygardenandglass.com.

Prices come from the exhibition's ticketing for dates from November 5 to December 12, 2026. It shows starting prices, and they change with the date. Tickets are for a timed entry, and general admission also includes a 30-minute IMAX film. The Plan Your Visit page itself gives different ranges (general $40 to $45, senior and youth $35 to $40), so see the exact amount for your date on the ticket page. The exhibition is open year-round, but hours are posted about a month ahead and some days are adjusted, so check Plan Your Visit before going. The combination ticket makes sense if you also want the Space Needle next door, which has its own page among Seattle's sights.

Tips before you go

• Plan on one to two hours; the exhibition says that is what most visitors spend.
• Large strollers, bags and suitcases are not allowed. A free coat check stores them. Parcels, umbrellas and bags larger than 11 by 15 inches are not allowed in, and the exhibition suggests leaving large items at home, at your hotel or in your car. Bags with medical, nursing or baby-care items are fine.
• Handheld photos and video are allowed. Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are not.
• Do not touch the art; stay at least 12 inches away. Leave food and drinks at the door.
• No phone calls in the galleries; the garden is fine.
• Children must be with an adult. Only service animals are allowed.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass take?

The exhibition says most visitors spend one to two hours in the galleries, the garden and the Glasshouse. The route is self-paced, and the audio tour on the exhibition's website, included with every visit, has a separate track for each room that you can play as you go.

Can I buy one ticket for Chihuly and the Space Needle?

Yes. The Chihuly Garden and Glass website sells Chihuly Garden and Glass + Space Needle + IMAX at the Center: the exhibition, the Space Needle and a 30-minute IMAX film, from $74 a person with timed entry. That price was checked on November 5, 2026 and varies by date, so confirm it on chihulygardenandglass.com before buying.

How do I get to Chihuly Garden and Glass from downtown Seattle?

Take the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake Station, which is also served by Sound Transit's 1 Line and 2 Line. The ride takes about two minutes and a one-way adult fare is $4.

Can you take photos at Chihuly Garden and Glass?

Yes, with a handheld phone or camera. Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are not allowed, the art must not be touched, and images may not be sold or used commercially. Phone calls are also not allowed in the galleries.