All tour ticket purchases directly support our free and low-cost educational programs for youth and families. SAF offers 50+ full scholarships per year.
We offer tours year-round on Saturdays and private tours are always available if you can’t find a tour that meets your schedule. An expanded Spring-Summer schedule includes tours on Thursday - Sunday, except major holidays. The calendar on our website will always have the most updated information. Email info@seattlearchitecture.org for more information.
All tours are conducted rain or shine. In the rare event of extremely adverse weather (wind, heat, snow or ice) SAF will cancel a tour to protect guest safety. (See “What’s your exchange/refund policy” below.)
In the event of a weather-related cancellation we will send an email notification to all registered guests.
Tours are approximately 2 hours length and guests should be comfortable walking 2-3 miles at a moderate pace. While we aim to make our tours accessible to the extent possible, most routes involve hills, stairs, escalators and elevators. Tour participants are responsible for their own personal safety and SAF is not responsible for construction, demolition and road repair conditions which might alter tour routes. We are also not responsible for buildings, property managers and homeowners who are not ADA compliant. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.
If you have concerns about hills or stairs, please let us know in advance of your tour (206-667-9184) and we will make every effort to suggest appropriate tours or provide alternative routes whenever possible.
SAF Tour Guides are volunteers who receive extensive training in architectural styles, Seattle history and more. Some of them are design professionals (architects, landscape architects, interiors designers, etc.) while others are community volunteers from all walks of life. Guides are scheduled by their availability and there is no guarantee that a certain guide will be leading a specific tour on any given date.
Except for our Youth and Family Tours, SAF tours are not recommended for children under twelve.
For a number of safety reasons we only permit service animals on our tours.
SAF tour scripts and maps are for SAF programming only; we do not generally provide copies of these materials to guests. On occasion, we offer special event tours which are self-guided; you will receive those maps and other materials at the start of the tour.
Photography is generally allowed on our tours, however rules vary by location and your guide will let you know if there are public buildings where photography is not allowed.
This website links directly to Bold Type Tickets, the official SAF ticket agent. You can buy tickets 24/7, through our website or online. Bold Type Tickets has a customer support line that is available at: (888) 377-4510. Service fees apply.
Advance purchase is highly recommended; spaces are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and our tours frequently sell out. An advance purchase discount is offered on all tours. We do not maintain waiting lists for sold out tours. For day-of ticket purchases for tours which begin off-site, exact change, in cash, is required.
Should you be unable to attend your tour, you can exchange or refund your tickets up to 24 hours prior to the start of the tour. Call the service center at Bold Type Tickets at (888) 377-4510 or e-mail support@boldtypetickets.com with your confirmation code.
In the event SAF cancels a tour due to circumstances other than inclement weather, the full ticket price of your tour will be refunded and you will also receive a complimentary reservation to an additional tour of your choice. SAF will endeavor to notify all guests in advance of these cancellations.
