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Seattle Underground Tour: Pioneer Square's Secret City

Descend beneath Seattle's streets into the original Victorian-era city, buried after the catastrophic 1889 Great Fire and rebuilt above itself. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is irreverent, expert, and unlike anything else in America.

What to expect

Beginning at the ticket office in Pioneer Place Park, your guide leads you through restored storefronts, ghostly sidewalks, and below-street corridors of the original 1880s city. The tour spans roughly 90 minutes, weaving tales of Seattle's lawless Skid Road origins, its infamous underground brothels, and the ingenious (if chaotic) regrading that literally raised the city by a full story. The humor is dry and the history is vivid — a genuinely compelling counterpoint to Seattle's gleaming modern facade.

Book it with
Bill Speidel's Underground Tour (official)
USD 26 adults (standard tour); private group tours available — call 206-682-4646 for rates
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Good to know

Pioneer Square is approximately a 15-minute walk south from Pier 66, or a short taxi ride. Book tickets online in advance at undergroundtour.com to guarantee entry on your preferred time slot — tours sell out. Wear closed-toe shoes; the underground terrain is uneven.

Sail there

Luxury cruises that call at Seattle — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.

Oceania · Oceania Riviera
7 nights · round-trip from Seattle, Washington
from $1,917
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Azamara · Azamara Quest
7 nights · calls at Seattle
from $2,569
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Regent · Seven Seas Splendor
7 nights · calls at Seattle
from $7,699
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Regent · Seven Seas Explorer
9 nights · calls at Seattle
from $8,299
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See all cruises to Seattle →
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