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Tours at Pike Place Market
Guided tours offer visitors to Pike Place Market an experience like no other. The Market permits various third-party tours with topics ranging from food, history, ghosts, and more!
All guided tours are considered a commercial activity, which is regulated in the Market to ensure that it does not interfere with other commercial activity and public use of common spaces.
If you would like to apply for a permit to operate a guided tour through the Market, please read the information below and follow the links to apply to be a Tour Operator.
Tour Operators
Companies or individuals who manage Tour Guides in the Market
- Tour Operators must have a license issued by the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority to operate within buildings owned and managed as part of Pike Place Market. The requirements of the license are a valid business license, contact information, and certificate of insurance.
- Tour Operators must identify the general route of travel for the tour and a general script or description of the tour theme if the tour includes sampling or tasting of food, schedule, and times of day proposed.
- Tour Operators are required to pay an access fee for each tour guest. Group size is limited to a maximum of 16 people per guide and a participant fee of $1 per customer is added for each tour. The participant fee is payable every month.
- Tour Operators must identify the general route of travel for the tour and a general script or description of the tour theme if the tour includes sampling or tasting of food, schedule, and times of day proposed.
- License fees for Tour Operators permit access to Pike Place Market PDA buildings and are set by the Pike Place Market PDA annually. In 2024, the license fee is $50 per scheduled tour to a maximum of $500 per year. The license fee is non-refundable and payable at the time of registration each year.
For more information and to apply – click the button below
Tour Guides
Managed by Tour Operators
- Tour Guides must be sponsored by a Tour Operator with a license to conduct tours issued by Pike Place Market PDA. Tour Guides must have and display a valid permit badge when conducting tours in the Market.
- To receive an annual permit, tour guides must do the following:
- Be sponsored by a licensed Tour Operator.
- Pass a short true/false test based on a study guide, which the Pike Place Market PDA provides.
- Pay the annual permit fee ($30)
- Complete the Tour Guide Rules & Agreement, which limits the number of people in a group tour, supply Pike Place Market PDA issued stickers to each tour participant to wear during the tour, prohibits using any amplified sound, and sets general standards of courtesy & tour guide responsibility.