In late September 2025, we cruised to Alaska and disembarked in Seattle, where we had one full day to explore the city before flying home. While planning our Seattle itinerary, I discovered one of the most unique attractions in the city — Amazon The Spheres, a futuristic glass greenhouse located at Amazon’s headquarters.
What makes The Spheres special is that they are only open to the public on select Saturdays each month, and admission is completely free — but advance reservation is required. Even better, the open dates happened to fall on the first and third Saturdays of the month, which perfectly matched our travel schedule. So we decided to try our luck and book tickets online.
If you have a friend working at Amazon, they can escort you inside on weekdays. Otherwise, reserving a weekend ticket is the only way for the general public to enter. In this guide, I’ll explain exactly how to book Amazon Spheres tickets, when reservations open, and share our real visiting experience inside this urban rainforest in Seattle.
Seattle Travel Tip: Where Amazon The Spheres Fit into a First-Time Itinerary
If this is your first time visiting Seattle, The Spheres are an easy stop to combine with downtown sightseeing. They’re located near South Lake Union and within walking distance of other major attractions.
Is Amazon The Spheres Free to Visit?
Amazon Spheres Ticket Price
Amazon The Spheres are completely free to enter, but only for visitors who successfully reserve a ticket in advance. There is no walk-in entry, and you cannot line up on-site without a reservation.
Because tickets are free and extremely limited, they usually sell out very quickly.
Amazon Spheres Reservation Time & Ticket Release Schedule
When Do Amazon Spheres Tickets Open?
Reservations open 15 days before the visit date.
For example:
- We booked tickets for October 4
- Tickets opened on September 19 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time
- That equals 1:00 AM Taiwan time on September 20
I highly recommend using a time zone converter in advance so you don’t miss the release window.
How Many Tickets Are Available?
- 100 tickets are released every 30 minutes
- If one time slot is sold out, you can wait and try again for the next slot
- Visiting hours are 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Amazon Spheres Official Booking Website
When it’s time to book, the reservation page can be somewhat hard to find — especially if you’re rushing.
At the official booking page, go to Book A Visit, which is where all public reservations are made.
Step-by-Step: How to Book Amazon The Spheres Tickets
Step 1: No Account Required
You do not need to create an account. Simply open the booking page when reservations go live.
Step 2: Select the Date & Time
Once booking opens, available dates will appear on the calendar on the right-hand side. Select your desired date and time slot.
Step 3: Enter Visitor Names (Important!)
You’ll be asked to enter each visitor’s full name.
If you’re booking for family members or friends, make sure you already know how to spell everyone’s name correctly — this step can slow you down during ticket release.
Step 4: Don’t Give Up If You See an Error
This is the most important tip.
I tried booking the 10:15 AM slot, filled out all the details, clicked “Complete your booking”, and got an error message that looked like the tickets were gone.
I moved on and waited for the 10:30 AM slot, but when I submitted the form, it also looked sold out.
However, my brother kept clicking “Complete your booking” repeatedly, even when the error screen appeared — and he actually got tickets.
💡 Lesson learned: Keep clicking. The system sometimes releases tickets back into the pool.
In the end:
- We secured tickets for the 11:00 AM slot
- We canceled the earlier time once the later booking was confirmed
- This worked better with our cruise disembarkation and luggage schedule
Before You Visit: ESTA App & Photo Spot Tip
If you’re entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, the official ESTA mobile app is available and very convenient. Just make sure you download the official app, not a fake website.
We walked from Sheraton, just blocks away. Before going inside, don’t forget to take some photos across the street — it’s a great spot for classic tourist shots of The Spheres from outside.
What It’s Like Inside Amazon The Spheres
Check-in & Entry Rules
At the entrance, you’ll see a check-in desk where staff will verify your reservation confirmation. We noticed quite a few Korean tourists visiting at the same time.
Reservation is mandatory
Once inside, you’ll see a sign reminding visitors not to throw coins into the environment.
Exploring the Interior: A Tropical Rainforest in the City
The visiting route is flexible. We explored from the lower levels upward.
The entire space feels like a tropical rainforest hidden inside downtown Seattle. The Spheres house over 40,000 plants from more than 40 countries, with natural lighting, elevated walkways, and immersive greenery everywhere you look.
It honestly feels like a giant photo spot — every angle looks stunning. Please do not touch any plants.
The architecture is truly impressive, and the scale of the space is hard to capture in photos alone.
Amazon Employees’ Workspace
On weekdays, this is an actual workspace for Amazon employees, and it’s easy to see why — the environment is incredibly comfortable.
There are water refill stations available with paper cup.
Coffee & Donuts at General Porpoise (Inside The Spheres)
On the second floor, you’ll find General Porpoise, a popular local donut and coffee shop.
When ordering online, I noticed this location is marked as Amazon badge access only.
- Donuts start at $6 USD
- Lattes start at $6 USD, plus tax
The coffee quality was surprisingly good — very comparable to cafés in Taiwan and much better than most Starbucks drinks I’ve had in the U.S., which often taste too diluted.
There are plenty of seats nearby. It was quite busy, but I waited patiently to capture some empty shots for photos.
Why The Glass Looks So Clear: Low-Iron Glass Design
The spherical structure uses low-iron glass, which doesn’t have the greenish tint typical of standard glass. Combined with a special surface coating, it reduces glare and increases transparency, making the entire space feel bright and open.
One of my favorite spots was a meeting room completely surrounded by greenery — such a unique work environment.
Final Photo Spot: Amazon Logo Viewpoint
Before leaving, make sure to head to the top level, where you can take photos with The Spheres and the Amazon logo together — a perfect ending shot.
How Long Does a Visit Take?
We spent about one hour walking around, taking photos, and enjoying the space.
Interestingly, we met a Taiwanese family inside who were also heading to a cruise afterward. Later, we ran into them again outside — they told us there were food trucks nearby giving out free bananas, which was a fun bonus.
Is Amazon The Spheres Worth Visiting?
Absolutely.
If you’re visiting Seattle and manage to secure a reservation, Amazon The Spheres are a unique, memorable, and completely free experience. It’s not just a tourist attraction — it’s a fascinating blend of architecture, nature, and modern workplace design.
For travelers who enjoy photography, architecture, or unusual city attractions, this is well worth adding to your Seattle itinerary.
Also read:
Starlux Airlines A350 Economy Class Review: Taipei to Seattle Flight Experience
Sheraton Grand Seattle Review: Convenient Downtown Stay Before an Alaska Cruise
1 comment
This looks like a fun experience, seeing a rainforest in the city. The reservation system sounds like a bit of a challenge though.