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Home / Directions to Penelope | Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle

Directions to Penelope | Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle

Inside the lower lobby level of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel

VISITING US DETAIL
Address 411 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Location Lower lobby level, Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, downtown Seattle
Text or call 206-438-1750
Hours 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, seven days a week

Penelope & The Beauty Bar occupies the lower lobby level of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, the 1924 landmark at the centre of downtown Seattle. Enter through the main hotel doors on University Street and take the staircase or elevator down one level. Our team is at the desk to meet you.

Whether you are arriving from across the city, across the water or across the state, the routes below will bring you to our door.

ARRIVAL & PARKING

Valet parking

Valet is available at the University Street entrance of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Spa guests receive a reduced rate of $19. Mention Penelope when you arrive and validate your ticket at our front desk.

Self-parking

The Ace Olympic Parking Garage offers all-day self-parking at $10, a short walk from the hotel entrance.

Arriving by light rail

Symphony Station — formerly named University Street Station — sits at Third Avenue and University Street, one block downhill from the hotel. Walk east, uphill, and the Fairmont Olympic entrance is on your right between Fourth and Fifth.

Link light rail connects Symphony Station directly to Sea-Tac International Airport in roughly forty minutes, with no transfers. For guests flying in, this is often faster and far simpler than driving.

Arriving by ferry

Colman Dock, the downtown Seattle ferry terminal, is at 801 Alaskan Way — about five blocks from the hotel, uphill. Walk-on passengers can reach us on foot in ten to fifteen minutes, or take a short taxi or rideshare up the hill.

Arriving by train

King Street Station serves Amtrak and Sounder commuter rail and is approximately one mile south of the hotel — a ten-minute taxi ride, or a short Link light rail journey north to Symphony Station.

A note on the downtown grid

Downtown Seattle is built on a hill and most avenues are one-way. University Street runs one-way eastbound, uphill from the waterfront. If you find yourself approaching from the east on Fifth Avenue, turn onto University and the hotel entrance will be immediately on your right.

JUMP TO YOUR ROUTE

From Capitol Hill

Approximately 10 minutes

  1. Head west on Madison Street, downhill toward the water.
  2. Continue through the First Hill medical district.
  3. Cross Boren Avenue, then Eighth, Seventh and Sixth Avenues.
  4. Turn right onto Fifth Avenue.
  5. Turn left onto University Street. The Fairmont Olympic entrance is immediately on your right.

You will pass Seattle University and the First Hill hospitals on your way down.

From Madison Park

Approximately 15 minutes

  1. Head southwest on East Madison Street.
  2. Stay on Madison as it runs continuously from the lake to the waterfront — no turns required for most of the journey.
  3. Continue through Madison Valley and Capitol Hill.
  4. Cross Interstate 5 and continue into the downtown core.
  5. Turn right onto Fifth Avenue, then left onto University Street.

Madison Street is the only street in Seattle that runs uninterrupted from Lake Washington to Elliott Bay — the simplest approach in the city.

From Queen Anne

Approximately 12 minutes

  1. Head south on Queen Anne Avenue North, downhill.
  2. Continue onto First Avenue North through Lower Queen Anne.
  3. Pass Seattle Center and the Space Needle on your left.
  4. Continue south on First Avenue into the downtown core.
  5. Turn left onto University Street and continue uphill three blocks.

You will pass the Space Needle, Climate Pledge Arena and Pike Place Market.

From Magnolia

Approximately 15 minutes

  1. Cross the Magnolia Bridge eastbound.
  2. Continue onto West Garfield Street, then join Elliott Avenue West heading south.
  3. Elliott Avenue becomes Western Avenue as you enter Belltown.
  4. Turn left onto University Street and continue uphill to Fourth Avenue.

Elliott Avenue runs alongside the waterfront with views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains.

From Mount Baker

Approximately 15 minutes

  1. Head north on Rainier Avenue South.
  2. Take the ramp for Interstate 90 westbound.
  3. Merge onto Interstate 5 northbound.
  4. Take the Union Street exit into downtown.
  5. Continue on Union Street, then turn left onto Fifth Avenue and left again onto University Street.

A short journey — you will cross the I-90 interchange and enter downtown from the south.

From West Seattle

Approximately 20 minutes

  1. Take the West Seattle Bridge eastbound.
  2. Merge onto Interstate 5 northbound.
  3. Take the Union Street exit into downtown.
  4. Turn left onto Fifth Avenue.
  5. Turn left onto University Street. The hotel entrance is on your right.

Alternatively, the West Seattle Water Taxi runs to Pier 50 downtown — a scenic option, and a short walk uphill from there.

From Bellevue

Approximately 20 minutes

  1. Head west on Interstate 90 or State Route 520 — both cross Lake Washington.
  2. Via I-90: merge onto Interstate 5 northbound, then take the Union Street exit.
  3. Via SR 520: merge onto Interstate 5 southbound, then take the Seneca Street exit.
  4. From either exit, make your way to Fifth Avenue and turn onto University Street.

SR 520 is generally the faster route outside peak hours. Both bridges are tolled.

From Medina

Approximately 20 minutes

  1. Head west on Evergreen Point Road to State Route 520.
  2. Take SR 520 westbound across the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.
  3. Merge onto Interstate 5 southbound.
  4. Take the Seneca Street exit into downtown.
  5. Turn right onto Fifth Avenue, then right onto University Street.

The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge is the longest floating bridge in the world — and one of the most beautiful approaches to the city.

From Kirkland

Approximately 25 minutes

  1. Head south on Interstate 405.
  2. Take the exit for State Route 520 westbound toward Seattle.
  3. Cross the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.
  4. Merge onto Interstate 5 southbound.
  5. Take the Seneca Street exit, then continue to Fifth Avenue and turn onto University Street.

You will pass Yarrow Bay and the Bellevue skyline before crossing the lake.

From Redmond

Approximately 30 minutes

  1. Head west on State Route 520.
  2. Continue through Bellevue and across the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.
  3. Merge onto Interstate 5 southbound.
  4. Take the Seneca Street exit into downtown.
  5. Continue to Fifth Avenue and turn onto University Street.

Link light rail now also connects the Eastside to downtown Seattle — worth considering during peak hours.

From Issaquah

Approximately 30 minutes

  1. Head west on Interstate 90.
  2. Continue past Bellevue and across Mercer Island.
  3. Cross the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge into Seattle.
  4. Merge onto Interstate 5 northbound.
  5. Take the Union Street exit, then continue to Fifth Avenue and University Street.

The I-90 tunnels through Mount Baker Ridge open directly onto the downtown skyline — one of the finest arrivals in the city.

From Woodinville

Approximately 35 minutes

  1. Head southwest on State Route 522.
  2. Merge onto Interstate 5 southbound at Lake Forest Park.
  3. Continue south through north Seattle and past the University District.
  4. Take the Union Street exit into downtown.
  5. Continue to Fifth Avenue and turn onto University Street.

Alternatively, take I-405 south to SR 520 west — often faster in the afternoon.

From Bainbridge Island

Approximately 35 minutes on the water

  1. Board the Washington State Ferry at Bainbridge Island terminal in Winslow.
  2. Sail to Colman Dock in downtown Seattle.
  3. Walk out of the terminal onto Alaskan Way.
  4. Walk east and uphill on Marion Street or University Street, approximately five blocks.
  5. The Fairmont Olympic is between Fourth and Fifth Avenues on University Street.

The crossing offers views of the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier on a clear day. Many guests treat the ferry as part of the visit.

From Bremerton

Approximately 60 minutes on the water

  1. Board the Washington State Ferry at the Bremerton terminal.
  2. Sail directly to Colman Dock in downtown Seattle.
  3. Exit the terminal and walk east, uphill, approximately five blocks.
  4. The hotel entrance is on University Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.

The Bremerton sailing is the longest and quietest of the Seattle crossings — an hour on Puget Sound before your treatment begins.

From Gig Harbor

Approximately 60 minutes by car

  1. Head east on State Route 16.
  2. Cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
  3. Merge onto Interstate 5 northbound at Tacoma.
  4. Continue north for approximately thirty miles.
  5. Take the Union Street exit into downtown Seattle, then continue to Fifth Avenue and University Street.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is tolled eastbound.

From the San Juan Islands & Friday Harbor

Allow half a day by ferry, or under an hour by air

  1. By ferry: sail from Friday Harbor to Anacortes on the Washington State Ferry.
  2. From the Anacortes terminal, head east on State Route 20.
  3. Merge onto Interstate 5 southbound at Burlington.
  4. Continue south for approximately seventy miles.
  5. Take the Union Street exit into downtown Seattle, then continue to Fifth Avenue and University Street.

By air: Kenmore Air operates seaplane service from Friday Harbor to Lake Union, roughly ten minutes from the hotel by taxi. For island guests, this makes a same-day treatment entirely possible.

From Tacoma

Approximately 45 minutes

  1. Head north on Interstate 5.
  2. Continue past Federal Way, Kent and Tukwila.
  3. Pass Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on your left.
  4. Take the Union Street exit into downtown Seattle.
  5. Turn left onto Fifth Avenue, then left onto University Street.

Sounder commuter rail also runs from Tacoma Dome Station to King Street Station in downtown Seattle.

From Olympia

Approximately 75 minutes

  1. Head north on Interstate 5.
  2. Continue past Lacey, DuPont and Fort Lewis.
  3. Pass through Tacoma and continue north.
  4. Take the Union Street exit into downtown Seattle.
  5. Continue to Fifth Avenue and turn onto University Street.

A comfortable morning drive — many of our guests from the capital pair a treatment with lunch in the hotel.

From Bellingham

Approximately 100 minutes

  1. Head south on Interstate 5.
  2. Continue past Mount Vernon, Everett and Lynnwood.
  3. Continue south through north Seattle.
  4. Take the Union Street exit into downtown.
  5. Turn left onto Fifth Avenue, then left onto University Street.

You will pass the Skagit Valley — spectacular during tulip season in April.

From Eastern Washington

Approximately 4 hours from Spokane

  1. Head west on Interstate 90.
  2. Cross the Columbia River at Vantage and continue through the Kittitas Valley.
  3. Climb over Snoqualmie Pass through the Cascade Range.
  4. Descend through Issaquah and Bellevue, then cross Lake Washington.
  5. Merge onto Interstate 5 northbound, take the Union Street exit, and continue to Fifth Avenue and University Street.

Check Snoqualmie Pass conditions between November and March. Guests travelling from Spokane, Yakima, Wenatchee and the Tri-Cities frequently combine a visit with an overnight stay at the Fairmont Olympic.

RESERVE YOUR VISIT

However you arrive, we will be waiting on the lower lobby level. If you have any difficulty finding us, text or call 206-438-1750 and a member of our team will guide you in.

RESERVE

REQUEST A COMPLIMENTARY SKINCARE CONSULTATION