A Complete Guide To Leavenworth’s Christmastown From Seattle

Explore Leavenworth, a charming Bavarian-style village nestled in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Just a short drive from Seattle, it’s the perfect weekend getaway. While one day isn’t quite enough to experience everything this town has to offer, if you’re planning a day trip, here’s a list of things you can do in Leavenworth.

I’ve also updated this article to reflect the current season. Over the years, Leavenworth has become increasingly popular, which means higher hotel prices, limited parking, and longer restaurant queues, all of which can take away from the joy of visiting this beautiful town. However, with a little planning and the right information, you can still have an amazing time!

In this blog post, I’ve covered everything you need to know about this year’s Christmastown and Village of Lights festivities. Read till the end to get all the details, and feel free to drop your questions in the comments!

Leavenworth and it’s Bavarian roots

Contradictory to what one may think, Leavenworth was not a Bavarian town until quite recently. The area was home to Yakama, Chinook, and Wenatchi people (indigenous groups), who fished and hunted on this beautiful land nestled between towering mountains. European settlers came in hungry for gold, timber, fur etc., paving the way for logging and the railroad business. When the railroad companies relocated, Leavenworth became a ghost town until the early 1960s, when the town leaders and planners decided to give the town a facelift, transforming it into mini Bavaria.

Best way to reach Leavenworth

Leavenworth is located on the other side of the Cascade Mountains, which means you’ll need to cross either Stevens Pass or Snoqualmie Pass from Seattle, both of which are usually covered in thick snow during the winter.

Driving is the best and most flexible way to reach Leavenworth. However, it can be challenging in winter, especially without tire chains, due to icy and slippery roads.

There are a few companies that operate buses between Seattle and Leavenworth, though it’s not the most convenient option considering the limited time you get to explore the town.

Back in 2021, the luxury coach company Starline offered a bus service between Seattle and Leavenworth, which we took for our trip. The schedule was ideal, we got nearly five hours to explore, and it cost around $50 round trip per person. Unfortunately, that service has now been discontinued. The only current option is FlixBus, which costs approximately $150–$180 per person round trip.

Ideal Itinerary if You’re Traveling by FlixBus

• Morning: Take the 8:50 AM FlixBus from Seattle Train Station and arrive in Leavenworth by 12:10 PM (expect a 15–20 minute delay in arrival).
• Afternoon: You’ll have roughly 4 hours (12:30 PM – 4:30 PM) to explore the main attractions, enough time if you plan ahead and have a set list of things to do.
• Evening Return: Take Bus 22 from Willkommen Park & Ride (Leavenworth) at 4:41 PM to Peshastin (Main & Mill Rd).
  From there, board the 5:55 PM FlixBus from Peshastin (Big Y Park & Ride) back to Seattle (Sea-Tac Airport).

Where to stay in Leavenworth

If you’re taking the bus, I highly recommend staying overnight to make the most of your time in Leavenworth. However, weekend stays can get quite expensive, with some hotels charging up to $800 per night. Forget budget-friendly; even finding a room can be tough, especially if you’re booking in early November.

One way to save money is by staying in Wenatchee, a nearby town just 30 minutes away. You’ll find several budget-friendly hotels under $350 per night, and there are public transit buses running between Leavenworth and Wenatchee, making it a convenient alternative.

Here are a few Wenatchee hotels I recommend:

• Hilton Garden Inn Wenatchee – 12 min walk from the bus stop (bus route 122)
• Best Western Plus Wenatchee Downtown Hotel – 5 min walk from the bus stop (bus route 122)
• Comfort Suites Wenatchee Gateway – 1 min walk from the bus stop (bus route 22)

What and where to eat?

The first thing we did right after getting off the bus was finding a restaurant with the shortest queue. Being the foodies, that we are, we immediately started looking for some good Bavarian fare and picked Gustav’s as out dining spot. This is a cosy tavern with beautiful pine panelled indoors. Meenakshi and I tried the house favourite, schnitzel burger, a bratwurst burger, and golden ales. We are no experts on German food. However, both of us enjoyed the burgers and particularly the beer. Lunch came out to be around 20$ per person.

Leavenworth has several other inviting places to dine in on Front Street but mostly had long queues during lunchtime.

We also made brief stops at Leavenworth Cider House, which has over 30 varieties of ciders on tap, and at Icicle Brewing Company for a quick pretzel, served with a very buttery dip.

Things to do in Leavenworth

Leavenworth offers an amazing diversity of things to do, including outdoorsy as well as city activities. Our bus dropped us off at the bustling city centre, on Front Street.

We started our visit by walking up to Tumwater Canyon, enjoying the views of the Wenatchee River from the ravine. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed by gorgeous views of the majestic Cascade mountains. 

Our next stop was BlackBird Island, a popular spot for a leisurely stroll, listening to birds chirping, fish jumping and locals enjoying their evening runs. We entered the island via the Enchantment Park trail, passing through many scenic view points.

Next, we walked over to the Waterfront Park, snapping picture-postcard views of the Wenatchee River and the magnificent and historic Blackbird Hotel.

By this time, we were back in the city and hopped into the quaint and eccentric NutCracker Museum. Here, everywhere you look, you will see NUTCRACKERS…sourced from all over the world, including ones made from precious ivory and porcelain, beautifully carved wooden nutcrackers from Europe, and metal betel cutters from India and Southeast Asia, some dating back thousands of years. The museum also has a fun little gift store where you can buy some nutcrackers to take away. 

Museum admission: $5 per person.

We ended our day munching on some fresh popcorn and enjoying the breathtaking display of glittering Christmas lights all along Front Street. It was the perfect holiday evening, with people enjoying good food and a round of beer with their families and friends, and live music to go with it.

Overall thoughts about Leavenworth

Leavenworth is truly a must-visit destination, at least once in your lifetime to experience Washington’s very own Christmas town. The setting is stunning, with breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains, charming German village vibes, quirky gift shops, fascinating museums, and plenty of local wineries and breweries to explore.

I hope this blog post helps you plan your perfect trip to Leavenworth! Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or drop a comment below if you have any questions or need help planning your visit.