Seattle has been one of the hottest destinations in the United States for years, and it’s easy to see why. Between the music, food scene and greenery, there are so many ways to enjoy the Emerald City.
In the midst of this renaissance, Seattle has also gained an unfair reputation as an expensive place to live or visit. While the city is home to some famous billionaires and global corporations like Amazon and Boeing, there are also plenty of budget-friendly fun things to do in Seattle, whether you’re in town for a quick visit or a longer stay.
Key takeaways
- Seattle is a diverse city filled with beautiful parks, fun attractions and great places to experience the city’s unique food and arts scene.
- Seattle has a reputation for being expensive, but many of the best things to do in Seattle are cheap or even free.
- Pike Place Market and the Space Needle are must-see attractions but are far from the only things to do in the city.
- Seattle has a number of public sculptures and sculpture parks that are free to check out.
- There are many museums in Seattle visitors can peruse for free on the first Thursday of the month.
- Boat tours offer multiple ways to see the city and surrounding mountains from the water.
- Hotels like Extended Stay America can make it even easier to stay longer-term in the city, so you have the time and budget to experience all the best things to do in Seattle.
1. Wander Pike Place Market
What started as the city’s original farmers market is now one of the most iconic tourist spots in the city. Walking the market is one of the best free things to do in Seattle, but you do need money for the things you plan to buy. With 225 small businesses spread over nine acres, there are plenty of great choices. Pike Place is also a treasure trove of locally sourced foods, specialty foods and produce, so you can even pick up some ingredients to cook a delicious meal at your hotel.
Booking a hotel in nearby Bellevue means you’re less than 30 minutes from Pike Place, while avoiding the hustle, bustle and expenses of downtown Seattle.
2. Sip coffee at the original Starbucks
While you’re at the Pike Place Market, stop by an important historical location for any coffee lover. The first Starbucks opened in 1971 along the cobblestone streets of Pike Place Market and is still serving fresh coffee daily. Visiting is free, but of course you’ll have to pay for any coffee or souvenirs. Just beware: the location is one of the most crowded and popular Starbucks locations in the world, so it might be a long wait for your Frappuccino.
3. Stroll the Olympic Sculpture Park
Operated by the Seattle Art Museum, this nine-acre outdoor park is one of the best ways to take in Seattle’s famous art scene while enjoying the splendor of the city. The park is home to a number of monumental works by local and globally recognized artists, along with walking paths that take visitors along the picturesque Puget Sound. Open from dawn to dusk and free to visit, it’s one of the best things to do in downtown Seattle.
4. Pay a visit to the Fremont Troll
Just a few miles from the Olympic Sculpture Park is another famous piece of 3D art. Lurking under the Aurora Bridge, this 18-foot concrete statue was built by a group of four local artists in 1990 and has been attracting curious visitors ever since. Take your photo with this strange creature and stroll through the equally quirky Fremont neighborhood for a free, fun thing to do on a Seattle afternoon.
5. Rent a boat for free at the Center for Wooden Boats
Seattle is known for its greenery, but the city has beautiful blue spaces, too. One of those is Lake Union, where you can take traditional wooden rowboats out for free Wednesdays through Sundays. Visitors can rent a boat at the Center for Wooden Boats, which also has a free museum.
Every last Sunday of the month, from April through October, the center hosts a free public sail, as well. It’s one of the best things to do in Seattle with kids, and adults who enjoy time on the water will like it, too.
6. Take in the view from the Space Needle
What would a trip to Seattle be without visiting the Space Needle? One of the best things to do in downtown Seattle is getting a 360-degree view of the city from one of its highest and most famous vantage points. General admission tickets, which include a welcome photo, are available online, starting at $55 per person. To see more of Seattle for less, you can use a CityPASS to bundle the visit with other city attractions.
7. Get free museum admission during First Thursdays
One of the best free things to do in Seattle isn’t an attraction, but a whole day. Several of the city’s best museums celebrate Free First Thursdays, where visitors can explore their exhibits free of charge on the first Thursday of the month.
Participating museums include:
- Seattle Art Museum
- Seattle Asian Art Museum
- Burke Museum
- Museum of Flight
- Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
It’s great to visit a museum anytime, or you can save it for one of those famous Seattle rainy days.
8. Walk the Seattle waterfront and Pier 57
Seattle is one of the most picturesque cities on the West Coast, and the downtown waterfront is one of the best places to take it all in. It’s free to stroll along, people watch and enjoy stunning views of Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.
If you’re in the mood to splurge (or get an even better view), Pier 57 has the Seattle Great Wheel, the tallest Ferris wheel on the West Coast. Rides are $18 for kids, $25 for adults and $21 for seniors.
9. Explore Seattle’s underground
Seattle offers more history and adventure than meets the eye. In fact, some of the most interesting parts of the city are found underground. After the Great Fire of 1889, the city rebuilt on top of itself, but preserved some old streets, storefronts and a series of passageways. You can explore these subterranean areas and learn about this hidden part of Seattle on the city’s Underground Tour. It’s one of the most unique and fun things to do in Seattle.
10. Snap a pic of the skyline from Kerry Park
Back above ground, this cute public space offers one of the best and most famous views of the Seattle skyline. Located in the city’s Queen Anne neighborhood, a quiet area full of tree-lined streets and beautifully preserved craftsman and Victorian homes, Kerry Park makes the perfect place to cap off a peaceful stroll through Seattle. It’s an even better place to have a budget-friendly date, especially at sunset.
11. Sail Elliott Bay on a budget
Sit back and relax on a sailboat tour across Elliott Bay as you enjoy the serene views of downtown Seattle and Mount Rainier. The 1.5-hour tour starts from Pier 56 on the downtown Seattle waterfront and gives you the most beautiful views of the city skyline, mountain ranges and Bainbridge Island. It’s not exactly free, but at less than $50 per person, it’s a low-budget way to enjoy a high-class experience.
12. Watch boats and salmon at the Ballard Locks
At the crossroads of Puget Sound, Lake Union and Lake Washington are a series of “locks,” which are mechanisms that raise or lower water levels so vessels can seamlessly travel through these bodies of water. Watching everything from kayaks to yachts to fishing trawlers take this elevator ride is a unique experience.
The Ballard Locks (officially the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) is home to other fun free things to do in Seattle, like a fish ladder viewing room, open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., where you can watch a manmade machine assist salmon in their migratory journey up north.
13. Hike the trails at Discovery Park
One of Seattle’s biggest attractions is its lush green surroundings, and Discovery Park is one of the best places in the city to dive into its more natural side. At over 500 acres, it’s Seattle’s largest park, and it’s filled with free walking trails, beach access and the chance to check out a historic lighthouse. If you’re traveling with your dog, the park also makes a great place to take your furry friend for a walk.
14. Have fun with the family at Gasworks Park
Gasworks Park is a must-visit place if you’re traveling with your family and looking for things to do in Seattle with kids. On the site of a former gasification plant with old pipes and chimneys still on the grounds, the space makes for a unique place to take in beautiful views of downtown Seattle and Lake Union. The waterfront park is also a popular spot for picnics, kite flying and community events.
15. Find calm at Kubota Garden
If you’re looking for a little peace on your trip, Kubota Garden is one of the best things to do in Seattle. Founded back in 1927, the Japanese garden in Rainier Beach includes 20 acres of ponds, waterfalls and lovely, mature landscaping.
Booking a hotel in the nearby city of Tukwila means you’ll enjoy a quieter, less touristy stay while being a short car ride from Kubota Gardens.
16. Ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island
Want to see the city from the water without booking a paid cruise? The public ferry to Bainbridge Island offers a lovely 35-minute ride across Puget Sound. You can enjoy million-dollar views of Seattle’s skyline and mountains for just $11.35 (and kids ride free). Longer-term visitors may also want to take an afternoon to check out the affluent island community at the end of the ferry trip.
17. Take a whale watching tour
Orcas, humpbacks and gray whales all pass through Puget Sound, and a half-day boat trip puts you close to the action. If you’re traveling on a budget, shorter Puget Sound trips often cost less than full-day outings, and mid-week departures can cost less than weekend excursions. Dress in layers and bring something with a zoom lens, whether it’s a camera or your phone, to take pictures. Sightings aren’t guaranteed, but some operators offer rebooking if the whales stay away.
Book your hotel near Seattle with Extended Stay America
Seattle is so much more than the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Blanketed by green and blue spaces and spotted with interesting museums, historic attractions and incredible places to experience the culture, there’s no end of things to do in Seattle if you have the time.
Extended Stay America can help ensure you have the budget to see and do it all, too. With full kitchens in every suite, pet-friendly rooms and the flexibility to extend your stay if plans change, Extended Stay America makes it easy to call Seattle home, for however long you want it to be.
Book your stay in Seattle with Extended Stay America and see for yourself what makes this city so great.
