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Seattle Travel Guide
Seattle's reputation for rain hides its actual pattern: July, August, and September are reliably dry and mild, which is also when hotels are most expensive. The rest of the year is grey, cheap, and perfectly workable if you're here for the city rather than the mountains. Pike Place Market, the waterfront, Discovery Park, and Kerry Park's skyline view are free; the Space Needle and the aquarium are not. Ferries to Bainbridge Island are one of the best inexpensive rides in the country. Mount Rainier and the Olympic Peninsula are day trips with a car. This guide covers seasons, transit from SEA, and how to spend less downtown.
Quick tips
- The Link light rail runs from SEA airport to downtown for a few dollars.
- Pike Place Market, Discovery Park, and Kerry Park are free.
- The Bainbridge Island ferry is a cheap, scenic round trip from downtown.
- October through April is grey but genuinely cheap for hotels.
- Skip the CityPASS unless you'll actually do three or more paid attractions.
Frequently asked
When is Seattle cheapest to visit?
November through March, outside the holidays. July through September is the driest, busiest, and most expensive stretch.
Do you need a car in Seattle?
Not for the city — light rail, buses, and ferries cover it. You'd want one for Mount Rainier or the Olympic Peninsula.
How do you get from SEA airport to downtown?
The Link light rail runs directly from the airport to downtown for a few dollars and takes about 40 minutes.