A trip to the Emerald City doesn’t have to weigh heavy on your wallet, and even when you’re on a budget, you can experience the best the city has to offer. Check out these six ways to enjoy Seattle on the cheap.
Explore Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is free to visit (Image: Charlie Schuck/Pike Place Market)
One of Seattle’s most iconic stops, Pike Place Market is where you can see the famed fish fly through the air at the seafood stall and grab a freshly brewed coffee at the original Starbucks location. There’s no admission fee to enter, and you’ll also find tasty samples and free entertainment throughout the market.
Save with a CityPass
See Seattle from the Space Needle on a budget with a Seattle CityPass (Image: Space Needle)
If you want to check out the Emerald City’s top attractions and get the full Seattle experience (after all, it’s just not a trip to Seattle without a trip up the Space Needle), save on admission fees with a Seattle CityPass. The $74 pass ($49 for kids) offers admission to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises’ Harbor Tour, EMP Museum and your choice of the Museum of Flight or Woodland Park Zoo (typically a $134 experience at full price).
Sip local wines
Coffee isn’t the only game in town when it comes to sipping in Seattle. Check out the renowned Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville for a free tour and tasting, or head out on a ferry to check out Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, where you can sample four wines for $3, which the winery donates to a local animal rescue.
See the Seahawks’ stomping grounds
Tour the home field of the 2014 Super Bowl Champions (Image: Seattle Seahawks)
Check out the home field of the 2014 Super Bowl champs with a $7 tour of CenturyLink Field. This isn’t just where the Seahawks play, either – this is the home turf of Seattle’s infamous “12th Man,” the nickname bestowed upon Seahawks fans for being the NFL’s most boisterous football lovers. The tour includes a visit to a luxury suite, suiting up in the visitor’s locker room and setting foot on the actual field.
Pioneer Square Artwalk
The Pioneer Square Artwalk is held on the first Thursday of every month (Image: Alliance for Pioneer Square)
Seattle’s art scene is not to be missed, and on the first Thursday of the month, you can experience it for free at the Pioneer Square Artwalk. From 12-8 p.m., local galleries open their doors to showcase the best artists and exhibits the city has to offer. Add in a healthy dose of public art installations, and you have an introduction to Seattle’s art scene that shouldn’t be missed.
Ballard Locks
One of the area’s most popular sites, the Ballard Locks draw crowds to the waterfront thanks to the mesmerizing locks that help boats pass between the fresh water of Lake Union and the saltwater of Puget Sound. While you’re there, check out the local salmon making their way up the fish ladder through the Locks’ viewing window. (Main image: Space Needle)
