The Ultimate Budget-Friendly Seattle Day Trip

Explore Seattle without breaking the bank.

21 June 2023

Visit Seattle on a limited budget by exploring its numerous free attractions such as the iconic Pike Place Market, the Olympic Sculpture Park and the Seattle Central Library. Stay in budget-friendly accommodations like hostels, vacation rentals or affordable hotels in the downtown area. Enjoy the city's diverse food scene by trying out affordable street food, happy hour deals or cooking your meals using ingredients from local farmers markets.

Day trip plan

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Day

Exploring Seattle on a Budget

  • Start with a visit to Pike Place Market, try some of the world-famous fish from the fishmongers and enjoy the street performers.
  • Walk to the Seattle Waterfront and take a free ride on the Seattle Center Monorail for a scenic route to the Space Needle.
  • Take a selfie with the iconic Space Needle in the background, and then head over to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit.
  • For lunch, grab a delicious sandwich at Paseo Caribbean, a food truck with big flavors and small prices.
  • Take a stroll through the Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
  • End the day with a visit to the Fremont Troll, a quirky public art installation under the Fremont Bridge. Don't forget to take a picture!

How to get there

Plane

The best way to get to Seattle by plane is to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There are many airlines that fly into this airport from all over the world including United Airlines, Delta, and Alaska Airlines.

Car

The best way to get to Seattle by car is to take the I-5 highway if coming from the north or south. If coming from the east, take either the I-90 or US-2 highway. Traffic can be heavy during peak times so plan accordingly.

Train

Currently, there are no passenger train services that go directly to Seattle. However, Amtrak does operate a train that goes to nearby Tacoma. From there, passengers can take a bus or taxi to reach Seattle.

Boat

The best way to get to Seattle by boat is to take a ferry. The Washington State Ferries are a popular option for passengers coming from nearby islands or the Olympic Peninsula. The downtown Seattle ferry terminal is located at Pier 52 and serves multiple ferry routes.

Bus

The best way to get to Seattle by bus is to take Greyhound. Greyhound has many locations throughout the United States and has a station located in downtown Seattle.

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