From the Washington Park Arboretum and Ballard Locks to free museums, waterfront events and cultural attractions, discover how to explore Seattle without overspending.
Looking for things to do in Seattle on a budget? The city offers plenty of opportunities to explore without spending a fortune. From beautiful botanical gardens and historic landmarks to free museum visits, cultural events and waterfront attractions, Seattle has something for every budget-conscious traveller.
Start your journey at the verdant Washington Park Arboretum, where you can explore the winding pathways through woodlands, wetlands, and gardens. Sign up for a free walking tour the first Thursday of each month to learn about special plant collections and what is in bloom seasonally.
Following the walk through nature, witness a true feat of engineering at Ballard Locks, which connects Puget Sound to Lake Union and Lake Washington. The “water elevator” built in 1917 allows vessels to move from freshwater to saltwater and vice versa, raising or lowering up to 26 feet in the
process. Take advantage of the free tour daily, which runs from May through September. And do not miss the adjacent botanical garden and salmon ladder, where you can cheer on the fish headed upstream to spawn during the summer months.
Rachael Jones for Visit Seattle
Washington Park Arboretum
Get a taste of the city’s sprawling outdoors at the Seattle Spheres, which houses more than 40,000 cloud forest plants inside their radiant glass domes. Though they were built as a one-of-a-kind workspace for Amazon employees, the public can go inside the first and third Saturdays of each month, by reservation. Book early to reserve your spot as it fills up fast!
Next, move over to the dynamic Seattle Centre campus, where the Gates Foundation Discovery Centre uses interactive exhibits to wrestle with how humanity can solve some of the world’s most pressing global health issues. Seattle’s cultural and art venues are must-visit stops for anyone visiting the city. Get a backstage look at some of Seattle’s most prominent performing arts venues such as the Moore, Paramount, and Neptune Theatres on one of Seattle Theatre Group’s free tours, held on select Saturdays.
Frye Art Museum is another attraction that can be explored for free, showcasing an exceptional collection of modern and contemporary works. Travel back in time in Pioneer Square, where the engaging Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park traces the journey of some of the prospectors who chose Seattle as their launching point to find success and make a fortune.
Nearby, throughout the week, you will find free programmed events at Pier 62 along the dynamic Seattle waterfront, from yoga classes to dance parties, art displays to cultural festivals, all exemplifying Seattle’s vibrant culture and community. Also note that many of the city’s museums that normally charge admission open their doors free to the public on First Thursdays, typically staying open later on these days as well.
This is also when the nation’s longest-running art walk happens: the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Making memories on a trip does not always come with a price tag, and Seattle proves it through these experiences, which showcase the city’s incredible character.
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