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10 Free Things to Do in Seattle

Seattle is one of those cities where anything can happen...and probably will. Diversity, in some ways, epitomizes Seattle. Consider the busy, compact city paired with the gorgeous natural landscapes sprawling around it, the historic landmarks like Pioneer Square juxtaposed with contemporary sculpture parks, or the big-time corporations like Amazon and Microsoft beside quintessential mom and pop shops. If you can picture all that, you'll have just a glimpse of what this west coast city is all about. To get a real feel for Seattle, you'll have to do a lot while you're there. But before you start worrying about the consequences this could have on your bank account, rest assured that there are tons of free things to do in Seattle! After you check out Seattle's most popular attractions like the Space Needle and your pick of top museums, make sure you supplement your trip with some (or all!) of these free things to do in Seattle. Some of the following attractions are free for the public all of the time, while others are free on special days.

  1. Olympic Sculpture Park

    Image of City, Urban, Metropolis, Road, Street, Cityscape, Water, Waterfront, Downtown, Condo, Housing, Freeway, Outdoors, This beautiful urban park on the waterfront features contemporary sculpture and art on a 9-acre plot of green space. With beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound enhancing the artwork, your eyes won't know where to marvel first. This park is free and open to the public 365 days a year!

  2. Pike Place Market

    Image of City, Road, Street, Urban, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Male, Man, People, Car, Vehicle, Indoors, Restaurant, Shop, Shopping Mall, With over 100 years under its belt, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest operating farmers markets in the United States. In addition to the fresh produce stands and fishmongers, you'll find artisan crafts, unique shops, antique dealers, and more. The market is open 7 days a week, admission is free, and merchants set their own hours (but most are set up to sell by 8 a.m.).

  3. Frye Art Museum

    Image of Handrail, Corridor, Indoors, City, Explore a vast collection of artwork from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as ever-changing exhibits of contemporary art at this museum in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Admission is always free!

  4. Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park

    Image of Terminal, Railway, Train, Train Station, Vehicle, Visit the fascinating historic sites of the Gold Rush like the Skagway Historic District. Those looking for hiking and gorgeous nature views will also be far from disappointed. Park admittance is free and hours and fees vary by specific attraction within the park.

  5. Fremont Sunday Market

    Image of Neighborhood, City, Flag, Person, Tent, Road, Street, Urban, Chair, This year-round flea market takes places every Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm, rain or shine. With 180 vendors sprawled both indoors and out, you'll find everything from vintage clothes to colorful crafts to French crepes (and absolutely everything in between). Admission is free, so enjoy some window-shopping if you're trying to save cash.

  6. Jimi Hendrix Memorial

    Image of Outdoors, Person, Pay your respects to one of rock's greatest legends at the Jimi Hendrix Memorial and grave site in Greenwood Memorial Park, about 25 minutes outside of Seattle. This beautifully crafted monument features marble benches etched with some of his lyrics as well as plaques with his image and quotes.

  7. Boehm's Candies

    Image of Cabin, House, Housing, Log Cabin, Adult, Male, Man, Person, Villa, Handbag, Boehm's Candies (known for its delectable chocolates) invites the public to explore its factory and retail store grounds. As the factories have glass windows all along the sides, you can take your own self-guided tour of the factory and then stop in the store for free samples. For $4 and a reservation, you can get a guided tour inside the factory.

  8. Alki Beach Park

    Image of Water, Waterfront, City, Path, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Bicycle, Vehicle, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Urban, Canal, Towpath, Sidewalk, This 2.5 mile beach and strip is the perfect place for walking, sunbathing (if the weather is right), rollerblading, volleyball, bicycling, and just about anything else you can think of. You'll also get great views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains, as well as ferries, sailboats, and steamships that sail by on the Sound.

  9. Coast Guard Museum

    Image of Sword, Weapon, Indoors, Museum, Baseball, Baseball Glove, Glove, The Seattle Coast Guard Museum offers a historic account of the U.S. Coast Guard through thousands of artifacts, old and new uniforms, parts of the famed U.S.S. Constitution, and more. Admission to the museum is always free!

  10. The Center for Wooden Boats

    Image of Boat, Sailboat, Vehicle, Wood, Dinghy, Watercraft, Yacht, Head on down to the Center for Wooden Boats to admire the myriad of sail boats docked nearby. You'll also likely see sailing lessons taking place on the Lake Union. But that's not all—the CWB offers free rides on its classic sail boats every Sunday! As this is a popular activity, you'll need to make a reservation at the boat house in advance.
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