Free things to do in Seattle

27 places in Seattle with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

DoWest
Alki Beach Park
Alki Beach Park is one of the best and biggest sandy beaches in Seattle. There's a rollerblade/bike/walking path along it for miles and the beach itself is always busy and fun. Great views of the city, the ferries and the Olympics. There are several great cafes and coffee shops right across the street. Good place for barbeque as well as many outdoor recreations. It has one of the best night view of Downtown Seattle and the city light.
Apr 15-Oct 1: 6AM-11PM daily, Oct 2-Apr 14: 4AM-11:30PM dailyFree
DoBallard
Ballard Seafoodfest
A parade, a salmon barbecue, local musicians and a lutefisk-eating contest. Most businesses along NW Market St participate by holding sidewalk sales.
Typically mid-JulyFree
SeeNorth
Carkeek Park
The century-old trees and surprisingly steep terrain surrounding a small valley give the impression that you're far from the city. Excellent for a walk in the woods. Walkable beach below the train tracks.
6AM-10PM dailyFree
EatQueen Anne-South Lake Union
Community Banana Stand
A fruit stand offering free bananas to passersby, operated by Amazon from its headquarters. The stand gives away thousands of bananas each weekday, as a cheap and convenient way to give a little boost to employees and the general public alike.
Mon-Fri 8AM-3:30PMFree
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Frye Art Museum
A small private collection of modern art with rotating contemporary exhibitions. Parking is always available and the place is worth a visit.
Tue-Sun 11AM-5PM, Thu 11AM-7PMFree
SeeFremont
Gas Works Park
"Gasworks" is Wallingford's oddly endearing refuge along the north part of Lake Union — prominently featuring the rusting, hulking remains of the city's old gasworks piping and machinery. More conventionally, a solitary bump of a hill offers the ideal spot for kite flying and views across the lake of sailboats, float planes landing, and downtown Seattle at sunset. Generally quiet but exceptionally crowded during the 4th of July for firework shows.
4AM-11:30PM dailyFree
DoBallard
Greenwood Classic Car Show
Outdoor car show with all types of cars and food vendors about 1 mile along Greenwood Ave North.
JunFree for spectators
SeeWest
Hamilton Viewpoint Park
Hamilton Viewpoint Park rests above the beaches of Alki facing downtown Seattle. Located adjacent to the Seacrest Ferry Dock.
4AM-1130PMFree
SeeBallard
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
Ballard Locks
Linking the freshwater Lake Union and the salt-water Puget Sound across a height difference of 22 feet, the locks allow boats to cross the Lake Washington Ship Canal, relying solely on the force of gravity. A salmon ladder with a viewing gallery allows visitors to witness the salmon migration, which with different species allow for viewing throughout most of the year, but preferably mid to late summer. Adjacent is the Carl S English, Jr Botanical Garden. Guided tours weekdays 1PM and 3PM; weekends 11AM.
7AM-9PMFree
SeePioneer Square-International District
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Seattle Unit
A key attraction in the Pioneer Square area, this is the Seattle branch of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the remainder of which is in Alaska. The site highlights the city's key role as the "Gateway to the Gold Fields" for most of the Klondike stampeders of 1897-1898. National Park Service Rangers and volunteers staff the museum and can provide information and perspective not only on the gold rush but also on Seattle's past. The museum contains many artifacts and historical photographs related to the Gold Rush, and movies about the gold rush and Seattle's history are shown upon request (except in summer, when they're shown on a regular schedule). Rangers also conduct free walking tours of the Pioneer Square area in the summer and demonstrate gold panning to school groups.
Daily 9AM-5PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's DayFree
SeeSouth
Kubota Gardens
In 1927 Fujitaro Kubota bought of logged-off swampland in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle and began his garden. Kubota Garden has since grown into a stunning landscape that blends Japanese garden concepts with native Northwest plants. Kubota was a horticultural pioneer when he began merging Japanese design techniques with North American materials in his display garden in 1927. The Gardens are a spectacular setting of hills and valleys, interlaced with streams, waterfalls, ponds, bridges, and rock outcroppings with a rich array of plant material.
Daily 6AM-10PMFree
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Lakeview Cemetery
Incorporated in 1872, Lakeview Cemetery is set on a hillside with views of Lake Union, the Cascades, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. The site holds the final resting places of Seattle's first families, many with diverse backgrounds. Many come to pay tribute at the graves of Bruce Lee and his son Brandon.
Summer 9AM-8PM; spring 9AM-6PM; winter 9AM-4PMFree
SeeWest
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is a big, wild park, next to the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock, serving Vashon Island and Southworth. Lincoln Park has lots of walking paths, picnic areas, beautiful trees, and beach. Unlike Alki Beach, it's quite pebbly and full of driftwood. To reach the park: come across the West Seattle Bridge into West Seattle, bear left at the "Y" intersection at Fauntleroy. Stay on Fauntleroy all the way to the park. Follow the signs to the ferries.
4AM-11:30PM dailyFree
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Northwest Nikkei Museum
Japanese Cultural Community Center of Washington
Small exhibits relating to the history of nikkei (Japanese immigrants) in the Pacific Northwest.
Mon-Fri 10AM-5PMFree
SeePioneer Square-International District
Occidental Park
This urban park is best known for its four totem poles carved by local artist Duane Pasco. It also has bocce courts, ping pong and foosball tables.
6AM-10PMFree
SeeDowntown
Olympic Sculpture Park
of green space on Seattle’s waterfront with a collection of monumental sculptures.
Opens 30 minutes before sunrise, closes 30 minutes after sunsetFree
SeeDowntown
Seattle Art Museum
SAM
The museum displays a good assortment of art from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Though the permanent exhibitions only occasionally delve deeply into a specific subject (such as the enormous variety of pieces in the porcelain room), extensive special exhibitions fill the gap. Tours available.
Tue Wed Fri-Sun 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-9PM, closed MonSuggested admission: $19.50 adult, $17.50 senior/military, $2.50 students/youth, children 12 and under free. Admission is free on first Thursday of the month
SeeDowntown
Seattle Public Library-Central Library
Seattle Central Library
A dramatic glass and steel structure in the heart of Downtown, designed by Rem Koolhaas. This is not an average public library and has become a tourist destination in its own right. A popular way to experience the unique architecture of the building is to take an elevator to the 10th floor, the highest observation deck in the building. From here you can walk down to the main floor through the Book Spiral; the core of the structure which organizes the library's books in one continuous path organized by the Dewey decimal system.
Mon-Thu 10AM-8PM, Fri Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-6PMFree
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union
The Center for Wooden Boats
An intriguing museum where you can learn about maritime culture and experience sailing traditional wooden boats. The center's programs allow you to get a hands-on feel, putting in control of crafting and sailing your own wooden craft. On Sundays, rain or shine, you can get a free boat ride on a classic wooden boat around the lake for an hour. At times artist-in-residence Saaduuts leads programs.
Opens daily at 10AM except Mondays November through mid-April; closing hours vary by season. Free boat sails Sun 10AM (signup), 11AM-3PM (cruise)Free
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Water Tower
The 1906 tower at the highest point of Capitol Hill has an observation deck at the top, with views from the Cascades to the Olympics interspersed with a series of panels explaining the history of Seattle's Olmsted-designed park system. The views are somewhat obstructed by metal grates, but the clever photographer can work around them. No elevator - the only way up is the staircase wound around the water tank, seven stories high.
10AM-sunsetFree
Do Not mapped
Northwest Folklife Festival
A more low-key and local version of Bumbershoot, mainly family-friendly.
Memorial Day weekendFree ($10 donation per person per day encouraged)
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union Not mapped
Seattle Spheres
A building made of three glass domes filled with lush plants. Take an unguided stroll through the tropical heart of the Spheres.
1st and 3rd Sat of the month 10AM-6PMFree; reservations required, available 30 days in advance
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union Not mapped
Understory
Visitor center about Amazon and the Spheres' flora and design. It's in the bottom floor of the Spheres and doesn't get you access to the upper floors where the plants live, but it's available 5 days a week unlike public access to the building.
Tue-Sat 10AM-6PMFree
SeeSodo-Georgetown
Coast Guard Museum Northwest
A small museum with thousands of Coast Guard related items.
Mon Wed Fri 9AM-3PMFree
DoBallard
Greenwood/Phinney Art Walk
Showcases hundreds of local artists.
JulyFree
BuyQueen Anne-South Lake Union
South Lake Union Saturday market
Farmers market with food booths and vendors selling crafts.
May-Oct: Sat 11AM to 4PMFree
DoQueen Anne-South Lake Union Not mapped
Northwest Folklife Festival
A more low-key and global version of Bumbershoot.
Memorial Day weekend (end of May)free ($10 donation suggested)

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Seattle (CC BY-SA 4.0).