Cheap Things to Do in Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA's cheapest activities include Ballard Farmers Market (Free entry), Bathtub Gin & Co ($14-20), Frye Art Museum (Free), Gas Works Park (Free), and KEXP (Free).
Hands-on museum for ages 0-8 in the lower level of the Armory at Seattle Center. Global village play areas, construction zone, art studios. Under 1 free. 6% revitalization fee added to tickets.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays · Ages 0–8
92-acre zoo with 300+ species including grizzly bears, penguins, snow leopards, and gorillas. Nature play area, carousel, seasonal butterfly garden. Prices vary by day so book online. Under 2 always free.
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Sep-Apr: Daily 9:30am-4pm; May-Sep: Daily 9:30am-6pm
Free playground at Seattle Center with separate areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12. Musical instruments, climbing structures, 30-foot climbing tower. Fully accessible. Open year-round.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily, dawn to dusk
Free splash fountain at Seattle Center where kids run through water jets shooting from a dome. Built for the 1962 World's Fair. Packed on warm days. Lawn around it works for picnics. Open year-round, water jets seasonal.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily, open year-round
Rem Koolhaas building with a dedicated kids floor. Free storytime, crafts, and STEM activities. Weekly story times for ages 0-5 include Spanish sessions. Kids love the bright-red escalator spiral.
1000 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon 10am-6pm, Tue-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm
175-foot Ferris wheel on Pier 57. Enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas with Elliott Bay and Olympic Mountain views. About 15 minutes, three rotations. Glass-bottom VIP gondola costs extra. Under 3 ride free.
1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 · Daily 11am-9pm, hours vary seasonally
534-acre park with a renovated playground (ages 2-5 and 5-12), zip line, cargo nets, and trails to a lighthouse and beach. Stroller-friendly easy trails. Ranger-led nature walks on weekends. Fully accessible playground.
3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199 · Daily 4am-11:30pm
Hands-on children's museum in downtown Bellevue for ages 0-8. Kid-sized grocery store, waterways, construction zone, art studio, toddler areas. Open late Fridays until 7pm. Under 1 free. King County Library museum pass gets you a discount.
1116 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 · Tue-Thu & Sat 9:30am-5pm, Fri 9:30am-7pm, Sun 11:30am-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0–8
Free waterfront museum on South Lake Union with classic wooden boats kids can climb on. Two free rowboats daily, first-come first-served. Free Sunday public sailings. Rentable pedal boats, rowboats, and sailboats. Seasonal kids boat building workshops.
1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Wed-Sun 11:30am-7pm (seasonal hours vary)
Seattle history museum with interactive exhibits on the Great Fire, Boeing, and tech boom. Full-size seaplane on the ceiling, periscope with live lake views. Kids 14 and under always free. Free for all first Thursdays 5-8pm.
860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Mon/Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Tue-Wed · Ages 0+
223-acre park with salmon-themed climbing structures, a bridge over railroad tracks to the beach, and forested trails. In fall, salmon spawn in Piper's Creek and rangers explain the lifecycle. Playground has separate toddler and older kid areas. Free parking.
950 NW Carkeek Park Rd, Seattle, WA 98177 · Daily 6am-10pm
50+ playable pinball machines from the 1960s to today. Pay admission, play everything, no quarters needed. Best for ages 5+ since younger kids can't reach the flippers. Good rainy-day option.
508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon/Thu-Sun 12pm-6pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-8pm, closed Tue-Wed · Ages 5+
Indoor play space at Woodland Park Zoo for kids 8 and under. Tree canopy climbing, wetlands area, toddler zone. Included with zoo admission. Useful on rainy days. Adjacent Family Farm has goats and chickens.
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Daily, included with zoo admission · Ages 0–8
Free to visit. Watch boats rise and fall in the lock chambers connecting Puget Sound to Lake Union. Fish ladder has underwater viewing windows for watching salmon migrate (best summer and fall). Botanical gardens and a small free visitor center on-site.
3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107 · Grounds: Daily 7am-9pm; Visitor Center: May-Sep daily 10am-6pm
19-acre park on Lake Union built around ruins of a gasification plant. Industrial structures are fenced off but cool to look at. Big hill with downtown and Space Needle views, open fields for kite flying, play barn with picnic tables. Free.
2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103 · Daily 6am-10pm
2.5-mile sandy waterfront in West Seattle with downtown skyline views across the bay. Shallow, calm water (cold though) for wading. Paved path for strollers, bikes, scooters. Beach fires in designated rings. Free family art drop-ins at the Bathhouse Art Studio on weekends.
1702 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 · Daily 4am-11:30pm
Free outdoor market every Sunday, year-round rain or shine. 150+ vendors with crafts, antiques, food, produce. Walk over to see the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge afterward.
3401 Evanston Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Sundays 10am-4pm, year-round
Free Victorian greenhouse on Capitol Hill with five rooms of tropical plants, orchids, cacti. Warm and humid, good rainy-day stop. Volunteer Park around it has a playground, a water tower you can climb, and the Asian Art Museum.
1402 E Galer St, Seattle, WA 98112 · Tue-Sun 10am-4pm, closed Mondays
Free 20-acre Japanese garden in South Seattle, started by self-taught gardener Fujitaro Kubota in 1927. Stone bridges, waterfalls, koi ponds, paths through old-growth trees. Kids like the bridges and stepping stones. Rarely crowded. Free parking.
9817 55th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 · Daily 6am-10pm
SIFF cinema in a 1915 Masonic Temple
805 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 · Daily, showtimes from 3pm
Free First Thursdays — kids 14 and under always free
1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · Wed & Fri-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, closed Mon-Tue
Free nine-acre sculpture park with Elliott Bay and Olympic Mountain views
2901 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 · Daily, dawn to dusk
Always free — Seattle's only no-charge art museum
704 Terry Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 · Wed-Sun 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm, closed Mon-Tue
Watch free live sessions from touring artists at indie radio's HQ
472 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm
Free rowboats daily on South Lake Union — no reservation needed
1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Wed-Sun 11:30am-7pm (seasonal hours vary)
Free first Thursdays, kids always free
1400 E Prospect St, Seattle, WA 98112 · Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, closed Mon-Tue
50+ vintage pinball machines with unlimited free play
508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon/Thu-Sun 12pm-6pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-8pm, closed Tue-Wed
Free gallery crawl, first Thursday each month
Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA 98104 · First Thursday of each month, 6-8pm
Tour the preserved 1910 hotel rooms upstairs
719 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104 · Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon-Wed
Free national park museum in Pioneer Square — tiny but fascinating gold rush history.
319 2nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 · Daily 10am-5pm
Old coal gas factory turned park — best views of Lake Union and the downtown skyline, free.
2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103 · Daily 6am-10pm
All Washington state farmers — year-round, every Sunday rain or shine.
5300 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · Sundays 9am-2pm, year-round
Belltown speakeasy with serious cocktails — dark, moody, no sign out front.
2332 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 · Daily 5pm-2am
Look for the unmarked door — bathtub inside, gin cocktails, Prohibition vibes.
2205 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 · Mon-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun 5pm-12am