Seattle is predominantly known for its markets, musicians and mountain scenery. But it can also be renowned for the many free things for tourists to do in the city. All visitors need to do is book a hotel downtown, like Motif Seattle, for easy access to these free things to do in Seattle.

Free things to do in Seattle

Meander the markets

Pike Place Market is one of the most famous markets in the United States. It’s free and constantly buzzing with people purchasing local food, jewellery, art and other handicrafts. Devour the free samples, descend the stairs to the Seattle waterfront and visit Gum Alley.

Alternatively, the Fremont Sunday Market is a free flea market open year-round. 145 to 250 vendors line the streets weekly. They sell everything, including antiques, clothes, vintage collectables, furniture, and street food. The saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” certainly applies here.

Join a free walking tour

Seattle Free Walking Tours operate two different tours on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Firstly, the Market Experience tour takes you inside the Pike Place Market to sample fresh food and learn the market’s history. The Seattle 101 tour includes visiting the market too. But then guides take groups to Pioneer Square and along the waterfront to the “photogenic piers 62/63.” The guides give their recommendations for Seattle’s best places to wine and dine, as well as fun history facts. Guests are asked to tip the guides at the end what they thought the tour was worth.

Explore Seattle Centre

A visit to Seattle isn’t complete without seeing the Space Needle at the Seattle Centre. The Centre was first built for the World’s Fair in 1962 and the park includes 74 acres of fun for the whole family. Although it costs to enter most buildings within the Seattle Centre, visitors can spend time wandering the grounds for free. Take photos of the Space Needle up close, play in the International Fountain and enjoy the outdoor exhibits. The Centre also hosts many free festivals annually.

See Seattle’s sunsets

Being on the West Coast of America, the sun sets over the water in Seattle. This definitely equals the best sunsets, in my opinion. Visit the Olympic Sculpture Park for uninterrupted views of Puget Sound and admire the interesting structures. Seattle’s waterfront also offers excellent vistas for capturing a sunset photo. Sit near the Great Wheel to capture a unique sunset photo of the glowing Ferris wheel backdropped by the descending sun.

Go to Kerry Park

On the south slope of Queen Anne Hill, Kerry Park is the best place to visit for Seattle skyline views. From the 1.26 acre park, people can see downtown Seattle, the West Seattle peninsula, the islands in Puget Sound, Elliott Bay and domineering Mount Rainier.

There are so many free things to do in Seattle – from the markets to the waterfront to the tours. This means there’s no excuse not to visit the Washington State city today. For more Seattle goodness, check out my budget travel guide.

This blog post was a part of a previous partnership with Hipmunk.