A Fun And Easy Car-Free Seattle Itinerary
My family visits Seattle multiple times a year, and we have never rented a car. In fact, we prefer it that way. Traffic in Seattle is fairly insane and parking your car in Seattle is even more problematic (and expensive).
Fortunately, Seattle is an easy city to visit if you know where to strategically stay if you don’t have a car. And don’t worry, you won’t miss out on Seattle’s top attractions without a car either.
This car-free Seattle itinerary will cover the best and most convenient places to stay without a car and what to see and do for car-free travelers visiting Seattle.
Here’s how to see the top attractions along with transit tips and maps, and the safest and best areas to stay in Seattle without a car. Here we go!
Do I Need A Car When Visiting Seattle?
Not at all! As mentioned above, it’s actually easier to visit the major tourist attractions in Seattle without one. For this car-free itinerary, you can walk to many of Seattle’s top attractions or use Seattle’s light rail system.
The light rail connects SeaTac Airport to downtown and makes it easy to travel between downtown neighborhoods and the University of Washington.
Many of Seattle’s top attractions are located downtown- Pike Place Market, Waterfront Park, Seattle Aquarium, Space Needle, Museum of Pop Art, and more.
I’l explain everything you need to know about the light rail system so you can hit the ground running upon arrival.
Getting From The Seattle/Tacoma Airport To Downtown Seattle
Seattle’s Light Rail is the city’s convenient form of public transit running from just south of the Seattle/Tacoma Airport to downtown, further north to the University of Washington and a bit beyond.
If you are flying to Seattle, you can take the light rail from SeaTac Airport to all of the downtown stations which have plenty of hotels within easy walking distance.
The train ride takes about 40 minutes to reach downtown from the airport.
Seattle’s light rail system is easy to navigate, and the SeaTac webpage has all the info you need including directions to the airport station, maps, and videos.
The airport light rail station is located in the parking garage area, and you’ll just follow the signs at the airport to “Ground Transportation” and “Light Rail.”
To pay the fare, you can now use a credit card or debit card to “tap to pay” at each light rail station. Note, however, that tap to pay is not available on the Seattle Monorail, ferries, and select regional services.
Adult one way fares cost $3 on the light rail, and children under 18 ride all public transit for free making it an attractive option for families visiting the city. Yay!
See the light rail station map here or scroll further down.
Tips For Riding Seattle’s Light Rail
Fare Payment
You won’t find gated turnstiles at the entrance to the light rail train platforms. Rather, riders tap their credit card, ticket, or Orca card at the yellow readers located on the station mezzanines before taking the escalator down to the train platform.
The card tap areas in front of the escalator and elevator are well marked as you can see in this photo below.
In a way, it’s like an honor system in that it assumes you will pay before proceeding down to the train platform. However, it’s an honor system with penalties if violated. “Fare ambassadors” do occasionally ask passengers on the train for proof of payment.
P.S. You do not need to “tap off;” just tap prior to boarding the train.
Light Rail Lines
The light rail has 2 lines and both serve Seattle’s downtown stops. Trains are labeled by their line and their end destination.
You can take either Line 1 or Line 2 if traveling downtown between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown.
Both lines share the same route between these stations and include the downtown stops.
Line 1 (green) runs north to south. If you are traveling south, look for trains labeled “Federal Way”.
If traveling north, the train will be marked “Lynnwood City Center.”
Line 2 (blue) travels north/south between Lynnwood City Center and International District/Chinatown before heading east to Redmond.
The end destination for Line 2 will be either Lynnwood City Center or Downtown Redmond.
Kids Ride Free
As mentioned above, youth aged 18 and younger can take public transit for free. Older teens may need to be prepared to show proof of age if asked by a fare ambassador on the train.
Google Maps App
The Google Maps app works great for navigating the city and the light rail. It tells you the walking distance to and from the stations as well as the most convenient station exit to get where you’re going.
Best Area To Stay In Seattle Without A Car
If you don’t have a car, your best option for places to stay in Seattle will be staying within reasonable walking distance to tourist attractions or to one of the light rail stations.
For this itinerary, the best area to stay will be near either the Westlake (downtown), Capitol Hill, or University District light rail stations.
These 3 locations are close to safe, touristy areas where you can walk to lodging, restaurants, and some of Seattle’s top attractions.
These neighborhoods also position you to easily hop on the light rail to easily venture further from the downtown area if desired. Want to take a ferry to Bainbridge Island or visit the University of Washington? No problem.
If you are hauling lots of luggage from the airport, you can always take an Uber from the airport for the convenience or take a short Uber ride from the light rail station to your hotel.
Tip: When considering hotels, use Google Map to see how far of a walk it is to the nearest tourist sites that you want to see and the distance to the nearest light rail station.
1. Downtown Hotels Near Westlake Station
One of the advantages of staying in downtown Seattle near the Westlake station is that it has the most hotel options in the city.
Visit Seattle claims 7000+ hotel rooms lie within an 11 block radius of the Seattle Convention Center which is just a 7 minute walk from the Westlake light rail station.
If you have loyalty points at a particular hotel chain, you’ll likely find it here.
Downtown is also super convenient, because you can walk to many of Seattle’s most popular attractions. I love being able to walk to Pike Place Market, one of my favorite places to visit in Seattle, and stroll along the scenic Waterfront Park.
You can also easily visit some of Seattle’s biggest tourist attractions by taking the Seattle City Monorail from Westlake Center (a 3 min ride) to the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihully Museum, and more. (I’ll talk more about these attractions below.)
Plenty of restaurants and shops are nearby, or you can hop on the light rail to easily explore more of the city.
If you only have one day in Seattle, staying downtown is likely your best bet. On the downside, it’s obviously the most touristy area and hotel prices can be high.
For lodging, I like the hotels in the area near Westlake station and extending to the waterfront at Pike Place Market.
This touristy area is generally safe, especially during the day. But like many large cities, homeless populations are definitely present so remember to always be aware of your surroundings.
In general, try to avoid the stretches of 2nd and 3rd Avenue between Pike and Pine Streets at night due to the homeless presence in that area.
Tip: Request higher level rooms to avoid some of the street noise.
- Here are some downtown hotels to consider that are well reviewed and have good locations:
- Mayflower Park (super close to the Westlake station)
- Hotel Theodore, Tapestry by Hilton (stylish boutique hotel)
- Charter Hotel by Hilton (floor to ceiling windows)
- Thompson Seattle (some rooms have water views)
- Inn at the Market (steps from Pike Place Market)
- Grand Hyatt Seattle (near Convention Center)
- Hyatt Regency (new hotel near Convention Center).
2. Vacation Rentals Near Capitol Hill Station
Another area easily reached by light rail, the Capitol Hill neighborhood is known for its nightlife and excellent culinary scene with lots of terrific restaurants for foodies.
See Seattle Eater’s list of best places to eat in Capitol Hill or Postcards To Seattle’s blog post- 19 Best Things to Do in Capitol Hill, Seattle’s Most Colorful Neighborhood.
It has very few hotels but does offer a sprinkling of B&B’s and plenty of vacation rentals within walking distance of the light rail, restaurants and shops.
I like that it feels more residential and less touristy than the tall high rise buildings found in the downtown area.
And, it’s still convenient to many of Seattle’s attractions like Pike Place Market and the museums and sights near Westlake, just one stop away (3 minutes) on the light rail.
The Capitol Hill light rail station is located on Broadway which runs north/south. The main commercial hub of shops and restaurants is found along Pike Street and Pine Street which runs east/west from Melrose to 15th Ave.
We like to visit Elliot Bay Book Company, a large independent bookstore, and enjoy brunch next door at Oddfellow’s Cafe. Note to those with daughters: My teens always drop into nearby Glossier on 10th Ave.
Nearby is Cal Andersen Park, although we generally try to avoid walking through it from the station. It’s a nice, large green space but always seems to have some interesting characters milling about…
We plan to stay at one of these vacation rentals when we return. We walked by each place on our last visit and liked the location and neighborhood feel.
Cozy Capitol Hill Home. VRBO 4047039ha. 2 bedroom/2 bath, 2 levels, small patio. Walking distance to light rail, restaurants, shops. Exceptional rating.
Perch – Urban Abode 22: Modern & Stylish Townhome; Heart of Capitol Hill. VRBO 2428462. 2 bedroom/2 bath; 3 levels and a rooftop deck. Close to the VRBO listed above. Exceptional rating.
99 Walk Score 2BR2BA Central Capitol Hill Seattle Townhome with AC & Roof Deck. VRBO 2428463. 2 bedroom, 2 bath; 3 levels and a rooftop deck. Exceptional rating.
Most of the vacation rentals here are close enough to easily walk to the light rail station with quick access to downtown. It’s a quiet neighborhood within walking distance to Broadway if you desire some nightlife, and still within walking distance of restaurants and breweries.
Shout out to Rione XIII (excellent pasta and happy hour) and Stoup Brewery (family-friendly brewery with food trucks.)
Overall, I would look for a place that is not directly on Broadway if you want to avoid any noise associated with the nightlife there.
3. Hotels Near U-District Near The University of Washington
We also like staying in the University District, the area close to the University of Washington campus, especially in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom on UW’s Quad.
This area has a handful of hotels, all less than a 10 minute walk to the campus, the eateries and shops on the popular “Ave”, and the U-District Station for public transport on the light rail.
We’ve found the hotels here to be more affordable than the downtown area but without sacrificing quick and easy access to downtown attractions by riding the light rail.
From the U-District station, it is just 3 stops to the Westlake station (less than a 15 minute ride) to visit Seattle’s popular tourist attractions like Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium.
The area is less bustling as compared to downtown, the university campus is a beautiful oasis, and the University “Ave” has plenty of affordable and tasty restaurants.
For serious shoppers, nearby University Village is a pleasant place to shop with lots of local and national retailers and fun eateries. It’s a large upscale shopping complex where you’ll find the likes of Anthropologie, Gap, Sephora, LuluLemon, Brandy Melville, Apple, and many more.
I also like staying in U-District because you can rent bikes and bike the Burke-Gilman Trail to some fun breweries and parks. (See details in my Guide To Visiting UW)
Or if you prefer to get out on the water, you can rent kayaks and grab a bite to eat at Aqua Verde, a fun waterfront stop.
See my Ultimate Guide To Visiting The University of Washington for more restaurant recommendations and things to see and do in the area.
We have stayed at both the StayPineapple hotels (multiple times) and really like both. (I like that they have bikes you can ride for free.)
I might like the StayPineapple Waterton Hotel a smidge more than Staypineapple University Inn for its cafe in the lobby, but just go with whichever hotel has the best price between the two.
The Graduate By Hilton Seattle is also a contender with its nice rooftop deck. Bonus!
8 Easy To See Seattle Attractions Without A Car
No car, no worries! As mentioned above, many of the major tourist sites in Seattle can easily be visited without a car.
Here are several options that are either walkable from or convenient using the light rail public transit from both Westlake, Capitol Hill, and the U-District stations.
1. Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is an iconic Seattle landmark and easily identified by the bright red “Public Market Center” sign and clock located at the corner of Pike Street and Pike Place.
If you have time to visit one place during your visit to Seattle, I would recommend going to Pike Place, especially if you are hungry!
If you are staying near Westlake, you can walk to it from your lodging. It’s located less than a 1/2 mile from that area (about a 5 min walk).
If you are staying in Capitol Hill or U-District, you can take the light rail to the Westlake station downtown. From here it’s a short 5 minute walk down Pine St to Pike Place Market.
We go to Pike Place Market every time we visit Seattle to eat at the various food stalls, check out the local artists selling their creations, and admire the waterfront views of Puget Sound.
The market occupies several blocks and is filled with restaurants, food stalls, local artists, retail shops, beautiful fresh flower stalls, and a farmer’s market. Make sure to check out the lower level as well!
Pike Place Shops
One of the most popular tourist stops at Pike Place to witness is the “fish throw” at Pike Place Fish Market. The practice of throwing fish is actually part of doing business here, not an act. And by the looks of it, flying fish draws a big crowd around here!
It’s fun to wander around the market, select a souvenir from one of the booths, and try some food from one of the many unique Pike Place eateries (see our recommendations below).
It can be a busy place, so arrive before 10am if you want to avoid the height of the crowds. It isn’t fun to push through the throngs, especially with kids, so early is definitely better, especially in summer.
In addition to the booths on the main floor, these are some of the interesting shops we visited downstairs or nearby: Metsker Maps (On 1st Ave near the Pike Place Market), Miniature Car Dealer, House of Jade, Animal Gifts & Collectibles, and Old Seattle Paper Works.
But, it’s really just fun to wander here and take it all in.
Pike Place Eateries
Along with the famous “flying fish”, Pike Place Market has a number of food stands that are fun to try.
It would be super fun to take a food tour of the market. Here are some standouts from our visit:
Peroshsky Peroshky– You just can’t go wrong with any of the turnovers at this Eastern European Bakery. The smoked salmon and apple cinnamon peroshskis are favorites. They are served warm, and I recommend ordering several to sample and share. There is no indoor seating, so order and take it with you to one of the tables outside.
Le Panier is next door if you are more in the mood for a French Bakery. Try the macarons. So good! Note that it has limited seating.
Tip: You can take your to-go food to the outdoor picnic tables located just outside of Le Panier and Peroshky’s, or better yet, cut through the covered open-air market and look for the outdoor tables with views of the water and Ferris wheel.
Totem Smokehouse– Bring home some gourmet smoked salmon to enjoy at home or as a gift to those you left behind!
We’ve also tried the BBQ buns at Mee Sum Pastry and the gorgeous sandwiches at Michou Deli. Both get rave reviews.
Old Stove Brewing– Located on the waterfront near Pike Place, this is a huge place with indoor and outdoor seating. The food is really good as is their beer. This is a good stop for a family outing as their menu has a variety of choices from x to x.
Tables with a view at Pike Place Market 
The salmon piroshsky 
Flowers at the Market 
Iconic Pike Place Market Sign
2. The Gum Wall
If you want to see something really bizarre and slightly gross, check out the Gum Wall, located in Post Alley near Pike Place Market.
The walls are filled with chewed gum stuck to every surface imaginable. Quite the site! The kids loved it.
If inside the Pike Place Market, look for a sign to the Gum Wall that takes you downstairs and leads you outside.
Or, you can access it from a ramp to the left of the “Public Market Center” clock sign. At the bottom of the ramp, veer left into Post Alley. It is something!
3. Waterfront Park
The Overlook Walk area behind Pike Place Market has beautiful views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, and you can now access Waterfront Park and both the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Great Wheel from Pike Place Market.
The recently opened 20 acre Waterfront Park extends from Lumen Fields to Pier 62, where festivals, concerts, and more public events take place throughout the year.
The park has multiple playgrounds (a large new marine-themed one can be found at Pier 58), bike lanes, community piers looking out over the water, and public restrooms. It’s a really pleasant area to walk along the waterfront and take in the views.
During the summer, the Spotlight at Waterfront Park series will host a variety of artists and musicians on Pier 58 every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. from July 23 through September 24, 2026.
From May 21 through September 7, 2026 (and just in time for the World Cup!), free shuttles to Waterfront Park will run every 15 minutes, 7 days a week from 10a.m – 10p.m.
Shuttle stops include Seattle Center, Olympic Sculpture Park, Overlook Walk, Seattle Ferry Terminal, Pioneer Square, and Chinatown-International District.
4. The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
The Seattle Center, a 74-acre park originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is now home to some of Seattle’s major tourists attractions: the Museum of Pop Art (MoPOP), the Space Needle, and Chilhuly Glass and Garden Museum.
You can visit one or possibly all of these in an afternoon. Or, check out the nearby Climate Pledge Arena to see if any of your favorite bands are touring there.
For us, the Space Needle seemed too expensive ($49) to experience a city view, and the Chilhuly Glass Museum seemed too low key for the kiddos, so we tackled the Museum of Pop Art ($36.50) and had so much fun!
Note that you can get a discounted combo ticket ($69) for the Space Needle and Chilhuly Glass Museum or consider the Seattle C3 Pass ($102) to save money on tickets to all three.
At MoPOP, you can explore a variety of interesting movie and music star memorabilia as well as costumes. The sci-fi room and horror room are quite impressive as was the Jimi Hendrix Room.
In addition to the exhibits, the interactive Sound Lab was a blast and definitely a highlight. You can play guitar, bang on drums, produce a song, sing in vocal booths with microphones, and pretend to be the rock star that you know you are!
I would plan at least two hours here, and you can leave and return with your ticket same day. They also have a restaurant on site that looked pretty good.
Guitar Sculpture at MoPOP 
MoPOP horror wing 
MoPOP Sound Lab 
MoPOP Sound Lab
Getting To Seattle Center
The Seattle Monorail travels directly between Westlake Center (5th Avenue & Pine Street) and Seattle Center.
The Monorail takes approximately 3 minutes to get from station to station, and it only goes between the two, so you don’t have to worry about which stop to get off.
If you’ve arrived to Westlake station on the light rail, look for Exit A2 for the Monorail and 5th Ave & Pine Street. Take the elevator (with ‘Monorail’ written above it) or stairs up to the Westlake Monorail Station located on the 3rd floor of Westlake Center Mall.
The Monorail is $4.00 each way for adults, $2.00 for kids 6-18, and is free for kids under 5. You can buy tickets online or at the vending machines at Westlake Center and Seattle Center, or pay with an Orca Card.
Children’s Museum and “Artists at Play” Playground.
Reminder- Tap and pay with credit card does not work on the monorail.
5. The Seattle Aquarium
If you have more time or enjoy aquariums, the Seattle Aquarium is located just a 5 minute walk from Pike Place on the downtown waterfront. This could be a good place to visit for a couple of hours, especially if the weather is bad.
On a previous visit, we enjoyed seeing the octopus tank, the hands on tidal pools, and playful sea otters. If short on time though, I preferred the Museum of Pop Culture.
From Westlake station, you can walk about 10 minutes down Pine Street to reach the Aquarium.
6. Ferry To Bainbridge Island
At first glance, this seemed like an intimidating side trip due to figuring out how to navigate the Washington Ferry system. Turns out, it is super easy, you don’t need a car, and it’s one of the best things to do in Seattle on a sunny day.
Ferries run about every hour. See the time schedule here.
Take the light rail to the Pioneer Square stop. Exit at the Entrance C Stairs at Yesler Way. (The ferry terminal is about a 10 minute walk from the Pioneer Square station.)
Walk down Yesler Way and turn right on Alaskan Way. You’ll see the Ferry Terminal on the left. (Both Bainbridge Ferry and Bremerton Ferry depart from here)
There’s an elevator to the right of the stairs if you have a stroller.
Entrance to ferry terminal from Alaska Way 
Bainbridge Island Ferry Ticket Office 
Turnstile ticket/Orca card entry to Bainbridge ferry
Adult roundtrip fare is $11.35, and the ferry is free for kids under 18. You can purchase tickets at the ticket office outside the terminal entrance or use an Orca Card if you have one.
Important- Kids will need a ticket from the ticket office to use at the turnstiles to enter the ferry even though tickets are free.
The views of the Seattle skyline are fantastic and just being on the water is a lot of fun. We were even treated to views of Mount Ranier on our clear day.
Depending on the time of year, you might even see whales swimming in the Sound.
The ferry trip to Bainbridge takes just 35 minutes, and the Puget Sound’s calm water shouldn’t be a problem for those who tend to get motion sick. My daughter did just fine.
You can sit on the open-air top deck or go below to the enclosed passenger area. It was a warm enough day, and we enjoyed the cool breezes on the deck. You might want to bring a jacket- it was considerably cooler on deck compared to the temp in the city.
Terrific Seattle skyline views from the ferry 
Mount Ranier! 
Bainbridge Island
Tip: There’s a cafe in the Passenger Area below deck that sells a variety of snacks. The kids might enjoy a bag of popcorn for the ride over!
Once you reach Bainbridge Island, you can just follow the masses to exit the ferry terminal. Most walk up to Winslow Way, the main commercial corridor on the island, to peruse the boutiques or grab lunch at one of the restaurants.
We happily veered away from the pedestrian traffic headed to Winslow Way and walked up the paved Sound To Olympics Trail to High School Road to Sakai Park to see Pia, the Bainbridge Troll.
It’s a 1.5 mile walk, slightly uphill from the ferry terminal. See a detailed route description here.
We enjoyed the excursion, took some photos, and then walked a different route back so we could grab lunch at Harbor Public House, which was terrific by the way.
It’s an order at the counter type of place with nice views of the harbor. Plenty of seafood or burgers, Mac and cheese if your kiddos are picky. Will definitely return here.
The Bainbridge Troll, Pia the Peacekeeper 
Trail to Bainbridge Troll in Sakai Park 
View from our table at Harbour Public House. Outside tables are also available.
Other notable restaurants on Bainbridge that we’d like to try next time include:
- Hi-Life Chop Stick Stand for poke bowls- it’s located close to the ferry
- Proper Fish– Known for its fish and chips
- Ba Sa– A Vietnamese restaurant with a lot of buzz
- Bainbridge Brewery– Located near the Bainbridge Art Museum (free admission) and fairly close to the ferry terminal if you want to just have a drink and catch the next ferry back. No kids are allowed at the brewery (21 and older only), so we didn’t have the opportunity to sample their beers.
See Seattle Eater- Where To Eat On Bainbridge Island for more suggestions.
Check the departure times for the return ferry to Seattle and arrive a few minutes early to get in line. You won’t need to scan a ticket for the return trip to Seattle.
Honestly, the ferry ride was a highlight of our last trip to Seattle. The price is right– $11.35 for adults roundtrip and free for the kiddos. It was fun being on a boat and the views of the Seattle skyline provided a unique view of the city from the water.
7. Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park
If you are a Seattle Seahawks football fan or want to catch a Mariner’s baseball game, Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park are located right next to each other and you can easily get there using the light rail.
Popular big name musicians also have tour stops at T-Mobile Park, so be sure to check out the concert schedule for when you’re in town.
From Westlake station in downtown Seattle, you can reach the Stadium station in just 4 stops on the light rail. From there, T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field are about a 10 minute walk.
8. University of Washington
The University of Washington campus is really beautiful. It is convenient to downtown by the light rail but tucked away in a park-like setting on the shores of Lake Washington and Portage Bay.
As mentioned above, the cherry trees bloom in spring on the campus “Quad” bringing lots of tourists. But anytime of year is worth a stroll.
Walk to Drumheller Fountain with views of Mount Ranier (on a clear day!) or stop off at the beautiful Reading Room in the Suzallo Library, often compared to Hogwarts Great Hall from the Harry Potter series. It’s open to the public, so come on in!
The Quad 
Fountain with Mt. Ranier in background.
Afterwards, grab lunch or dinner on the “Ave”, officially named University Way on maps and street signs. The Ave is the main commercial corridor nearest to campus and though you won’t find anything fancy here, you’ll find dozens of affordable eateries and a nice sprinkle of thrift shops and stores.
If you are hungry, Thai Thom (one of our favorites- note cash only!), Alladin Falafel Corner, and Don’t Yell At Me (known for their boba tea) are some legendary favorites on the Ave.
The waterfront area near campus has two great places to eat. They are about a 15 minute walk from UW’s Quad.
Agua Verde Cafe (lunch and dinner) – We love the vibe here with outdoor seating right on the water. We keep coming back for their carnitas tacos and Baja tacos! Plus, they have my favorite Seattle IPA on tap- Bodizafa.
You can also rent a kayak afterwards for a paddle around Portage Bay. Doesn’t get much better!
St. Bread (7:30am – 6pm)- A super casual bakery with outdoor seating. A good place for breakfast or a quick snack. Don’t miss the cardamon knot!
Happy Trails!
I know you’ll have a fantastic visit to Seattle! Fortunately, it’s a very walkable and easy city to navigate without a car and there is always plenty to see and do. Strategically staying in the right area with good access to Seattle top tourist attractions and the light rail make for an easy and fun trip to Seattle. Happy Trails! – Amy
