If you plan to visit Seattle this summer, you might want to consider alternate forms of transportation. While a car is the quickest and easiest way to get around, car rental prices are higher than ever. Moreover, rideshare prices are also up, and public parking spaces can sometimes be at a premium. Fortunately, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest features one of the country’s most efficient public transportation systems.
Learn how to get around Seattle without having to use a car!
Seattle Public Transportation
Link Light Rail (Sound Transit)
Multiple transportation options are available to get around a large swath of Seattle. If you’re flying into SeaTac, you can save money by taking Link Light Rail to downtown. Light rail trains depart every 12-15 mins; the fare is just $3. Moreover, this link can take you near or close to several local attractions. That means the Link can practically be your sole source of transportation. The Link is the easiest way to get around Seattle.
Cashless Fare
Instead of using cash, download the Transit Go Ticket app or obtain an ORCA card for cashless fare payments. The Transit Go Ticket can be used for fare and retail stores. Transit agencies do not accept cash to reduce the risk of exposure to germs.
Related: Getting Around Honolulu Without A Rental Car
Public Buses
King County Metro is the primary public bus service operator within downtown Seattle. The bus system operates over 120 routes and connects with Link at multiple stops. See the system map for more details of bus service. Visit the King County System Maps to plan your bus trip. Fare can be paid with an ORCA card. In addition to Metro, Sound Transit operates express regional bus service. Lastly, RapidRide is another express bus service that may come in handy.
If you want to use public transportation but find it difficult, there are a few apps you can try. Moovit is very easy to follow and understand, as is Rome2Rio. Another popular app to consider is Wanderu.
Seattle Center Monorail
The first of its kind in the U.S., the monorail links Seattle Center and downtown Seattle. This .9-mile route is particularly useful since most visitors want to see the Space Needle at Seattle Center. The regular one-way fare is $3. At this time, the monorail is operating at a reduced level of service. Please check with Seattle Center Monorail for up-to-date information.
Westlake Center Station
In downtown Seattle, the monorail station is at Westlake Center, a central retail area and transportation hub. There is also a Link Light Rail station and several bus bays for transit bus service.
Please note that construction is currently being done at the Westlake Center station. Construction is expected to be completed in Fall 2021. However, more improvements will continue through 2030. More plans are currently under consideration. For instance, community members hope a new station in Chinatown will be moved to another location. That’s because the present spot is next to the historic Chinatown Gate.
Seattle Streetcar
Two streetcar lines provide additional public transportation options within the city. However, depending on your itinerary, you might not need to use the Seattle Streetcar. The Lake Union Park route operates between the Westlake and Lake Union. Several Amazon buildings are located along this route, including Amazon headquarters.
The First Hill route operates between Occidental Mall near Pioneer Square and Cal Anderson Park. Attractions on this route are the Frye Art Museum and the Japanese Tea Garden. Also near the southwest border of Cal Anderson Park is the statue of Jimi Hendrix.
Seattle Boat Transportation
Water Taxis
King County Metro operates two water taxi routes, with service from the Seattle waterfront at Pier 50 to West Seattle and Vashon Island. Fare can be paid with the Transit Go Ticket app or ORCA. Water taxis do not operate on weekends or major holidays, including the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Water Ferries
Seattle maintains the most extensive ferry system in the country and the world’s second-largest. Managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation, the system operates ten routes. The ferry system serves islands and communities within Puget Sound. Service to British Columbia, Canada, is currently out of service due to COVID-19. Among popular destinations served are Olympia, Tacoma, Bainbridge Island, and San Juan Islands.
Boat Tours
Several boat tours are available, with boats of all sizes. Among the best is Argosy Cruises, which is well-known for its scenic harbor cruises. Argosy Cruises’ service resumed on June 14, and reservations can be booked online. Other popular services are Waterway Cruises and Seattle Boat Company. Clipper Vacations is the only local tour operator for whale watching.
Related: Attractions To See With A Seattle CityPASS
Rideshare/Taxis/Limousine
Both Uber and Lyft operate in Seattle and its surrounding areas. Taxi service is available, with operators like Yellow Cab, Orange Cab, and Viking Cab. Additionally, several limousine services operate in Seattle. The top recommendations are Aces Town Car Service, Century Car Service, Seattle STS Town Car, and A&A Limousine.
Please note that rideshare and taxi service prices may be higher than usual.
Tour Buses
Tour buses are a great way to see many of Seattle’s top attractions in a day or two. This can be especially helpful for those who have difficulty taking public transportation. Several local tour operators are available with a range of options.
Hop On, Hop Off
Among the most popular are multi-hour city tours and the City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off buses. The latter provides stops at many top attractions like Pike Place Market and Seattle Center. Local operators also offer trips to regional attractions like Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park.
Bicycling
As one of America’s most bike-friendly cities, Seattle has an extensive network of bike paths and trails. The city implemented a bike share program with a fleet of electric-assist bicycles to meet the demand. The program has proved very successful, with one in four Seattle residents using shared bikes in 2019.
Shared Bikes
JUMP is the vendor for shared bikes, and three vendors manage shared scooters. JUMP bikes in Seattle can be rented with the Uber app.
Bike Rentals
Seattle has several bike shops that offer rentals. However, most businesses in downtown Seattle are bike tour operators. Among the most popular are Seattle Bicycle Tours and Seattle Cycling Tours. Standard and electric-assist bikes are available on selected tours.
Related: Alternative Transportation in San Francisco
About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, CBS Los Angeles, CBS Chicago, and CBS San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. His other stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBSNews.com, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He is a Media Fellow of Stanford University, a U.S. Army veteran, and a lifelong Santa Cruz County, California resident.