Having hosted more than 100 friends and family here in Seattle, I usually advise folks to visit in the summer, when the weather is close to perfect.
But the summer season is when prices are the highest, so if you’re looking to save money while still visiting the Emerald City, I recommend visiting in the off-season to get the best deals on local attractions. Just remember to pack your cold-weather rain gear.
Here are my tips and tricks to get the best value-for-money when visiting my favorite attractions in Seattle off-season.
Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center, near the base of the Space Needle, is a must see for most Seattle visitors and locals with kids, but when the crowds are lighter, I think it has great appeal for your inner-kid (I have been wanting to revisit their indoor year-round tropical butterfly garden).
- Off-Season Hours: 10a-5p, closed Mondays and Tuesdays but check in advance, days and times vary
- Pricing: Dynamic pricing ranging from low $20s to mid $30s
- Buying Tip: Book early and online with best prices tend to be mid-week during non-holiday weeks
- Bonus: The ticket price includes the planetarium, but you need to pick-up a separate timed ticket
- Something Extra: The Pacific Science Center has two IMAX theaters, I prefer the main IMAX – the Boeing theater. For a perfect New Year’s eve, get advance tickets for an IMAX movie that starts about 8 or 9pm. Parking is easier at that hour and as you walk out of the movie you are well positioned to watch the fireworks show on the Space Needle.
Space Needle
While I am a fan of the Space Needle in the summer, it would have to be a really clear winter day to get me to pay to go to the top.
- Off-Season Hours: Varies daily, longer hours on the weekend
- Pricing: Admission usually cheaper earlier in the day
- Buying Tips: Check out their combo tickets with other local attractions
- Bonus: No ticket needed to visit the store at the base of the Needle with one of the best selection of Seattle souvenirs – everything from mid-century modern looking branded souvenirs to a well curated offering of local goodies from chocolates to art work
- Something Extra: New Year’s eve fireworks are literally set off from the needle – you want to be in the area, but I don’t think it is worth it to pay for events hosted at the Needle.
Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture or MOPOP is a music and culture museum. It looks like someone dismantled a gigantic electric guitar (it’s a Frank Gehry design of reflective glass, metal and wood). Inside are exhibits ranging from music icons like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana to science fiction, horror and fantasy pop culture and video games.
- Off-Season Hours: 10a-5p, closed most Wednesdays but check in advance, days and times vary
- Pricing: Dynamic pricing (they call it plan ahead pricing) from mid to upper $20s
- Buying Tip: Tickets are cheaper the earlier you buy them online and the less busy the museum expects to be (ticket sales open about 6-8 weeks before).
- Bonus: Check out the special events before you go, I have both planned and accidentally seen some great music and lectures – last time I was there Sir Mix-a-lot was there (of “Baby Got Back’ fame)
- Something Extra: No matter what time of year I go, I love Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film – great scary tv and movie memorabilia, but it’s the audio and video interviews in the exhibit that keep me coming back.
Woodland Park Zoo
I am a big fan of the Woodland Park Zoo. It’s one of the top zoos in the country with immersive animal exhibits, from an African Savannah with lions, giraffes and zebras to Northwest bears to Peruvian penguins.
- Off-Season Hours: 9:30a-3:30/4p but check in advance, days and times vary
- Pricing: More dynamic pricing with tickets ranging from $20-$30 plus
- Buying Tip: Buy online at least 4 days with best prices for the least popular days (Monday-Thursday) on non-holiday weeks
- Bonus: Check out the King County Gold Pass for locals over 60 (free to sign-up online for folks living here locally) you can get a 75% discount year round
- Something Extra: Remember it is mostly outside – do bring your umbrella, but honestly the tree cover is great along most of the paths and unless there is a real downpour, you will stay relatively dry
Seattle Art Museum
If you are looking for art through the ages you might want to try the Seattle Art Museum. It’s a great museum that I tend to forget about when there isn’t an exhibit I am keen on seeing (they do a great job curating special exhibits.) There is an exhibit that opened November 2024 of AlexanderCalder sculptures that looks pretty cool.
- Off-Season Hours: 10a-5p, closed Mondays and Tuesdays but check in advance, days and times vary
- Pricing: Just under $30 if you buy at least a day ahead of time and a few more dollars if you buy the day of your visit
- Buying Tip: The first Thursday of the month is always free and the first Friday of the month is just $5 for seniors / $5 tickets any time with that ‘age-friendly Gold Card for King County residents I told you about earlier
- Bonus: Special exhibits are extra and can sell out quickly, but they do get you into the rest of the museum as well
- Something Extra: If you are looking for some free-all-the-time Seattle art, try the Olympic Sculpture Garden. Yes, it is outside and it’s on the Elliot Bay waterfront, so bring an umbrella and dress for rain and wind. There is a free guided tour you can listen to on your smartphone.
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is pretty cool. The touch pools definitely play to anyone’s inner marine biologist. The fish are awesome and they have really thought about great ways to make you feel immersed in these underwater habitats. Also, make sure to save time to go outside and see the river and sea otters.
- Off-Season Hours: 930a-6p, open 365 days a year but check ahead because it’s usually shorter days on holidays
- Pricing: Tickets are not cheap – If you want to go tomorrow, it will probably cost you over $40 but you can get that down to mid $30s if you book online ahead of time
- Buying Tip: The real winner here is that King County Gold Card which will get older pass holders in for free at the next available time (which may be a wait in the summer but probably not most water days)
- Bonus: The new Ocean Pavilion just opened in Fall 2024 with a focus on aquatic life from the Indo-Pacific
- Something Extra: The new Ocean Pavillion is part of Seattle’s waterfront redevelopment – you can even enjoy some of the aquarium’s new additions from Seattle’s new Overlook Walkway
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