Seattle Transportation

By Bus

The best thing about Seattle's Metro (tel. 800/542-7876 in Washington or 206/553-3000; http://transit.metrokc.gov) bus system is that as long as you stay within the downtown area, you can ride for free between 6am and 7pm. The Ride Free Area is between Alaskan Way (the waterfront) to the west, Sixth Avenue and I-5 to the east, Battery Street to the north, and South Jackson Street to the south. Within this area are Pioneer Square, the waterfront attractions, Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, and almost all of the city's major hotels. Two blocks from South Jackson Street is Qwest Field (where the Seahawks play), 3 long blocks from South Jackson Street is Safeco Field (where the Mariners play), and 6 blocks from Battery Street is Seattle Center. Keeping this in mind, you can see a lot of Seattle without having to spend a dime on transportation.

If you travel outside the Ride Free Area, fares range from $1.50 to $2.25, depending on distance and time of day. (The higher fares are incurred during commuter hours.) Note: When traveling out of the Ride Free Area between 6am and 7pm, you pay when you get off the bus; when traveling into the Ride Free Area, you pay when you get on the bus. Exact change is required; dollar bills are accepted.

Discount Passes -- On Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, you can purchase an All-Day Pass for $3.50; it's available on any Metro bus, and it's good anywhere outside the Ride Free Area. On other days of the week, you can purchase a $5.50 Visitor Pass, which can be used on buses and the water taxi. Visitor Passes are available from Metro Customer Service (tel. 206/624-7277; http://buypass.metrokc.gov) and at Metro offices at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St., and at Rainier Square's Transportation Connection, 1301 Fifth Ave., which can be entered from Fourth Avenue, between University and Union streets. These passes can also be purchased at a handful of other downtown retail outlets; for locations, visit the Metro website (http://transit.metrokc.gov).

By Monorail

If you are planning a visit to Seattle Center, there is no better way to get there from downtown than on the Seattle Monorail (tel. 206/905-2620; www.seattlemonorail.com), which leaves from Westlake Center shopping mall (Fifth Ave. and Pine St.). The elevated train covers the 1 1/4 miles in 2 minutes and passes right through the middle of the Experience Music Project, the Frank Gehry-designed rock-music museum. The monorail operates daily from 9am to 11pm. Departures are every 10 minutes. The one-way fare is $2 for adults and $1 for seniors, and 75¢ for children 5 to 12.

By Streetcar

Paul Allen's rapidly evolving South Lake Union development district, stretching from the north end of downtown Seattle to the south shore of Lake Union, is served by the Seattle Streetcar (tel. 206/553-3000; www.seattlestreetcar.org). There are 11 stops along the 2 1/2-mile route, including Lake Union Park, which is home to several historic ships, and the adjacent Center for Wooden Boats. Downtown, you can catch the streetcar at the corner of Westlake Avenue and Olive Way. Streetcars run every 15 minutes and operate Monday through Thursday from 6am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 6am to 11pm, and Sundays and holidays from 10am to 7pm. The fare is $1.75 for adults and 50¢ for seniors and students (children under 5 are free). Metro passes and bus transfers are valid on the streetcar.

By Water Taxi

Between late April and October, a water taxi runs between the downtown Seattle waterfront (Pier 55) and Seacrest Park in West Seattle, providing access to West Seattle's popular Alki Beach and adjacent paved path. For a service schedule, check with Metro (tel. 206/205-3866; http://transit.metrokc.gov). The one-way fare is $3 (free for children under 6); $1 with a valid bus transfer; free with an all-day pass.

By Ferry

Washington State Ferries (tel. 800/843-3779 or 888/808-7977 in Washington or 206/464-6400; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) is the most extensive ferry system in the United States, and while these ferries won't help you get around Seattle itself, they do offer scenic options for getting out of town (and cheap "cruises," too). From downtown Seattle, car ferries sail to Bremerton (1-hr. crossing) and Bainbridge Island (35-min. crossing). From West Seattle, car ferries go to Vashon Island (15-min. crossing) and Southworth (35-min. crossing), which is on the Kitsap Peninsula. One-way fares between Seattle and Bainbridge Island or Bremerton, or between Edmonds and Kingston via car ferry, are $12 ($14 from May to the second Sat in Oct) for a car and driver, $6.70 for adult car passengers or walk-ons, $3.35 for seniors, and $5.40 for children 6 to 18. Car passengers and walk-ons only pay fares on westbound car ferries. One-way fares between Fauntleroy (West Seattle) and Vashon Island, or between Southworth and Vashon Island, are $15 ($19 from May to the second Sat in Oct) for a car and driver, $4.30 for car passengers or walk-ons, $2.15 for seniors, and $3.45 for children 6 to 18. There is also passenger-only ferry service to Vashon Island from Pier 50 on the Seattle waterfront.

By Car

Before you drive into downtown Seattle, keep in mind that traffic congestion is bad, parking is limited (and expensive), and streets are almost all one-way. You'll avoid a lot of frustration by leaving your car in your hotel parking garage.

Depending on what your plans are for your visit, you might not need a car at all. If you plan to spend your time in downtown Seattle, a car is a liability. The city center is well served by public transportation, with free buses in the downtown area and the monorail from downtown to Seattle Center. You can even take the ferries over to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. Most Seattle neighborhoods that interest visitors are well served by public buses. But if your plans include any excursions out of the city -- say, to Mount Rainier or the Olympic Peninsula -- you'll definitely need a car.

Parking -- On-street parking in downtown Seattle is expensive, extremely limited, and, worst of all, rarely available near your destination. Most downtown parking lots (either above or below ground) charge from $18 to $25 per day, though many lots offer early-bird specials that allow you to park all day for around $12 or $14 if you arrive before a certain time in the morning (usually around 9am).

You can save money by leaving your car near the Space Needle, where parking lots charge $5 to $6 per day. The lot at Fifth Avenue North and North Republican Street, on the east side of Seattle Center, charges only $6 for all-day parking. Some Pike Place Market merchants validate parking permits. In the International District, the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, and a few streets south of Seattle Center, you'll find a few free 2-hour on-street parking spaces, but these have been disappearing rapidly in recent years as Seattle has installed electronic parking machines.

Driving a Bargain in Seattle -- For the best deal on a rental car, make your reservation at least a week in advance. It also pays to call or check websites several times over a period of a few weeks just to check prices. You're likely to be quoted different rates every time you call, since prices fluctuate based on demand and availability.

Always ask about special weekend rates, promotional rates, or discounts for which you might be eligible (AAA, AARP, corporate, Entertainment Book, military). Also make sure you clarify whether there is a charge for mileage. And don't forget to mention that you're a frequent flier: You might be able to get miles for your car rental.

If you have your own car insurance, you may already have collision coverage. If you do not hold your own policy, your credit card may provide collision coverage, allowing you to decline the collision-damage waiver, which can add a bundle to the cost of a rental. (Gold and platinum cards usually offer this perk, but check with your card issuer before relying on it. Note that while many cards provide collision coverage, they do not provide liability coverage.)

If there's any way you can arrange to pick up your car somewhere other than the airport, you can save the 10% to 12% airport concession fee.

It's always smart to decline the gasoline plans offered by rental agencies and simply plan on returning your rental car with a full tank of gas. The prices charged by the rental companies to fill your tank are usually a rip-off.

Driving Rules & Tips -- A right turn at a red light is permitted after coming to a full stop. A left turn at a red light is permissible from a one-way street onto another one-way street after coming to a full stop.

If you park your car on a sloping street, be sure to turn your wheels to the curb. When parking on the street, check the time limit on your parking meter; some allow as little as 15 minutes of parking, while others are good for up to 4 hours. Also, be sure to check whether your parking space is restricted during rush hour.

Stoplights in the Pioneer Square area are particularly hard to see, so be alert at all intersections.

By Taxi

If you decide not to use the public transit system, call Yellow Cab (tel. 206/622-6500) or Orange Cab (tel. 206/522-8800). Taxis can be difficult to hail on the street in Seattle, so it's best to call or wait at the taxi stands at major hotels. The flag-drop charge is $2.50; after that, it's $2 per mile. A maximum of four passengers can share a cab; the third and fourth passengers will each incur a surcharge of 50¢.

On Foot

Seattle is a surprisingly compact city. You can easily walk from Pioneer Square to Pike Place Market and take in most of downtown. However, the city is very hilly and when you head in from the waterfront, you will be climbing a very steep hill. If you get tired while strolling downtown, remember that between 6am and 7pm, you can always catch a bus for free as long as you stay within the Ride Free Area. Cross the street only at corners and only with the lights in your favor. Jaywalking, especially in the downtown area, is a ticketable offense.