Seattle's Cheapest and Best Tourist Boating Value for One Dollar

The city of Seattle is sandwiched between large, gorgeous bodies of water. To the west are Puget Sound and Elliott Bay. To the east is Lake Washington. Seattle even has two sizeable bodies of water right in the city - Lake Union and Green Lake.

Ways to Explore the Abundant Waters Surrounding Seattle

There are lots of ways to explore the water. You can take a boat, a yacht, a ferry, a kayak, and countless other types of watercraft. You could choose a water and air combination by taking a ride in a seaplane (an airplane that is equipped to land in the water). If flying makes you queasy, consider taking the raucous Ride the Ducks tour, an amphibious tour that drives you around Seattle and also becomes a boat as it plunges into one of the local water areas.

The $1 Way to Experience Seattle by Boat

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi costs just $1 to ride assuming you have a valid Seattle Metro Public Transportation transfer. If you do not have a Metro transfer, then the cost is $3, although children aged five years and under ride for free. Note that the stated fares are one-way fares.

The Water Taxi leaves from Pier 55 in downtown Seattle along the waterfront of Elliott Bay. The Water Taxi crosses Elliott Bay and drops you off in West Seattle on a very walkable, beautiful area called Alki Beach. If you would rather not walk, there are free shuttle buses waiting to drive you around Alki and West Seattle.

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi Ride

The Water Taxi ride takes approximately 12 minutes to cross Elliott Bay from downtown Seattle to West Seattle (Alki Beach). During the ride, you will experience the most beautiful panoramic views of downtown Seattle and the Space Needle. For an even more breathtaking view, take the Water Taxi at sunset or after dark to see the night lights of downtown Seattle.

The Logistics of Getting the $1 Water Taxi Ride

If you rode the King County Metro bus to downtown Seattle, paid your $1.50 or $1.75 fare (depending on whether it was a peak or non-peak fare time), and asked the bus driver for a paper "transfer", then all you need to ride the Water Taxi is a crisp $1 bill. Just show your paper transfer to the Water Taxi worker and pay the $1 for a beautiful ride across Elliott Bay.