Vacation rentals in Seattle
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Top-rated vacation rentals in Seattle
Guests agree: these stays are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.
Cottage in the Heart of the CityNew cottage, cabin-like, in the heart of Seattle. Close to bus line, cruise ships, shops, restaurants, waterfront, parks, bike paths, stadiums, Space Needle. Our cottage offers a kitchen, w/d and queen bed among other amenities. Built green.
Modern apartment with Space Needle viewEnjoy all that Seattle has to offer from this centrally located apartment. You can walk to the Space Needle in just a few minutes, and in fact, you'll get a good view of it right from the living room and patio. The apartment occupies the ground floor of our house, and has its own separate entry. We live just upstairs, so we're around to offer help and local advice if desired, or privacy if you prefer.
Private Ballard Backyard Cottage with Natural LightEscape the bustle of the city and relax in a cozy backyard sanctuary. Sample local craft beer in an Adirondack chair in the garden. Watch a widescreen TV from the bed and make coffee in the morning.
Where to stay in Seattle
Locals share their top neighborhood recommendations to help you find the one to call home for your trip.
Stay near Seattle's top sights
Pike Place is chock full of amazing vendors selling crafts, flowers, fruit, and of course - fish. Wander the stalls and sample the wares. Some highlights include: Rachel’s Ginger Beer, Bavarian Meats, and Ellenos and the gum wall. Grab a Salmon sandwich for lunch at Market Grill.
Tips from Seattle locals
Get advice about the city from the people who know it best. Local hosts share their tips and recommendations for travelers like you.
What should I pack?
What should I pack?
“Bring layers, comfortable shoes, and a compact umbrella Seattle isn't as rainy as legend has it, but we do get an aggressive mist for 9 months of the year. bring clothes that resist dampness and prepare for modest temperatures in the 40-50 degree range in the winter and 60-70 degree range in the summer.”
“Please be prepared for any type of weather! be comfortable. seattle is very informal. I suggest checking your weather app to get the day to day weather predictions”
“Pack a raincoat in the non-summer months It's not a coincidence that our landscape is so green.. we get rain! seattle's weather is pretty mild year-round, but you can definitely count on a little rain during your stay (if it's fall-spring).”
“Favor a jacket with a hood over an umbrella Seattle may rain but it doesn't rain hard. bring a water repellent jacket and you can flip up the hood whenever you need. plus you'll look more like a local without the umbrella!”
“Bring a jacket/coat with a hood You don't want to be caught in the rain without cover”
What should I book before I arrive?
What should I book before I arrive?
“Theater/concert tickets! Seattle hosts incredible performers/shows year-round. if you have a free night on your trip, it is definitely worth looking into the shows that are in town. great venues to search are the paramount theater, 5th avenue theater, and benaroya hall.”
What's the best way to get around?
What's the best way to get around?
“The light rail is your best friend for traveling to the airport or downtown Beware that many, but not all light rail stations offer orca card vending machines. these are also available at several convenience store chains.”
“Buses, uber, and bicycles to rent are a great way to get around the city Bicycles to rent are available around the neighborhood. download the uber app and get picked up right at the house for city excursions.”
“Eastside lightrail opening 2020 The light rail is opening to the eastside 2020 take a ride!”
“Take a ride on the light rail! The light rail is great, it's seattle's version of the new york subway and it will take you right downtown to king street station where you can explore the stadiums, pioneer square, 1st ave, pike place market and pacific place shopping - the possibilities are endless!”
“Link light rail is the best bang for the buck to get around! The link light rail is a popular but comfortable public transport that everyone loves to take advantage of! it can take you to seatac airport and any places up north including downtown seattle and university of washington, which is a tourist attraction for their ancient 'hogwarts' library and the cherry blossom season, all with less than 10 bucks round trip and great views on the way!”
“Public transit is easy going north and south Opt for the public transit if you are mainly going just up and down seattle. think about springing for a lyft or uber if you need to go east and west.”
“Beautiful bike ride to pike place *** I'd strongly recommend picking up a rideshare bike (lime & jump here in seattle) and hop on the elliot bay trail bike path that links magnolia to the north end of the piers downtown. it's a goreous ride along the waterfront, giving you a spectacular feel of what it means to live on the puget sound. good bikeshare pickup location: walk 5 blocks north, you typically find bikes on 20th or 21st ave w. bike trail: elliot bay trail. go south along the balmer railroad yard, then hug the shoreline on 16th ave w and pedal thru elliot bay park, centennial park and myrtle edwards park”
“Public transit schedules If you plan to take public transit here, i recommend using google maps for transit schedules and also the app one bus away for real time tracking of pickup times. both are free and easy to use.”
“There is limited public transport so it is advised to bring your own car Just one or two routes from one town to another town so you cannot depend on public transport. yes you can use uber or lyft if you want to.”
What should I not miss?
What should I not miss?
“Snowy candy cane lane from thanksgiving until christmas day If you're in town during the holidays check out candy cane lane at the bellevue square mall. it's a sight to behold and an elaborate experience both kids and adults will remember forever!”
“Take a trip on a ferry! There are a bunch of little islands in the seattle area, and ferries can take you to them in a short amount of time. i recommend going to bainbridge island for a quick bite. (you can walk to the tiny downtown from the ferry terminal.)”
How can I save money on this trip?
How can I save money on this trip?
“Free museum days Always free: -center for wooden boats -frye art museum museum of flight: first thursdays, 5-9pm free all day on first thursdays: -burke museum of natural history and culture -northwest african american museum -seattle asian art museum -seattle art museum (sam)”
What are some local customs?
What are some local customs?
“Island life Remember you are not in a major metropolitan area, the immediacy of things is not the same. this relates to taxis & spontaneous travel. if you are without a car you may need to book transportation ahead to secure it for flights & connections via the ferry. town is very walkable from the house, as is the ferry but if you do so at night you will need a flashlight. we have power outages in the winter due to wind storms this effects all of us again, we are an island not on the grid. this will sometimes interrupt internet, electricity etc. to experience the beauty of island living these are the trade offs. we are available to help & answer questions & the guidebook lists suggested places as well as phone numbers for services.”
Your guide to Seattle
All About Seattle
Sandwiched between the waters of Puget Sound and Lake Washington and between the mountains of the Olympic and Cascade ranges, Seattle is a city of stunning views. Combining that allure with its gentle, outdoors-focused lifestyle, the city is an ideal spot for an urban getaway or as a base for a longer trip to explore western Washington. Green parks and tree-lined neighborhoods spread across the city, while Mount Rainier and the iconic Space Needle anchor the skyline. The latter offers a stunning view of the city’s many hills and waterways, including the houseboats along Lake Union and the ferries shuttling passengers across Elliott Bay. Though its surroundings provide a stunning backdrop, the city also lives up to its much-deserved reputation for great music, strong coffee, and ubiquitous flannel shirts.
How do I get around Seattle?
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) sits just south of downtown Seattle, a quick half-hour drive without traffic — though that rarely happens — and receives domestic and international flights from major carriers. The smaller Paine Field (PAE) is about equally far north of the city, but offers only a small slate of destinations around the West Coast. Visitors looking to get out of Seattle into the surrounding area should plan to rent a car, but those staying within the city will find the light-rail system whisks them quickly from the airport to downtown and beyond, while public buses, streetcars, taxis, and rideshares make it easy to get around town.
When is the best time to stay in a vacation rental in Seattle?
Seattle’s reputation for rain precedes it, but most visitors will find their trip unaffected by it: The rainy season runs opposite tourist season, with the bulk of precipitation coming down from November to March. Additionally, the rain that does fall rarely comes in stormy sheets, but rather in a constant drizzle — the kind that can feel endless to residents, but which rarely calls for canceling outdoor plans. A waterproof, hooded rain jacket provides better protection from this kind of rain than an umbrella. Cool weather arrives in winter, but temperatures rarely drop below freezing during the day. The dry summer season brings delightfully pleasant weather, with daily high temperatures averaging in the high 70s Fahrenheit and cool evenings in the mid-50s.
What are the top things to do in Seattle?
Fremont
The self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe” epitomizes the quirky, friendly nature of Seattle neighborhoods, with its ample public art like the “Waiting for the Interurban” statues and a waterfront park created from a former gasification plant. Home to many of Seattle’s big tech companies, Fremont also offers an exciting slate of shops and restaurants catering to young, hip crowds.
Olympic Sculpture Park
The outdoor arm of the Seattle Art Museum, this free nine-acre, multilevel public park features temporary and permanent sculptures from internationally renowned artists. The installations dot a hillside cut through by a zig-zag path that leads down to the picturesque Elliott Bay, where it meets up with Myrtle Edwards Park and the Elliott Bay Trail.
Pike Place Market
Dating back to 1907, Seattle’s beloved and enormous market, perched over the waterfront, enjoys fame around the world for the fish from nearby waters. But the colorful displays of flowers, farm stands full of fruit, and dozens of local culinary producers deserve equally high billing. On the lesser-known lower floors and outer buildings, hundreds of craft artists, small businesses, and restaurants serve the community.