Best time to visit Seattle on a budget
When to visit Seattle for lower prices on flights, accommodation, and food — without sacrificing too much on weather or atmosphere.
Best month
March
Spring teasing begins — cherry blossoms at the UW campus, still 95mm of rain to contend with.
↑University of Washington Quad cherry blossoms (mid-March–early April): 30 Yoshino cherry trees in peak bloom
↑Seattle Restaurant Week extends into March; good-value dining at Capitol Hill and Belltown spots
↑4 sunshine hours — on clear days, Mt Rainier becomes visible from downtown for the first time since autumn
All months ranked — Cheap travel
Best match
Spring teasing begins — cherry blossoms at the UW campus, still 95mm of rain to contend with.
#1 for cheap travel
Best match
Still grey, but the rain eases and an extra hour of sun signals the long turn toward summer.
#2 for cheap travel
Best match
The grey season returns — 90mm rain, but good shoulder prices and the city's indoor culture shines.
#3 for cheap travel
Worth considering
Seattle at its rainiest — 150mm, 2.5 sunshine hours, and the grey months properly begin.
#4 for cheap travel
Worth considering
Grey and wet — 130mm of rain, but Pike Place Market is uncrowded and hotels are cheap.
#5 for cheap travel
Best match
The city unlocks — 75mm rain is manageable, 6 sunshine hours bring Seattleites outside.
#6 for cheap travel
Best match
Seattle at its spring best — SIFF launches, 18°C, and the city's outdoor life fully restored.
#7 for cheap travel
Best match
Seattle starts to shine — SIFF wraps, Pride month, kayaking on Lake Union, and the sky stays light until 21:30.
#8 for cheap travel
Best match
The best-value month — summer weather lingers, crowds ease, and the city exhales.
#9 for cheap travel
Best match
The best month — 18mm rain, 25°C, 10 hours of sun, and the Bite of Seattle in full swing.
#10 for cheap travel
Worth considering
Christmas market at Seattle Center — the Space Needle in holiday lights is worth seeing once.
#11 for cheap travel
Strong option
Near-identical to July — Seafair brings hydroplane racing, and the summer refuses to end.
#12 for cheap travel