Good dates do not have to be pricey. Seattle has a lot of built in romance and fun that is completely free or very affordable if you know where to look.

This guide focuses on cheap or free date ideas, using activities that are either no cost or typically under one hundred dollars per couple before food and drinks.

1. Explore Kubota Garden

Kubota Garden: Japanese Landscape & Peaceful Trails is completely free and feels like a secret park. You get bridges, ponds, and layered plantings that make it easy to wander and talk without spending anything.

2. Walk the coastal trails at Discovery Park

Discovery Park: Coastal Trails & Puget Sound Views is one of the best value dates in the city. A simple parking pass gets you miles of forested trails, a lighthouse, beaches, and big views over the water.

3. Join a free Seattle walking tour

For a budget friendly way to learn about the city, try Free Seattle Walking Tour: History & Hidden Gems. You will walk through downtown and Pioneer Square while a guide shares stories that even locals might not know.

4. Do a self guided art walk in Edmonds or Fremont

Edmonds Self-Guided Art Walk: Murals & Cafés and Fremont Public Art Walking Tour & Street Sculptures turn a simple walk into a scavenger hunt. Look for murals, sculptures, and oddities, then warm up with coffee or a drink.

5. Loop the Arboretum or Seward Park

Washington Park Arboretum: Garden Paths & Nature Loops and Lakeside Loop: Walk the Seward Park Shore Trail both offer scenic, low cost dates that work in almost any season.

6. Watch the sunset at Gas Works or Olympic Sculpture Park

Pack snacks and head to Gas Works Park Sunset Picnic with Lake Union Views or Olympic Sculpture Park: Waterfront Art & Sound Views. Both spots are free, easy to reach, and give you classic Seattle views.

7. Wander the Ballard Farmers Market

Ballard Farmers Market: Weekend Food Stroll lets you browse produce stands, snack on samples, and people watch. You can keep costs low by sharing a few bites instead of committing to a full restaurant meal.

8. Time your visit with cherry blossoms at UW

In spring, Cherry Blossoms at the UW Quad is a completely free, high impact date. Walk through the blooms, take photos for each other, and then head to the University District for coffee or noodles.

9. Browse Elliott Bay Book Company together

Browse Elliott Bay Book Company is a cozy, low cost date that works in any weather. Set a small budget and pick out books for each other or just wander the stacks and compare favorites.

10. Stack a few free ideas into one day

You can also combine several of these cheap or free date ideas into one long day out. For example, start with an Arboretum loop, grab a snack at a neighborhood café, then watch the sunset from Gas Works Park.

For more options organized by price and vibe, check our main Best Seattle date ideas page or dive into Romantic Date Ideas in Seattle and Outdoor Date Ideas in Seattle.