Everyone knows about Seattle’s most famous attractions: the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, museums, and so on. Those places are all worth a visit but they can be expensive and crowded with tourists. If you’re looking to go off the beaten path while exploring Seattle, check out these secret attractions that many locals don’t even know about. Some are surrounded by nature while others are hidden in the heart of downtown, but they all have a magical essence that contributes to Seattle’s charm.
The best part is they’re all free to visit, so you can save money while having a unique Seattle experience.
Here are the top 12 hidden gems in Seattle:
1. Capitol Hill Wishing Tree
Located near Volunteer Park, the Capitol Hill Wishing Tree in Seattle is a magical place of manifestation. You can read hundreds of strangers’ wishes hanging from the tree and even leave your own. It was started in 2014 by Jane Hamel, the owner of the property on which the tree stands. She told the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog back in 2016 that she received up to 25 wishes a day at the time. After people leave their wishes in the jar, Hamel laminates them and hangs them from the tree.
📍2099 E Galer St.
2. The Moss Turtle in Troll’s Knoll Park
Here’s a common scenario in Seattle: you need to make a wish ASAP but you’re north of Lake Union and don’t have time to get to the Capitol Hill Wishing Tree. Luckily, there’s a magical wish granter located in Fremont. If you take a stroll through Troll’s Knoll Park near the famous Fremont Troll, you’ll find Moss Turtle. This large turtle sculpture was created for the park by artist Michiko Tanaka in 2020. Passersby are invited to pour water over the turtle’s mossy back and make a wish. A bamboo shrine structure called a Hokora was erected to protect the turtle in 2022.
📍904 N 36th St
3. Northwest Trolls
Everyone knows about Seattle’s Fremont Troll, which has been an icon in the city for over 30 years. Not everyone knows about the newcomers, however. Artist Thomas Dambo creates giant troll sculptures out of recycled materials, and he erected five of them around the Seattle area. You can visit Bruun Idun (pictured above) in West Seattle’s Lincoln Park, or meet Frankie Feetspliners outside of the National Nordic Museum in Ballard, just to name a couple. These are temporary installations, however, and won’t be around forever; so don’t wait to go see them!
Read more about the Northwest Trolls in Seattle.
4. The Red Room at Central Library
Seattle Central Library is a stunning glass-and-steel structure located downtown that is impossible to miss. It’s an underrated free attraction in Seattle, considering all the things you can do there. There’s free Wi-Fi and computers, air conditioning, free poem dispensers, free events, and an excellent view on the top floor. Best of all is the secret Red Room. It’s not technically a secret, nor is it a room (the library just calls it “the red floor”). It’s a tucked-away hallway with stairs, all of it painted a glossy red from the floor to the ceiling. It’s an excellent place to take pictures, especially since it’s often empty.
📍1000 4th Ave
5. Parsons Gardens
So many people know about the iconic view of Seattle at Kerry Park in Queen Anne that it can be hard to find a moment of peace and quiet there. Instead, walk west from Kerry Park for about five minutes until you get to Parsons Gardens Park. Amounting to less than half an acre, this small city park makes up for its size with its abundance of flowers and lush greenery. And unlike Kerry Park, most tourists don’t know it exists—so you can take some time to relax and recharge in the quiet. Just don’t be surprised if you accidentally stumble into a small wedding taking place inside the garden.
📍650 W Highland Dr
6. Volunteer Park Water Tower
If you want a great view of Seattle but don’t want to pay for it, all you have to do is climb 107 steps up a spiral staircase until you’re more than 75 feet above the ground. Catch your breath and then congratulate yourself: you’ve made it to the top of the Volunteer Park Water Tower. Located in the titular park in Capitol Hill, this water tower offers a free 360-degree view of Seattle. From your perch in the highest viewpoint in Capitol Hill, you can see the downtown skyline, the Space Needle, Puget Sound, mountains, and more.
📍1247 15th Ave E
7. Oxbow Park
Did you know that Seattle is home to a giant cowboy hat and boots? You can take photos of these fun sculptures at Oxbow Park in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. Hat ‘n’ Boots was initially created in 1953 to be a roadside attraction for a western-themed gas station, and now it has its forever home in the neighborhood where it was born.
📍6430 Corson Ave S
8. Free Little Art Gallery
Although Seattle has some free museum days, visiting a museum generally costs money. Luckily, there’s an art gallery in Seattle that showcases new, local art on a regular basis—and you can even take an artwork home for free. It’s the Free Little Art Gallery (or FLAG) in Queen Anne. Created by Stacy Milrany in December 2020, it followed in the footsteps of Seattle’s many free little libraries but was the first of its kind. Now more Free Little Art Galleries have popped up around Seattle and other cities. But you can still find the original miniature art galley in Queen Anne and leave a piece of art, take a piece of art, or both. Milrany’s only request is that you leave the mini patrons and furniture in the gallery.
📍 1st Ave North between Garfield & Galer
9. The “Hogwarts Library”
The University of Washington is famous for many things, from being one of the top schools in the world to being a top destination for seeing cherry blossoms. One secret of the university that you could easily miss if you’re not a student is the reading room of the Suzzallo Library. It looks like it’s straight out of Hogwarts—and anyone can walk in to use the space, as long as you’re quiet and respectful.
📍4000 15th Ave NE
10. A hidden urban waterfall
Pioneer Square is Seattle’s oldest neighborhood so it holds a lot of history. Most people know about the underground tour—but do you know about the small hidden park that has a 22-foot waterfall and was the birthplace of the United Postal Service? Waterfall Garden Park in Pioneer Square is situated on what was the site of the first UPS headquarters in 1907. It’s often empty and is a fantastic spot to sit and eat at one of the tables while listening to the soothing white noise of the water. Grab a sandwich from Tat’s Deli or, in the summer, soft serve from the Pastry Project and enjoy.
📍219 2nd Ave S
11. A free rose garden
Most people visit Seattle’s Woodland Park for the zoo, only to walk right past one of the city’s best gardens. The Woodland Park Rose Garden is free and open year-round (the hours are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.). It’s a beautiful, serene garden to explore year-round but the roses are at peak bloom between May and August. You can see the newest rose hybrids on display there.
📍750 N 50th St
12. Seattle POPS
Finally, one of the city’s best-kept secrets is POPS: Privately Owned Public Spaces in Seattle. Even though these spaces are privately owned, anyone is welcome to enjoy them free of charge. Some are objectively cooler than others, such as the above-pictured rooftop garden on the seventh floor of the downtown Fourth & Madison building. It has incredible views and free Wi-Fi. There’s also the scenic Sky Lobby on the 40th floor of Columbia Tower (adjacent to a hidden Starbucks), and a walled-in courtyard with giant chess that’s just south of the Crown Plaza Hotel, pictured below.
📍You can see a list and a map of the 40+ privately owned public spaces in Seattle here.
Let us know if we missed what you think is the best hidden gem in Seattle!