Make memories with your friends in Seattle at these special experiences.
Did you know that Sunday, July 30 is International Friendship Day? We came up with a few ways that you can celebrate, although this list is good for any day. The best part is that many of these activities are free, so you can spend quality time with your BFF without breaking the bank!
Here are 15 fun things to do with friends in Seattle:
1. Enjoy free activities at Summer at SAM
If you and your bestie love doing workouts or crafts (or both!) together, then you should take advantage of the free Summer at SAM programming at Olympic Sculpture Park. You can enjoy yoga and Zumba classes, live music, art workshops, food trucks, and more now through August (and it’s free!). Read all about Summer at SAM.
2. Have an outdoor movie night for free
Another budget-friendly summer activity to do in Seattle with your BFFs is free outdoor movie nights under the Space Needle. Read more about Movies at the Mural, including this summer’s movie lineup.
3. Go to Stranger Things: The Experience
Did you and your friends binge-watch Netflix’s Stranger Things together? Now you can experience the Upside Down for yourselves in this cool immersive experience in Seattle. Stranger Things: The Experience is perfect for a memorable activity to do with your BFF or a group. Grab your tickets here!
4. Make something together at The Works
This one is a fun idea if you and your friends like to get crafty together. The Works Seattle in Pioneer Square offers all kinds of cool DIY classes where you can make things together such as macrame, watercolors, and more. Read more about The Works Seattle.
5. Take a free dance lesson together
There are free dance lessons being offered in various downtown Seattle parks all summer. Grab your bestie and spend an hour learning how to do a certain type of dance, then groove together to live music. See the full schedule with locations on the Dance for Joy website.
6. Go on a free museum date
Seattle’s many museums make for a relaxing and fun friend date anytime. However, if you go on certain days of the month you can make it budget-friendly by enjoying free admission. See our guide to free museum days in Seattle.
7. Take a free rowboat rental out onto Lake Union
Another budget-friendly activity that you and your friends can do year-round in Seattle is taking a rowboat out onto Lake Union. (It’s definitely the best in the summer months though.) All you have to do is reserve your boat ahead of time online! Read more about free rowboat rentals on Lake Union.
8. Relieve stress together in a rage room
If you and your best friend need to relieve some stress, you can head to Seattle’s Rage Industry to smash things with a sledgehammer! See more info and book your slot on the Rage Industry website.
9. Get dressed up for afternoon tea
This is a vibe shift from the last one, but how about some proper afternoon tea? It’s really fun to get dressed up with your friends and eat delicious small bites. See our guide to afternoon tea in Seattle.
10. Try a new coffee shop together
If coffee is more your vibe, you’re in luck. There are so many amazing coffee shops in Seattle you’ll never be able to try them all. You and your bestie can introduce each other to your favorites, or both try some place new. See the best coffee shops in Seattle according to locals.
11. Go to an arcade bar
Looking for more of a late night activity? Sometimes bar hopping can get a little boring, so why not take your friend to a bar arcade? Seattle has a few cool bar arcades—we recommend checking out Time Warp in Capitol Hill or Add-A-Ball in Fremont.
12. Spend a few hours at a board game cafe
There’s nothing like a wholesome game night with friends. Seattle has a few board game cafes that offer a wide assortment of games you can borrow plus food and drinks. We recommend Mox Boarding House which has locations in Ballard and Bellevue.
13. See an improv show at Pike Place Market
If you and your friend both like comedy, you should treat them to tickets to an Unexpected Productions stand-up show at Pike Place Market. While you’re at it, you can get dinner at The Pink Door or Old Stove Brewing.
14. Go to a cat cafe
If your bestie loves cats, take them to a Seattle cat cafe. They’ll never stop talking about it. Our recommendations are NEKO Cat Cafe in Capitol Hill or Seattle Meowtropolitan in Wallingford.
15. Go thrift shopping
It takes a special sort of friend to be a good thrift shopping buddy. If you have one of those, then check out our our guide to the best thrift stores in Seattle. Cue the dressing room montage!