Rent a car or take public transportation in Seattle?

Kris Bozelle: I would recommend sticking with public transportation. Traffic is often very congested and parking is expensive. If you are staying in a hotel in the downtown area, the parking fees for guests are usually $25-$30 or more per day. Most of the main attractions are fairly close to each other - most within a one mile walking distance of Westlake Center. Some of the other popular destinations are fairly easily to get to by public transportation. Until this fall, the buses are all free in the downtown "Ride Free Zone" from 6am to 7pm which includes buses on surface streets and in the bus tunnel. Seattle "Ride Free" Area map: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ride-free-are... This includes not just Metro buses, but includes Sound Transit buses and Community Transit buses.I wouldn't recommend cabs if you can avoid them - they tend to be rather expensive. Here are some links to some of the public transportation options you may find handy when planning you! r visit:Sound Transit Light Rail - Not free, but the least expensive and easiest way to get to and from the airport: http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Central-Link...Metro Transit: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/bus.htmlSeattle Monorail - useful for getting to and from the Seattle Center: http://www.squidoo.com/seattle-monorailThe Metro Waterfront Bus Route #99 is FREE even though it travels a few blocks outside of the "Ride Free" area: http://www.squidoo.com/seattle-waterfront-trolleyThe Seattle Lake Union Streetcar line is useful for getting from the central business district to the south Lake Union area: http://www.seattlestreetcar.org/arrivals.asp...Show more

Vern Serratos: Parking is very expensive and next to impossible in Seattle.Take public transport.http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

Rayford Speziale: If you are going to be mostly downtown and visiting the tourist type places, take public transport. The city is pretty safe, the bus system has good ! coverage, and parking your rental car at the hotel will cost y! ou $25 per day.If you are staying outside of downtown, or need to go to places that are outside of the normal tourist destinations, it might be worthwhile to rent a car....Show more

Dannie Briseno: Depends on what you're doing and what neighborhoods you'll be in. Parking downtown is expensive and street parking can be tough in the denser neighborhoods.