Apartments for rent in Seattle, WA

EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT RENTING AN APARTMENT IN SEATTLE, WA

Home of the Space Needle and the original Starbucks, Seattle, WA, has plenty to offer those who are hunting for the perfect apartment. Whether you're a student trying to find apartments for rent in Seattle near your school, a professional searching for the perfect rental near your job or you're simply ready for an exciting change of pace, your search ends here.

Located right on the water, you'll have access to plenty of gorgeous views and fun activities. Known as the "Emerald City" because of its lush evergreen forests, Seattle boasts warm winters and cool summers with an average temperature of 51 degrees, so getting out of your apartment for an adventure is easy year-round.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS TO FIND APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN SEATTLE

With a robust economy and numerous diverse neighborhoods, Seattle has some of the best places to live for young professionals. You might choose the walkable Belltown in the city center, with its full complement of bars, restaurants, music venues or the South Lake Union neighborhood, considered a trendy tech hub that offers access to walking paths and a public park.

From high-rises and studio apartments to hip and stylish lofts, the rental market in Seattle has something to suit every taste and lifestyle. Apartment Guide makes finding your new place easy. Whether you're on the hunt for great downtown Seattle apartments or right outside the city, you can browse photos, view floor plans and more. No matter what your interests, you can rest assured knowing your rental needs can be met in this bustling West Coast portside city. The Apartment Guide apartment finder tool can make it happen for you, especially with the rating/review system that helps you find the perfect home.

• Ballard: Located along the waterfront, Ballard is known for being one of the more hip and trendy neighborhoods in Seattle.
• Capitol Hill: This diverse neighborhood is jam-packed with hip clubs, quaint cafes, indie stores, gay bars and culture. Capitol Hill is situated near Volunteer Park where you’ll find walking trails, a plant conservatory and panoramic views of the city.
• Downtown Seattle: Seattle’s compact downtown overlooks Elliot Bay and is a prime location for experiencing the best of what Seattle has to offer. From Pike’s Place Market to big-name stores, Downtown Seattle is one of the best places to live in the world.
• Fremont: If you had to describe Fremont in one word, bohemian would do the trick. This neighborhood boasts indie shops and hib bars and is home to the famous Fremont Troll.
• Lake Union: Although Lake Union is booming with industry and tech, it’s also one of the best places to live in Washington. It is densely urban and is full of rentals.
• Northgate: Named after the first covered mall in the United States, the Northgate Mall, this Seattle neighborhood is the best of both worlds. It’s located just far enough outside of the city center for things to slow down a bit, but close enough that you’ll never miss out on the charm of living in Seattle.
• Queene Anne: Queen Anne is an affluent neighborhood sitting on a steep hill in the heart of Seattle. Upper Queen Anne is where you’ll find 19th-century homes and stylish cafes. Lower Queen Anne is home to the Space Need as well as cultural festivals.
• University District: Looking for a more relaxed area to make Seattle home? The University District is laid-back hangouts, informal cafes and bars and is home to Husky Stadium.
• Waterfront: Seattle is known for its lively Waterfront. A collection of piers and quaint streets — this neighborhood is one of the most desirable places to visit.
• West Seattle: West Seattle is a laid-back residential neighborhood near Puget Sound. Alki Beach is a popular place for kayakers and sunbathers and has a sandy strip where you can frequently find people playing sand volleyball when the weather’s nice.

FUN THINGS TO DO IN SEATTLE

Whether you're looking for a date idea or an educational trip for your family, Seattle has plenty of intriguing museums for a memorable outing. From art museums to maritime, history and special interest institutions, there's always something new to see.

• Rain seldom bothers Seattle locals, so head to the intriguing Museum of Pop Culture, home to lively exhibits highlighting music, science fiction and pop culture and when the skies dry out, wander through Pike Place Market to hear street musicians or to find a gem offered by local artisans.
• The Seattle Waterfront is a hub of excitement and things to do any time of the year.
• Also located down on the water, the Seattle Aquarium has something for everyone!
• The Museum of Flight, one of the largest air and space museums in the world, walks you through aviation history, with exhibits like the Great Gallery, the Personal Courage Wing and the original Boeing Headquarters.
• The Museum of Popular Culture or MoPOP celebrates contemporary culture and has a popular Jimi Hendrix exhibit. Other museums celebrate Asian art, wooden boats and glass.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN SEATTLE

The Emerald City is all about music, food and connecting to nature, so we've compiled this list of the best free things to do during your downtime:

• Lunchtime Concerts: City Hall in center city hosts concerts every first and third Thursday as part of its summer concert series, with a range of genres performed by local musicians.
• Flea Market Shopping: The Fremont Sunday Market, held every Sunday just north of downtown in the Fremont area, costs nothing if you just want to browse the displayed arts and crafts. The street food options and flower market aren't free but are worth the cost.
• Meet the Fremont Troll: Towering 18 feet, the one-eyed stone Fremont troll sculpture under the George Washington Memorial Bridge has become a popular backdrop for selfies.
• Find Calm at the Waterfall: Pause at Waterfall Garden Park, an intimate pocket park in Pioneer Square featuring a 22-foot waterfall plummeting over granite boulders into a serene Japanese pool below, to reflect on your new start in Seattle.
• Watch Ships and Spot Sea Life: Head to Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as Ballard Locks, to watch the ships navigate between Puget Sound, Lake Washington and Lake Union. You might spot salmon and sea lions at the fish ladder section.

SEATTLE ARTS AND CULTURE

Artists, critics and viewers alike enjoy the vivacious art scene Seattle, WA offers. You can catch a variety of interesting shows in swanky galleries (about 200 galleries and five art museums call the city home).

For those who love theater and music, Seattle Opera stages new and classic productions and Seattle Symphony features innovative concerts. More than 80 clubs and music venues offer live performances on a regular basis. Seattle is also a theater town and home to a wide variety of companies ranging from Seattle Rep, the largest nonprofit resident theatre in the Pacific Northwest to touring Broadway productions, local playwrights and mystery dinner shows.

Seattle is home to a number of highly recognized international festivals, including the Seattle International Film Festival and Bumbershoot, a Labor Day weekend event featuring more than 2,000 visual and performing artists.

SEATTLE SPORTS

Sports fans are close to the competitive action in the Emerald City. If you like America's favorite pastime, check out the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park from April to October to catch a regular-season home game. Football fanatics cheer for the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field during the fall and winter months. Soccer enthusiasts get a kick out of the Seattle Sounders. Head to Climate Pledge Arena to watch the Seattle Storm, the city's WNBA team. Other sports include horse racing at Emerald Downs, U Dub football and women's professional soccer.

SEATTLE FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS

Families on the go have plenty of free activities to keep kids engaged and entertained, including the Seattle Central Library's story times, readings by renowned authors and self-guided tours and Freeway Park in downtown, which offers a walking loop, theater performances and an amazing view of the city. Moms and dads can also choose from a mix of public and private schools in a top-rated school district with 91 schools serving nearly 50,000 students.

NATURAL BEAUTY AND OUTDOOR LIVING

Situated on the fringes of Puget Sound, Seattle boasts rolling hills and verdant green forests as well as a mild and moist climate thanks to sweeping Pacific coast winds and the Cascade Range acting as a buffer to keep winters relatively warm and summers tolerably cool.

If you appreciate a good view, you'll love the downtown Seattle apartments that provide gorgeous lookouts over the city. Check out Olympic Sculpture Park, which is one of the city's best free attractions. Open year-round and featuring sculptures from innovative artists, the park trail meanders among the sculptures and connects with beachside trails and bicycle paths. For a bird's-eye view of the city, head up to the observation decks of the Space Needle, Smith Tower or Columbia Tower for panoramic city, bay and mountain views.

SEATTLE WATERFRONT

A host of pathways, piers and public parks along Seattle's Waterfront provides many ways to experience terrific views while you get your heart rate up with a brisk walk. Our favorites are Green Lake, Myrtle Edwards Park, Discovery Park, Seward Park and Burke-Gilman Trail.

DINING, NIGHTLIFE AND SHOPPING IN SEATTLE

You might find yourself cooking at home less because you're tempted by the city's unique cuisines and numerous restaurants. Whether you're looking for ethnic cuisine, 24-hour diners, coffee houses, bakeries, delis, desserts, breweries or wineries, you'll find everything within reach. Families, dates and friends can all get together in the many restaurants, cafes, shops and eateries scattered throughout the city.

When you're ready to party with friends over cocktails or micro-brews, you'll discover Seattle's nightlife has everything from luxury lounges in Belltown and swanky college bars in the University District to rooftop parties in the city center.

Ready to indulge in a shopping spree? Seattle has many different shopping venues that can help you stick to your budget. The city's diverse neighborhoods provide shoppers with any item imaginable, whether you're looking for outdoor gear, trendy fashion accessories or eclectic home goods. Fashionistas shop downtown to stay up-to-date on the latest trends from around the world, while boutique lovers head to Ballard. Food fans shop for exotic and tasty treats in the International District and bargain hunters scour the city's many outlet stores.

GETAWAYS FROM SEATTLE

From the walking trails and lava dome of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the hot springs and rainforests of Olympic National Park to skiing at Snoqualmie, day trips from Seattle put you within reach of unforgettable experiences. Head three hours north on I-5 to reach Vancouver for world-class skiing or go south for three hours on I-5 to Portland, OR to explore its microbreweries, coffeehouses and public parks.

SEATTLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Whether you choose to live in a walkable community or on the outskirts, Seattle's public transportation is an affordable option for many residents. No matter where you're headed, you have a variety of options: Sound Transit's Link light rail, King County Metro Transit bus service, South Lake Union Streetcars or First Hill Streetcars, each making numerous stops throughout the day and night. And, don't overlook the iconic Seattle Center Monorail to make your commute.

PET-FRIENDLY SEATTLE

Rumor has it there are more dogs than children living in Seattle, so it's no surprise that Seattle is a pet-friendly city. Two favorite spots are Washington Park Arboretum, with its manicured trails and benches and the Fremont Sunday Ice Cream Cruise, which welcomes dogs for its tour of Lake Union.

FIND APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN SEATTLE

Finding a new place to live is a stressful experience. Be sure to use an apartment finder like Apartment Guide to help you locate your next rental property. Whether you’re looking for a pet-friendly apartment or simply want an affordable place to live, we’ll help you find apartments for rent in Seattle that match your needs.