Getting around Seattle is the easiest and most comfortable by shuttles, monorail, buses, ferries and rented cars. Seattle's street system is well managed starting from the SeaTac airport up to every corner of the city. Traveling around Seattle is easy as well as convenient for the tourists visiting the city.
Seattle transportation from the airport is carried out by a number of the car rental agencies. The car rental counters are located near the baggage storage area. Moreover several taxis serve the Sea-Tac airport. Rates are adjusted at around $2.50 for the meter drop, $2 each mile, and 50 cents for every rider beyond two passengers. If the desired designation is a downtown Seattle, the fare is fixed at nearly $28.
Moving around Seattle
Monorail
The fastest way to travel between Seattle Center and the downtown Seattle is monorail. The kitschy Monorail or as it is known 'elevated train', connects Westlake Center at 5th and Pine Avenues with Seattle Center. The short Monorail charges approximately $1.50 each way for adults and 75 cents for kids and seniors (two-minute ride). Monorails in Seattle are available every 10 minutes from Monday to Friday. It is available from 7:30 am to 11 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to11 pm on weekends round the year.
Shuttles
Most of the shuttle services operate from 5 am to 11 pm. The Shuttle Express is one of the prime shuttle services in Seattle, which drops off passengers at hotels and residences. Rates of this service are around $28.75 for one or two passengers. Additional $4 is charged for the number of riders exceeding 2. Gray Line's Seattle Downtown Airporter Shuttle offers excellent service along the downtown hotel district only. The rate for this shuttle service is around $10.25 for a one-way ride and $17 approximately for a round trip.
Buses
Buses are widely used transport mode in and around Seattle.
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The bus system in Seattle is relatively cheaper, frequently available and covers each and every part of Seattle. Buses arrive and depart from the baggage area of SeaTac Airport near Door 6. Buses in Seattle are often referred as 'metro'.
The King County Metro is the managerial board of bus services in Seattle. Customer service offices of these metro buses are located at 821 2nd Avenue and in the Westlake Station. Metro Route 194 departs every 15 - 30 minutes, between 6 am and 9:15 pm from the main bus terminal. Another Route 174 runs twice an hour round the clock, charging approximately $2 per ride and encompasses all the major stations of Seattle. Several Metro buses from 6 am to1 am run daily at about every 30 minutes interval along the city routes.
The average bus fares are about $1.25 off-peak and $1.50 during peak seasons within Seattle city limits and $1.25 (off-peak rate) and $2 during festive months, if traveling beyond the city limits.
The regular passengers often save money by purchasing a pass that allows unlimited metro rides only for about $2.50 on weekends. These passes can be purchased from the conductor while the passengers traveling are on board. The downtown Seattle is called the ride free zone. S. Jackson St., Battery St., I-5, Pine St., and Alaskan Way are connected by free metro buses between 6 am and 7 pm. The Waterfront Streetcar is another kind of popular Metro-operated trolley. The route starts from waterfront region up to International District and the Pioneer Square. The ride costs nearly $1 and $1.25 in busy hours.
Washington State Ferries
The ferries cross Puget Sound to Bremerton, Vashon islands, Bainbridge, Pier 50/52 and 4 other routes in the Greater Seattle region. The passenger fare is around $6.50 offering four other routes in the greater Seattle area.
Visitors also prefer getting around Seattle by bike or on foot because of its scenic beauty. However the transit metro buses are still considered to be the most convenient means of transport in Seattle.
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