Free and Discounted Admission to Nearby Museums

*Always check the appropriate website before you go to find more information about the museum, hours, discounts, location, etc.

Always Free:

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Bainbridge Island

Bug Museum - Bremerton

Center for Wooden Boats - South Lake Union

Center on Contemporary Art - Pioneer Square

Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center - South Seattle

Frye Art Museum - First Hill

Kent Historical Museum - Kent

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Pioneer Square

Microsoft Visitor Center - Redmond

Naval Undersea Museum - Keyport

NW Railway Museum - Snoqualmie

Olympic Sculpture Park - Waterfront

Pacific Bonsai Museum - Federal Way

Puget Sound Navy Museum - Bremerton

Washington Park Arboretum - Madison

Applicable Discounts:

Seattle Children’s Museum - Seattle Center

• Donation Only Hour: The last hour of every weekday (4-5pm)
• WA EBT or Food Stamps Card - Show your card at the box office and receive $1 per person daily admission for the card holder, your partner, and your dependent children
• WA DSHS Services Cards: Show your Services Card to receive free daily admission for the individual who is named on the card

Pay What You Wish

• Children’s Museum of Tacoma - Tacoma

• Job Carr Cabin Museum - Tacoma
• Log House Museum - West Seattle

Free Library Museum Passes

• King County Library allows patrons to print free passes from its website. Passes are available for Bellevue Arts Museum, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, and Washington State History Museum. Search Classes & Programs using the keyword “museum” to find available museum passes and dates. Or visit the Free Seattle Museum Pass page on the Seattle Public Library website.
• Bellevue Arts Museum
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum
• Log House Museum
• MoPOP
• SAM
• Seattle Aquarium
• WA State History Museum
• Wing Luke Museum
• More!
• Pierce County Library offers free passes that patrons can check out - 1 pass per museum for 3 weeks. You can check out passes to 3 different museums.
• Museum of Glass
• Tacoma Art Museum
• WA State History Museum

Free First Thursdays of Every Month

• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture - University District
• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum - Bainbridge Island
• Henry Art Gallery - University District
• Kids Discovery Museum - Bainbridge Island
• Living Computer Museum - SODO
• Museum of Flight - South Seattle at Boeing Field / King County Airport
• Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) - South Lake Union
• Nordic Heritage Museum - Ballard
• NW African American Museum (NAAM) - Central District
• Seattle Art Museum (SAM) - Downtown
• Free first & second Thursdays
• NW Seaport - Lake Union Park
• Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) - Capitol Hill (CLOSED UNTIL 2019)
• Wing Luke Asian Museum - International District

Third Thursdays of Every Month

• KidsQuest Museum - South Bellevue - $1
• Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) - Tacoma - Free!
• Tacoma Museum of Glass - Tacoma - Free!
• WA State History Museum - Tacoma - Free!

Free first Fridays at Bellevue Arts Museum and Kitsap History Museum (Bremerton)

Free first Thursdays & Saturdays at Volunteer Park Conservatory - Capitol Hill

Free third Fridays from 5:30-9pm at Imagine Children’s Museum - Everett

Free first Wednesdays and Third Saturdays at Renton Historical Museum

Free first Thursdays and Sundays at White River Valley Museum - Auburn

Blue Star Museums (Free Admission for active duty, National Guard and Reserve Military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day)

• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum (Bainbridge Island)
• Kids Discovery Museum (Bainbridge Island)
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Bellevue)
• Kitsap History Museum (Bremerton)
• Harbor History Museum (Gig Harbor)
• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle)
• Henry Art Gallery (Seattle)
• Museum of Flight (Seattle)
• Northwest African American Museum (Seattle)
• Wing Luke Museum (Seattle)
• Buffalo Soldiers Museum (Tacoma)
• Foss Waterway Seaport (Tacoma)
• Museum of Glass (Tacoma)
• Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma)
• Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)

Cinema on a Budget

Sometimes it’s fun to see a movie at the cinema and not have to pay a buttload of money for your ticket. Check out this list of local theaters that offer cheap or discounted tickets! In order based on location.

Central Cinema (Capitol Hill/Central District) -- $7 tickets if bought more than 24 hours in advance, $9 at the door. They also feature 99-cent showings during the week. Happy hour prices from 5:30-6:30.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema (Capitol Hill/Various) -- Offer viewings at various venues. Signature event is the Seattle Queer Film Festival held every October. Every first Monday at Re-Bar they host “Cineoke” where you can sing along. $8 - Doors open at 6:30, show 7pm.

Big Picture (Belltown) -- 21+ - $10.50 matinee (before 4:45) & happy hour tickets (Mon-Thurs shows before 6:30 - Drink specials too!). $18 “Bagels & Bloodys Sunday” screening (includes 1 movie ticket, bagels & cream cheese, plus a choice of a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or beer.  

SIFF Cinemas (Lower Queen Anne) -- offer $8 matinee tickets (before 4pm). If you plan on seeing lots of movies there they also have an annual membership ($55) that includes movie discounts, free popcorn, special events, and more.

Majestic Bay Theaters (Ballard) - Matinee prices for $10.50 before 4pm

Sundance Cinemas (U-district) -- All shows 21+ - Cheapest tickets are always the first matinee of the day, plus free or discounted parking. You can also join their (free) Sundance Partners Loyalty Program to earn points toward tickets.

Grand Illusion (U-District) -- $9 tickets (cash or check only) . You can also buy a $30 membership and get $4 off your ticket price for a year.

Varsity Theatre (U-District) -- Matinee (before 5pm) tickets for $8.50, students with valid UW ID (maybe Cornish too??) tickets for $8, Senior tickets $8.50 & Senior Tuesday $6.75.

The Crest (Shoreline) -- $4 weekday tickets

Ark Lodge Cinemas (Columbia City) - $8.75 for all movies before 4pm. Some nearby restaurants/lounges offer a discount when you show your same-day ticket.

Federal Way Gateway Movies 8 (Federal Way) -- $2 tickets, $1 on Tuesdays. Extra $2 for 3D films.

Blue Mouse Theatre (Tacoma) -- Tickets range $3-5

The Edmonds Theater (Edmonds) -- $8 tickets or $6 for shows before 5pm

During the summer, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Regal Theaters feature $1 G and PG movies.

Lots of theaters offer cheaper tickets during the daytime (matinee) showings. Each theater is different, but it’s worth looking into if you’re looking for a cheaper ticket.

Good luck & enjoy!

Tips for Travelling (Abroad) on a Budget

Save up. If you know you want to travel, or already know when and where you’re going, start saving money specifically for this trip. You’ll want to save as much as you can so you don’t have to worry as much about what you’re spending while you’re gone. Pro tip: be careful about carrying too much cash on you when travelling, you could be in a tough situation if you lose it.

Stay in hostels. While it may not sound like the most fun or private way to stay somewhere, staying in hostels can save you lots of money. Hostels vary from large to small, so do some research to find the ones that will work best for you. Hostels can also provide an opportunity to meet other people you might not have otherwise - who knows, you might find new friends! Pro tip: staying outside of the city limits is usually cheaper.

Workaway. If you’re willing to work your way around the world, Workaway could be a perfect option for you. The idea of workaway is labor - which can vary - in exchange for food and housing.

Couchsurfing or Airbnb. Rent a couch, room, or home/apartment wherever you’re travelling. Prices and spaces vary, so you can find what suits you best.

Study Abroad. If you have a chance before you graduate, think about spending a semester abroad!

Find discounts. I’ll say it again, while you’re a student, take advantage of any and all discounts that you can. Check out one of our previous blog posts for more discount resources.

Get a job abroad. Once you’re not in school, you won’t really have the option to study abroad. However, you could work abroad. If there’s somewhere specific you’d like to spend some time, do some research for getting a work visa in that country. The job doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, but this would give you an option to explore while also having an income. Plus you’ll have an opportunity to meet more people you might not have otherwise!

Volunteer. If you’re not worried about money, but are interested in volunteering and meeting new people, check out Go Overseas for different programs and options.

Good luck, and safe travels!

Student Discounts: Travel & Transportation

Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it. Here are some resources we’ve pulled together to find the cheapest flights, bus tickets, hotel prices, etc. for your journeys.

First of all, and we’ll say this over and over again, always ask if there’s a student discount! Even if it’s not advertised, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one. The worst that’ll happen is they’ll say no!

Choice Hotels - offers a Student Advantage card with which you can get 15% off at certain hotels.

StudentRate - Find discounts for hotels, car rentals, flights, and even cruises!

STA Travel - Find deals on flights, hotels, travel insurance and more.

StudentUniverse - Offers discounts on flights, hotels, tours, groups and more.

BookingBuddy - Find discounts for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cars, cruises, vacation rentals, etc.

CheapOair - Discounts for flights, hotels, cars, vacations, etc.

One Travel - Deals on flights, hotels, cars, vacations & cruises.

Hotwire - deals for hotels, cars & flights

Orbitz - Deals for flights, hotels, cars, activities, etc.

GenerationFly - Specifically for students travelling internationally. Register for free to get started.

BoltBus - Depending on where you need to go, you can get super cheap tickets through Boltbus.

Greyhound - offers a Student Advantage card with which you can save 20% on tickts. With the card you can also save 40% on package shipments sent through Greyhound Package Xpress.

Amtrak - offers a Student Advantage card with which you can save 10% off tickets. You can also earn travel points.

Rail Europe - If you’re between the ages of 16 & 25 you can get discounted tickets! You don’t even have to be a student.

There are many more resources out there, so do some of your own research if these aren’t working out for you.

Good luck!