Free & Budget
25 Free Things to Do in Bellevue
Twenty-five genuinely free things to do in Bellevue — parks, gardens, waterfront walks, arts, and neighborhood strolls, curated by our editors.
You do not need to spend a dollar to see the best of Bellevue. The city's biggest draws — its downtown park, its wetland preserve, its botanical garden — are all free. Our editors put this guide together after a full year of walking, biking, and re-verifying every stop on foot.
Below are twenty-five specific, free things to do, grouped so you can build a morning, an afternoon, or a full weekend without opening your wallet.
Plan your visit
- Best season
- Year-round; May–September for outdoor stops
- Time needed
- Half day to full weekend
- Cost
- Free (parking may apply downtown)
- Family friendly
- Yes, most stops are kid-friendly
- Accessibility
- Most parks are wheelchair accessible; see individual listings
- Parking
- Free lot parking at parks; metered downtown
- Public transit
- Sound Transit East Link light rail + King County Metro
- Dog friendly
- Most parks allow leashed dogs
Section 1
Parks and gardens
Bellevue's park system is the strongest single reason to visit the city, and every park below is free to enter with free parking.
- Bellevue Downtown Park
- Bellevue Botanical Garden
- Mercer Slough Nature Park
- Meydenbauer Bay Park
- Chism Beach Park
- Kelsey Creek Farm Park
- Wilburton Hill Park
- Crossroads Park
Local editor tip
Start at Bellevue Downtown Park early — the half-mile promenade is quietest before 9 a.m. and the light on the canal is at its softest.
Section 2
Free scenic walks
Three walks cover the range from urban to wetland: the Downtown Park loop, the Meydenbauer waterfront promenade, and the boardwalk at Mercer Slough. Each is under two miles and stroller-friendly.
For a slightly longer route, connect Downtown Park to Meydenbauer Bay Park via the pedestrian route through Old Bellevue — about a mile one-way, mostly flat.
Section 3
Arts, culture, and free exhibitions
The Bellevue Arts Museum has free admission on the first Friday of each month. Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square rotate free public-art installations. Old Bellevue's Main Street is worth a slow walk for the storefront windows alone.
Section 4
Free family stops
Kelsey Creek Farm Park is the single best free stop with kids: barnyard animals, a demonstration farm, and shaded pasture paths. Crossroads Park has a large play structure and hosts free summer concerts.
Section 5
Seasonal free experiences
Summer: free Wednesday evening concerts at Crossroads Park, farmers-market strolls in Old Bellevue, and free waterfront yoga at Meydenbauer Bay Park.
Fall: Mercer Slough boardwalk turns copper and gold; Kelsey Creek Farm hosts a free pumpkin patch weekend.
Winter: Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden is a paid ticket, but the neighborhood lights walk around Downtown Park is genuinely free.
Frequently asked questions
Is parking free at these Bellevue parks?
Yes, every park lot listed here has free parking. Downtown Bellevue itself uses metered street parking; free garages exist inside Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square.
Which free thing is best if I only have one hour?
Walk the Bellevue Downtown Park loop — it is a half-mile flat promenade with a canal, waterfall, and open lawn, all free and open dawn to dusk.
Can I do all 25 things in a weekend?
Most locals split them into a Downtown-and-waterfront day and a Mercer Slough–Kelsey Creek–Botanical Garden day.
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