How to Get Around Seattle Using the Bus System

First-time visitors in Seattle may find its network of public transportation options confusing. There’s a ferry system, two bus systems, a light rail, street cars, rapid ride bus lines, even a Monorail — a leftover from the 1962 World’s Fair.

For the most part, all you really need to understand is the bus system, and once you have that down, you can get almost anywhere in the city and the surrounding areas. To get from one neighborhood in Seattle to another, you will probably need to take a bus downtown, the nexus of many routes to other neighborhoods. You can connect to tons of other bus routes from here, or you can hop on the light rail to the airport.

The easiest way to begin understanding the bus system is to use a smartphone to download two essential apps: Google Maps and One Bus Away.

Google Maps will help you map out a route from A to B and it will tell you how to get there via public transit. You can also adjust the app’s options to have you leaving home at a certain time or arriving at your destination at a certain time. One Bus Away shows you when the buses at a particular stop are going to arrive — this is essential so you’re not waiting out in the rain for a bus that’s going to be 10 minutes late.

When riding the bus, you should be aware of some simple norms: Everyone enters through the front and is supposed to exit through the rear door (though that doesn’t always happen). You pay when you get on and you must have exact change. For current fares, visit the King County Metro Transit website. You can ask for a transfer, which is valid on other buses for around two hours.