The bus system is reliable and quite affordable in Seattle. Fares vary for
adults depending on whether you travel during peak-time (from 6
a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday) or non-peak
hours. The City of Seattle counts as one “zone”, while
all other areas outside the city and within King county are considered
a second zone. It’s important to note that you pay your fare
as you board the metro (when you’re traveling toward downtown
Seattle) and then as you leave the metro (when you’re traveling
away from downtown). If you’re staying downtown, you can ride
free in certain zones, except between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6
a.m. Remember to use exact cash, as drivers don’t provide
change. The $5 Metro Visitor Pass gives you one day of unlimited
travel on all regular metro lines, except the South Transit routes
(simply show the pass to the operator, don’t worry about swiping
it or feeding it into the fare box).