Lake Washington Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Lake Washington. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Seattle City Highlights Tour

• Woodinville Wine and Snoqualmie Falls Day Tour

• Guided Forest Hike to Seattle waterfalls incl. Snoqualmie Falls

• Leavenworth Exclusive Tour from Seattle

• Snoqualmie Falls + Wine Tasting: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour

There is no fee to visit Lake Washington as it's a public lake. You can see it from the eastern part of Seattle, and many city tours drive alongside its shores. Seattle tours that visit the lake range in price, starting at around US$90 per person for group tours.

Yes, you can take boat tours on Lake Washington. Trips typically depart from Seattle, but you'll also find operators with departures from other destinations, such as Kirkland. Many Seattle cruises and boat tours depart from the city out onto Puget Sound, including sunset cruises and whale-watching expeditions.

Yes, Lake Washington is generally safe for swimming due to its large size and relative lack of pollution, but bacteria and algae blooms can temporarily render the waters unsafe. The King County Parks and Recreation Department does seasonal water testing in the spring and summer, and information on its findings is available on the King County website.

Yes, there are several parks and trails along Lake Washington’s shoreline, including Seward Park in Seattle and Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island in the middle of the lake. Seattle's Washington Park is also partially on the lake’s shore and features miles of trails of varying lengths.

The best time of year to visit Lake Washington, and the Seattle area in general, is during the summer, when temperatures are warm and there’s less chance of rain. Summer is an ideal time to visit if you want to swim or boat; however, be prepared for crowds, especially in July and August.