Overview
Seattle's Fremont district, which bills itself as "The Center of the Universe", is known for its quirky atmosphere (although the recent arrival of several major corporate tenants has somewhat undercut its bohemian image).
To the east of Fremont is Wallingford, a "small town in a big city" with craftsman bungalows and a busy main street brimming with restaurants and bars.
8 sights · 4 things to do · 5 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fremont
Fremont Bridge
A bascule bridge (drawbridge) spanning the Fremont Cut since 1917. The bridge opens an average of 35 times a day, which makes it the most frequently opened drawbridge in the United States and one of the busiest bascule b…
Gas Works Park
"Gasworks" is Wallingford's oddly endearing refuge along the north part of Lake Union — prominently featuring the rusting, hulking remains of the city's old gasworks piping and machinery. More conventionally, a solitary …
Woodland Park Zoo
The zoo hosts 1,100 animals from 300 different species, each housed in nice, naturalistic exhibits. You can feed a giraffe or an elephant by yourself for $5, or enter the aviary where the birds fly overhead and show off …
Waiting for the Interurban
A statue of five people (and a dog) waiting for the trolley that has not existed since the 1930s. The statue is frequently clothed by local residents. There was a time when this work was considered offbeat (imagine that!…
Fremont Rocket
A 53' Cold War rocket, improved with neon space blasters and a smoke generator in the engine bay, towers over the corner of N. 35th Street and Evanston Avenue.
Fremont Troll
Strikingly large (photos generally don't do it justice), the Troll is a concrete statue under the Aurora Bridge clutching a full size Volkswagen Bug in its grip. The statue is notable enough to even gets its own street n…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Seattle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 9 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 14 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 5 runs along the eastern side of Wallingford; exit at NE 50th St or 45th St.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $26–$26 a night (typical $52), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$70, mid-range ~$130, comfortable ~$190.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Waiting for the Interurban, Fremont Rocket, Statue of Lenin
- Lunch Paseo Caribbean Restaurant
- Afternoon Fremont Troll, Fremont Fair
- Dinner Musashi's
- Evening Fremont Brewing
Day 2
- Morning Woodland Park, Woodland Park Zoo
- Lunch The Dish
- Afternoon Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Fremont Oktoberfest
- Dinner Dick's Drive-In
- Evening George and Dragon
Day 3
- Morning Gas Works Park, Tai Chi at Meridian Park
- Lunch Ivar's Salmon House
- Afternoon Fremont Bridge
- Evening Murphy's Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Interstate 5 runs along the eastern side of Wallingford; exit at NE 50th St or 45th St.
Aurora Ave N (State Route 99) passes through the center of Fremont and near the west edge of Wallingford. This is usually the fastest way from most parts of South Lake Union, Queen Anne, or North Seattle.
From Downtown, take Westlake Blvd across the Fremont Bridge.
From the University District, take NE 45th St or Northlake Way.
From Ballard, take Leary Way or Market St to 46th St to 45th St.
By bus
Bus routes 5, 62, and 40 all directly service Fremont from Downtown — additionally, the RapidRide E Line is an express service between Downtown and North Seattle that stops at Aurora Ave/N 46th St, in the northern part of the Fremont area. Route 44 goes east-west along N 45th St between Ballard and the University District, while routes 31 and 32 run east-west directly through Fremont, connecting to the University District to the east and running along the south side of the canal to the west. If coming from the east, take route 62. Route 26 also gets you here from South Lake Union and Northgate Transit Center.
By bicycle
The Burke-Gilman Trail runs along the north side of the Ship Canal, from Ballard to Gas Works Park, the University of Washington, the western rim of Lake Washington, to the Eastside. Despite the hilly surroundings, the track is flat as it used to be a railway line. It connects to the Fremont Bridge, which has such heavy cyclist traffic from South Lake Union and Downtown that it displays a counter with the number of today's bicycle crossings.
See
See Fremont Bridge
A bascule bridge (drawbridge) spanning the Fremont Cut since 1917. The bridge opens an average of 35 times a day, which makes it the most frequently opened drawbridge in the United States and one of the busiest bascule bridges in the world.
See Gas Works Park
"Gasworks" is Wallingford's oddly endearing refuge along the north part of Lake Union — prominently featuring the rusting, hulking remains of the city's old gasworks piping and machinery. More conventionally, a solitary bump of a hill offers the ideal spot for kite flying and views across the lake of sailboats, float planes landing, and downtown Seattle at sunset. Generally quiet but exceptionally crowded during the 4th of July for firework shows.
See Woodland Park Zoo
The zoo hosts 1,100 animals from 300 different species, each housed in nice, naturalistic exhibits. You can feed a giraffe or an elephant by yourself for $5, or enter the aviary where the birds fly overhead and show off talents with the aid of a zookeeper. For the kids, the zoomazium is an additional place to visit for slides and a century-old carousel. Allow at least 3 hours of your time to fully explore the zoo.
Art
"The Artists' Republic of Fremont" — another of the neighborhood's self-proclaimed titles — has some of the most distinctive public art of any neighborhood in the U.S.
See Waiting for the Interurban
A statue of five people (and a dog) waiting for the trolley that has not existed since the 1930s. The statue is frequently clothed by local residents. There was a time when this work was considered offbeat (imagine that!).
See Fremont Rocket
A 53' Cold War rocket, improved with neon space blasters and a smoke generator in the engine bay, towers over the corner of N. 35th Street and Evanston Avenue.
See Fremont Troll
Strikingly large (photos generally don't do it justice), the Troll is a concrete statue under the Aurora Bridge clutching a full size Volkswagen Bug in its grip. The statue is notable enough to even gets its own street name - just off of N. 36th Street on Troll Avenue.
See Statue of Lenin
This bronze statue peers out over the street below, oblivious to the continuing controversy over its display. It was salvaged and brought over from Slovakia and was re-erected in 1995 in a Fremont parking lot that at the time hosted a weekly market before being moved a few years later to its current site.
- Can you find the shoes of the wicked witch? Clue: look near a big rock!
Do
Events
Do Fremont Fair
If you happen to be in Seattle around the Summer Solstice, Fremont hosts one of the city's best street fairs on the weekend closest to the solstice. The highlight is the Solstice Parade on Saturday afternoon, an arts-only parade held by the Fremont Art's Council with hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of elaborately costumed participants, no signage (strongly discouraging commercial participation), and only human-powered floats. A contingent of nude and painted bicyclists traditionally show up and ride before the parade begins. Delilah's "Billion Belly March" contingent annually brings over a hundred belly dancers and drummers to the parade.
Buy
- Fremont hosts a Sunday crafts market, usually outdoors in the summer and in a covered parking lot in the winter.
Shop Evo
Popular outdoor gear retailer for skis, snowboards, bikes, mountain bikes, skateboards, longboards, surfboards, outerwear, and men's & women’s clothing. The space includes an art gallery, music venue and movie theater. Offers a variety of bike rentals, with helmets and maps included.
Eat
Budget
Eat Dick's Drive-In
This is a local legend of a drive-in/drive-out burger joint which has served the dual purpose of providing a gathering place for high school and UW students before and after sporting events.
Eat Paseo Caribbean Restaurant
A tiny Cuban restaurant with amazing sandwiches like a crunchy baguette slathered with a secret aioli and filled with your choice of protein (the most popular is the roasted pork shoulder), fresh cilantro, pickled jalapeños, lettuce and delicious caramelized onions. A local favorite, it's best to call ahead and place your order. Expect to settle for takeout; the 3 tables are usually full but there are several nearby parks you can stroll to, as well as the main section of Fremont. They do run out of sandwiches late in the day, but other wonderful entrees are served.
Eat The Dish
New American cuisine. Home of the Slacker Special: scrambled eggs or tofu, cheese, tortilla chips, enchilada sauce and sour cream served with potatoes and toast. Although you might see a line outside, it never takes long to be seated and it's worth the wait.
Mid-range
Eat Musashi's
A small hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery that attracts crowds of patrons waiting for a bowl of sushi rice with assorted sashimi (called chirashi), which is not listed on the menu. Opens for lunch and dinner only. Cheap for its portion sizes.
Eat Ivar's Salmon House
Various seafood entrees served in a neo-longhouse replete with totem poles and various other carved cedar adornments. Ivar's has an excellent and affordable happy hour menu (7 days a week 3:30PM-6:30PM and 9PM-close) that many locals and University of Washington staff and faculty enjoy regularly. The thing to get is salmon smoked to order over the big wood fire in the northwest style.
Drink
Drink TangleTown Public House
Pub and patio where pizza is popular fare.
Drink George and Dragon
British style pub with pretty standard dark wood interior. Great for watching soccer games.
Drink Murphy's Pub
Irish pub with a good selection of drinks, fair pub food. Attracts a young and educated crowd. Trivia on Tuesday evenings.
Drink Sea Monster Lounge
Decent selection of beer, cocktails, and wine. Fresh sushi made onsite with sake. Free live music every night.
Drink Zoka Coffee
In what is variously known as the Meridian District or Tangletown, between Wallingford and Green Lake. Hip students, professionals, and soccer moms meet here. Great desserts and whole grain scones. Roasts their own coffee, supplying to cafes across the U.S. and at Zoka's two cafes in Japan. There is also one north of the U-Village shopping complex on Blakely.
Drink Fremont Brewing
Local brewery with large outdoor beer garden (Urban Beer Garden) as well as an indoor area. Has a wide area of beer available for pickup as well as dine-in.
Sleep
Not much, though there are nearby options in Ballard and the U-District. The motels on Aurora Ave have a reputation for sketchiness.
Nearby
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