Places to Stay

The Best Airbnbs in Seattle, From a Downtown Loft to a Lakefront Mansion

Views of Mount Rainier are in your future.

March 21, 2023

Seattle is a city made for activities: hiking opportunities abound, and there's no view like the one you can get from a kayak, inner tube, or boat, with Mount Rainier in one direction and the Space Needle in the other. Even for the less outdoorsy, there's plenty of meandering to be done—spend your days visiting top-notch restaurants, eye-catching museums (MoPOP, anyone?), and lush sculpture gardens. After all that action, you'll want somewhere comfortable to rest your head. Below, we've rounded up 15 of the best Airbnbs across Seattle, from larger homes just outside the city to spots in the most central (and walkable) areas of town—South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, and Queen Anne included. Whether you're traveling in a group, solo, with pets, or kids, there's a vacation rental for you among the properties below.

Once you've got your accommodations sorted out, take a look at the city's best things to do, top restaurants, and stand-out hikes.

We've vetted these listings based on Superhost status, ratings, amenities, location, previous guest reviews, and decor. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Modern family-friendly home on Mercer Island
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: Indoor fireplace, piano, sunroom, garden
Nearby attractions: In between Bellevue and Seattle; Pioneer Park hiking trails
For ample space in a residential neighborhood, this Mercer Island home delivers. It has room for up to 10 guests, including a bunk bed room for the kids, multiple living spaces, a fully-stocked kitchen, and a large backyard to boot. The sunroom with arcade games is another highlight. Despite its quiet location, you’re just a 15-minute drive from downtown Seattle (there’s parking on-site), where you can check out Pike Place Market, the Museum of Pop Culture, and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Parents, note that you can rent items like strollers and baby swingers from the host, and there are plenty of games and a playset out back for older kids.
$201 at Airbnb (starting price)
Well-lit main floor of a classic early 1900s Dutch Colonial home
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Airbnb Plus, private patio, parking spot, keyless entry
Nearby attractions: Volunteer Park, Lake Union
You’re in a prime location at this Capitol Hill Airbnb, but we’d forgive you for settling in—the abundance of natural light, charming patio, and well-stocked kitchen (one of the hosts is a trained chef) will make you want to kick back and relax. Each of the two bedrooms has a queen-size bed and its own bathroom, and there’s a gas fireplace in the living room. Once you’re ready to explore, though, you’re an easy four blocks from the light rail, in a super walkable neighborhood. There’s a parking spot if you’re coming with a car, and a Pack-n-Play crib is available for families traveling with little ones.
$296 at Airbnb (starting price)
Affordable, well-decorated guest suite in Lake Forest Park
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Gas fireplace, hypoallergenic bedding, ADA-friendly, private garage
Nearby attractions: Burke-Gilman hiking trail, Third Place Books
Ideal for solo travelers or couples traveling by car (or willing to rent one), this studio offers a peaceful place to rest your head about 20 minutes north of downtown Seattle. It was designed with ADA integration in mind, with a well-lit, step-free path to the guest entrance, fixed grab bars for the shower and toilet, and a step-free access to the garage and washer and dryer. Inside, the layout makes it feel more spacious, with a galley kitchen separating the bedroom and living area. Past guests call it a “perfect place to stay” and “possibly the nicest, most thoughtful Airbnb I’ve ever slept in,” noting its new interior and fast internet.
$95 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Cozy Matthews Beach A-frame
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Top amenities: Lego-themed kitchen, backyard with outdoor furniture, washer/dryer
Nearby attractions: Matthew's Beach, Burke-Gillman trail
This A-frame cabin is an architectural beauty, with a kid-friendly twist: a Lego-inspired kitchen. While the primary color-blocked tiles may not be for everyone, the floor-to-ceiling windows, ample outdoor space, and room to spread across four bedrooms will likely win you over. Located in Matthews Beach, this Seattle Airbnb puts you near the water and in a more residential area, perfect for those who prefer a quiet home base.
$371 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
Ballard apartment with rooftop deck
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: City views, electric vehicle charging outlet, rooftop patio
Nearby attractions: Downtown Ballard, Woodland Zoo
While Ballard is slightly further from downtown Seattle, it has its own collection of great breweries, bars, and restaurants. And while it's very walkable, first-time visitors will likely want a car to explore the rest of the city. A perk of the three-story home's location, though? Excellent views of Seattle's skyline from the rooftop deck. Inside, you'll find three bedrooms, three baths, a fully equipped kitchen, desk for WFH days, and plenty of natural light.
$235 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Secluded Fremont guest suite
Bed & bath:1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Private patio, treehouse feel, hand-crafted windows
Nearby attractions: Fremont Brewing Company, Fremont Sunday Street Market, Gas Works Park
One of Seattle's quirkier neighborhoods, Fremont is home to great seafood restaurants, the Fremont Brewery, and of course, the Fremont Troll. Stroll to it all from this one-bedroom guest suite in the trees. Ideal for a couple or solo traveler, there's a queen bed looking out onto lush surrounding greenery, a cozy living area, breakfast nook, and back patio. Past guests note the Wi-Fi was dependable enough for working remotely, too.
$134 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Light-filled South Lake Union loft
Bed & bath:1 bedroom, 1.5 baths
Top amenities: Room-darkening shades, elevator, communal roof deck with BBQ
Nearby attractions: Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass
An industrial part of town with lots of new apartments thanks to the Amazon influx, this sunny loft puts you close to Lake Union, where you can swim, kayak, or float on tubes, and in a central enough location to walk downtown and to Capitol Hill. The upstairs bedroom houses a queen bed and room-darkening shades, while the upstairs common area has tables for an evening cocktail and a BBQ for grilling that fresh fish you pick up from Pike Place Market (while you're there, make a pit-stop at Ellenos for creamy, delicious yogurt).
$139 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Greenwood apartment with a Finnish sauna
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Finnish sauna, complimentary cocktail bar, Carrera marble shower
Nearby attractions: Naked City Brewery and Chuck’s Hopshop, Taproot Theater, multiple parks
For a retreat from the city without going far, this colorful one-bedroom has it all: a Finnish sauna, private rooftop deck (shown above), indoor fireplace, and roomy walk-in rain shower (the heated floors are a nice touch, too). Situated in a more residential area, you'll want a car to explore the rest of Seattle. For parents traveling with a young one, a Pack ’n Play is available upon request.
$144 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
Three-bedroom Queen Anne home
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath
Top amenities: Private patio, on-site parking, view of the Space Needle
Nearby attractions: Space Needle, Kerry Park, Cal Anderson Park, Seattle Center
If you're looking for room for a group while still being close to the action, consider this two-story Queen Anne home. You'll be near Kerry Park, which boasts the quintessential view of the city and Mount Rainier, and Queen Anne Avenue North, a main street with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. Inside, there are three bedrooms, one with a queen, one a king, and the last with two single beds, plus a fully-stocked kitchen and plenty of common spaces to lounge. (The only downside? Just one bathroom.)
$206 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Designer lake-view home in Bellevue
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Top amenities: Yoga and cycle room, fireplace, hot tub, full laundry room
Nearby attractions: Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue Botanical Garden, KidsQuest Children’s Museum
This lake-view home is a stunner, from the long, warmly-lit path leading to the front door out to the extra-large back deck seen above. Floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed steel beams, and wood-paneled walls add to the charm. Best for families or groups of friends, there are three bedrooms and two and a half baths, with space for six comfortably. You'll need a car to drive from Bellevue into the city, but there's plenty going on here too, from botanical gardens and parks to museums.
Editor's note: This home is currently requiring a minimum 30-day stay.
$527 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Contemporary Capitol Hill studio
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Tivoli Bluetooth stereo, clawfoot tub, shared rooftop
Nearby attractions: Vintage stores, 15th Ave's bars and restaurants, Volunteer Park
Seattle nightlife is centered in Capitol Hill, so if you're looking to be in an area that's easily walkable to some of the city's best bars and restaurants, this studio is in a prime location. (You can walk or take public transit to places like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, too—the latter of which is visible from the apartment's rooftop.) Inside, you'll find one bedroom and one bathroom (complete with a clawfoot tub), a small dining table, and kitchen.
$107 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Spacious Central District townhouse
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths
Top amenities: Keyless entry, gas fireplace, Sealy beds with hypoallergenic bedding
Nearby attractions: Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Optimism Brewery, Wing Luke Museum
Among the largest homes on this list, this four-bedroom townhome has six beds total (two are pull-out double beds) and three and a half baths. You can also spend time in the open kitchen-living area or upstairs on the rooftop deck (featuring another view of Mount Rainier). Located in a more residential neighborhood, you're about a 10-minute drive from Capitol Hill, Pike/Pine, or Pike Place Market. The home has one parking spot to use, and past guests note street parking is plentiful.
$173 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
Charming Ballard guesthouse
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Simmons Beautyrest mattress with hypoallergenic bedding, a bedroom skylight, spacious walk-in shower
Nearby attractions: Golden Gardens Park, downtown Ballard, Ballard Farmers Market
This Ballard home feels like a cozy cabin in the woods thanks to sloped ceilings and lots of wooden accents, not to mention the gas fireplace in the living room. As an Airbnb Plus, it has all the amenities you could want, from a dishwasher and washer/dryer to strong Wi-Fi and bathroom essentials, plus plenty of pillows to choose from depending on your firmness preference. Past guests note how welcoming host Virginia is, often leaving a basket of welcome goodies.
$192 at Airbnb (starting price)
Modern Alki beach house
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Top amenities: Ocean and mountain views, Bose Bluetooth sound system, gas fireplace, beach essentials provided
Nearby attractions: Alki Beach, water taxi, West Seattle Brewery
In Alki, you'll be treated to gorgeous views of the city, great seafood, and nice walking paths along the water. And while this rental is just a short walk from the beach, you don't actually have to leave to see the water, as evidenced by the two full walls of windows in the kitchen and living area, a portion of which you can see above. There's room for four inside across two bedrooms, plus two and a half baths, a chef's kitchen, and a laundry room.
$261 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Two-bedroom North Burien home
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Top amenities: Private backyard and patio, free on-site parking
Nearby attractions: North SeaTac Park, Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden, Moore Cafe
Dubbed the Three Tree Cottage, this five-star Seattle home is great for anyone traveling with a pet, thank to its spacious, fenced-in backyard. Past guests note how responsive host Anish is, and call the house “pristine” and “one of the cleanest places I've stayed.” To note, there is no A/C, but there is a ceiling fan in each room that guests say kept them cool. The house is a five-minute drive from the airport; take the bus or light rail to Downtown Seattle and Pike Place Market, or drive to the area less than a half hour.
$129 at Airbnb (starting price)