Bainbridge Island is located right across the Sound from Seattle. A day on Bainbridge Island is the perfect day trip from Seattle. There are a ton of outdoor things to do and many great food and beverage places. It is inexpensive to get from Seattle to Bainbridge and is a great way to get away from the city.
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History of Bainbridge Island
The Suquamish people originally settled nine villagers on Bainbridge Island. In 1792, the English explorer George Vancouver stopped on Bainbridge Island and spent some time there. Later, various other explorers visited the island and began to settle in the area. The Suquamish people gave up their claim to the island in 1855.
After that, the island saw more Japanese begin to settle on the island. Starting in the 1960s, Bainbridge saw the settlement of a permanent community of people and saw more tourism.
Best Time to Visit Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is gorgeous any time of the year, but it has a ton of outdoor activities. Thus visiting in the late spring, summer, or early fall is best to avoid the rain.
How to get to Bainbridge Island
The easiest way to get to Bainbridge Island is from Seattle.
Fly into Seattle Tacoma International Airport. This airport has flights from all over the world and the United States. From there, you will need to head to the Seattle Ferry Terminal.
The schedule for the ferry varies depending on the day and season, but there is usually a ferry every 1-2 hours. You can check the current schedule here. It costs $9.25 round trip to walk onto the ferry or $26.40 if you choose to take a car. The ferry takes about 35 minutes to cross the sound. Opt to book your tickets online ahead of time in order to guarantee a spot.
Transportation Around Bainbridge Island
The main part of Bainbridge Island is very walkable. If you do not have a car, there are also several bus lines around the island. In order to have the most flexibility, opt to take a car to the island. This way, you can dictate your own schedule and opt to stop at various spots around the island.
Where to Stay
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Seattle and Bainbridge Island hotels here!
I recommend just staying in Seattle and then taking a day trip to Bainbridge Island. Downtown Seattle is the best area to stay in. I love staying at the Hampton Inn in Seattle. However, if you prefer to stay on Bainbridge, there are a ton of Bed and Breakfast options. You can find lots of options here.
What to See During One Day on Bainbridge Island
Start the day by taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island from Seattle. The 35-minute ride will offer you gorgeous views of the sound and Downtown Seattle.
Pegasus Coffee
Cost: $
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 7am-4pm, Fri-Sat: 7am-5pm
Stop for a morning coffee and pastry at Pegasus Coffee. This coffee shop has some fun coffee flavors.
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Cost: Free
Hours: 10am-5pm
The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is a small art museum located near the Downtown area. It contains two floors of exhibits, many of which are constantly changing. There is also a little cafe if you want to grab a quick bite to eat. Everyone was very friendly and there were some fun pieces of art, perfect for any art lover spending a day on Bainbridge Island.
Bainbridge Island Historical Museum
Cost: Free
Hours: 10am-4pm
For those interested in local history, a stop at the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum is something you should do when spending a day on Bainbridge Island. This small museum goes over the history of Bainbridge Island. It is a quick 10-minute walk from downtown. I was very impressed with the exhibits in this museum and how well they told the story of the area.
Bruciato
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat: 11:30am-10pm)
Grab lunch at Bruciato, a delicious Italian restaurant on the main street of Downtown. They have amazing fresh wood oven pizzas and delicious homemade pasta. It is the perfect palace to load up for the afternoon.
Bloedel Reserve
Cost: $20
Hours: Varies by Season by generally Tues-Sun: 10am-5pm
When spending a day on Bainbridge Island, a stop at the Bloedel Reserve is a must! The Bloedel Reserve is one of the most popular botanical gardens in North America. This 150-acre reserve contains various trails that pass by various sculpted landscapes, meadows and gardens. Plan to spend about two hours wandering the reserve. Also, make sure to book your ticket online ahead of time as they often sell out, especially on the weekends.
Hall’s Labyrinth
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Next, make a quick stop at Hall’s Labyrinth, a 36-foot labyrinth in the middle of nature. This is a nice place to relax for a little bit or take a quick walk through the labyrinth.
Grand Forest
Cost: Free
Hours: 7am-8:30pm
The Grand Forest is the perfect place for people who love to hike. The forest contains 20-acres of land and 8 miles of trails. It is divided into two parts: The West Grand Forest and the North Grand Forest. Both have various paved trails through the forest and make for a peaceful and easy stroll through the woods. Plan to spend an hour or two taking one of the shorter hikes.
Rockaway Beach
Next, make a quick stop at Rockaway Beach. This beach offers the perfect view of the Seattle skyline and makes for a great photo stop.
Minidoka National Historic Site
Cost: Free
Hours: Daylight Hours
On Bainbridge Island lies a faction of Minidoka National Historic Site. This site serves as a memorial to the Japanese who were interned on Bainbridge Island in the 1940s. The Japanese American Exclusion Memorial also commemorates all the Japanese who lived on the island. Visitors can take a quick walk through the memorial and take in the views from the area.
You can opt to head back to Downtown for dinner or go back to the terminal to catch the ferry to grab dinner in Seattle. Seattle has a ton of food options such as Ba Bar Restaurant or Spinasse.
Other Things to do During a Day on Bainbridge Island
If you have more than a day on Bainbridge Island or want some alternatives to the above itinerary, check out these other awesome things to do on Bainbridge Island.
Bainbridge Brewery
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 2pm-8pm, Sat: 12pm-8pm, Sun: 12pm-7pm
Bainbridge Brewery is a local brewery that serves a ton of different beers. This is a great place to chill for an afternoon.
Bainbridge Island Farmers Market
Cost: Free
Hours: Saturdays 10am-2pm
On Saturdays, the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market is worth a visit. They have tons of fresh food and goodies from local vendors. It is an easily walkable stop from the ferry terminal.
Eagle Harbor Books
Cost: Free to Look
Hours: 10am-6pm
This cute little bookshop is a great place to wander around for a bit. They have a ton of books and many about the local area.
High Side Distilling
Cost: $
Hours:Fri-Sun: 12pm-5pm
Bainbridge Island has its own distillery: High Side Distilling. They make several different gins and some other liquors. You can opt to do a tasting, go on a tour, or even take a cocktail class. Check the website for more information.
Lytle Beach
Lytle Beach is another beach on Bainbridge Island. This one is popular for swimming and lounging around if the weather is nice.
Wine Tasting
Cost: $$
Hours: Varies by Winery
Bainbridge Island has several wineries and vineyards located on the island. Hitting up a winery or two is a great way to spend an afternoon. Popular choices include Eleven Winery Tasting Room (open from 12pm-8pm) and Bainbridge Vineyards (open Thus-Sun: 12pm-5pm). Some of the wineries have tasting rooms walkable from the Downtown area.
Other Food Stops
Other great popular food stops on Bainbridge Island include Mora Ice Creamery (Sun-Thurs: 12pm-8pm, Fri: 12pm-9pm, Sat: 11am-9pm), Harbor Public House (Wed-Fri: 4pm-10pm, Sat: 12pm-10pm), and Madison Diner (7am-2pm).
A day on Bainbridge Island is the perfect day trip from Seattle to get away from the busy city. You can easily spend a weekend exploring the area. You could also include Bainbridge Island as part of a road trip around Washington as well.
Ready to Explore more of the PNW?
Check out these posts to help plan your trip!
- Portland Itinerary
- Cheap Things to do in Portland
- Day Trips from Portland
- Weekend Trips from Portland
- Astoria, Oregon
- Oregon Road Trips
- Olympic National Park
