# Tattoo shops in Ballard, Seattle

> Ballard grew up around fishing and lumber and remains the center of Seattle's Scandinavian heritage. Today it's known for the bars and restaurants of historic Ballard Avenue, the Ballard Locks and a year-round Sunday farmers market. A handful of tattoo studios sit in and around the old core. There's no light rail, so most people use the RapidRide D Line.

Ballard is the traditional center of Seattle's Scandinavian community, and the National Nordic Museum on NW Market Street tells that story. The Ballard Avenue Historic District holds the neighborhood's densest mix of bars, restaurants and shops, and the Ballard Farmers Market sets up on Ballard Avenue every Sunday, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tattoo studios are spread through the old core around Ballard Avenue and Market Street and along the main avenues, a mix of street shops and appointment-based custom studios.

Ballard has no light rail yet. The RapidRide D Line runs along 15th Avenue NW to Interbay, Uptown and downtown. Street parking in the core is paid Monday through Saturday until 8 p.m. and free on Sundays, which pairs well with the Sunday market. After a session, the grounds of the Ballard Locks, open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the fish ladder make a good low-key outing. Save Golden Gardens beach for after the tattoo has healed, since sun and saltwater are hard on fresh ink.

## Studios in Ballard (11)

- [Slave to the Needle Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/slave-to-the-needle-tattoo) — 508 NW 65th St, Seattle, WA 98117 · (206) 789-2618 · https://www.slavetotheneedle.com
- [Anchor Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/anchor-tattoo) — 5451 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · (206) 784-4051 · https://www.anchortattoo.com
- [Rabid Hands Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/rabid-hands-tattoo) — 4775 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · (206) 618-1447 · https://rabidhands.com
- [Gray Wash Tash Tattoos](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/gray-wash-tash-tattoos) — 1417 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107 · (206) 395-5647 · https://graywashtashtattoo.com
- [Electric Kitten Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/electric-kitten-tattoo) — 5309 22nd Ave NW #E, Seattle, WA 98107 · (971) 910-6661 · https://www.electrickittentattoo.com
- [Dark Matter Gallery](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/dark-matter-gallery) — 4818 14th Ave NW #7, Seattle, WA 98107 · https://www.darkmattergallery.com
- [Ink Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/ink-tattoo) — 8721 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 · (626) 808-8650 · https://ainktattoo.com
- [Ink Bunny Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/ink-bunny-tattoo) — 1417 NW 54th St Unit 305, Seattle, WA 98107 · (360) 339-8333
- [OddVille Tattoo and Obscura](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/oddville-tattoo-and-obscura) — 8721 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 · (206) 999-0025
- [Rooster Down Tattoo Gallery](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/rooster-down-tattoo-gallery) — 7353 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
- [Electric Traveler Tattoo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/electric-traveler-tattoo) — 8329 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 · (206) 782-5483

## FAQ

**Is there light rail to Ballard?**
Not yet. Ballard has no light rail station, so most people ride the RapidRide D Line, which runs along 15th Avenue NW between Crown Hill, Ballard, Interbay, Uptown and downtown. Other bus routes link Ballard with Fremont, Wallingford and the U District, where you can connect to light rail.

**Where can I park in Ballard for a tattoo appointment?**
Street parking in Ballard's core is paid Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with posted time limits, and free on Sundays and holidays. Side streets outside the paid area may have free, time-limited spaces. Read the signs before a long session, because some Seattle residential blocks are permit-only for long stays.

**What can I do in Ballard while a new tattoo heals?**
Watch boats and salmon at the Ballard Locks fish ladder, browse the Sunday farmers market, or visit the National Nordic Museum. Hold off on swimming at Golden Gardens and on long beach days until the tattoo has healed. The CDC counts recent tattoos as open wounds that should stay out of saltwater.