Las Vegas is a renowned resort city bustling with the most refined shopping, fine dining, and A-list entertainment options. However, despite its abundance of luxurious activities, you can still fully immerse yourself in the vibe of this city while spending little to no money.
This article compiles the list of the 20 top-rated free things to do in Las Vegas. Get the most out of this city while making the least dent in your budget.
Key Takeaways
- Some of the top-rated things you can do in Las Vegas for free include walking The Strip, exploring Downtown Las Vegas, and enjoying the water show at The Fountains of Bellagio.
- For party-seekers, some of the best free Las Vegas attractions to visit include the Fremont Street Experience and The Strip casinos.
- To have a peaceful and rejuvenating time in Las Vegas, consider visiting The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat and Wynn Hotel Botanical Gardens.
1. Enjoy The Spectacle At The Fountains of Bellagio
With over 1,000 fountains choreographed to sync with the surrounding lights and music, the Bellagio Fountains’ 1,000-foot-long water show is surely one of the best ways to occupy your afternoon or night in Las Vegas.
Fountain displays can be enjoyed throughout the week from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM on weekdays and from noon to midnight on weekends. For the most romantic and picturesque view of this spectacle, I highly recommend watching during sunset.
2. Experience The Culture Of Downtown Las Vegas
When thinking about Las Vegas, most people think about the nightlife, the gambling, and the never-ending parties. However, this city is not just known for its dazzling night scenery, as it’s also rich in murals, street art, and cultural expressions that showcase the underrated soul of Las Vegas.
To witness the stunning art scene of this city, drop by Downtown Las Vegas and explore the gigantic artistic pieces painted on residential and commercial buildings alike. You’ll be welcomed by varying art styles, stunning colors, and breathtaking scales of murals in the area.
3. Stop By The Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Do you love taking memorable photos at iconic tourist locations?
Then, a stop by the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is guaranteed to be worthy of your time. This 25-foot-tall sign makes great Instagram posts and is completely free to visit!
Pro tip: To skip the long lines in front of the welcome sign, consider taking shots from a different angle. Not only will your photos look just as great, but you can also get more creative with the framing to make your shots more unique.
4. Explore The LINQ Promenade
The LINQ promenade is a 1,200-foot-long outdoor walking entertainment district filled with attractions, shops, and restaurants. Since cars aren’t allowed in this vibrant area, you can safely walk around all day long and enjoy various free shows and entertainment.
Some of the most prominent attractions on The LINQ Promenade are the High Roller and the ice-made bar called Minus5 Icebar. You can also watch free synchronized light shows and enter the Museum of Selfies.
5. Stroll Through The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and witness the spectacular floral display at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Here, you can find carefully curated installations made with more than 10,000 flowers and plants, filling the space with inspiring colors, scents, and a sense of tranquility.
The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is conveniently located next to the Bellagio hotel’s lobby.
During display dates, this location is open 24/7, but know that there are scheduled “Dark Dates” when the conservatory is closed off from the public.
6. Check Out The Grand Canal Shoppes At The Venetian
The Grand Canal Shoppes is the epitome of luxury shopping. This place comprises more than 160 signature stores, many of which are high-end luxury brands showcasing their latest releases.
Of course, the shopping part isn’t exactly free.
However, even if you don’t spend a dime while visiting this location, you can still enjoy walking in the relaxing walkways of the Shoppes canopied by illuminated painted ceilings. Not to mention, you can also get a sneak peek of the mighty Grand Canal.
7. Visit The Downtown Container Park
Building houses with containers is now a fairly common concept. But, there are still only a few places worldwide where you can find widescale establishments primarily built with shipping containers.
One of those is the Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas, which is an open-air shopping and entertainment complex that hosts some of the liveliest shops, restaurants, and attractions in the city.
8. Tour The Colorful M&M’s World
Enter the world of chocolate wonderland by touring M&M’s World, located just right next to the MGM Grand station. This four-story attraction is M&M’s first-ever store location and is now home to lively mascots, towered candy displays, and life-sized models of your favorite M&M characters.
Want to create your very own one-of-a-kind M&Ms?
You’d be pleased to know that you can creatively do so in just 2 minutes inside the colorful environment of M&M’s World.
9. Snap A Pic At The Seven Magic Mountains
About 20 minutes away from The Strip, the Seven Magic Mountains stands as a popular public art installation for the public to see.
This artistic display of 7 colorful boulder-stacked towers was created in 2016 by the internationally recognized Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. The installation was only supposed to stand for a couple of years, but since it became a prominent Las Vegas tourist attraction, it continues to stand up to this date.
10. Discover Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey’s Chocolate World is another iconic location you can visit to have a chocolatey adventure along the Vegas Strip. This retail store offers more than 800 sweets and features a chocolate sculpture of the Statue of Liberty made with almost 800 lbs of chocolate.
Of course, you can also customize your very own chocolate bars and purchase Hershey’s merchandise at this store, making it easy to find souvenirs or simple gifts for your loved ones.
11. Walk The Strip
Walk the 4-mile stretch of The Strip and enjoy the scenic views of popular landmarks like the Bellagio fountains and the Venetian’s Grand Canal while also enjoying street entertainment and shows.
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes before starting a long-distance walk on The Strip. My friends and I have learned the hard way that prioritizing your fashion over comfort when choosing footwear for this walking adventure is a surefire way to make your feet very unhappy.
12. Fremont Street Experience
Enjoy free live music and illuminate your night under the stunning Viva Vision installation by visiting the Fremont Street Experience.
If exciting crowds are your thing, this activity should certainly be at the top of your list to have an unforgettable time in Las Vegas.
Here, you can immerse yourself in never-ending music shows and visit plenty of bars for you to grab a drink from. What could be more fun than a crowd fueled by booze and music, right?
13. Visit The Hoover Dam Bypass
Walk along the Hoover Dam Bypass and witness the engineering marvel of The Hoover Dam, which was once the world’s largest dam. By visiting this iconic location, you can also enjoy the amazing scenic view of the Eldorado and River mountains, as well as the Lake Mead.
Just make sure to bring sunscreen when visiting this tourist attraction, as the bypass and its surrounding areas have little to no shade.
14. Visit Various Casinos
Traveling to Las Vegas without entering a casino is like taking a trip to Paris without taking a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. So, even if you don’t plan on gambling, I highly recommend checking out at least one or two casinos in the city.
Las Vegas casinos are completely free to enter, and you won’t be required to bet upon entry. Inside, most of them look and feel like self-contained cities where you can find bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and other amenities you might not even expect to exist inside a casino.
15. Enjoy The Mirage Volcano Show
Before it is permanently demolished in 2024, don’t miss out on enjoying the must-see Mirage Volcano show that happens every night in front of the Mirage Hotel. This fire-packed spectacle features daring fire eruptions and light effects choreographed to match the exciting sounds of music.
For the best experience, show up early at the Mirage volcano sculpture. This way, you can get close to the installation and physically feel the heat of each blast, making the experience more immersive.
16. Explore The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Get in touch with nature by exploring the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, a free-to-enter garden in Las Vegas that’s home to exotic animals, meandering streams, and relaxing waterfalls. This oasis is perfect for enjoying a solemn alone time or having a peaceful, laid-back trip with your family.
17. Visit An Aquarium
Another great activity you can try to break free from the fast-paced environment of Las Vegas is to visit free aquariums loaded with aquatic life.
My favorite free-to-enter aquarium in Las Vegas is the one at Silverton Hotel Casino. It’s open 24/7, holds captivating mermaid shows daily, and offers interactive stingray feedings every afternoon.
18. Watch Street Performers
One of the best things about Las Vegas is its very rich street performance culture. So, if you’re not in the mood to walk or travel somewhere far, you can simply enjoy watching various street performers.
I’ve seen all sorts of shows from street performers on The Strip and Fremont Street. Whether you’re into magic, music, or something else, you’ll definitely find a street show that best suits your taste.
19. Rejuvenate At Wynn Hotel Botanical Gardens
If you’re looking for a romantic location to rejuvenate alone or spend time with your lover, stopping by the Wynn Hotel Botanical Gardens is a great idea.
Just like Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, this place is brimming with strategically-grown colorful flowers that’ll make your slow and steady walks inside the garden magical and serene.
20. Check Out The Eiffel Tower Light Show
Las Vegas’ half-scale Eiffel Tower replica has its very own light show that dazzles spectators every half an hour from sunset to midnight.
While this show may not be as wide-scale as the one shown on the original Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Las Vegas Eiffel Tower’s choreographed lights still make a gem-like attraction in the city, especially when the sky’s completely dark.
Bonus: Other Las Vegas Highlights
Apart from the 20 free things you can do in Las Vegas that I recommended above, here are other must-try budget-friendly activities in the city that never sleeps.
| Free Las Vegas Attraction | Best To |
| Barrick Museum of Art | See a diverse range of artistic exhibitions |
| Hand of Faith At The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino | Witness an impressive 61-pound nugget of gold |
| Coca-Cola Store | Shop souvenirs and sample various Coca-Cola products |
| Circus Circus | Enjoy mind-blogging circus performances |
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