Free Things to do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of those cities you just have to see before you die!  It’s certainly on my US bucketlist, so when Valentina from Valentina’s Destinations offered to write this post on the best free things to do in Las Vegas I couldn’t wait to read it!  Take a look and see how you can visit Las Vegas on a budget.

Las Vegas is one of the most exciting American cities for tourists. It’s famous for flashy casinos, exceptional performances, quickie weddings & unforgettable pool parties. 

A trip to Las Vegas doesn’t have to break the bank! While you’ll definitely find luxury shopping and fine dining, Las Vegas also offers a multitude of cheap & free attractions.  These activities will help you plan an exciting trip to Las Vegas that will fit your budget.

How to Have an Epic Las Vegas Trip on a Budget

I love finding free things to do wherever I travel, and you can have an amazing time with a very limited budget.  However, there are some things that might be worth paying for if you have the budget to do it.  Perhaps by compromising and saving money on some things, you can afford to splurge a little on something you really want to do.

The Best Free Things to do in Las Vegas

Watch the Bellagio Fountains

A visit to the Bellagio Fountains is on every Las Vegas bucket list! It’s one of the most romantic places in Las Vegas.  At the Bellagio, more than 1,000 individual fountains dance in unison to music. They create an exceptional performance! 

Water is pushed over 500 ft into the air! That’s over 40 stories high! 

You can catch a show at the Bellagio Fountains nearly every 30 minutes in the afternoon and early evenings.

Free Things to do in Las Vegas: Walk the Strip

Walking the Las Vegas Strip is one of the things you must do in Las Vegas. The ‘Strip’ refers to a section of Las Vegas Boulevard that’s lined with flashy 5-star hotels. Anyways, that’s the ‘new strip,’ the ‘old strip’ (or historic Vegas) is at Fremont Street. 

The whole Strip is actually pretty long. If you walked from the Wynn Hotel (north on the strip) to Mandalay Bay (south on the strip), it would take you over an hour –which is nice if you are looking for a walk. 

For a shorter trip, you could walk from Treasure Island to the Bellagio in less than 30 minutes. 

Regardless of where you walk on the Las Vegas Strip, you’re in for a cultural experience unlike any other. It’s the best place to people watch! 

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Get a Photo at the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign

The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is located south on the strip at Las Vegas Boulevard. It’s one of the city’s important landmarks, and it’s one of the best places to snap a photo. 

This sign has made the list of National Historic Places, and it’s completely free to visit. Often, you may find a line of excited tourists at the sign. Usually, it doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to get your turn.  There are also several people willing to snap a photo of you for a small tip. 

Cactus Garden at Ethel M Chocolate Shop

The Ethel M Chocolate Shop is a Las Vegas community staple. You can step inside for a free self-guided tour of the chocolate shop and a complimentary chocolate! 

You can also visit the Botanical Cactus Garden at Ethel M Chocolates for free! It’s Nevada’s largest cactus garden. Their 3 acres of land display over 300 species of cacti, succulents, and other desert flora. Many of the species featured are native to the American Southwest, but they also have plants from South America and Australia. 

Ethel M also offers chocolate tastings and chocolate wine pairing events, but these are not free. For the ultimate Las Vegas experience, you can even book a tasting of Ethel M chocolates on the High Roller!

Visit the Seven Magic Mountains

The Seven Magic Mountains are an open-air art installation that can be found in the Mojave Desert outside of Las Vegas. You can get there in 20 minutes driving from Las Vegas downtown. 

Artist Ugo Rondinone created the Seven Magic Mountains. The project features a group of colorful boulders stacked up on top of one another. It’s meant to represent our human presence in the desert ecosystem. 

When first created, the Seven Magic Mountains were meant to be a temporary exhibition. Although, gaining fame and popularity has ensured that this beautiful site will remain for years to come. It’s one of the most instagrammable places near Las Vegas!

St. Mark’s Square at the Venetian 

Inside the Venetian Hotel in Las Vas, you’ll find a version of Venice, Italy. It’s complete with winding canals, gondolas, a Campanile Tower and St. Mark’s Square. 

At St. Mark’s square you’ll find breathtaking examples of the Renaissance style. See if you can spot the reimagined versions of the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace. 

Besides St. Mark’s Square, you can explore the Venetian Hotel’s other art and architectural features for free! Check out the LOVE installation in the Waterfall Atrium. Or, find the Acqua di Cristallo water sculpture in the Palazzo Lobby

Walking along the canals, you’ll also find many shops and restaurants.  Chica is a crowd pleaser, and it’s one of the Venetian’s best signature restaurants. 

Walk Through Fremont Street

In the 1920s and 1930s, Fremont Street was the Las Vegas Strip. Since then, newer and fancier hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard have taken all the glory. However, Fremont Street is still bustling with excitement & entertainment. Also, it’s an important part of Las Vegas history.

It’s absolutely free to visit and explore Fremont Street! This is where you’ll find free live concerts, an impressive zip line and the world’s largest video screen.

The world’s largest video screen has scheduled light shows you should definitely catch. It’s boasts 16.4 million pixels, and it was recently upgraded for $32 million! The SlotZilla zipline takes you right above the action on Fremont Street, just under the bright video screen. It’s quite an experience. 

Other attractions at Fremont Street include gambling, restaurants and the Neon Sign Museum (but these activities are paid). 

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Las Vegas for Free: Hoover Dam 

It’s completely free to visit the Hoover Dam, just skip the visitor center tours! You can get to the Hoover Dam in less an hour’s drive from Las Vegas.

The Hoover Dam was the largest dam ever constructed at the time in 1935. It’s a national historic landmark and one of the most impressive projects of the 20th Century. Also, it was considered one of the modern engineering wonders of the world!

For free, you can walk across the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. It’s a massive arch bridge that crosses from Nevada to Arizona and over the Hoover Dam.It is one of the world’s highest concrete arch bridges. The middle of this bridge is where you’ll find the best views of the Hoover Dam.

Bellagio Conservatory 

One can’t talk about Las Vegas without mentioning the Bellagio Hotel at least a few times. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are one of the best free things to do in Las Vegas. 

Each season, the Bellagio Conservatory gets an extreme makeover. Horticulturists and talented designers dream up incredible arrays of flowers, trees and other plants. 

Where to Stay in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Hilton At Resorts World: Offering lavish accommodations, world-class entertainment, and a wide range of dining options in a central location on Las Vegas Boulevard. >>>CHECK PRICES

Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino: Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas with easy access to Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. In addition to a prime location, this hotel has the largest pool deck in all of downtown Las Vegas and three onsite restaurants. >>>CHECK PRICES

Desert Rose Resort: A tranquil oasis just off the Las Vegas Strip and close to the airport, offering spacious suites with kitchens and a heated outdoor pool, providing a peaceful retreat amidst the excitement of the city.   >>>CHECK PRICES

The Mirage: A legendary resort featuring a tropical oasis, captivating volcano show, and an array of entertainment options, providing guests with an immersive and unforgettable experience on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. >>>CHECK PRICES

CHECK OUT ALL LAS VEGAS HOTELS

About the Author

Valentina’s Destinations was born from Valentina’s obsession with meticulously researching, organizing, and planning travel itineraries. Valentina is originally from Serbia but grew up in Chicago. She loves hunting down local restaurants, unique experiences, and hidden gems.  You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

More Las Vegas Travel Tips

Check out our top travel tips to help you book your Las Vegas vacation on a budget:

Getting There

• Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to your destination.
• Public buses are the cheapest ways to get to your accommodation from the airport, but a shared shuttle transfer is quicker and cheaper than a taxi - you can pre-book those on GetYourGuide or Viator
• Try Omio for booking trains and Busbud for buses including Greyhound and Flixbus.

Where to Stay

• For hotels, I use Booking.com to check reviews and find the best deals on hotels and apartments wherever I'm travelling to.  Hotels.com is another good site.
• If you're on a tight budget, use Hostelworld to find the best hostels all over the world

Hire a Car

• Get a quote for car hire with Discover Cars who compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip.

Book Tours and Activities

• I use GetYourGuide or Viator to book everything from skip-the-line entry tickets to food tours as I can compare options from several companies and choose the best one for me
• If you're staying in a hostel, check out their tours and activities which are usually free or very cheap - and a great way to meet people!  

Get Travel Insurance

• Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel.  I never leave home without travel insurance, so consider getting insurance for your trip to cover things like adventure sports and activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, stolen items, trip cancellation and more.  
• Get a quote for your trip from True Traveller if you're based in the UK, or World Nomads or SafetyWing which both offer travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travellers.  Alternatively, use a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.

Check Your Travel Documents

• Don't forget to check the validity of your passport and any other documents for your trip.  Use iVisa to check if you need a visa to visit your destination, and get up to date official travel advice from your government, for example on the Department of State website in the US or the UK government website.

Get Cheap Currency

• When travelling abroad, using a travel bank account like Wise means you get great deals on foreign currency - including a fee-free transfer of up to £500 when you use this link to sign up. 

Top Money Saving Tip for Backpackers

• Work exchanges are a great way to travel for longer and extend your trip as you can save a ton of money on accommodation.  Get an extra $10 discount on Worldpackers here or learn more about work exchanges.

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