A trip to Las Vegas Nevada doesn’t mean you have to gamble all your money away or pay for high-priced shows you can’t afford. There are tons of free things to do in Las Vegas the entire family will love—here are our top six picks.
1. The Fremont Street Experience
Image via Flickr gsloan
In the heart of downtown Las Vegas enjoy 12.5 million lights and 500,000 watts of sound explosion provided by VivaVision. Plan your walk on Fremont Street around show times which start at 6:00 p.m. and run hourly through 12:00 a.m. Special events here mean lots of music and end your “experience” by visiting the Neon Museum to see some of the old neon signs which once shined brightly on past and present Vegas hotels.
2. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Image via Flickr ken lund
Built to mimic ancient Rome, this shopping mall a must-see. Within the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace find three exciting free things to wow you. Each hour, the Festival Fountain entertains with lasers, special effects, dancing waters and Roman deities like Venus and Apollo. The story of Atlantis is next on your visit as stone statues suddenly seem life-like in a free show revealing the tragic story of Neptune. Finally, there is a circular escalator free to ride and with stunning views of this shopping mall. The shows are held hourly on the hour and get there at least 15 minutes early to get a good viewing spot in the crowd.
3. The Bellagio Fountains
Image via Flickr ohitzanna
In front of the Bellagio Hotel find a fountain show to delight. From opera to classical to Broadway show tunes, each show offers choreography where music, lights and moving waters unite. Best to see in the evening after sunset, there are some shows during the day beginning at 3:00 p.m. A romantic hot spot for couples, the Bellagio Fountains and the viewing area are vast.
4. Circus Acts at Circus Circus
Image via Flickr David Stanley
The Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas holds free circus acts that liven up the carnival midway starting at 11:00 a.m. each day and on the half-hour until midnight. Tumblers, aerial silk artists, acrobats, jugglers and clowns highlight these free shows and the hotel’s website offers information on current acts and artists performing in the show. Great for kids of all ages.
5. Learn the Art Behind Casino Games
Image via Flickr runneralan2004
Many visitors to Las Vegas go for the slot machines and casino games like poker, blackjack, Texas Holdem, roulette, baccarat and craps. For the adventurous there are strategies and rules for each of these casino games and you can learn how to beat the odds with free lessons—in any hotel. Ask your hotel concierge for lesson times and soon you’ll be an expert at the games you’ve longed to play.
6. Wildlife Exhibit at the Flamingo Hotel
Image via Fickr Justin Otto
The Flamingo Hotel boasts a free wildlife exhibit with Chilean flamingos of course and other wildlife such as koi fish, turtles, swans and ducks. See wildlife in carefully tended grounds enveloped by waterfalls and greenery to escape the Strip. The exhibit is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk.
Las Vegas Hotels are always one-upping each other but these top six free things to do in Las Vegas have been standards and visitor favorites for quite some time and receive repeat visitors year after year.
