Las Vegas is known as the ultimate party city, where you can drink and gamble till you drop, get up and do it all over again. It can be incredibly expensive, especially once the liquor is flowing and inhibitions go out the window. But did you know there are plenty of free things to do in Las Vegas?
Here I’ve compiled the 15 best absolutely free shows and attractions in Las Vegas, so you can still enjoy yourself while your wallet takes a break from the party.
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Looking For The Best Free Things To Do In Las Vegas?
You’ve come to the right place! I’ve been to Las Vegas many, many times. And don’t always want to spend a ton of money. Who does?
Did you know that there are a ton of free things to do in Las Vegas? True, you can spend quite a bit of money while you’re here, but there are also tons of free shows and attractions in Las Vegas that you could be taking advantage of.
Now, I highly recommend taking certain tours for the incredible experiences. Vegas has tons of amazing extreme activities, incredibly entertaining shows, and unbelievably fun tours. You can take a tour to the Hoover Dam, a Las Vegas helicopter tour or an epic Las Vegas ATV tour.
But, sometimes you need to just see what’s around you that doesn’t cost anything.
That’s why I put together this list of the 15 best free things to do in Las Vegas. Check them out, and you might be pleasantly surprised by how many things you can enjoy in Sin City that won’t cost you anything at all but time.
The Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Location: 5100 Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
No trip to Las Vegas would be complete without visiting this iconic sign, recognizable around the world. Set at the end of the Strip, it is easily accessible by car, or you can even walk to it if you’re already on this end of the Strip.
It’s one of the most popular free things to do in Las Vegas, all year round.
Therefore, there can be a line but it usually moves pretty fast. There’s no official photographer, but typically there is a person or two willing to take your picture for a tip. I’ve created a helpful guide on current tipping etiquette in Las Vegas so you can be up to date on the tipping culture here.
The Fountains Show At The Bellagio
Location: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Another of the most popular free things to do in Las Vegas is see the Fountains of Bellagio. You could watch it 5 times and experience it in 5 different ways, as each performance is unique.
There are more than 1,000 fountains spanning over 1,000 feet, putting on a spectacular display enhanced with music and light. The water shoots up to 460 feet high and is sure to dazzle.
It’s completely free to watch, just find a good spot and stay put. Shows run super frequently – every half hour during the afternoon and every 15 minutes after 7pm.
Folks love seeing this show, as it is one of the most famous outdoor attractions in Las Vegas. You won’t be disappointed!
The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens At The Bellagio
Location: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
While you’re at the Bellagio, be sure to check out the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This remarkable artistic display of plants and flowers changes according to the seasons and is truly a multi-sensory experience that is free for all ages.
A horticulture staff of 120 people expertly choose specific flowers to complement the seasons. The fragrances and colors combine with specific water features to create beautiful, inspiring, living works of art for all to enjoy.
The seasonal schedule is as follows:
Holiday:
12/2/2023- 1/7/2024
Lunar New Year:
1/13/2024 – 3/2/2024
Spring:
3/9/2024 – 5/18/2024
Summer:
5/25/2024 – 09/07/2024
Dark Dates:
1/7/2024 – 1/12/2024
3/3/2024 – 3/8/2024
5/19/2024 – 5/24/2024
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The Mermaid Show At The Silverton
Location: 3333 Blue Diamond Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89139
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, you have to go to the Silverton Las Vegas Aquarium.
The aquarium houses a 117,000 gallon tank with thousands of tropical fish, plus stingrays and even sharks. The Mermaid Lounge holds 500-gallon jellyfish aquariums lit with LED lights for a truly ethereal experience.
There are interactive stingray feeding shows daily at 1:30pm and 4:30pm, but the main attraction here is definitely the mermaid swims. You get to witness mermaids swimming in the aquarium among the sea life, posing for pictures, and even performing stunts n the water.
That schedule is as follows:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday:
12PM – 1:15PM
2PM – 3:15PM
5PM – 8:15PM
Sunday:
10:30AM -12:45PM
2PM – 3:15PM
5PM – 6:45PM
The Fall Of Atlantis At Caesars Palace Forum Shops
Location: 3500 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
I love this show! Combining water and fire with 9 foot tall animatronic statues and amazing special effects, this free Las Vegas show is an absolute must-see.
Sibling rivalry dooms the Kingdom of Atlantis to fall in this incredible enactment of the legend of Atlantis. Find this show inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and you won’t be disappointed.
Shows run Thursday-Monday every hour on the hour from noon – 8:00pm.
The Circus Show At Circus Circus
Location: 2880 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
It’s pretty cool to know that the world’s largest permanent circus is here in Las Vegas and absolutely free and open to all ages.
At Circus Circus you’ll find a dazzling circus filled with aerial feats, impressive jugglers, high-flying trapeze artists, unbelievable acts of strength and daring, and so much more.
The Circus Circus daily acts schedule is ever-changing, so make sure to check it before you go. Performances start at 1:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 11:30 a.m. Friday – Sunday.
The Streetmosphere At The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes
Location: 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Streetmosphere is a collective of classically trained opera singers, actors, musicians, and other performers who bring the entire St. Mark’s Square area to life.
You get a taste of Italy with lively folk and opera performances every day throughout the year. Several times a day these talented entertainers perform for 15 minutes at a time, and it’s truly worth experiencing.
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The Fremont Street Experience
Location: 425 E Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101
The second most famous street in Las Vegas after the Strip is definitely Fremont St. This is a place where music, food, and parties mash together to combine the ultimate Las Vegas experience.
Housing the largest video screen in the world, the canopy above provides shade from the desert sun along with spectacular displays of light. There are free concerts and performers nightly, the Slotzilla Zipline (which you do need to purchase tickets for if you want to ride), and tons of restaurants and bars.
You’ll never run out of things to see and do on Fremont Street!
The Downtown Container Park
Location: 707 E Fremont St. Las Vegas, NV 89101
The Downtown Container Park is an open air boutique shopping and entertainment center created out of repurposed shipping containers.
One of the most unique attractions you’ll come across here is the massive 55′ foot tall, 40′ long metal praying mantis sculpture. Synced to music, this mantis shoots fire out of its antennae!
There’s also a stage with live shows, a playground, lounge chairs, a graffiti wall, Lego blocks, and so much more.
The Container Park is open as follows:
Monday-Thursday 11:30am-11:00pm
Friday-Saturday 11:00am-1:00am
Sunday 11:00am-8:00pm
Note: After 9:00pm the Container Park is 21+ only.
While you’re downtown, you also should check out all the incredible street art in the area. The talent these artists have is unreal and is absolutely worth making it a point to see.
The Lake Of Dreams At The Wynn
Location: 3131 Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
A spell-binding experience, the Wynn’s Lake of Dreams Show is a spectacular display combining puppetry with an immersive soundtrack and state-of-the-art sound and lighting.
The Lake of Dreams is a massive 3 acres, and has 5,500 LED lights, 1,500 pine trees, and a stunning 90 foot waterfall. This free Las Vegas show starts at dusk and runs every half hour.
You can experience this show at the Parasol Up or Parasol Down Lounges for free, or you can combine it with dinner by making a reservation either at SW Steakhouse or Lakeside.
Musical Performances At Paris Las Vegas’s Le Cabaret
Location: 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
In a garden-inspired setting, this lounge offers a rotating schedule of fantastic free live music. There’s an assortment of cover bands for your enjoyment, and if you choose, you can purchase any number of refined cocktails.
The lounge is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6PM-2AM
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The Marjorie Barrick Museum
Location: 4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89119
This art museum is completely free, and totally worth checking out. It’s the only art museum in Las Vegas, but was originally instituted as a natural history museum with a focus on Nevada and the Southwest.
There are multiple exhibitions, each focusing on a unique perspective. The exhibitions use a wide array of media, from sculptures to paintings to poetry, and more.
Hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00-5:00pm and the museum is closed on all state and federal holidays.
The Wildlife Habitat At The Flamingo
Location: 3555 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Who would’ve thought you could find a peaceful and relaxing 4-acre garden in the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas? At the Wildlife Habitat you can find multiple species of waterfowl, brown pelicans, a flock of flamingos, tons of various species of fish, hummingbirds, turtles, and more.
It really is an oasis in the desert with its serene garden atmosphere, complete with ponds, streams and waterfalls. It’s one of the most peaceful free things to do in Las Vegas, for sure!
Always check with the Flamingo hotel before you go to make sure it’s still open, as many places that house birds close frequently out of an overabundance of caution, to protect the birds against bird flu.
You can escape the chaos of Las Vegas any day of the week between the hours of 7:00am-8:00pm.
The Fashion Show Mall
Location: 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Ste. 600, Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Fashion Show Mall has all kinds of fun events and activities, not to mention shopping, to keep you occupied while you’re in Vegas. Best of all, a lot of the entertainment they offer is totally free.
If fashion is your thing, you’ll definitely want to check out their free runway shows where models walk along a catwalk displaying clothing, shoes, and accessories that you can find in various stores within the mall.
They also offer fun movie screening events with breakfast included, photos with Santa, surprise mystery events, and much more. Check out the Fashion Show Mall events schedule to see exactly what they have going on when you’re here.
The Fashion Show Mall is open:
Monday-Thursday 11:00am-8:00pm
Friday-Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm
Sunday 11:00am-7:00pm
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With these, I’m confident that you will be able to find plenty of fun and free things to do in Las Vegas without breaking the bank.
Additional Helpful Las Vegas Articles
I love Las Vegas! My husband and I have been there what feels like a million times, and there’s always more to experience. Here are some more Las Vegas articles that you might find useful in planning your own epic trip to Sin City.
- Is A Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour Really Worth It?
- The 10 Best Mind-Blowing Las Vegas Helicopter Tours
- The 10 Best Las Vegas ATV Tours
- Top 15 Best Shows In Las Vegas
- The Best Hoover Dam Tours From Las Vegas
- The Best Extreme Activities In Las Vegas
- What To Pack For Las Vegas
- Las Vegas Tips For First Timers – What You Need To Know
- The Complete Review of Cirque du Soleil Mystere in Las Vegas
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- Ultimate Guide To Tipping In Las Vegas
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