Spoiler alert: There are many free things to do in Las Vegas! From the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign at the end of Las Vegas Boulevard to free shows Downtown, take advantage of the great year round Las Vegas weather to experience amazing sightseeing and people watching. Be sure to make time to explore these equally fun and totally free options to help you save money on your next Las Vegas trip.
The Aquarium
Head over to the Silverton Casino Hotel for a chance to see mythical mermaids in real life. It's a great attraction for the whole family where the kids can have so much fun. Free, interactive mermaid swims take place several times throughout the day from Thursday to Sunday in a 117,000-gallon aquarium complete with tropical fish.
The Arts Factory
More free things to do can be found Downtown in the Arts District. The Arts Factory is where you can go to see a wide variety of art at no cost. A collection of individual artists, galleries and shops, consider this a contemporary art museum with so much more than paintings and sculptures.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
With five rotating displays throughout the year, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is a free attraction you can return to again and again. A staple of the Las Vegas Strip, The 14,000-square-foot indoor space inside the Bellagio Hotel is filled with ever-changing floral shows that take botanicals to imaginative heights.
Coca-Cola Store Las Vegas
Bring the whole family to the two-story Coca-Cola Store and be immersed in all things cola at one of the most popular attractions in Las Vegas. Located just a short Las Vegas walk from MGM Grand, the giant, glass Coke bottle outside and the Coca-Cola Bear inside both make for fun photo-ops that you can snap on your phone or pay a little extra for a printed and branded photo with the bear.
Barrick Museum of Art
Art lovers should not miss the Barrick Museum of Art at UNLV This cultural institution offers free admission and features a diverse range of exhibitions, from contemporary art to historical artifacts.
Downtown Art Murals
Get some free culture on the streets of Downtown Las Vegas. More than 30 vibrant murals – dubbed the Downtown Art Murals – were created by internationally known artists and have been featured at the Life Is Beautiful festival and around Las Vegas City Hall. Make sure to check out the first 100% solar-powered art mural on Seventh Street, which produces power that not only lights the installation, but also creates energy for the city. Snapping photos in front of these artistic marvels is another great thing to do in Las Vegas that is also completely free.
Ethel M Chocolates & Cactus Garden
Take a short drive to Henderson for a tasty treat waiting at Ethel M Chocolates. Visitors can walk through the free, self-guided chocolate factory viewing aisle to see chocolatiers and machines at work. Perhaps even more impressive is the largest botanical cactus garden in Nevada – don't miss it during the holiday season when it's decked out in more than 1 million colorful twinkling lights.
Silver Pawn Shop
For fans of the hit TV show Pawn Stars, a visit to the Silver Pawn Shop is a must. Located just a few blocks from the Strip, this iconic Vegas institution has been featured on the show since its inception in 2009. Visitors can explore the shop, view its extensive collection of pawned items, and get the chance to meet and interact with the show’s cast, who often make appearances on the premises.
Downtown Container Park
Just a couple blocks down from Fremont Street, a hub for off-Strip shopping, dining and entertainment sit inside the Downtown Container Park. This is one of the free attractions in Vegas where you can experience a different side of the city. The open-air, multilevel complex features businesses housed in recycled shipping containers that open up to a courtyard with an impressive playground and stage for free concerts and performances.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Nature aficionados and kids will love the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. The lush outdoor space within the hotel grounds features a flock of Chilean flamingos along with parrots available for pictures, and multiple water features with waterfalls, turtles, koi fish, swans, ducks, and more. Watch the habitats’ two brown pelicans get fed at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Get a taste of the high life at The Forum Shops at Caesars, an indoor mall within Caesars Palace where you can window shop top luxury brands. You'll be transported to another world as you walk the opulent setting featuring Roman architectural details such as marble columns, statues, fountains, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling that changes colors just like the sky. Don't miss the Fall of Atlantis show every hour beginning at 11 a.m.
Hand of Faith
Wonder awaits around every corner in Vegas, especially among the many free things to do Downtown on Fremont Street at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. Stop by to see the Hand of Faith, a 61-pound nugget of gold that is the largest in existence.
Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas
Enjoy complimentary entertainment every night at the Wynn via the Lake of Dreams, a spectacle light show using the lake's 20,000 square feet of surface and a 40-foot waterfall to serve as the visual focal point for giant puppets and massive robots – and a 23-foot head that emerges from the water. Shows at Lake of Dreams are completely free and run nightly every half hour.
Fremont Street Experience
Spanning five blocks Fremont Street is the heart of Downtown Las Vegas. Nothings says “Welcome to Las Vegas” more than a visit to Fremont Street Experience where you can see bands and DJs perform free show, live music and take in an fully immersive show on the world’s largest video screen, the Viva Vision light show. The Downtown Rocks free concert series has featured some of the most popular acts in music including Collective Soul, Buckcherry, Cheap Trick and The Wallflowers. There are so many free Las Vegas attractions up and down Fremont Street making it a must-do for any type of trip.
The LINQ Promenade + Experience
Beyond the High Roller, the highest observation wheel in the world, The LINQ Promenade + Experience has plenty more to see and do. Stroll along the promenade and step into 3-D murals for a mind-bending photo, catch the choreographed light show that spans several promenade features, and watch the free live entertainment taking place most nights.
M&M’s World
Step into the colorful word of candy-coated chocolate at M&M's World, located next to the MGM Grand where you can explore four levels of the beloved treat, snap pictures with the many life-size M&M's character displays, interact with the occasional mascot and, best of all, watch the free 3-D movie. This place is definitely a head-turning for visitor driving down Las Vegas Blvd.
Seven Magic Mountains
Just a half hour drive from the Las Vegas Strip, you can't miss the towering totems painted neon colors juxtaposed by the contrasting backdrop of the Las Vegas desert. Seven Magic Mountains art installation, an exhibit created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, is a visually stunning representation of the presence of color and expression in the desert and a great setting for an Instagram Story.
Streetmosphere at the Grand Canal Shoppes
Singers, jugglers, stilt walkers, and living statues make up Streetmosphere at the Grand Canal Shoppes in The Venetian Resort. The roaming street performers and scheduled performances blend right in with the recreation of St. Mark's Square in Venice of which the high-end shopping center is modeled after. The Grand Canal Shoppes is home to more than a dozen world-class and award-wining dining venues, in addition to over 160 signature stores and premier luxury brands.
Hershey's Chocolate World
Don't miss out on this chocolate lover's paradise right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Come on down to Hershey's Chocolate World inside the New York New York Hotel and embark on a tantalizing journey that will satisfy your every cocoa craving. Your taste buds will thank you, and you won't be able to resist taking a piece of this sweet memory back home with you after your Las Vegas trip.
More Exciting Shopping Centers
While Las Vegas is known for its high-end shopping, few people know that some of the city's most luxurious malls offer free attractions for visitors to enjoy. Check out the exotic vendors and great dining at the neighboring Grand Bazaar Shops at Horseshoe Las Vegas, the Grand Bazaar Shops is great for window shopping and people watching. The Fashion Show Mall is not only one of the largest malls in Las Vegas, but visitors can enjoy a runway show featuring the latest fashion trends every hour from noon to 6 PM. This free attractions takes place on an 80-foot runway in the center of the mall and draws crowds of locals and visitors alike.
Sunset Stampede
Free things off the Strip can be found five times a day at Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall. Inside the hotel is a 10-story atrium housing Mystic Falls Park where a waterfall and surrounding greenery are the stage for Sunset Stampede, a free show featuring of water, lasers, sounds, animatronics animals combined with a light show.
The Park and T-Mobile Arena
Take a small detour off the Las Vegas strip for walk in The Park near T-Mobile Arena and experience all the expansive outdoor dining and entertainment the district has to offer. Located between New York-New York Hotel and Park MGM, you'll find loads of casual restaurants and bars, live bands, special events and stunning art sculptures. Grab a drink at Sake Rok and a sweet treat at the Hello Kitty pop-up restaurant, then meander between the water walls and snap a perfectly situated selfie with the 40-foot-tall sculpture, Bliss Dance.
The Volcano at The Mirage
Flames, smoke, water and urgent drumbeats combine to form the multiple nightly eruptions of The Volcano at The Mirage. The free show has been shooting fire into the sky for 30 years and is a Las Vegas favorite.
Shelby Heritage Center
A visit to the Shelby Heritage Center is a must-do for car enthusiasts. This free museum houses an impressive fine art collection of historic cars, including the iconic Shelby Cobra, and offers a glimpse into the history of automotive design and racing. Located at the Carroll Shelby International headquarters just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, visitors can also enjoy a guided tour of the facility and learn about the legacy of one of the greatest American automotive designers.
Pinball Hall of Fame
The Pinball Hall of Fame is a mecca for gaming enthusiasts and admission is free, just bring plenty of quarters! With over 200 vintage pinball machines on display, it’s a place where visitors can relive their childhood and enjoy some competitive gaming for free. Each machine costs just 25 to 50 cents to play, and the proceeds support local charities. Located just on the Las Vegas Strip near Mandalay Bay, this place is not to be missed.
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
If you're thinking of "things to do in Vegas tonight", a stop by the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign is always a good idea! When you first arrive, during your visit, or on your way home, this is a must-stop photo op on the Las Vegas Strip. If you’ve visited in the past, you’ll enjoy the now safer, easier access to the sign with dedicated parking and crosswalks. Get those smiles and funny Las Vegas sign poses ready for the iconic!