Read the full guide
Las Vegas has a well-earned reputation for being expensive. The resort fees, the $22 cocktails, the $45 parking, the $100 show tickets — it adds up fast. But there's a parallel Las Vegas that's entirely free, and it's genuinely excellent. Here's the complete list.
The Shows
- Bellagio Fountains — Every 30 minutes in the afternoon, every 15 minutes after dark. Arguably the best free show in the world.
- Volcano at The Mirage — Erupts every hour after dark. Towering fire and water effect on the Strip.
- MGM Grand Lion Habitat — The living habitat is gone, but the lions are visible from the walkway. Free.
- Fremont Street Experience LED Light Show — Every hour after dark, the 1,500-foot LED canopy above Fremont Street plays full music and light shows.
- Sirens of TI — The Treasure Island pirate battle show. Kitschy but free.
- Circus Acts at Circus Circus — Free circus performances every 30 minutes on the casino floor, 11am–midnight.
The Attractions
- Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden — Seasonal floral installations that are genuinely world-class. Open 24 hours. Free.
- Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art lobby area — The lobby itself features major rotating displays visible without ticket purchase.
- The LINQ Promenade — Open-air shopping and entertainment district. Free to walk, great people-watching.
- Fremont East Art Walk — The murals in the Arts District and Fremont East are one of the best collections of street art in the American West.
- Welcome to Las Vegas Sign — The classic photo opportunity. Free parking lot adjacent.
- Wynn Esplanade Atrium — The floral and sculptural displays inside the Wynn are some of the most beautiful hotel design anywhere.
The Nature (Free and Extraordinary)
- Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive — $15/car, but the roadside views before the fee station are free.
- Valley of Fire Overlook — The first 2 miles of Valley of Fire road are accessible without entering the state park.
- Lake Mead Overlook — The Hoover Dam roadway is free to drive across. The view of the dam and lake is spectacular.
- Wetlands Park — A genuine desert oasis and bird sanctuary at the east end of the valley. Free and remarkably beautiful.
- Mount Charleston — The Spring Mountains above Vegas are 30°F cooler and covered in ponderosa pine. Free to drive through.
The Architecture
Las Vegas casino hotels are genuine architectural wonders, and you can walk through almost all of them without spending money. The Venetian's Grand Canal (complete with gondoliers and a painted sky ceiling), the Palazzo, Caesars Palace, the Aria, and the Cosmopolitan all have publicly accessible lobby and atrium areas that took hundreds of millions of dollars to design and build. The Wynn lobby alone is worth 30 minutes.
The People-Watching
Las Vegas has the most concentrated collection of human beings attempting to have the best night of their lives in a single geographic area. The Strip at 11pm on a Saturday is one of the most extraordinary social spectacles on earth, and it costs nothing to observe. The bachelorette parties, the high rollers, the street performers, the tourists discovering the heat for the first time — it's free theater of the highest order.
Casino Entertainment (Free at the Bar)
- Live music at the casino bars — Most major casinos have live entertainment at their bars, free to watch while you have a drink.
- Sports book viewing — The major casino sportsbooks have enormous screens and broadcast every major sporting event. Order a beer, watch the game for free.
- Piano bars — The Cosmopolitan's Chandelier Bar has outstanding live music nightly.
- The High Roller queue area — Even if you're not riding, the entrance area of the LINQ has good free entertainment.