Las Vegas can be pricey but it doesn’t always have to be that way. There are plenty of ways to spend time enjoying Sin City without spending any money. When a low roller mixes some of the free activities into a weekend, maybe they can save enough money to spend on a premium cocktail, better dinner or maybe just add a few bucks to some wagers.
There are plenty of free activities to kill time in Las Vegas like standing around the “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign for a few hours just to get a pic to share on IG or Facebook. There's nothing wrong with that, but it isn't for everyone. Instead of just jamming out a list of the '69 best free things to do in Las Vegas' I’ll put together a small list of things that I try to make sure my friends see when visiting the city.
Vegas offers so much that I never like recommending too many things to check out. Las Vegas can become overwhelming if there are too many items on the must-do list. Between visiting and living in Las Vegas for half my life these are the free attractions that I’m always stoked to check out. Well, usually stoked to check out.
Bellagio Fountains & Conservatory
These are two separate attractions but they’re located at the same casino and make sense to lump together. These are always at the top of any must do list. The conservatory and botanical gardens are beautiful and change five times a year so there’s often a different display. This is just a pretty place to get away for a few minutes.
Public relations people in Las Vegas will use the word “iconic” to promote anything. The Fountains at Bellagio are one of the few legitimately iconic attractions in Sin City. They never get old and can be awe-inspiring if you catch them at the right time.
Visit Hyde Lounge for a pre-dinner drink inside Bellagio or Beer Park at Paris for a different view of the fountains. Another way to watch the fountain shows is to grab a steak and a bottle of wine on the lakeside patio at Prime. It’s a great steak with a great view.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
This is not a huge attraction. You can walk through the Flamingo's Wildlife Habitat in about five minutes. The exotic birds, fish, and turtles are cool but they’re really just the beginning of what makes this plot of land behind the casino and hotel towers a great free attraction.
The Wildlife Habitat is 15 acres of nature that you won’t see for free anywhere else on the Vegas Strip. After a bad session in the casino, you can head outside to sit in the grass and just relax for a little while. Check out the waterfall. It’s entirely possible to stare at the waterfall for 10 minutes thinking about life after a few too many drinks. The Wildlife Habitat can be beautiful, calm and serene.
Volcano at The Mirage
This is an amazing free attraction when you step back and realize you’re watching a simulated volcano explode in front of a casino on the Vegas Strip.
The volcano used to be active often but it only erupts three times a day (7 PM, 8 PM, 9 PM) right now. The high explosions and fireballs are driven by a soundtrack from The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and Indian tabla artist Zakir Hussain.
Themed casino-resort attractions like the volcano at The Mirage are decreasing as time goes on. The new Vegas aesthetic is focused on modern architecture while the bean counters are looking to monetize every square inch of land. While the free attraction is cool, fewer than 5% of people who watch it actually walk inside the casino. You might want to check this out sooner than later.
Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is special in many ways. You’ll find great craps and good blackjack inside the casinos but outside is an overload of entertainment. The hourly Viva Vision shows on the canopy above the mall of casinos are visually stunning. The free entertainment on the various stages actually takes a break for 10-15 minutes so visitors can watch the shows above.
Meanwhile, there are people screaming above the pedestrians as they fly above the crowd after being shot out of the giant Slotzilla zip line slot machine. On top of all this are the random buskers throughout the Fremont Street Experience offering some kind of entertainment.
A night at the Fremont Street Experience is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in Las Vegas. It's sensory overload in the best way (maybe). The freakshow isn’t for everyone all the time but that’s up for you to decide. If nothing else, this is a very different way to enjoy Sin City.
