The Las Vegas Strip is undeniably at the heart of the traditional Sin City experience. Unfortunately, it’s also where you’ll find some of the highest-priced restaurants, bars, hotels, and activities. Not to worry, though—there are also plenty of free and fun things to do on the Strip if you’re strapped for cash. In this blog, we break down the top free things to do on the Las Vegas Strip, newly updated for 2021.
ARIA Fine Art Collection
Put on your walking shoes for this one. The ARIA Fine Art Collection is not so much an exhibit or gallery as it is a sprawling series of installations located throughout the ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, the Shops at Crystals, and Veer Towers. The 45-minute walking tour will take you past 15 unique paintings, sculptures, and installations by Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, and other well-known contemporary artists. You can ask for a copy of the walking tour map at ARIA or download this one beforehand.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden
The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is one of the Strip’s free attractions that never gets old no matter how many times you’ve seen it. As each season changes, so too does the botanical garden’s mesmerizing floral artistry. Horticulturists and designers work around the clock to create these beautiful installations made almost entirely of trees, flowers, and plants.
The conservatory gets a whole new look each spring, summer, fall, and winter, plus one just for the lunar new year.
Carnaval Court at Harrah’s
Carnaval Court has a little bit of everything, including cover bands, live DJs, and seriously impressive bottle-flipping bartenders.This open-air street party is a great place to let loose, dance, or just people-watch—and there’s no entry fee for women or men. If you’re staying at Harrah’s or one of the many surrounding Strip hotels within walking distance, you can even have a drink or two at your hotel before making your way to the party, making this one of the easiest places to to party for free in Vegas.
The Cosmopolitan Art Collection
The Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino is basically one big free art exhibit. Contemporary, interactive, and immersive art can be found throughout the entire hotel. Paintings, photography, mixed media, sculpture, murals—you name it, the Cosmopolitan has it.
Even just making your way from the parking garage to the casino is an artistic experience, with murals and wallscapes adorning the garage walls and stairwells. While you’re here, don’t forget to also check out the 9-foot tall Lucky Cat, which dispenses free fortunes (and the occasional free drink or room voucher) to visitors.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is an unexpected tropical paradise located at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino. It is home to a flock of Chilean flamingos, but you will also find turtles, koi, ducks, swans, and even pelicans here. The lush landscaping of this free Las Vegas attraction makes for great pictures thanks to beautiful palm trees, waterfalls, streams, grasslands, and plenty of places to sit and relax. The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Fountains of Bellagio
If there’s one thing Las Vegas knows how to do, it’s put on a show. At the Fountains of Bellagio, you can witness one of these spectacles for free. In front of the Bellagio Hotel, this eight-acre manmade lake creates a stunning aqua-visual symphony, with water shooting almost 500 feet into the air.
More than 4,500 lights and 1,200 nozzles are perfectly choreographed to songs old and new, from Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley to Céline Dion. You can catch a show at the Fountains of Bellagio daily, beginning every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes at night.
Free Circus Acts at Circus Circus
True to its name, Circus Circus Hotel & Casino offers the world’s largest permanent circus. You can watch performances for free Thursdays through Mondays at the Midway Stage. Here, you can witness international high-flying trapeze artists, twin juggling masters, a pagoda contortionist, aerial silk artists, a trio of wacky clowns, and more. Be sure to see the Midway Stage entertainment schedule for current showtimes.
Free Gambling Lessons on the Las Vegas Strip
If you’ve never stepped foot in a casino before (or if you need to learn some tips and tricks so you don’t blow all your money again), many casinos on the Strip offer free gambling lessons daily to teach you the ropes. This is a fun, low-stakes way to see how games are played and play a few hands for free. Hotels and casinos on the Strip that offer free gambling lessons include:
- Mandalay Bay (poker)
- MGM Grand (poker)
- The STRAT (poker)
The Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas
Puppetry meets music meets trippy visuals at the Lake of Dreams, located inside Wynn Las Vegas. 5,500 LED lights, 1,500 pine trees, and a towering 90 foot performance waterfall comprise this one-of-a-kind nightly show, designed by award-winning director Kenny Ortega. The audiovisual wonderland was recently revamped to include 11 different acts that engage all the senses and ignite the imagination. This free show runs nightly every half hour starting at dusk.
Lights at the LINQ
The LINQ Promenade may sound like an ordinary outdoor shopping mall, but this place has way more to offer than just retail therapy. Check out the Lights at the LINQ nightly show, which combines music by some of today’s top artists with a colorful synchronized light show against the backdrop of the LINQ High Roller, the second highest observation wheel in the world. Shows run nightly once every hour, from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The Park Vegas
This lively food and entertainment district is a must-see for anyone staying at the nearby Park MGM or New York New York. The Park Vegas shares space with the nearby Park Theater and T-Mobile Arena, which host major sporting events and headliner concerts alike.
Check out the beautiful 40-foot tall Bliss Dance sculpture and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the tree-lined walkway, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants in the area. It’s also a hot spot for fan meetups before Golden Knights’ hockey games.
Streetmosphere at the Grand Canal Shoppes
Inside the Venetian Hotel, the quintessential Venice street experience awaits. The Streetmosphere, as it’s often called, is located at the Grand Canal Shoppes, a gorgeous shopping, dining, and entertainment center which is modeled on the famous St. Mark’s Square in Italy.
If you don’t feel like splurging for a gondola ride, hold out for the free entertainment that happens every 15 minutes. You’ll see and hear Italian singers, musicians, and dancers, plus you’ll probably catch one of the living statues that slowly roam the shoppes decked out in Renaissance garb.
The Volcano at the Mirage
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to see a volcano erupt in real-time without risking your life, we’ve got just the thing. In front of the Mirage Hotel & Casino, this artificial volcano erupts once an hour every night Thursday through Sunday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Spewing forth fireballs, explosions, and the faint scent of piña coladas, the Volcano will delight visitors of all ages. Indian tabla sensation Zakir Hussain and The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart bring it all together with a thunderous soundtrack.
The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is among the most iconic and well-recognized landmarks in the city. This neon sign made its debut on Las Vegas Boulevard more than 60 years ago, when the Strip was still in its infancy.
Today, the sign remains lit up and even has its own dedicated parking lot for visitors. This is a must-see free attraction for adults and kids alike. Situated at the south end of the Strip, it’s just minutes from most major hotels and offers an Instagram-worthy backdrop for photos. You might even catch the occasional marriage proposal or wedding in front of the sign.
There’s Always Something To Do in Las Vegas
Whether you’re looking for free things to do on the Las Vegas Strip or the most expensive hotel rooms to spend all your life savings’ on, Things To Do In Las Vegas can point you in the right direction. Be sure to check out our most recent blog posts and follow us on Facebook for all the latest and greatest happening in Sin City.
