Top 19 FREE Things to Do in Las Vegas [For All Ages]

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While you might have high hopes of walking away from Las Vegas with a little extra cash in your pocket, it’s no secret that staying and playing in Sin City comes with a price.

Save your money for the slots and enjoy these 19 free things to do in Las Vegas.

Searching for Free Things to Do in Las Vegas?

Here’s a quick hit of some of our favorite things to do and see in Las Vegas for free. You can read more about each free thing to do in Las Vegas below, with handy information to make your planning easier, such as activity locations and opening times.

• The Ethel M. Factory
• CityCenter
• The World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
• The Bellagio Fountain
• The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
• The Forum Shops at Caesar’s
• The Bellagio Conservatory
• The LINQ Promenade
• The Downtown Container Park
• The Wildlife Habitat at Flamingo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
• Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes
• Fremont Street
• The Mirage Las Vegas Volcano
• Silverton Aquarium
• The Arts Factory
• Circus Circus Performances
• Wynn Lake of Dreams
• Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art
• Fashion Show Mall

1. Tour the Ethel M. Factory

The Mars family creates gourmet chocolate treats at this factory, which you can tour completely for free while in Las Vegas.

Tours are self-guided and revolve around the factory viewing aisles. Other than the tour, other factors attracting travelers to the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory include chocolate and wine tastings, the three-acre cactus garden (the largest cactus garden in the Southwest) and the gift shop.

Open 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, the factory is located a short drive south of the Strip.

2. View the Public Art at City Center

Right on Las Vegas Boulevard (otherwise known as the South Strip), CityCenter, a development of hotels, shops and restaurants, offers 66 acres that are filled to the brim with public art.

Hunt down the series of art installations using a map from the concierge and enjoy one of the top art lover-approved free things to do in Las Vegas. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, so you can see as much of the art as possible!

3. Visit the Pawn Shop from the Show Pawn Stars

The World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (which you might know better as the pawnshop from the A&E show Pawn Stars) is located in South Las Vegas and is open 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

It’s totally free in Las Vegas to visit the pawnshop and check out the merchandise on display and, if you’re lucky, you might just catch one of the members of the cast out on the shop floor. They frequently offer impromptu meet-and-greets and photo ops.

The shop also hosts other events based around the show’s popularity, though some do not include celebrity appearances.

4. Catch a Fountain Show at the Bellagio

Everyone knows the fountain show at the Bellagio, but if you think this is one of the free things to do in Las Vegas that’s a little overrated, think again.

While you might have seen the Bellagio fountain show on television, it’s so much more impressive seeing it in person. Better yet, since the Bellagio is right on the Strip, you can easily catch one of the regularly scheduled shows just by strolling around the many casinos and attractions in the area. Each show is set to music — often something popular and classic that everyone will know — and lasts a few minutes.

5. Snap a Photo by the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

You can’t miss a photo at the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. The landmark on Las Vegas Boulevard is a must-visit both night and day.

Flanked by palm trees and lit in neon after dark, the famed sign embodies the Las Vegas spirit of fun and flash.

6. Visit the Bellagio Conservatory

The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino is open 24 hours a day, making the gardens a natural respite amongst all the Vegas crowds and noise no matter the time.

Every season, the conservatory changes up its theme and decks out the space in vibrant and artfully arranged plants, flowers and trees. The Bellagio Conservatory is well known as one of the best free things to do in Las Vegas and it’s easy to spend hours exploring.

7. Browse the Forum Shops at Caesar’s

Even if you’re not planning on buying anything, browsing the Forum Shops at Caesar’s can be a fun experience.

The entire space is decked out in Romanesque architecture, artwork and statues, for a unique feel that would almost seem glamorous if you didn’t know the gold-covered columns were fake. The Forum Shops are also a fun place to people-watch, with travelers from all over the world coming together to peruse the luxury retailers.

8. See the Sights Along the LINQ Promenade

The LINQ Promenade is relatively new in Las Vegas.

Since its opening, the promenade has quickly become a place to have fun right off the Strip. The Promenade is home to tons of shopping, entertainment, bars and restaurants, but the sight to see is the gigantic observation wheel, which adds an eye-catching pop of white against the glittery Las Vegas backdrop.

9. Leave the Strip and Visit the Downtown Container Park

While some travelers might think of fun in Las Vegas as being mostly limited to the Strip, that’s not the case at all.

Downtown Las Vegas has been evolving into a destination all on its own. Visit the Downtown Container Park to check out the awesome public art, as well as the many boutique shops, restaurants and more housed in repurposed freight containers.

10. Watch the Flamingos at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Yes, you really can find wildlife just steps off the Strip!

At the Flamingo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, the Wildlife Habitat, which is open until midnight every day, is one of the most beloved free things to do in Las Vegas. Of course, being that it’s the Flamingo Hotel & Casino, the stars of the show are the beautiful Chilean flamingos, but other critters you can expect include an array of exotic birds, reptiles and fish.

11. Window Shop at the Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes

Vegas certainly knows how to go all out for a theme.

At the Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes, visitors are transported to Venice, with real canals and gondoliers, Venice-style street performers in their Carnival masks and more. The shops are open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the day, and include brands such as Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and Burberry.

You can easily spend a few hours exploring this free attraction in Las Vegas!

12. Catch a Fremont Street Light Show

The Fremont Street Viva Vision light shows use the largest video screen in the world to create amazing visual displays set to music.

One of the top free things to do in Las Vegas, seeing a Fremont Street light show is an absolute must. More than 24 million people per year take it all in, enjoying the glitter and glow of more than 16 million pixels as they dance to tunes from popular musicians such as Imagine Dragons and The Killers.

Each show lasts about six minutes and shows take place every hour, on the hour.

13. Watch the Mirage Volcano Eruption

The Mirage Las Vegas hotel and casino is home to a mammoth volcano that spits fire (and fireballs!) to the sounds of some of your favorite artists.

The volcano is outside the Las Vegas Boulevard Main Entrance and explodes daily, every hour, on the hour, 6 p.m. through 11 p.m.

14. Wave to the Mermaids at Silverton Aquarium

The Silverton Casino Aquarium has been called the best free attraction in Las Vegas, and for good reason. Forget paying for high-priced tickets to see some exotic sea life.

The Silverton Casino Aquarium is both free and home to thousands of tropical fish, as well as some mermaids.

The 117,000-gallon reef aquarium hosts feeding shows and live mermaid interactions. While the aquarium is open 24/7, the feeding shows take place at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. daily, while the mermaid swims start at 12, 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10:30 a.m. and 2 and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

15. View Some Art at The Arts Factory‍

Closer to downtown, The Arts Factory is a warehouse filled with all kinds of artwork, from paintings to handmade jewelry.

Established in 1991, the unique space represents an array of local artists and is home to boutique shops and eateries, too. Check out the Factory’s pride mural, which is the largest in Las Vegas.

16. See the Circus performers at Circus Circus

You don’t have to pay or even stay at Circus Circus to check out the casino and hotel’s death-defying circus acts. The largest permanent circus in the world can be found at the center stage of the Circus Circus Carnival Midway.

Performances begin at 11:30 a.m. daily and include high-flying trapeze tricks, feats of strength, clown acts, balancing acts, juggling, contortion and more.

The performers hail from all over the globe and include a range of talent you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Check the Circus Circus website for a full schedule of when each act appears.

17. Enjoy Entertainment with the Wynn Lake of Dreams Show‍

At the Wynn Las Vegas, take in a nightly show at the Lake of Dreams, where music, magic, holograms and puppetry combine, using more than 4,000 lights to put on a jaw-dropping display.

There are several ways to take in the entertainment. You can take an escalator from Parasol Up at Wynn to watch the show from overhead, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the waterfall, or you can view the spectacle right from the edge, on the show terrace. You can even choose to view the show from two of the hotel and casino’s restaurants, Lakeside and SW Steakhouse.

Shows kick off every half hour, 6–11:30 p.m.

18. Spot More Art at the Marjorie Barrick Museum

At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is praised as one of the best free things to do in Las Vegas.

Exhibits are always changing and featuring something new and exciting. The museum also hosts many unique events, so be sure to check out the online calendar before planning your visit. The museum is open to visitors (for free, though donations are appreciated) every day except Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

19. Watch a Fashion Show at Fashion Show Mall‍

Fashion Show Mall sits on the Strip and, as you might expect from the name, hosts regular fashion shows on a retractable runway.

The runway sits within the mall’s central atrium and makes an appearance only for these mini fashion shows that feature the latest looks from familiar brands. However, the mall hosts a bevy of other free events that you’ll want to check out, including holiday parties, beauty events and trunk shows at various retailers.

The mall is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Sunday, when hours are 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Las Vegas Fun Can Be Totally Free

Again, it doesn’t have to be hard to find free things to do in Las Vegas.

Yes, the hotels, casinos, restaurants and shows can be pricey, but, at the end of the day, Las Vegas is all about fun, and so fun is served up in spades at every price point, including free.

Don’t miss the chance to experience Sin City to the fullest, just because you’re working with a tight budget!

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