30 of The Best Freebies in Las Vegas
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Long gone are the days of $1 buffets and $25 hotel rooms in Vegas. Fast forward just a bit and buffets now start at 20 bucks, 3 star resorts are going for at least a hundred bucks, almost all resorts are charging for parking, and the dreaded resort fee is tacked on to already pricey rooms as just another useless expense that racks up your total trip costs.
I took my first vacation here about 10 years ago and just during that short time period, I have seen so many changes. it’s crazy to think that I once booked hotels like the Tropicana for only 30 bucks. And I miss the days of no resort fees, free casino parking, and cheap buffets. I am sure it is even more of a shock for those who have been visiting for decades! Add in airfare, pricey shows, & gambling, and you could have one super pricey vacation on your hands. I miss the old days when a simple weekend trip did not set you back more than a few hundred bucks.
Despite the increased prices everywhere, Sin City still offers tons of free attractions & activities no matter your interest. For those looking to save a few bucks, I highly recommend checking out these wonderful free shows, attractions, & activities. As a frequent visitor, I have had more fun watching free shows then wasting money at the slots. Check out my full guide which includes a little bit of something for everyone.
1. Bellagio Fountain Show
Of course, you couldn’t possibly visit here without taking in the wonders of the spectacular choreographed fountain show in front of the Bellagio. Free or not, this show is the standout on The Strip. The best part of all is that this enchanting show is different each time, so you can enjoy it countless times without every getting bored. I have seen it so many tims and I never get bored. The crowds begin to form at least 15 min before each show, so get here early if you would like a front row view! Fountain schedule.
2. The Mirage Volcano Show
While the Bellagio’s fountain show is the most beautiful, the dazzling volcano show at The Mirage wins the award for the most exciting on The Strip. I’ll never forget finishing the brutal Las Vegas Rock N’Roll Marathon (during a massive rainstorm) to the sights and sounds of this amazing musical exploding fireball show featuring the energizing soundtrack of The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart. If you only have time for one show, this spectacular volcano eruption should definitely be tops on your list.
Update: The last fountain eruped on July 17th, 2024 at 2am. Seeing this show was my favorite part about vacationing here – I am so sad. I refuse to take this off my list as I want everyone to remember Vegas as it was: exciting, unique, & spectacular!
3. The Wynn Atrium
I can’t count how many people I know that have never even heard of The Wynn. Such a shame as it is one of the most elegant resorts on The Strip. Be sure to set aside a half hour to stroll through the property’s amazing gardens. Really, the gorgeous floral display here give the more congested and popular Bellagio Gardens a run for their money. It’s a toss up – I love both displays but this one is a bit more low-key without hundreds of tourists.
A hot air balloon & carousel constructed of more than 110,000 flowers is the highlight of the whimsical, artistic display. Festive music, the scent of fresh floral, and gorgeous floral sculpture balls hanging from live trees create the perfect setting for escaping the dry desert. While great year-round, nothing really compares to the annual holiday display: a magical winter wonderland of silver and gold poinsettias.
4. The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
The Bellagio Gardens display is a true work of art. Each season, the 14,000 square foot garden is transformed into a new seasonal wonder. The standout here is the Christmas display -it’s like walking through a winter wonderland of pure nostalgia. Recent displays have included a 42 foot tall Christmas tree, life size snow globe scenes, polar bears constructed of carnations, 14 foot toy soldiers, and more than 20,000 poinsettias.
Cozy thoughts of Christmases past will surely come flying back as soon as you enter the festive, colorful display. The best part of all is the resort’s tremendous effort to stay green, with 90% of the trees and flowers being recycled with each changing display. I’ve visited the gardens throughout the seasons, but nothing compares to their winter display. This city is actually pretty fun during the holidays – I love visiting the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
You can check out my garden guide to see more pics of both the Bellagio & Wynn at Christmas.
5. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
Surprisingly, it took me over 10 visits to finally get my picture by the iconic sign. It could be the long wait, the drive off The Strip, or the numerous other activities taking priority, however, I finally took the time to get my pic by the iconic sign. Most visitors forget about the sign as you only see it driving in from L.A.
Regardless, if you have the extra time, it’s a nice free photo opp to add to your vacation collection. Plus, all sorts of crazy things happen here. On our last visit, we witnessed a couple getting married by Elvis. Fun times! One word of advice – get here early to avoid a very long wait!!
It looks pretty cool at night too. Here’s a pic of the sign decked out for St. Patrick’s Day with green lights!
It’s located just south of the Mandalay Bay (5200 Las Blvd S.)
6. Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
It took me several visits to finally take the time to explore the Flamingo’s beautiful Wildlife Habitat. With lush tropical plants, soothing waterfalls, beautiful Chilean flamingos, Koi ponds, and all sorts of exotic birds, a stroll around the habitat is the perfect oasis from the tourist crowds. Unfortunately, you have to go right back into the crazy mess! Oh well, it is still worth it for the temporary escape to a tropical oasis!
7. The Wynn Fountain Show
Seeing the Wynn water fountain show is just as magical and mesmerizing as the Bellagio’s, only with the benefit of being less crowded. There is never a bad view in the house here! This dynamic show features water and fire dancing along to both modern and classical tunes. While smaller scale than the Bellagio, the Wynn show is just as mesmerizing with the array of colors and fun playlist including classics like “Be Our Guest.” The show starts at dusk and runs every half hour until 11:30pm. For me, this is definitely one of the hidden gems!
8. Ethel M. Chocolate Factory tours
In Henderson (just a half hour from The Strip), you can take a self guided tour of a working chocolate factory and even sign up for a tasting room experience (extra fee). I also recommend taking a stroll through the 3 acre Cactus Garden. It’s the largest botanical cactus garden in the Southwest and one of the largest in the world. You will see all different varieties – Saguaro, prickly pear, along with 300 plant species native to the Southwest, Australia, and South America.
During the holidays, the gardens are transformed into a magical wonderland of lights – one of the largest and definitely the most gorgeous in the state of Nevada. It’s all free, so be sure to add a trip to Ethel to your bucket list, especially if your visit falls around the holidays. Update: they now charge 3 bucks a person, although half of this goes towards supporting a local food bank so a good cause. You get to see 1 million lights, so really it’s a steal.
9. Fremont Street Experience
You’ll have to head off The Strip for this fabulous show, however, it’s well worth the drive or Uber ride to take in all the excitement (at least once). To be honest, I really do not like the overall vibe of Fremont Street (it’s a bit too rowdy for my taste), however, this entertaining show is the one of the few exceptions in this area for me. Taking place on the Viva Vision, the world’s largest screen (90 foot tall, 1500 ft long), and featuring over 12 million LED lights and a great soundtrack, it’s a can’t-miss for anyone seeking an adrenaline boosting party experience.
What makes the experience even more special is the turning off of all casino lights right before the show – something that does not happen ever. There always seems to be some sort of free concert going on, so be sure to scan the lineup! They also run a zipline right under the lights (this is one my bucket list in the future).
10. Palazzo waterfall & atrium
Strolling around the Palazzo waterfall and gardens is another nice relaxing break from the action. The atrium theme changes throughout the year to reflect the tone of the season. The gorgeous winter display features golden snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, poinsettias, and reindeer sculptures.
This December, I was able to see the gorgeous Love sculpture by artist Laura Kimpton. Whenever you crave a little artistic vibe and a quiet refuge from The Strip, a stroll through The Palazzo & Venetian will do. From here, you can stroll around the gorgeous Grand Canal Shoppes. Oh, and if you feel the need for a pick me (a must after all that walking!), march straight over to Espressamente Illy (they serve awesome drinks!).
