Free and Cheap Things to Do in Vegas

Truly free, no ticket needed

• Bellagio Conservatory and the Fountains of Bellagio. A seasonal indoor garden and an outdoor fountain show, both free and open to the public. Check the fountain schedule and any construction closures on the day — see free Strip attractions for the details.
• Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. A free garden with flamingos, pelicans, and turtles, just off the Strip at the Flamingo.
• Fremont Street Experience. The Viva Vision canopy light show runs nightly at the top of the hour from 6 p.m., and the downtown stages host free live music. Parking there is not free, so use a rideshare or a downtown circulator rather than driving in.
• Silverton’s aquarium. The aquarium is free and open around the clock, with free mermaid swims at set afternoon and evening times Thursday through Sunday.

Free, but a short trip away

• Pinball Hall of Fame. Free admission across from the Welcome sign; you only pay per game, and the machines are coin-operated.
• Seven Magic Mountains. Free to visit, open sunrise to sunset, with a free onsite lot. There are no restrooms or services, so bring water. The official site warns visitors not to pay anyone for parking or entry.
• Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden. Free self-guided factory viewing and free garden access in Henderson; the winter holiday lights display is ticketed separately.
• AREA15. General admission is free, which gets you the public art and gallery spaces; Omega Mart and rides are ticketed separately.
• Downtown’s arts and civic spaces. The Civic Center Art Gallery is free Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and the 18b Arts District is free to walk. First Friday is a free monthly art walk.

Cheap, paid, and worth it

The best cheap paid options are the ones with a known all-in price. Museums such as the Neon Museum and attractions such as Hoover Dam’s visitor center and Red Rock Canyon’s scenic drive each set their own admission, and some add parking or a reservation fee on top — price the ticket, the parking, and the transport together before you compare offers. In town, the Monorail and the RTC Deuce bus sell day passes that often beat several one-off rideshares.

Use the free downtown shuttle correctly

The City of Las Vegas runs a free Downtown Loop shuttle, with posted 2026 hours of Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 3–10 p.m. It circulates among downtown stops only — Fremont Street, Fremont East, the Arts District, Brewery Row, Symphony Park, the Civic Center, and the North Premium Outlets. It is not an airport shuttle and does not run to the Strip, so use a rideshare or the RTC Deuce to get downtown first.

Keep “free” free

Do not buy attraction tickets from sidewalk sellers, timeshare desks, or anyone approaching you near a free sight. Free hotel-perk kiosks usually trade an hour of your trip for a sales pitch. And check each venue’s own page the morning you go: seasonal hours, private events, and construction change access, and a closed attraction is the most expensive stop of the day.

Seasonal events at these venues can carry their own admission, so check the event page before you count on any special display being free.

Did you know? Ethel M’s Botanical Cactus Garden in Henderson covers about three acres and holds more than 300 species of desert plants, all free to walk during normal hours.