Free-Vegas: The Best Free Things To Do In Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas

You can “do” Vegas at just about any price point. From ultra luxury resorts to $29/night off-the-strip specials, Vegas has it all. Most Vegas vacationers, however, are seeking the most bang for their buck, they are looking for things to do in Las Vegas for free.

Whether you’re trying to visit Vegas for as little money as possible, or you’d like to minimize your entertainment expenditures and save money for the casinos, these are our top picks for free things to do in Vegas.

Things To Do In Las Vegas: The Bellagio Water Show

Many of the big-name Vegas hotels offer completely free entertainment. Many visitors’ favorite activity is the famous Bellagio water show. The impressive fountain display fronting the hotel has 1,200 nozzles and 4,500 lights, shooting water high into the sky in harmony with one of 22 songs. Showtimes are currently as follows:

  • Monday-Friday: 3pm to 8pm shows every 30 minutes
  • Monday-Friday: 8pm to midnight shows every 15 minutes
  • Saturday-Sunday and holidays: 12pm to 8pm shows every 30 minutes
  • Saturday-Sunday and holidays: 8pm to midnight shows every 15 minutes

The Bellagio water show takes place rain or shine, but be warned: if there are high winds on the strip, the show might be cancelled.

Things To Do In Las Vegas: Fall of Atlantis show

At Circus Circus, daily circus performances begin at 11am, start about every 30 minutes, and continue throughout the day until midnight. This is, by far, the most popular freebie for visitors with children.

Shows are held in the Carnival Midway area, which is in the middle of casino: look for the big stage and you’ve found the right place. The acts change frequently, so you never know if you’re going to see a sky-high trapeze artist or clowns on unicycles.

Kids and adults alike may enjoy the Fall of Atlantis show, taking place in front of the Cheesecake Factory in the Caesars Palace Hotel. A seven-minute long retelling of the story of Atlantis is acted out when the fountain’s statutes come alive through animatronics.

Be sure to check out the giant 50,000 gallon saltwater aquarium behind the fountain, and find out when the divers will be feeding the exotic waterlife that day. Another water-based animatronic show called Festival Fountain also plays throughout the day nearby.

Things To Do In Las Vegas: Sirens of Treasure Island’s

Treasure Island’s “Sirens of TI” is a well-known free attraction. Taking place on the large pirate ship in front of the hotel and right on the Strip, this PG-13 show features pyrotechnics, special effects, singing and dancing. Showtimes are daily at 5:30 p.m. (fall/winter only), 7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. (spring/summer only).

Many complain that the “adultrification” of Treasure Island has adversely affected this long-running show, making it more about scantily-clad women than the pirates themselves (who are now the shirtless pirates).

If you’d like to venture beyond pyrotechnics, laser light shows, and the grandiose, Vegas has several more natural free attractions. A lion habitat in the MGM Grand puts dozens of lions on display daily, and flamingos lounge around near the Flamingo Hotel’s pools.

The Bellagio has an often-changing botanical conservatory on its grounds, featuring exotic plants you’ll likely never get the opportunity to see in the wild.

West Gate Hotel Las Vegas

Elvis Exhibition at the Westgate

For a musical trip down memory lane you need to visit the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino which was Elvis’s main hotel for more than eight years.

The “King” performed for 837 consecutive sold out shows at Westgate Vegas breaking all Las Vegas attendance records. The Casino and the hotel are decorated with memorabilia from those days. Do not miss out on the full size statute of Elvis.

A day at Venetian’s Preview Studios & CBS Television City 

Finally Vegas has some exciting opportunities for TV lovers and their families. The Venetian’s Preview Studios and MGM’s CBS Television City allow visitors to watch brand new television pilots. Your opinion could seriously impact whether or not the show will make the cut to primetime.

Better yet, the Venetian’s Preview Studios will actually pay you for your time–in the form of cash or admission to one of their other attractions–making this one Vegas attraction that’s better than free. You can bring the whole family, as they often test everything from cartoons to crime dramas.

John is a travel writer originally from the UK and currently working on a new Las Vegas holidays website When you’re ready to get away from the strip for the day see his recent post on day trips from Vegas.