20+ Free Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids (2026 Guide)
What Actually Works (From a Mom’s Perspective)
“The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.”
The Caesars Palace fountains along the Las Vegas Strip.
After multiple family trips to Las Vegas since 2017, I know exactly what's worth your limited time, energy, and patience when traveling with kids.
Most "free Vegas" activity guides give you thirty options and zero priorities. This post tells you the five must-dos, fifteen “worthy” activities, and five complete wastes of time everyone else recommends.
About the Author: Hi. I’m Colleen, and I've been visiting Las Vegas for 40 years, including multiple family trips with three daughters since 2017. Most recent trip: August 2025. I've done Vegas with toddlers who needed naps, elementary kids who needed playgrounds, and teenagers who wanted nothing to do with family activities. I've wasted time on overhyped attractions and learned which free activities are actually worth it. This guide is what I wish someone had told me before trip number one.
This post focuses on free activities. For our comprehensive 8,000-word Las Vegas family travel guide covering accommodations, paid attractions, kid-friendly shows, dining, and more, click here.
The 5 Best Free Things to Do with Kids in Las Vegas (Start Here)
These are the activities our daughters still talk about years later. They require minimal planning, they're legitimately impressive, and they work for almost any age.
Every Vegas list mentions the Bellagio Fountains, and unlike most overhyped attractions, this one deserves it.
This is one of our favorite free things to see on every visit. We usually stay near the Bellagio, and the fountains never seem to get old. Even our teenagers still want to stop and watch.
The fountains shoot water forty stories high, choreographed to music ranging from Andrea Bocelli to Beyoncé. At night, colored lights make it spectacular.
Best Viewing: Skip the crowded sidewalk. Walk to the pedestrian bridge between Bellagio and Caesars Palace. You get unobstructed views, and there is plenty of room for strollers or wheelchairs.
Timing: Shows run every 30 minutes from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm on weekdays and from noon to 7:30 pm on weekends and holidays. Every day, after 8 pm, shows run every 15 minutes until midnight. Shows last about 5 minutes. (Budget 20–30 minutes total.)
Insider Tip: If you’re visiting with children in strollers, stick to a daytime viewing. The sidewalks along the Strip become much more congested in the evenings. We’ve witnessed countless young families struggling to position their kids so they can see.
A nighttime view of the Bellagio Fountain show. ("Bellagio Fountains at night" by Photographersnature CC BY-SA 3.0.)
Downtown Las Vegas Container Park Playground
This outdoor playground with climbing structures is set among creatively repurposed shipping containers. Real playground equipment means kids can climb and play with other children for 1–2 hours.
Why This is Critical: Your kids have been looking at lobbies and fountains for hours. They desperately need to MOVE and burn energy!
Location: Downtown, not the Strip. Budget $30–40 round-trip rideshare. Parking garages offer free first-hour parking
Best Time: 4–5 pm, when temperatures are cooler and local kids arrive, or early morning, 9–10 am, for quieter play.
Age Suitability: 2–12 years old. Toddlers have dedicated areas; older kids enjoy climbing challenges.
Practical Tip: Food vendors are pricey, so plan to bring your own snacks.
The Sphere Exterior
The Sphere is a 366-foot LED ball visible from half the Strip. At night, the displays are mesmerizing. Ocean waves, planets, eyeballs, and abstract patterns shifting continuously.
"It's HUGE!"
"It looks like the Epcot ball, but way cooler!"
These were some of our daughters' reactions. During our last stay at Horseshoe Las Vegas, one of our rooms had a perfect view, and we'd all stand at the window watching the displays change. Even the adults couldn't look away.
Best Viewing: Outside the Venetian, Linq Promenade, Pedestrian bridges near the Venetian
Timing: Visible 24/7, but best at night. Book a hotel room with a view of the Sphere to watch it change throughout the day and night.
Insider Tip: Take videos, not just photos. The motion is the best part.
Our nighttime view of the High Roller and the Sphere from 1 of our 2 rooms at the Horseshoe Hotel & Casino.
Fremont Street Experience Light Show
Spanning a 5-block pedestrian-only area in Downtown Vegas, the Fremont Street Experience showcases the Viva Vision Light Show on a massive LED canopy. Recently upgraded with $32 million in improvements, this entertainment district features street performers and live music you won't find on the Strip.
Timing: Shows run every hour beginning at 6 pm, lasting 6–8 minutes.
Age Range: Kids 5+ (younger ones might find it overwhelming).
Parking: Located about 20 minutes from the Strip. Several parking garages offer free parking for the first few hours. If no car, budget for rideshare both ways.
Make the Trip Worthwhile: Combine this with a visit to Container Park, a walk-through of the Golden Nugget, or a cheaper dinner downtown.
Warning: Families with kids under 12 should see the earlier shows. This area becomes a little rowdier later at night with a party atmosphere. Clear out before 8:30 pm if you don’t want your kids hearing creative profanity.
This massive indoor garden at Bellagio is filled with elaborate floral displays and plant-based sculptures. It's one of the most popular free attractions in Las Vegas.
Our girls spent a long time wandering through each section, fascinated by the intricate designs. What I love most is that it forces everyone to slow down for a few minutes, which is rare in Vegas.
The theming changes 5 times per year: Lunar New Year, Spring flowers, Summer, Fall harvest, and Christmas. Each seasonal display feels completely different.
Best Time: Mid-week morning (10 am–12 pm) for the fewest crowds. Takes about 10–15 minutes to walk through.
Don’t Miss: While you're there, look UP in the main Bellagio lobby. There's a Chihuly glass ceiling sculpture with 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers. It's incredible and easy to miss if you're not looking for it.
A look at some of the stunning floral display pieces, located in the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino.
15 More Free Activities Worth Your Time
These require slightly more effort or specific interests, but they're all genuinely good.
The Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes
Indoor canals with real gondolas, painted sky ceilings creating outdoor illusions, and Italian Renaissance architecture. While gondola rides cost $29+ per person, walking through and watching gondoliers navigate is free. Street performers provide live accordion music throughout.
Time Needed: 20–30 minutes walking the canals.
Caesars Palace Roman Statues & Forum Shops
Roman-themed architecture features replica classical statues, including Michelangelo's David. Our daughters' first encounter with Renaissance art at Caesar's helped prepare them for real European museums several years later.
The Forum Shops have painted sky ceilings that change hourly from sunrise to sunset, plus elaborate fountains.
Time Needed: 30 minutes for exploring.
The Littles, getting their first glimpse at the “David” statue in Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino.
New York-New York Hotel Facade
Scaled replicas of the Statue of Liberty (150 feet tall, half the size of the real one), the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and other NYC landmarks create a miniature Manhattan skyline.
Why Kids Love it: Recognition factor. Kids who've been to New York enjoy comparing landmarks. Kids who haven't been to New York get excited about seeing "famous buildings" they've seen in movies.
Best Time: Daytime for clearer photos of individual buildings. Nighttime for the skyline effect with all the lights on.
Time Needed: 10–15 minutes
Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower & Hotel
When we first visited Las Vegas as a family, Sophie (who was just 5) was captivated by the 540-foot-tall half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. She excitedly announced, "I can't believe I got to see the REAL Eiffel Tower!" (We didn't have the heart to correct her.)
A few years later, when we took her to Paris, she was able to truly appreciate the real thing.
Once you enter the hotel, you’ll feel as though you’re walking the cobblestone streets of Paris with painted skies, restaurants, bars, and shops spilling onto the “sidewalk.”
Looking at the Las Vegas Strip from the exterior walking path near the Bellagio Hotel & Casino.
Luxor Pyramid & Sphinx
A massive black pyramid with giant sphinx statues guarding the entrance. The pyramid stands 30 stories tall, and the sphinx statues are massive replicas of the original in Giza.
Best Viewed: At night when dramatically lit. During summer days, the black pyramid absorbs heat, and the area feels like standing on the surface of the sun.
Time Needed: 10–15 minutes
Pro Tip: Combine with a visit to Excalibur Castle. They are connected via a free, air-conditioned walkway.
Excalibur Castle Exterior
Colorful medieval castle complete with towers, turrets, a drawbridge entrance, and a bright turquoise and magenta color scheme.
Target Audience: Younger kids (ages 3–8) who love princesses, knights, castles, and fairy tales. If your kids are over age 10, they'll probably find it tacky.
Photo Spot: Stand at the drawbridge entrance for classic castle photos.
Don't bother going inside unless you're eating at one of their restaurants or staying there. The interior doesn't live up to the exterior's promise of a castle.
Location Advantage: Connected to Luxor via a free air-conditioned walkway.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Real flamingo and koi fish habitat in the gardens of the Strip’s oldest continuously operating casino hotel! We discovered this completely FREE attraction several years ago when our two youngest girls were both under 10.
They loved exploring the peaceful gardens, which felt far removed from the busy activity of the Strip. Honestly, we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, as the girls had close-up views of the pink birds and the koi fish.
The Catch: You walk through the entire Flamingo casino to find it. If kids are sensitive to cigarette smoke or slot noise, skip it.
Time Needed: 15–20 minutes.
Enjoying a free family trip to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat.
Mandalay Bay Shark Reef (Free Viewing Area)
Sharks are visible through glass from public casino areas without paying for full aquarium admission. Kids love seeing real sharks swimming while you walk through.
Time Needed: 5–10 minutes
Street Performers & Live Music
Street performers throughout Vegas provide free entertainment. Live music, dancers, costumed characters, juggling, magic tricks, and even a painted silver cowboy can add spontaneity to your casual walks.
Where to Find Them: Outside of major casino entrances, Fremont Street, and Linq Promenade
Best Time: Late afternoon/early evening (4–7 pm) when performers are most active.
Photo Tax Warning: You may be tempted to grab a quick photo. Be advised that you’re likely to be charged anywhere from $5 to $20 for a snap.
Teaching Moment: If kids enjoy a performance, you can let them decide how much they want to tip. We’ve found that this leads to good conversations about supporting artists.
Las Vegas Strip Walk (Day or Night)
Exploring hotels along the Strip offers air-conditioned (or heat) relief, along with fabulous statues, art installations, and architecture.
Walking the Strip at night is a jaw-dropping experience. The bright hotel lights, the themed facades, people watching, the sounds and smells of Las Vegas.
Best Time: Day: Mornings (8–11 am) are less crowded. Night: Evenings are the most crowded, but the lights are the focus.
Time Needed: 30–60 minutes for a solid walk.
Insider Tip: Restrooms inside every casino lobby are public and free, which is a blessing with young kids who tend to wait until the last minute to let you know they need to go.
A lighted pirate ship outside Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.
Golden Nugget Shark Tank (Downtown)
The Golden Nugget built its pool complex around a massive 200,000-gallon three-story shark tank! You don't need to be a hotel guest to see the sharks. The aquarium has viewing panels accessible from the casino floor.
You can watch multiple shark species, stingrays, tropical fish, and an occasional diver doing maintenance or feeding.
Strategic Planning: Don't make a special trip from the Strip just for this. Combine with your visit to downtown Container Park and Fremont Street.
Time Needed: 10–15 minutes.
Las Vegas Downtown Art Murals
Stroll past more than 30+ vibrant art murals near City Hall created by well-known artists for the Life is Beautiful festival.
Best Time: Daytime (10 am–4 pm) for safety and better photo lighting
Age Suitability: 4+ (younger kids might get bored)
Practical Tip: The Arts District is 20 minutes from the Strip, but worth it for a different Vegas vibe. It’s very family-friendly during the day.
Your Las Vegas Hotel Pool Complex
Your pool is typically included in the resort fee. Stop feeling guilty about spending three hours there!
The 2026 Las Vegas pool season is March through October.
Pools worth booking specifically for:
Golden Nugget Shark Tank: It’s one of the coolest hotel pools in North America. Your kids can literally slide through a tunnel while sharks swim around them!
Mandalay Bay Beach: Known as one of the best pools in town. Massive wave pool, lazy rivers, and sandy beaches.
MGM Grand: One of our surprise picks! 6.5 acres, four pools, and a lazy river. This is one of the largest pool complexes in Las Vegas.
Circus Circus Splash Zone: After a $30 million renovation (completed 2022–2023), this pool complex is designed specifically for families with children. It's unapologetically kid-oriented, featuring 3 water slides, water cannons, and interactive water features.
Insider Tip: Plan several hours at your pool during the hottest part of the day (noon to 4 pm). Kids stay happy and cool, you relax. Everyone wins.
An aerial view of The Tank Pool at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
For more on choosing the best family-friendly hotels in Las Vegas, see our full 8,000-word Las Vegas master guide.
Nightly free show featuring giant puppets, massive robots, 5,500 LED lights, and a 45-foot waterfall. Shows last about 5 minutes and feature original music and projections on the waterfall.
Kids love the artistic, theatrical quality of this show. Even older kids and adults like the lights and water features.
Why it Works: Less crowded than the Bellagio Fountains, which helps parents keep track of little ones.
Timing: Nightly at half-hour intervals, beginning at dusk (around 7:30 pm). Earlier shows have fewer crowds.
Best Viewing Location: North Show Terrace
Age Range: 2–10 years old.
MGM Grand Lion Statue
The iconic 45-ton bronze lion statue at the MGM Grand Strip entrance stands 45 feet tall. Kids love climbing on the base for photos.
This is one of the most photographed landmarks in Vegas. Quick 10-minute stop for photos and exploring the lobby.
Combine With: MGM Grand connects to other hotels via walkways and is near the Aria Express tram.
Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino welcomes visitors with its impressive fountains.
The 5 Las Vegas Attractions Everyone Recommends, But You Should Skip
Not every "free" Vegas attraction is worth your time. After multiple trips with kids ranging from pre-schoolers to young adults, we've learned which ones are overhyped, overrated, or just plain disappointing.
Our rule after years of Vegas trips: If an attraction requires significant time, money, or effort to reach, it needs to deliver something genuinely special. These five free Las Vegas attractions do not.
Skip #1: “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign
What it is: The iconic roadside sign at the south end of the Strip that's been in countless Vegas photos since 1959.
Why Everyone Else Recommends it: It's Vegas history, it's Instagram-famous, and it's free.
Why We Say to Skip it: Long lines in brutal desert heat, and traffic nightmares for a 2-minute photo opportunity.
The Better Alternative: Find one of the replica signs around town. We discovered a perfectly good replica near the food court at Horseshoe Las Vegas with zero wait, no traffic, and no squinting in the harsh sunshine. Your kids won't even know the difference.
A fun, family selfie in front of a smaller version of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, located in the lower level of the Horseshoe Hotel & Casino.
Skip #2: Ethel M Chocolate Factory
What it is: A free self-guided tour of a chocolate factory in Henderson (about 20 minutes from the Strip) with a cactus garden and free chocolate samples.
Why Everyone Else Recommends it: Free chocolate! Cactus garden! It sounds great on paper.
Why We Say to Skip it: The "tour" is basically walking along windows, looking at the chocolate production that often isn’t running. Free samples are tiny.
The Hidden Costs: 20 minutes from the Strip means you'll pay for rideshare both ways or need a rental car. You’ve just spent 90 minutes and $40+ in transportation for two small chocolate samples.
Better Alternative: Visit the Bellagio Conservatory instead. It's free, on the Strip, more impressive, and changes seasonally with elaborate displays that actually wow kids.
Skip #3: M&M's World (& Hershey's Chocolate World)
What it is: Four stories of M&M (or Hershey's) branded merchandise, plus overpriced candy.
Why Everyone Else Recommends it: It's colorful, it's air-conditioned, and kids like candy!
Why We Say to Skip it: These aren't attractions. They're giant gift shops designed to separate you from your money. Everything costs 2–3x what you'd pay at a regular store. There's nothing to actually do except shop and take photos with oversized M&M characters.
Better Alternative: Literally any of the actual free attractions in this guide. The Bellagio Fountains, Fremont Street, and Container Park playground are all more entertaining and won’t drain your wallet.
Skip #4: Fall of Atlantis Show at Caesars Palace
What it is: A free animatronic show in the Forum Shops featuring the story of King Atlas and the lost city of Atlantis. There are fire effects and dramatic lighting as statues come to life.
Why Everyone Else Recommends it: It's free, it's indoors, and it's been a Vegas staple since the 1990s.
Why We Say to Skip It: It's dated and cheesy. While they thought it was neat when they were young, our teens now roll their eyes at it.
The Better Approach: If you're already shopping or eating at the Forum Shops and happen to walk by when it's starting, sure, stop and watch with young kids. But don't plan your day around it, and don't make a special trip.
The Fall of Atlantis show provides a great mid-day entertainment & air-conditioning break for young children. ("Fall of Atlantis (4)" by Tristan Surtel CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Skip #5: Silverton Aquarium Mermaids
Why this Keeps Appearing on Lists: It's unique. Professional free-divers in mermaid tails perform underwater choreography. Young kids find it mesmerizing. The aquarium has 4,000+ tropical fish.
Why to Skip: The math doesn't work. You'll spend $40–60 on round-trip rideshare (or 40+ minutes driving) for a show that lasts 5 minutes. Shows run Thursday–Sunday only, with schedules that change seasonally and sometimes get canceled without notice.
Only Worth it if: You're staying at the Silverton, have a rental car, and are already in that area, kids are ages 4–7 and obsessed with mermaids, and you've called ahead to confirm show times.
Better Alternative: Mandalay Bay has sharks visible from the casino floor for free.
The Bottom Line
Las Vegas offers impressive free activities that are genuinely entertaining for families.
Our approach after years of family trips to Las Vegas is to pick one or two spectacular paid activities. Then, we fill the rest of our days with these excellent free attractions. Your kids will have just as much fun, and you'll have money left for great meals.
Remember that a successful Vegas family trip isn't about how much you spend. It's about creating experiences together that your whole family will remember.
Sometimes, the best things to do in Las Vegas with kids really are free.
If you're planning a full trip, pair these freebies with our detailed 8,000-word Las Vegas with Kids guide, which includes hotel picks, family-friendly shows, and tips for all ages. Read it now.
Want a Done-for-You 3-day Las Vegas Itinerary?
Grab our free planner with pool time, kid-friendly food, realistic walking distances, and activities to get the most out of your Las Vegas family vacation.
Get the free 3-day Vegas planner!
Looking for more honest tips and recommendations? Join the UFA Community by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter. Every Sunday at 6:15 pm ET, you’ll receive exclusive tips and content straight to your inbox!
