Las Vegas is a fun, exciting and immersive city, which has something for every type of visitor. Gamblers flock here but there are many things to do in Vegas besides gambling, so you can have a great vacation in sin city without committing too many sins. While you’re hitting up these non-gambling spots swing by the most instagrammable places in Las Vegas as well and get some awesome new content for the gram. 

***Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used on this site. If you see a link assume I probably get a kickback from it. It won’t cost you any extra, in fact, at times it will get you a discount. I hugely appreciate you using my links.***

 

15 Things to do in Vegas besides gambling

Bellagio Fountain show | Fremont Street | Buffets | Shows | Travel the World | Day Trips | Eiffel Tower | Gondola Ride | Neon Museum | 7 Magic Mountains | Shopping | Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden | Strat | LINQ High Roller | Vegas Exhibitions

 

The Bellagio Fountain Show

This beautiful Bellagio Fountain Show runs every half hour from 3 – 8 pm and every 15 minutes from 8 pm-midnight. Watch the water dance to different music tracks outside the Italian themed hotel, the Bellagio. Watch the show during the day and night for a different experience and make sure you check out the different musical shows on offer.

We loved staying in The Cosmopolitan hotel with a strip view room that overlooks the fountains, meaning we could watch the show throughout the day and even watch the staff working on the fountains throughout the early morning.

 

Fremont Street

Go back in time at Fremont Street. A short drive or monorail from the strip, this street offers a glimpse into ‘Old Vegas’. With bright lights, cheap bars, street performers and iconic hotels such as The Golden Nugget, you won’t want to miss a visit to Fremont Street.

You can take a walking tour during the day or visit in the evenings to see the canopy light show or even try zip lining from one end of the street to the other.

 

The Buffets

There are some amazing buffets in Las Vegas and you can get deals for many of them, either using Groupon, Vegas.com or by checking the hotel website directly.

We love the elegant, luxurious Wicked Spoon Buffet for a romantic dinner but The Buffet at Wynn is a great choice for brunch. If you love seafood, head to Cravings at The Mirage – they also offer 11 food stations with tastes from around the world, making it a great choice for families visiting Las Vegas.

 

The Shows

Las Vegas is home to some exciting and innovative shows. Cirque Du Soleil runs the show scene in Vegas, with numerous performances across the hotels of Vegas. Our favourite has to be the LOVE show at The Mirage; with dancing and circus tricks performed to a Beatles soundtrack.

Alternatively, head to Mandalay Bay for the Michael Jackson ONE production or book tickets for “O” at the Bellagio for an exciting performance cleverly incorporating water.

Editor’s Note: Cirque Du Soleil is incredible. If you haven’t been to a show before make sure you manage to do so while in vegas, even if you’re travelling on a budget. It’s worth it.

 

Travel the World

Las Vegas is known for its iconic, themed hotels. Spend time on your trip visiting each hotel along the strip; photographing the structures and landmark replicas but also appreciating the details inside the hotels.

Visit Italy at The Venetian and Bellagio, head to France in the Paris Las Vegas hotel, go inside a pyramid at Luxor or take a photo of a very colourful New York skyline at New York.

You can also choose to stay in one of these hotels; Las Vegas prices aren’t as high as you may think, especially if you opt for a less luxurious option such as MGM, Luxor or Excalibur.

 

A day trip

When in Vegas, why not explore a little more of nature. There are many great options for day trips from Las Vegas, including Death Valley, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon or Bruce Canyon.

There are many tour companies that offer different types of transportation options, including helicopter rides and bright pink hummers. But, to experience these national parks at their best, we recommend hiring a car and leaving early. This way you can avoid the crowds and heat but also build your own day trip.

 

The Eiffel Tower

If you have visited the real Eiffel Tower, don’t expect the same experience in Vegas. This tower is not as tall as the original (half the size) but it does still give fantastic views from the viewing deck; this time of the colourful strip.

Visit at night to see the lights on Vegas or reserve a table at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant if you are looking for a special treat.

 

Ride a Gondola

Head to the Venetian hotel to ride a gondola around their hotel waterways. The gondola rides last 15 minutes and cost $29 per person on a shared gondola.

You also have the choice between an indoor or outdoor ride; you’ll find your gondolier will burst into song either way!

 

The Neon Museum

Off the strip, you can find the Neon Museum; a unique museum where neon signs go to retire. Walkthrough the ‘junkyard’ of old, retro Vegas signs and spot some iconic classics. The museum is a photogenic spot so book tickets in advance; entrance numbers are limited.

 

7 MAGIC Mountains

Whilst in Vegas, take a 30-minute journey out of the city centre to the Magic Mountains. This is a neon sculpture made up of bright coloured rocks, stacked up to create 7 thin mountains.

You only need around 10-15 minutes whilst you are here, so we recommend stopping here on your way back from your self-drive day trip or asking an Uber driver to wait for you and take you back to the strip after

 

Go Shopping!

Las Vegas is home to some great shopping options. Of course, there are plenty of souvenirs (we love the fun souvenir glasses) but also there are great value shops like the Las Vegas North Outlet Mall. This is a modern discount mall with stores such as Kate Spade, Bose, Nike Factory Store, Coach, American Eagle, Armani, Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren as well as Saks OFF 5th and many more.

Editor’s Note: The discounts are really good. My family used to save up all clothes shopping they would want to do in a year if they knew they’d be going to Vegas in that time so they could just do it all there instead.

 

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden

Each season, designers and horticulturists transform the botanical gardens to a new theme.

Visit this gorgeous garden in the Bellagio hotel, no matter what time of year. It is one of the most photogenic sites on the strip and is also free to visit

 

The Strat

Formerly known as The Stratosphere, The Strat can be found at the northern point of the Strip. It has just undertaken a massive renovation and is worth a visit on your trip for a few reasons.

Thrill-seekers can ride the X-Scream ride, where you will be thrown forward towards the Vegas skyline before a sudden jolt stopping you from falling off the edge of the building.

Alternatively, you could ride the Big Shot which drops you vertically above the tall tower or try the Insanity ride which spins you in circles at 900 feet above the ground.

You can also choose to visit the observation deck known as the SkyPod, have a drink in the lounge or enjoy a meal in the rotating restaurant.

Editor’s Note: These rides are great fun and although similar to those you might find at a fairground being so high up with the views makes a big difference.

 

The LINQ High Roller

Ride this giant observation wheel which gives you some nice views of the city and never-ending desert. This is a 550-foot wheel but it is worth reserving your tickets in advance online; firstly for the discount but also for shorter wait times. You can get skip the queue tickets here.

You can also explore the LINQ promenade too, which is home to some fantastic restaurants but also great shopping options such as the Ghirardelli chocolate store and a Hardley Davidson shop.

 

Vegas Exhibition

Las Vegas is home to some interesting exhibitions which can move between the hotels over the years. Our favourite is the Titanic exhibition, which takes you on a journey through the history of the infamous ship but also includes replicas of different areas of the ship as well as real artefacts that have since been recovered. The Titanic exhibition is currently in the Luxor Hotel and Casino.

Other exhibitions include the Bodies Exhibit (also as Luxor) and the Mob Museum in Downtown Vegas.

These are our favourite things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling and as you can see, there is a lot more than you may expect. One of our Las Vegas tips for first-timers is to spend at least 5 days in the city but we love a week. This gives you an opportunity to visit the sites of the strip at your own leisure but also head out and visit the national parks further afield.

If you want to save some money see if the Go Las Vegas Explorer Pass would suit what you’d like to see if the above attractions

 

What things to do in Vegas besides gambling did you enjoy the most? Let me know in the comments below.