This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2017. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
Gambling, drinking, and partying have always been the major drawcards for Sin City.
But what if you’re not into casinos? Are there things to do in Vegas that don’t involve blowing your travel budget in 15 minutes at a blackjack table on The Strip?
Even though I don’t really care for gambling and I’m not one to spend my evenings getting drunk at a noisy club, I still really like Vegas. Somehow, the novelty of this city — with all its lights, weird attractions, and over-the-top energy — keeps pulling me back. And after three visits, I’ve found that there’s actually a lot to do here that doesn’t involve slot machines or smoky casino floors.
Whether you’re in town for a weekend, tagging along on someone else’s casino holiday, or just curious to see what else Vegas has to offer, this list rounds up my favourite non-gambling activities. Some are free, some are ticketed, but all of them show a different side of the city — one that’s just as fun (and probably a lot more memorable) than rolling the dice.
Quick summary:
Vegas isn’t just about gambling — there are loads of fun things to do that don’t involve slot machines. In this post, I share my favourite activities in Las Vegas, from quirky museums and neon signs to cacti gardens, Elvis encounters, and offbeat art installations.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🚍 Neon Museum + Welcome Sign night tour – Ride an open-top bus to two of the city’s most iconic photo spots, lit up after dark.
👣 Fremont Street walking tour – Discover vintage Vegas on foot, with stories about neon, weddings, and weird history.
🎸 All Shook Up: Elvis tribute show – A high-energy 75-minute performance packed with Presley hits and Vegas flair.
💦 Hoover Dam half-day tour – A quick way to explore one of the most impressive man-made structures in the U.S.
✨ Seven Magic Mountains desert tour – Visit the famous neon rock towers rising from the Mojave landscape.
Where to stay in Las Vegas:
🏨 My husband and I based our stay at The Palms, which is a hotel and casino about 5 minutes drive from The Strip. We booked a private condo in the Palms Place Tower (which is like the hotel part of the complex).
Our room had a balcony with the most phenomenal view of the city skyline! It was amazing to watch the sun set and the lights start to shine at night as people below began their evenings of fun in Vegas.
I also appreciated that this hotel had was not right next to the party district of Vegas. I know most people will want to stay on The Strip, but if you want a more relaxing base or you’re planning a fun staycation, The Palms is a solid choice. I found it nice to come back to this quiet hotel after a night out.
Things to do in Las Vegas besides casinos:
1. Book a tour of the Neon Museum
I was fascinated by the retro signage found in the Neon Museum. This downtown gem has a collection of large-scale retired signage from past casinos and local businesses, many of which display the flashy neon lights that Vegas is so well known for.
Not all of the signs are in good condition, but some have been repaired to look like they did back in their heyday. The Neon Museum is a not-for-profit, so much of the money raised from ticket sales goes into repairing the signs to display in their open-air lot.
To visit the Neon Museum, you must book a 1-hour tour. There are daytime tours which are around $19 per adult, and evening tours which are slightly more expensive at around $26 per adult.
I ended up visiting the website fairly early in the morning, and was lucky to find 4 spots for my group on the 6PM tour (though I’d advise that you book the day before your tour if possible). This was the last daytime tour of the day, but as the sun set at 6:30PM, it ended up feeling like an evening tour anyway.
Sunset was the perfect time to be there as we got to experience the museum while the light was changing at dusk. Having some of the signs light up during our tour was absolutely perfect.
🚍 If you’d like to package your Neon Museum experience with an evening visit to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, consider booking a Vegas open-top bus tour which stops at both of these attractions.
2. Find the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign
You’ve seen it in movies, postcards, and probably half the souvenir shops on The Strip — but nothing beats seeing the real thing. The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is located on the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard.
We stopped by on our way out of town, and even though it’s literally just a sign in the middle of a median strip, I’ll admit it was kind of fun. There’s a designated parking area and a short queue if you want a proper photo, but you can also snap a selfie from the side and avoid the wait. It makes for a classic Vegas moment.
🚍 And don’t forget, you can package a visit to this Las Vegas attraction along with the Neon Museum on a Vegas open-top bus tour.
3. Seek out the Botanical Cactus Garden & Ethel M Chocolates
Succulents and cacti are my favourite type of plants. I absolutely love them (possibly because I have very little success in keeping indoor greenery alive, and succulents are the only plants that have lived past a few months in my apartment), so when I heard about the Botanical Cactus Garden in Vegas, I knew I had to check it out.
The garden had winding paths which took us through beds filled with succulent plants from all over the world. It was such a peaceful way to spend an afternoon in an otherwise hectic city.
The other great thing about this place is that the garden is right next to Ethel M Chocolates. This shop has a chocolate factory tour, chocolate tastings, a gift store, and a cafe. We may have gone a little overboard ordering a decadent hot chocolate and a large box of truffles. I regret nothing.
4. Watch the Fremont Street light show
Downtown Las Vegas feels like a completely different world compared to The Strip — and if you’re looking for something flashy, free, and distinctly Vegas, the Fremont Street light show is it.
The whole street is covered by a massive LED canopy, which lights up every hour from dusk until midnight with music, trippy visuals, and a wild atmosphere. I found the whole thing to be pretty mesmerizing, especially when the lights sync up to classic rock anthems.
There are also live performers, street artists, and a decent mix of bars and restaurants nearby. Just a heads up: the vibe here can be a little extra (think half-dressed buskers and some chaotic energy), but it’s all part of the experience.
👣 If you want a deeper dive into the history and weirdness of Fremont, join a Fremont Street walking tour that explores how Downtown Vegas went from dusty rail stop to neon-lit icon. You’ll stroll past famous casinos, old wedding chapels, and vintage neon signs while your guide shares fun stories and local trivia.
5. Visit the Pinball Hall of Fame
Now I’ve visited a few amazing arcades in my time, but the Pinball Hall of Fame stands out as the biggest and one of the best.
This is one of the best family-friendly activities in Las Vegas, with a large selection of pinball machines that are mostly from the golden era of arcade – the 1970s and 80s. The owner is a collector, and has added hand-written signage to some of the machines to let you know about their history.
Most of the collection is pinball, but there are also other games. I had a great time challenging my friends in air hockey – a table sport that my brother and I played to waste many hours of our childhood.
I found this attraction to be very off-the-beaten-path for tourists, however, the official website says that the Pinball Hall of Fame moved to a new location on The Strip in 2021 which no doubt means that it’ll be more popular than it was when I visited. I’m sure it’s still lots of fun, though! If you’re travelling to Las Vegas with kids, I’d definitely suggest adding this activity to your list.
6. Catch the free shows along the Strip
One of the best things about Las Vegas? You don’t need to spend a cent to be entertained. Just walking along the Strip can feel like you’re bouncing between mini theme parks — complete with free shows, over-the-top hotel facades, and a cast of characters that you honestly couldn’t make up.
One of the most iconic free shows is the Bellagio Fountains. This water show goes off every 15 to 30 minutes in the afternoon and evening, choreographed to music ranging from Sinatra to EDM. Watching the jets soar and sway in front of the lit-up Bellagio is such a quintessential Vegas moment.
🏨 For a luxurious stay in Las Vegas, you can also book a room at the Bellagio with a view of the fountain show below!
The Mirage Volcano was another free show in Vegas which used to erupt nightly with blasts of flame and a rumbling soundtrack, though it’s been paused recently due to renovations — worth checking if it’s back before you go.
Even if you’re not timing your visit around a specific show, the Strip itself is nonstop entertainment. You’ll see street performers, costumed buskers, neon lights flashing in every direction, and plenty of people-watching opportunities that will leave you questioning every life choice (in the best way). It’s chaotic, it’s loud, and it’s very, very Vegas.
7. Spot an Elvis impersonator
You haven’t really been to Vegas until you’ve crossed paths with an Elvis impersonator. Elvis has long been linked with Las Vegas thanks to his legendary 1969–1976 residency at the International Hotel (now the Westgate), where he performed hundreds of sold-out shows — turning him into a permanent icon of the city’s entertainment scene.
On one of our tours, we ended up at the Graceland Wedding Chapel where Elvis (complete with rhinestone jumpsuit and slicked-back hair) greeted us at the door, crooned a few lines of “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and pretended to marry a few members of our group for laughs. It was equal parts bizarre and hilarious — and honestly one of my favourite random Vegas memories.
You’ll sometimes spot Elvis out and about near Fremont Street or outside the Bellagio fountains if you’re lucky. For couples wanting a guaranteed sighting along with some nupitals, book yourself an Elvis wedding or vowel renewal that includes a themed ceremony with The King himself! You’ll even walk away with some souvenir photos.
🎸 If you’re more into the music side of things (or maybe just not ready for Elvis to be marrying you), you might prefer to catch All Shook Up — a high-energy 75-minute Elvis tribute show that’s been rocking audiences in Las Vegas for over a decade.
8. Visit Hoover Dam
I know, I know – Hoover Dam is a fairly generic tourist attraction. Most of us would have seen it featured in National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation and thought that the guided tour looked rather lame.
I wasn’t expecting much from Hoover Dam, but to be honest, I actually thought it was pretty cool. The dam is huge, and when you stick your head out over the edge to look down at the water below, you feel the wind whip against your cheeks as it moves up the wall.
💦 If you’re interested in a tour with transport from Las Vegas, you can book a Hoover Dam Day Tour from Las Vegas.
We didn’t do any of the tours or even the visitor center as it cost $10 per person to enter (the outrage!), so if you want to do Hoover Dam on the cheap, all you have to do is pay for parking (also $10) when you get there.
9. Take a trip out to Seven Magic Mountains
Seven Magic Mountains is a collection of giant, brightly painted rocks stacked into large columns. The rock towers are over 30 feet high and are positioned in the middle of the dry, barren landscape, making them stand out vibrantly against their backdrop.
✨ This art installation is situated just outside of the city, about 25 mins drive from The Strip. You can see it on a California Desert Tour from Las Vegas.
I’m a huge fan of public installation art (especially on a large scale) and I really felt that Seven Magic Muntains was one of the best Las Vegas photo spots. I found Seven Magic Mountains to be a perfect stop on our way between Vegas and Los Angeles.
Because it’s so popular, the area was fairly busy with Angeleno Instagrammers trying to get the perfect shot of themselves with the rock towers, but luckily it didn’t feel overcrowded. The desert had plenty of space for everyone.
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