Las Vegas used to be famous for cheap buffets, free parking, and casino perks. However, these days, resort fees and $48 pizza slices have changed the math a bit.
Tourists have responded in kind, with visitation down 7.5% already this year, due to higher costs, politics and other factors.
But if your issue is the price gouging, I’ve got some good news for you.
You can still have a great time in Las Vegas without spending much money at all. On a recent episode of Photowalks, I set out with just $20 in my pocket to see what I could photograph and experience for free.
The result? A surprisingly great walk filled with iconic sights, classic Vegas history, and some fantastic photo opportunities.
Here’s how to do it.
Start Your Photowalk at Treasure Island
Begin your walk at Treasure Island, (3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South) one of the few places on the Strip that still offers free parking. Most charge a flat rate of $20 just to leave your car for as little as an hour. Some are a little cheaper in the downtown area, and others might waive the fee if you are spending the night.
The Treasure Island pirate ship outside the hotel makes a great first photo stop. Years ago the hotel staged nightly pirate battles here, but even without the show, the ship and statues still make for a fun introduction to Vegas.
Next door you’ll notice something interesting: the old Mirage Hotel is being transformed into the upcoming Hard Rock Hotel, complete with plans for a massive guitar-shaped tower. For now, it’s a skip, unless you like photographing construction sites.
From here, start walking south.
Wander Through Caesars Palace (For Free)
Your next stop is Caesars Palace (3570 Las Vegas Vlvd. South), a Vegas institution dating back to the 1960s.
Inside you’ll find the Forum Shops, one of the most elaborate shopping centers in the city. Sure, the stores include Rolex, Gucci, and Tiffany, but you don’t need to spend a dime to enjoy the spectacle.
Look up and you’ll see Roman statues, fountains, and a surprisingly fun free animatronic Atlantis show with fire and smoke effects.
There’s also an aquarium display inside—another free attraction worth a quick look.
Outside, the grounds of Caesars are full of fountains and statues that make great photos.
Don’t Miss the Bellagio Fountain Show
Next, cross the street to the Bellagio (3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South), home to the most famous free attraction in Las Vegas.
The Fountains of Bellagio feature more than 1,200 fountains choreographed to music and lights, running every 30 minutes during the day and more frequently at night.
Most people watch the show from the sidewalk directly in front of the hotel. But if you walk toward the south entrance of the Bellagio, you’ll get a much more dynamic view that includes:
• the Strip
• the water show
• and the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas
It’s one of the best photography spots on the Strip. And even if you don’t give a hoot about photography, it’s a wonderful show to watch.
Skip the Eiffel Tower Ride
Across the street at Paris Las Vegas (3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South), you’ll see the replica Eiffel Tower.
You can ride an elevator to the top for a view of the Strip, but it costs around $30 after fees, and the view is through a cage.
Instead, head up to the 11th floor near the Eiffel Tower restaurant, where you can sometimes grab a similar vantage point for free before dinner service begins.I arrived before the room officially opened, and was welcomed to take photos of the Strip from wherever I wanted.
Visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Next stop: the Flamingo Hotel (3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South), one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas.
Founded in 1946 by mobster Bugsy Siegel, the hotel has expanded dramatically over the decades. But one of its original attractions remains.
Inside you’ll find the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, a peaceful garden filled with live pink flamingos and other birds.
Admission?
Completely free.
And the flamingos make surprisingly great photo subjects.
Cheap Eats on the Strip
Lunch doesn’t have to mean a $100 buffet. Because yes, that’s what many of them now cost on the Strip. You can still find buffet bargains off-Strip and downtown, but they are far and few between.
On this stretch of the Strip you’ll find plenty of fast and casual options under $20:
• Chipotle
• Five Guys
• McDonald’s
• White Castle
• Denny’s
• Subway
• Pizza Hut
On my walk I grabbed lunch at Chipotle for $15.17, which still left room in the budget.
Walk Through the Venetian
Next up is one of the most beautiful resorts in Vegas: The Venetian (3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South.)
You don’t have to stay here—or take the pricey gondola rides—to enjoy it.
The lobby and shopping areas recreate Venice with:
• canals
• stone bridges
• painted ceilings
• and gondoliers
It’s one of the most photogenic indoor spaces in Las Vegas.
Photo Stop: The Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
No visit to Vegas is complete without the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas (5100 Las Vegas Blvd. South) sign. It’s as iconic as visiting Los Angeles and getting a selfie on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Designed in 1959 by artist Betty Willis, the sign originally greeted visitors arriving by car on the highway.
You’ll notice it says “Welcome” on one side and “Drive Carefully – Come Back Soon” on the other, reflecting the era when Vegas was primarily a road-trip destination.
There’s often a line of people waiting for photos, but if it’s too crowded, you can always walk around to the back side of the sign for a creative alternative shot.
A Free Museum Full of Pinball
One of the coolest, under-rated stops in Las Vegas is the Pinball Hall of Fame (4925 Las Vegas Blvd. South).
Admission is free, but you’ll want to bring a few dollars in quarters if you want to play.
Inside you’ll find hundreds of classic pinball machines and arcade games, some dating back to the 1940s. And they are real beauties.
The best part? The proceeds go to charity, supporting programs run by organizations like the Salvation Army.
You can easily spend two or three hours here for about $20.
Bonus Stop: Downtown Neon
If you want a different side of Vegas, head to Fremont Street and what’s called the “Fremont Street Experience” downtown.
This is where Las Vegas originally began in the early 1900s. The area is famous for its restored classic neon casino signs, including legends like:
• Binion’s
• Four Queens
• Vegas Vic
Today the street is covered by a massive LED canopy, but the vintage neon still glows along the sidewalks.
Best of all, there’s no admission fee to walk through the neon. (Nearby is the Neon Museum (770 Las Vegas Blvd N) but there’s a charge of $35 to enter.) You’ll see dozens of old classic Vegas casino signs in the big ol’ “boneyard” and it’s a fun, if pricey visit.
Final Thoughts
Las Vegas may not be the bargain destination it once was, but you can still have a great time without blowing your budget.
Skip the overpriced attractions and focus on the free experiences, historic hotels, and great photo opportunities.
Also, try to find a hotel that doesn’t charge those onerous “resort fees” that can add another $50 to $100 to your nightly stay. Supporting these hotels only encourages them to keep charging.
On the Strip, our friends at Best Western have a little hotel in-between the Venetian and Flamingo called the Casino Royale that doesn’t charge fees. Yes, Best Western sponsors Photowalks, so you can take what I’m saying with a grain of salt—however, just know that the Flamingo, Caesars, Bellagio, Paris, Mandalay Bay, Treasure Island, et. all charge resort fees, the Casino Royale does not.
Aside from that the Jockey Club, which is down the Strip behind the Cosmopolitan, doesn’t charge, nor does Marriott’s Grand Chateau, which is behind Planet Hollywood.
Good luck on your Vegas visit, and if you know of any other freebie offers, just let me know.
Meanwhile, huge thanks to my brother Jez Graham for another incredible original soundtrack for this episode of Photowalks!