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Downtown Las Vegas is not the seedy and dangerous place it once was.
Over the years, it has seen exciting revitalization, turning this historic neighborhood into a thriving destination that’s full of fun, quirky, and classically Vegas attractions.
Downtown Vegas, also known as Old Vegas, is where it all began. It’s most famous for Fremont Street, where the first casinos, dive bars, and prohibition era clubs were located.
Fremont Street, downtown Las Vegas
In the 1940s, the Strip began to take shape, with iconic hotels like the Flamingo drawing visitors away from downtown, and the area began to decline and it struggled to pull back ever since.
Not anymore. Downtown Vegas is the place to go for an artsy, bohemian vibe, cheaper prices, and unique experiences. It’s a prime spot for vintage shopping, entertainment, and quirky charm.
There are tons of things to do in Downtown Vegas that make it a worth stop on anyone’s trip to Sin City. In this guide, we share the most classic and exciting attractions…
Things to do in Old Vegas (Downtown Las Vegas)
Exploring downtown Las Vegas on a walking tour
While Old Town Las Vegas is famous for Fremont Street, there is so much more to offer.
We will start with this street, as it’s the area you’ll wander in and out of the most. It’s the Las Vegas Strip of the downtown area.
We do recommend if you are traveling with kids to get them off Fremont St in the evening hours, when Old Las Vegas turns into world class crazy and gives a true insight as to why it’s called Sin City.
During the day, they’ll enjoy the buskers and live music as you walk by.
1. Start with a Downtown Vegas Walking Tour
We started our walking tour at The Plaza Hotel, downtown Vegas
Why not start learning an overview of Downtown Vegas on a guided walking tour?
This was the tour that flipped me from thinking upon first stepping onto Fremont St, “Geez, I think we’d better get out of here. I’m not sure of this place”, to thinking…
“OMG. This place is so cool. I can’t wait to come back and explore more.“
This is why I travel. To be surprised, to have my perceptions changed, and my initial biases challenged – it’s how you discover hidden gems and secrets!
We learned so much more about the stories of this gambling town than we ever would have just wandering around on our own. It made Vegas come alive for us. Even our girls loved it.
We learned about the birthplace of Vegas, which is near the Plaza Hotel at the beginning of Fremont St – the Old Vegas Strip, how and why the casinos go up and down so much.
We learned the history behind its growth and allure, and the revitalization of Fremont St, the surrounding area, and the very cool local Downtown East.
Downtown East District
Another reason to make this your first stop in DTLV is your guide will point out the best places to return and explore more AND will give you a print out of his recommended places to eat and drink and when you can find the cheap prices.
This tour was included on our Las Vegas Sightseeing Pass. They are also on the Go City Las Vegas attraction pass.
2. Fly over Fremont St on the Slotzilla Zipline
Zip line Vegas style!
Another great overview of Fremont St comes from above with the Slotzilla zip line.
If you don’t want to take to the skies, you will enjoy looking up at the faces of joy and terror as people soar above you superhero-style!
This is a fantastic family-friendly attraction in downtown Las Vegas.
The beginning of the zip line is true Vegas style out of a 12-story (77 feet) slot machine, which is actually the world’s largest slot machine.
Adventurous, but less tame than throwing yourself off The Stratosphere.
3. Take in the Fremont St Experience and Viva Vision Light Shows
Fremont Street
The Fremont Street Experience is a free attraction and involves a light and music show (and lots of advertising) imagery on the roof, or Viva Vision, the world’s largest video screen.
They often have live bands playing on one of the three stages on Fremont Street. Katy Perry and Imagine Dragons have been known to play this stage.
The Freemont Street Experience
We’ve pretty much missed it every time we’ve been visiting downtown Las Vegas.
The kids were either losing it because it was crazy people hour, or we’d had too many drinks to notice (when the kids weren’t with us).
Viva Vision light shows last approximately six minutes, and run every hour, usually starting at 6pm depending on season.
This tour of DTLV will take in the Fremont St lights as well as happy hour drinks and a tour of the Arts District.
4. Find your Gold at the Golden Nugget Saloon
It doesn’t get more Old Vegas than the Golden Nugget Saloon. It’s on my list of places to stay in Vegas when we return.
Even if you don’t stay here, it is an iconic Vegas casino to come and play the slot machines or check out the elaborate swimming pool.
The Golden Nugget pool has the Tank, a 200,000-gallon aquarium in middle that a water slide that goes through.
It’s been named as one of the top 10 pools in the world by Travel & Leisure.
The Tank and swimming pool at the Golden Nugget Saloon
Non-hotel guests can swim in The Tank pool with a day pass that costs between $25-$35 per person (children 2 and under are free) depending on the day of the week. If you want to save money in Vegas, perhaps looking is better!
My friend Rina and I had an evening out in Downtown Las Vegas and had a blast. We spent most of our time in the Golden Nugget saloon.
Gambling really is not my thing, but the free drinks you get with it is!
You MUST have cash to gamble in the resort casinos. It’s against the law to use credit cards, so be sure you have plenty of cash – or don’t to keep your bank balance safe.
Most casinos have ATMs though.
While here, be sure to check out the Hand of Faith, the largest gold nugget on public display in the world today, weighing in at 61 pounds, 11 ounces.
5. Get Spanked at Heart Attack Grill
This was the funniest and most bizarre thing we found in Vegas. The Heart Attack Grill looks like a normal burger milk shake bar until you peak through the windows.
Patrons are dressed in hospital gowns drinking wine out of IV drips, shots out of syringes, and chowing down on heart attack sized burgers.
If you take on the challenge to eat Octuple Bypass Burger – eight burger patties topped with forty slices of bacon and enough cheese for a heart attack – and fail the mission, you are legitimately taken to the spanking platform and spanked pretty hard with a by the waitress!!
I’m pretty sure you’ll be begging for it after the first bite of that burger. I’ll take the IV line of red wine instead please!
I’m not sure it’s a place you want to visit with kids. My friend, Rina and I ducked in for a look, a giggle, and a hospital gown photo.
6. Taste Local Passion at Atomic Liquors
Tucked in between the flashing neon lights and kitschy vibe of Old Vegas, is Atomic Liquors, a dive bar known for being Las Vegas’s oldest freestanding bar.
It’s a chilled dive bar with a storied history past. It was founded by Joe Sobchik and his wife Stella in the Great Depression Era. After the two met in a laundry room, they married, opened a cafe, and turned it into a liquor store and bar, and were the first tavern to receive a Tavern License (#00001).
It began with a working class clientele, and soon attracted big name stars like Barbara Streisand and Clint Eastwood. It was open 24 hours a day and always had a crowd.
It’s name comes from the fact that they used to have atomic bomb viewing parties.
Not much has changed since, it still draws a huge crowd!
7. Enjoy Happy Hour views in a Glass Dome at Oscar’s Steakhouse
Oscar’s Steakhouse located in the Plaza hotel’s iconic glass dome has become a must see attraction in Downtown Las Vegas due to its classic views of the lights of Fremont St. that has been featured in movies like Casino.
It’s named in honor of former mayor and mob boss Oscar Goodman.
We started our downtown walking tour underneath this restaurant and our guide told us happy hour from 5-7pm is where you’ll find great deals on drinks and oysters!
8. Go gangster at The Mob Museum
The informative Mob Museum
It’s important to learn about the stories behind destinations and you know Vegas has a rich Mobster tale to tell.
I’ve always had a weird kind of fascination and fear of the Mob. What with the Godfather, Donnie Brasco and Al Capone how can you not be?
Whereas Chicago tries to hide their checkered Gangster past, Vegas is like, “hey this was part of our growth and look at how we overcame it.”
Put aside a couple of hours at the Mob Museum. It was a quick whirlwind tour through as we had our walking tour booked in. But, the quick ended up being good for the girls.
They were okay with learning about the Mob until expectantly coming across some gruesome footage and then we quickly escorted them out.
So, perhaps it’s not the best place for your kids, but it might be a fun thing to do in Vegas with teens.
It definitely opened up a good conversation about organized crime. I think I can trust that neither of them will ever get mixed up in it. I think I made them promise me several times!
Get ready to learn and be disturbed
The museum is three floors of exhibits and stories, films and photos, and has a distillery and firearms display that’s interactive. One section will warn you of the gruesomeness to come.
The Mob Museum was also part of our Sightseeing Pass, which also included two special exhibits: The Crime Lab and the Use of Force.
I was disappointed we ran out of time for the 30-minute crime lab.
Craig and I had to tag team as there is an age limit. But the Use of Force was a quick and very interesting 15-minute insight into the stainless steel nerves and quick thinking police officers have.
We were given guns (without bullets) and were taken through a few scenarios of crimes in action. As the police officer we had to respond accordingly.
It did involve shooting a few of the criminals. I was shot first once and the second time I got the guy. No innocents were harmed in my scenario – Craig’s was a different story.
We even had a real life drunk we had to encounter and disarm. I wouldn’t be a cop for anything!
9. Learn The Stories Behind the Neon at The Neon Museum
Well, we all know Las Vegas is the city of neon lights. The Neon Museum is a unique Vegas attraction.
Since 1996, the Neon Museum has been collecting and exhibiting Las Vegas neon signs for historical and cultural enrichment. It’s a cool way to preserve the stories and unique history of the city.
While we did not get time to visit this museum we really wanted to and had many people recommend it as a Vegas beyond the Strip highlight.
10. Explore the family friendly E Fremont St, East District
Fremont East District lies at the eastern edge of Fremont St and is the vision of Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos.
He launched this Downtown Project as a $350 million downtown Las Vegas initiative to redevelop a section of downtown from Fremont Street Experience to Maryland Parkway along the Fremont Street corridor.
He decided that he was going to bring 5,000 jobs to this region and revitalize it into a local’s neighborhood with cool restaurants, breweries and places to hang out.
He has certainly done this.
Downtown East is family friendly and funky
It started with him starting all the restaurants etc. himself and bringing the headquarters of Zappos to downtown, but hey when you have vision, you find the solution.
We didn’t get to eat here, but apparently there are some outstanding dining experiences to be had. Some recommendations were Le Thai, Therapy and Carson Kitchen.
11. Eat and shop at the Funky Downtown Container Park
Repurposed shipping containers house food and drink outlets
The Downtown Container Park is a wonderful open-air shopping center that’s family-friendly and full of locals hanging out in cafes, boutiques stores, and craft-whiskey cocktail bars. It was one of my favorite things we did in Old Vegas.
It has an outdoor stage and tree house playground for the kids.
It features more than 40 repurposed shipping containers that house retail shops and restaurants.
The center is intended to be a starting place for promising entrepreneurs who have longed to open a shop or restaurant.
The entrance is marked by a giant metal sculpture of a praying mantis, which shoots jets of fire from its antennae at night.
It’s a Burning Man creation so you can just imagine it’s creative flair.
Cheers Rina
Oak & Ivy, Bin 702 and The Perch are places to check out for drinks and food.
12. Get arty at the Free First Friday in the Las Vegas Arts District
On the first Friday of the month, Downtown Las Vegas has a First Friday art event just south of Fremont St at the Las Vegas Arts District.
Over 100 local artists display and sell their work on the streets and there’s also live music and DJs, street performers, food carts, art installations, and art lessons for kids.
You can continue the fun down on Fremont St for their First Friday block party – no kids allowed!
13. Find the Cheapest Happy Hour at Main Street Station
Another place we discovered thanks to our walking tour was Main Street Station.
It showcases the splendor of the Victorian era with dozens of rare antiques and curiosities, award-winning restaurants – and even a slab of the Berlin Wall in the men’s restroom.
Check it out, play the machines, and stop in at Triple 7 Restaurant and Microbrewery.
You want to visit the onsite Triple 7 Restaurant & Microbrewery on weekdays 3pm – 6pm and 11pm – 3am for $2 draft beer and $3 appetizers during happy hour. Probably the best happy hour deal in Vegas!
We missed the happy hour prices, but enjoyed our meal! You can get free parking if you eat here too!
14. Eat at Hash House a Go Go
Our kids loved the giant pancakes at Hash House a Go Go
For big tasty meals at affordable prices, a great family-friendly restaurant is the Hash House a Go Go inside the Plaza Hotel.
Our walking tour guide suggested this as a budget-friendly place to eat with a good menu selection for all ages, and so did many others in our online community!
15. Take a selfie with Vegas Vickie and Vegas Vic
Vegas Vickie and Vegas Vic are neon signs that are quintessentially Vegas.
Vickie is a neon cowgirl that currently marks the entrance to the lobby cocktail lounge of the Circa Resort and Casino, and has been welcoming patrons since 1980.
She is the “neon wife” of Vegas Vic, a neon cowboy who welcomes you into The Pioneer Club in Las Vegas in 1951.
The neon signs were “married” 1994 during construction of the Fremont Street Experience.
These two signs are considered the pioneers of the Old Vegas neon strip and historic landmarks.
16. Watch the game and swim at Stadium Swim
Also in the Circa Resort and Casino is one of the most unique venues to catch a sporting event.
The Stadium Swim is a venue featuring six pools, overlooking a 40-foot HD screen which is often playing the top sporting events.
There’s also swim-up bars and lounge chairs, and it can accommodate 4,000 people.
Where to stay in Downtown Las Vegas
Golden Nugget Saloon
As mentioned above, this is one cool casino and hotel in Vegas. It was probably my favorite that I’ve been to for entertainment and facilities, but it also has lovely hotel rooms too.
When you want to escape the casino vibes, head to the quiet rooftop terrace or enjoy a sports massage at the Spa at Golden Nugget.
There’s also a shopping mall with designer stores, many onsite restaurants, and two cafes.
Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Downtown Grand Hotel is not your typical Vegas style casino and hotel. It’s a boutique hotel with an industrial-chic vibe.
You’ll find a ground floor casino, restaurants, including the famous and much loved Pizza Rock, and a rooftop pool.
El Cortez Hotel & Casino
If you’re looking for nostalgia on your Vegas vacation, you’ll find it at Las Vegas’ oldest running casino (since 1941) – a pretty impressive feat once you learn how quickly these casinos crash and burn.
The infamous mobster, Bugsy Seigel once owned this hotel, but the retro look from his era remains.
This is a 21+ hotel, so you’ll have to leave your kids at home for this experience.
Golden Gate Hotel
The Golden Gate Hotel is also a century old casino that has plenty of history and vintage decorations to check out, as well as their Prohibition Bar serving up cocktails out of coffee mugs. Got to be discreet about these things.
Getting to Downtown Las Vegas
If you are not staying in the Downtown Las Vegas area, your best option to get here is to catch an Uber.
If you are driving, you can get free parking at some of the hotel casinos if you eat or play there.
You can also catch the Duece, which is a double deck bus that goes up and down the Las Vegas strip 24 hours a day.
Note that the bus takes a long time to go a short distance. You are probably better off getting an Uber.
Our friends jumped in an Uber to meet us in Downtown from the New York, New York hotel after learning the bus would take two hours!!
Final Thoughts
Downtown Vegas is on the cusp of that greatness. Just remember you heard it here first.
Old Downtown Vegas as it’s also known was the original town site and gambling district and historic center of Vegas, as well as being the Central Business District – so why not make a stop there?
Visitors used to confine themselves to the boundaries of the covered Fremont St, but I hope this guide encourages you to look beyond Fremont to discover more.
If you want to visit Vegas on the cheap, then don’t miss downtown. As it’s so centralized, it has a more of an upbeat vibe than the sprawling Strip offers.
The slot machines here also have a higher payout percentage. Find an old machine in a dark corner somewhere – ding ding ding! Shh, don’t tell anyone!
More Las Vegas and Southwest USA tips
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