I don’t love gambling and I don’t drink, but I still love going to Las Vegas. The shows are a big part of that. I’ve seen Penn & Teller, a Cirque du Soleil production, and the jousting at Tournament of Kings, which was super fun. I also love wandering through hotels like Bellagio and Wynn just to look around.
You can fill a Las Vegas trip with shows, good food, shopping, and exploring without spending your evenings at a casino table. Here are some of the best things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling or drinking, including my favorites and other options worth considering.
Tips for Visiting Las Vegas Without Gambling or Drinking
Group your plans by location. Visit the Bellagio Conservatory and fountains together, and explore the hotel while you’re there. Plan the Mob Museum and Fremont Street for the same day to cut down on traveling back and forth.
You don’t necessarily need a rental car. If most of your plans are on the Strip, combine walking with taxis or rideshares. A car becomes more useful for exploring outside the city, although organized tours are another option.
Allow extra time to get around. Those enormous hotels can make distances deceptive. Getting from the sidewalk to a restaurant or theater inside a resort adds time, too, so avoid booking things back-to-back.
Plan around the heat. In warmer months, save outdoor exploring for earlier or later in the day. Museums, shows, and shopping can fill the hottest part of the afternoon.
Book your priorities first. Choose the shows, attractions, and meals you’re most excited about, then leave room for wandering. Some of my favorite moments in Las Vegas have been simply looking around the hotels or stopping to watch the fountains.
1. Enjoy a Show
photo credit: Travels with the Crew
Las Vegas shows are one of my favorite reasons to visit. I’ve seen Penn & Teller and a Cirque du Soleil production, and I love having an evening built around a performance rather than a casino.
Whether you prefer magic, acrobatics, comedy, or a concert, a show is a great way to enjoy Las Vegas without gambling or drinking. Check the current lineup for your dates and choose something you’re excited to see.
Book ahead if a particular performance is a priority, and check the start time and age restrictions before buying tickets. Leave enough time for dinner and getting to the theater—the hotels are enormous, and reaching your seat can take longer than you expect.
I also loved Tournament of Kings at Excalibur. The jousting show was super fun, and cheering along with the action makes it a very different experience from sitting quietly in a theater. If you’re looking for a lively evening, especially with kids, this is one I’d recommend.
2. Soak Up The Sun at One of Las Vegas’ Famous Pools
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Vegas is also home to some of the world’s most extravagant and luxurious pools. Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat or a party scene, Las Vegas has a pool for every type of traveler. Here are some of the best pools to visit in Las Vegas:
The Venetian Pool Deck – This pool deck is created to feel like a garden in Venice. It features several pools, including a heated pool and hot tub, and is surrounded by landscaping and cabanas. There is a splash pad as well for kids and kids at heart.
The Wynn Pool – The Wynn Pool is a tranquil oasis located in the heart of Wynn Las Vegas. It features four pools, a hot tub, and a waterfall and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and private cabanas.
Mandalay Bay Beach – Mandalay Bay Beach is a massive 11-acre pool complex with a wave pool, a lazy river, and eight pools. It’s designed to look like a tropical beach, with sand, palm trees, and cabanas. It is considered to be one of the best pools in Las Vegas. Be aware that the sand gets very hot, so you will want to pack water shoes to visit Mandalay Bay Beach.
Check pool access before making plans. Some hotel pools are reserved for overnight guests, while others may offer paid access through specific reservations. Confirm the rules for the pool you want to use, including seasonal opening dates and whether children are allowed.
3. Shop at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
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The Forum Shops are worth visiting even if you aren’t planning to buy anything. With statues, fountains, and a ceiling painted to look like the sky, there is plenty to see while you wander around. This is Las Vegas, so even a shopping mall is a production.
We really enjoyed watching the gods come alive in the Fall of Atlantis show. The moving statues make it much more entertaining than your usual shopping break, and we had a good time stopping to watch.
Leave yourself some time to explore rather than just walking through on your way somewhere else. You can browse the shops, stop for something to eat, and enjoy the setting. It’s also a good way to spend part of an afternoon when you need a break from the heat outside.
4. Watch the Bellagio Fountains
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I first saw the Bellagio fountains almost 30 years ago, when they were brand new, and recently went back to watch them again. They are just as amazing as they were all those years ago. With everything that changes in Las Vegas, I love that this is still something worth stopping for.
The water moves to the music, sometimes gently and sometimes shooting high into the air. We like watching at night, when the lights make the whole thing even more beautiful.
This is one of my favorite free things to do in Las Vegas. You don’t need a ticket or a reservation—just stop along the sidewalk in front of Bellagio and watch. Allow a little extra time before or after dinner so you aren’t rushing past it on your way somewhere else.
5. Explore the Hotels on the Las Vegas Strip
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You don’t have to stay at a fancy Las Vegas hotel to enjoy looking around. Bellagio and Wynn are two of my favorites, and wandering through them is an activity all on its own.
The elaborate interiors give you plenty to stop and admire. I love seeing how much thought goes into the decorations and displays. You can browse the shops, stop for something to eat, and enjoy the hotels without placing a single bet.
Leave some time between your other plans to look around—you don’t need every minute in Vegas to be a scheduled activity.
6. Visit the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
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The Bellagio Conservatory is another reason to spend some time exploring the hotel. The flowers and elaborate displays make it much more than a quick walk through a lobby. I loved looking around and taking in all the details.
We ate lunch at a café overlooking the gardens, and it was spectacular. Having that view while we ate made lunch feel like part of the experience, rather than just a break between things to do.
You can stop in while you’re visiting Bellagio and take your time looking around. Pair it with the fountains for two of my favorite things to see in Las Vegas without gambling or drinking.
7. Eat Your Way Around Las Vegas
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We didn’t take a food tour in Las Vegas, but we ate at a ton of different places on our own. Food is a big part of the fun here, whether you want something casual, a beautiful restaurant, or a buffet where you hardly know where to start.
We loved the nachos at Guy Fieri’s, ate at Bellagio and Wynn, and tried Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace. The buffet was enormous, so definitely arrive hungry! Our lunch overlooking the Bellagio gardens was another highlight, but not every meal needs to be fancy to be delicious.
Leave some room in your plans—and your stomach—to try different places. You can make a reservation for a meal you’re especially excited about and keep other meals flexible as you explore. There is plenty to enjoy without making drinks part of the evening.
8. See the Strip from the High Roller
The hotels in Las Vegas look enormous from the sidewalk, but the High Roller gives you a chance to see them from a completely different angle. This observation wheel at the LINQ Promenade rises 550 feet above the Strip, with wide views across the city and out toward the surrounding mountains.
One full rotation takes about 30 minutes, and you ride in an enclosed, climate-controlled cabin. It’s a sightseeing ride rather than a fast-moving amusement park attraction, giving you time to look around as you gradually rise above the hotels.
Choose a daytime ride to see more of the surrounding landscape or go after dark for the lights of the Strip. A standard ticket makes this an easy addition to a Las Vegas trip without gambling or drinking. Check current ticket options before booking, and allow extra time for boarding.
9. Play Golf in Las Vegas
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Golf might not be the first thing you think of when planning a trip to Las Vegas, but it’s another way to spend a day away from the casinos. If you enjoy playing, you can work a round into your trip and see a little of the surrounding desert scenery while you’re at it.
“It may be surprising to hear that one of the best things to do in Las Vegas is golf,” said Monica Fish. “Las Vegas golf courses are some of America’s best greens from the greatest course architects. You can pick from ones that integrate the natural Nevada landscape and beauty, allow you to experience true Jack Nicklaus golf, play championship-level golf, or gain bragging rights at the only PGA golf course open for public play.”
Before booking, check the course’s location, price, and rental options, especially if you aren’t bringing your own clubs. Think about your tee time, too. In the hotter months, an early start will make spending several hours outside much more comfortable.
10. Visit the Mob Museum
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The Mob Museum is a fascinating museum in downtown Las Vegas that tells the story of organized crime in America. The museum features interactive exhibits and displays that showcase the rise and fall of the mob, including infamous gangsters like Al Capone and John Gotti.
The Mob Museum also offers guided tours that take visitors through the museum’s exhibits and offer insights into the history of organized crime in America.
11. Visit the Neon Museum
In a city that is constantly changing, the Neon Museum saves a little of old Las Vegas. Its outdoor collection, called the Neon Boneyard, holds signs from the hotels and businesses that helped give the city its unmistakable look. It’s a chance to look beyond the enormous resorts and see pieces of the Vegas that came before them.
You can visit during the day to admire the designs and details, or choose an evening visit to see the restored signs lit up. Guided tours are also available if you want to hear more about the history behind the collection.
Check ticket options for your dates and book ahead. The Boneyard is outdoors and uncovered, so dress for the weather rather than expecting an air-conditioned museum.
12. Visit the Pinball Hall of Fame
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The Pinball Hall of Fame is a unique museum in Las Vegas that showcases vintage pinball machines from the 1950s to the 1990s. The museum is a nonprofit organization that volunteers run, and all of the machines are fully operational.
Visitors to the Pinball Hall of Fame can play any of the machines for a small fee, and the museum also features a gift shop that sells pinball-related merchandise. The Pinball Hall of Fame is a great spot for a fun and nostalgic afternoon.
13. Explore the Fremont Street Experience
The Strip isn’t the only place to see Las Vegas lit up at night. Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience has a huge overhead canopy filled with colorful visuals and music, plus free live entertainment. You can wander through, stop to listen to a band, and enjoy the spectacle without placing a bet.
This is a lively part of Las Vegas, so expect loud music, crowds, and plenty happening around you. You don’t need to drink to enjoy it, but drinking and partying are part of the atmosphere. If you’re looking for a quiet evening, this probably won’t be your first choice.
Check the entertainment calendar before going, and remember that Fremont Street is downtown rather than on the Strip. You can combine it with a visit to the Mob Museum instead of making a separate trip across town.
14. Explore AREA15 and Omega Mart
Las Vegas does strange and over-the-top very well, and Omega Mart fits right in. Created by Meow Wolf inside the AREA15 entertainment complex, it starts as a supermarket—but the products on the shelves are your first clue that something is a little off.
Hidden passages lead beyond the grocery aisles into colorful rooms and interactive art installations. You can follow clues to uncover the story behind the store or simply explore and see what you discover. If you like unusual attractions that give you something to do rather than just something to look at, this is an option for your list.
AREA15 is off the Strip, so plan transportation and give yourself time to explore. Book Omega Mart tickets ahead, and check exactly what your purchase includes. General entry to AREA15 does not automatically include Omega Mart or its other paid attractions.
15. Take a Day Trip to the Grand Canyon
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The Grand Canyon is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world and is a must-see attraction if you’re in Las Vegas. While it’s not located directly in Las Vegas, it’s only a few hours away, and there are plenty of tour companies that offer day trips to the Grand Canyon.
There are many ways to experience the Grand Canyon, including hiking, helicopter tours, and mule rides. If you’re short on time, you can take a tour of the South Rim, which is the most popular and accessible part of the canyon.
16. Visit the Hoover Dam
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The Hoover Dam is one of the most impressive engineering marvels in the world and is a must-see attraction if you’re visiting Las Vegas. Located just 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River. It was built during the Great Depression and is named after President Herbert Hoover.
The Hoover Dam is an awe-inspiring sight to behold, and there are many ways to experience it. You can take a guided tour of the dam, visit the Hoover Dam Museum, or simply take in the stunning views from the observation deck.
17. Explore the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
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The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a stunning natural wonder located just a few miles west of Las Vegas. The conservation area covers 195,819 acres and is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, including bighorn sheep, wild horses, and golden eagles.
There are many ways to explore the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, including hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails in the area, ranging from easy to difficult, and the views are simply breathtaking.
Tips for Visiting Las Vegas Without Gambling or Drinking
Group your plans by location. Visit the Bellagio Conservatory and fountains together, and explore the hotel while you’re there. Plan the Mob Museum and Fremont Street for the same day. You’ll spend more time enjoying things and less time traveling back and forth.
You don’t necessarily need a rental car. If most of your plans are on the Strip, you can combine walking with taxis or rideshares. A car becomes more useful if you want to explore outside the city, although organized tours are another option.
Allow more time than you think to get around. Those enormous hotels can make distances deceptive. Getting from the sidewalk to a restaurant or theater inside a resort adds time, too, so avoid booking things back-to-back.
Plan around the heat. In warmer months, save outdoor exploring for earlier or later in the day. Museums, shows, and shopping can fill the hottest part of the afternoon.
Book your priorities first. Choose the shows, attractions, and meals you’re most excited about, then leave room for wandering. Some of my favorite moments in Las Vegas have been simply looking around the hotels or stopping to watch the fountains.
Is Las Vegas Worth Visiting Without Gambling?
Photo credit: Travels With The Crew
If you don’t gamble or drink, Las Vegas can still be an excellent vacation destination. There are enough activities here to keep you busy for a week without even leaving the Las Vegas Strip. You can feel confident that you can have a relaxing vacation that doesn’t involve any of the “sins” of “Sin City.”
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