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10 Things To Do in Vegas—Besides Gambling

Get to know the alternative side of Vegas, beyond the glitz of the casinos.

Palm trees and the famous Linq Ferris Wheel in Las Vegas.
Hi, I'm Tamara!

Tamara Hinson is a UK-based freelance writer who loves snowboarding, scuba diving, and cycling. Her favourite regions include East Africa, Asia, and South America and her happy place is the mountains.

There’s more to Las Vegas than just gambling. Thanks to a number of new attractions and experiences, visitors to Vegas who are weary of losing their life savings at the poker tables can instead get their thrills at amusement parks, world-class museums, and through myriad outdoor activities. If you’re keen to explore Sin City beyond its casinos, here are 10 of the top experiences in Las Vegas for visitors who don’t gamble, whether you’re visiting Las Vegas for the first time or are back for more.

1. Dine at one of America’s largest conservatories

A hummingbird display at the Bellagio in Vegas.
Dine among the hummingbirds.Bildquelle: Kit Leong / Shutterstock

A feast for the eyes—and the stomach.

Las Vegas may be a city in the center of a desert, but it’s also known for the lush garden in the conservatory at the Bellaggio. The theme of this flower-filled paradise, which is tended to by a team of over 100 horticulturalists, is changed every season as well as for holidays such as Christmas and Lunar New Year. The best bit? It’s now possible to dine in the gardens, thanks to the new Garden Table experience. Your table for two will be set amid the greenery, and you’ll dine on a feast inspired by the garden’s current theme.

2. Rock out at the Punk Rock Museum

A display inside the Punk Rock Museum in Vegas.
If you like punk rock memorabilia, this is the place for you.Bildquelle: Matthew B / Tripadvisor

One of the world’s largest collections of punk rock memorabilia.

Opened in early March 2023, the Punk Rock Museum is one of the newest museums in Vegas and houses one of the world’s biggest collections of punk memorabilia. It’s the brainchild of NOFX frontman Fat Mike, who’s recruited some of his closest friends (including Noodles from Offspring) to work as tour guides. After browsing the memorabilia grab a seat at the bar or stop by the tattoo parlor for a permanent reminder of your visit.

3. Learn about Las Vegas’ explosive history

A display at the National Atomic Testing Museum.
The National Atomic Testing Museum makes for a fascinating visit.Bildquelle: Kit Leong / Shutterstock

When desert detonations were a blast.

Visitors flock to Las Vegas these days to watch record-breaking fountains and to ride rollercoasters that speed through the center of its biggest hotels. But just a few decades ago, the entertainment was even weirder—people would gather on to the city’s rooftops to sip so-called “atomic cocktails” and watch nuclear bombs being detonated in the distant desert. You can learn more about this explosive episode of history at Las Vegas’ National Atomic Testing Museum, where exhibits include 6,000 documents relating to the tests, merchandise handed out to bomb-watchers, and dummies used at the test site.

4. Check out Las Vegas’ new arts district

An installation at Area 15 in Las Vegas.
Area 15 is no distance from the Strip.Bildquelle: Kit Leong / Shutterstock

Quirky art installations at Area 15.

Just a short walk from the Strip is Area 15, a purpose-built arts district comprising indoor and outdoor areas filled with interactive art, rotating exhibits, and psychedelic sculptures. Standalone experiences include Wink World, created by Chris Wink (founder of the Blue Man Group), which comprises a series of light installation–filled rooms. Or, walk through Omega Mart, a life-sized replica of a supermarket, where you can discover hidden doors that lead to secret worlds filled with slides, light installations, and sculptures. By night, Area 15 becomes an adults-only venue with several fantastic bars and restaurants, including The Beast By Todd English.

5. Take a mob masterclass

Displays at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas.
The mob underworld is fascinating.Bildquelle: Kit Leong / Shutterstock

Get a better understanding of the underworld.

Inside Las Vegas’ former courthouse is The Mob Museum, from which you’ll walk away with a whole new perspective on organized crime. The museum focuses not just on the murky underworld figures who once controlled the city’s casinos, but also their modern-day counterparts, from the mafia to the cartel, and the Japanese yakuza. Many of the exhibits here are interactive—don’t miss the crime lab experience, where you’ll learn how to analyze DNA. Recent additions to the museum’s permanent collection include items once owned by Al Capone.

6. Learn about Egyptology

Egyptology fans check out the exhibits at the Luxor Museum in Vegas.
The world of Egyptology is a fascinating one.Bildquelle: Discovering King Tut's Tomb at Luxor Hotel and Casino Las Vegas / Tripadvisor

Step inside a replica tomb.

Further proof that Las Vegas’ casino hotels aren’t just about poker tables and all-you-can-eat buffets comes courtesy of the Luxor Hotel Discovering King Tut's Tomb exhibition. Opened in 2022, 100 years after Howard Carter entered the tomb of King Tutankhamun, this permanent exhibition encourages guests to enter a replica of the tomb where they can learn about the life of King Tut and find out about the ancient process of mummification. Bag one of the hi-tech VR-equipped chairs for an even deeper dive into the world of Egyptology.

7. Showtime

A performance at the Cirque du Soleil in Vegas.
The Cirque Du Soleil always puts on a good show.Bildquelle: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock

Hit the shows, not the slots.

Las Vegas is famous for its Cirque Du Soleil shows. Mad Apple, the latest Cirque show at the New York New York Hotel and Casino, is slightly different from its predecessors. To start with, there’s a New York–inspired soundtrack, which includes Alicia Keys’ and Jay-Z’s earworm “Empire State of Mind,” and there are also several appearances by stand-up comedians. Our favorite bit, however, is the on-stage bar. Head here for a pre-show drink and to mingle with the performers as they warm up the crowd.

8. Have an art attack

Diners eat in front of a Damien Hirst in Vegas.
Vegas is home to one of the world's most famous Damien Hirsts.Bildquelle: Nathan W / Tripadvisor

Interact with world-class art.

Las Vegas hotels and casinos are filled with priceless art, whether it’s Damien Hirst’s dissected shark (on display behind the Palms Casino Resort’s Unknown Bar or the Salvador Dalí masterpieces currently on display at the Bellagio. In 2021, Resorts World unveiled a free self-guided art tour. The hotel’s collection includes artworks by Andy Warhol, large-scale digital art by Michelangelo Bastiani, and pieces by South Korean ceramicist Jaeyong Kim. To find out more about the masterpieces, visitors simply scan QR codes next to the artwork in question.

9. Head to the Linq

Nighttime at the Linq Ferris wheel in Vegas.
The Linq is always a fun time.Bildquelle: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock

Open-air entertainment and Vegas views.

Just off the Las Vegas Strip is The Linq, an open-air entertainment district. Start by soaking up the views of Las Vegas from the High Roller, North America’s largest observation wheel. Back on ground level, fly through the Linq’s promenade on its Fly Linq zipline, where you’ll find 10 zip lines side-by-side. Keen to escape Las Vegas’ heat? Chill out at the Linq’s Icebar, which is carved from 100 tons of ice. We also recommend stopping by VR Adventures, a hi-tech playground where you can explore various virtual worlds.

10. Fly over the Grand Canyon—virtually

You don't have to go far to see the world.
See the Grand Canyon in comfort.Bildquelle: Anthony Cruz / Viator

A cheaper way to see the sights.

Helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon are a popular day-trip option for Vegas visitors. But they aren’t exactly cheap. For the next best thing, head to FlyOver Las Vegas to experience one of America’s most hi-tech flight simulator rides. Flyover Las Vegas has three experiences to choose from: Wonders of American West, which involves a flight over the Grand Canyon; Iceland, during which you’ll zip over smoke-belching volcanoes and the famous Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier; and Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies, which involves a high-speed flight over Banff National Park.

More ways to explore Las Vegas

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