Free and Cheap Things To Do In Vegas That Are Actually Worth Your Time

Las Vegas might be synonymous with luxury and indulgence, but there’s plenty to do in Sin City on a budget.

From spectacular shows to urban adventures, there are plenty of wallet-friendly activities to keep you entertained. Here are the best cheap things to do in Las Vegas, including the top budget-friendly Cirque show, affordable eats and insider tips for exploring the city on a budget.

Here's NerdWallet's ultimate guide to the free or cheap things to do in Vegas that are actually worth your time:

Las Vegas has some of the best entertainment on the planet. And while it's easy to spend hundreds of dollars per ticket to see a show, it's equally easy to see top-tier entertainment for far less than $100. Here are some shows and other entertainment venues actually worth the admission ticket.

If you want to see a Cirque show

Mad Apple is the most affordable Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas and, arguably, one of the best. A vibrant mix of acrobatics, music and comedy, this show offers everything you’d expect from Cirque, but with an edge.

Be warned: Mad Apple is not kid-friendly due to its R-rated jokes from the comedians, but that’s part of what makes it a hilarious and unforgettable experience for adults. Tickets start at $49 (the next cheapest Cirque shows in Vegas start at $69), making Mad Apple an entertainment option well worth its price.

If you love Bruno Mars

People pay hundreds of dollars to see Bruno Mars in concert, but if you're lucky, you can catch him for the price of a cocktail at Pinky Ring.

Few people have heard of it, as the club intentionally has a limited social media presence. No phones are allowed inside (and no photos). Instead, the Pinky Ring is a refreshing, swanky cocktail lounge where people actually pay attention to their surroundings, including the band. Mars himself has been known to show up unexpectedly to perform with the band at the club, which is located inside the Bellagio. The drinks are excellent too. Don't miss the Mars Mocha, which features chocolate rum, cognac, espresso, banana and toasted sesame froth.

If you want an iconic (and romantic) experience

The iconic Bellagio Fountain Show is a must-see attraction in Las Vegas—and it’s completely free. Set against the backdrop of the luxurious Bellagio Hotel, the fountains perform a dazzling water and light show choreographed to music ranging from classical to contemporary hits. Shows run every 30 minutes in the afternoon and evening, with increased frequency at night. Simply line up along Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the artificial lake, wait and enjoy.

There's an In-N-Out Burger at The LINQ Promenade, and it serves up its famous burgers and fries at the company's famously low price tag.

Other fast food establishments on the Strip mark up their prices. But many still accept coupons, often displayed in rewards apps. That includes McDonald's and Taco Bell, both examples of fast food restaurants that offer in-app rewards for customers who simply sign up.

One of the best ways to save in Las Vegas is to avoid overpriced minibar snacks and drinks. Instead, load up on groceries elsewhere. If you have a car, stop at a grocery store before arriving. If you're taking a car straight from the airport to the Strip, you can otherwise just head to one of the many Walgreens, CVS, or Target locations on the Strip.

Stock up on snacks, water, and even alcohol for a fraction of the cost you’d pay at your hotel. Just keep in mind that many pools have strict rules about bringing in outside food and drinks, so check their policies before you go.

When shopping at these stores, maximizing rewards programs to earn points or flex coupons. For example, you might stop at the Target on the Strip, where you could flash your Target Circle™ Credit Card for a 5% discount on all eligible Target purchases.

Why pay for an activity when Las Vegas itself is an adventure? Urban hiking through the sprawling casinos is free and a great way to explore the city. The labyrinthine layouts and lack of clear signage mean you’ll get in plenty of steps. Key stops include:

• Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: This seasonal display of flowers and art installations is completely free to ogle, even if you're not a guest of the Bellagio Las Vegas.

• New York-New York: Walk through replicas of NYC landmarks, like the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty.

• The Venetian: Wander through the indoor canals and marvel at the faux-sky ceilings.

if you're willing to venture off the Strip (and you have a rental car or your own vehicle), there are even more affordable and free things to do (especially if you love the outdoors). Valley of Fire and Lake Mead are popular nearby parks that prove that there's even more just beyond the neon lights of Las Vegas. Here are some of the best outdoor activities in Vegas:

Hike to Petroglyphs in Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area

Not far south of the Las Vegas Strip is a quiet, 48,438-acre protected area of desert called Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, which is perfect for hiking and mountain biking.

The most popular attraction is Petroglyph Canyon Trail. On this 4.1-mile lollipop-loop trail, there are over 1,700 individual petroglyphs on the rocks along the route that date back as far as the Archaic era.

While much of the trail is flat, there's little to no shade and a few areas where climbing over dried-up waterfalls is required. Prefer to wander? There are plenty of wilderness areas within the park where you can hike off-trail, too.

Mountain biking trails also abound. Entrance to the park is free, and even on weekends, you’re likely to have much of the trail to yourself if you arrive before 9 a.m.

Ski at Lee Canyon

Did you know you can ski near Las Vegas in the winter? Lee Canyon is the only ski resort in all of southern Nevada, and it’s easily accessible from the city — just an hour driving from Las Vegas.

The resort isn’t huge — there are 195 acres of terrain and 27 trails accessed via three chairlifts, including a skills park — but the mountain is popular with both locals and visitors. And while at many resorts skiing can be prohibitively expensive, lift tickets at Lee Canyon can be as little as $19 on weekdays and often include a $10 credit for food and drinks. Kids 12 and younger ski free, too. If you didn’t bring your own skis or snowboard on the airplane or in the car, gear is available to rent.

If you’re more interested in warm-weather activities, there’s also a mountain bike park on the property that’s open in the summer.

Hike and bike in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

For free outdoor fun in the mountains near Lee Canyon, head to Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, which is located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

In the summer, you can escape the heat via hiking, backpacking and mountain biking in the sprawling outdoor playground that’s populated with peaks and pine forests. In the winter, there’s sledding in addition to hiking (though you might want to bring microspikes to safely navigate icy trails), snowshoeing and even fat tire biking.

For maps and hike recommendations, head to the visitor gateway. If you want to spend a few days in the mountains, you can book a campsite or a stay at the retreat on Charleston Peak, which is just up the road from the visitor center.

Take a scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Fans of geology, hiking or landscape photography will love Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, located just 17 miles from the Vegas Strip. The park offers many adventure opportunities, including mountain biking, road cycling around the park and rock climbing, but because it is so close to the city, the park is often busy. About 4 million people visit every year, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

From the beginning of October through the end of May between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., you’ll need a reservation to drive the 13-mile scenic loop or hike many of the popular park trails along the way. The timed entry reservation costs $2 on top of the $20 entry fee, which is waived if you have a national parks pass or if you visit on a fee-free day.

Explore historic tunnels near Lake Mead

Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam are popular attractions near Las Vegas, but one alternative to get a taste of the history of both is the historic Railroad Tunnel Trail in Boulder City, just southeast of Vegas. You can walk or bike along the easy, level gravel path that offers views of Lake Mead below.

You’ll also pass through tunnels about 25 feet wide and 30 feet high that were built for a railroad to transport building materials for the construction of Hoover Dam.

When you’re done, grab a meal in the small but lively Boulder City. If the goal was to get outside and out of the city of Las Vegas, consider it a touchdown after this hike.