Fremont Street was Las Vegas before there was a Las Vegas. A mere five blocks long, it was the first paved street in Vegas by 1925. Freemont Street attractions grew when the city became a railway stop, and casinos and restaurants drew in more and more visitors as gambling became legal. These days, there are few limits regarding what to do on Fremont Street.
Casinos with a great history can be found here, as well as entertainment that includes nightly free music and the incredible Viva Vision Light Show, one of the largest LED screen shows anywhere. Visitors always find fun things to do on Fremont Street. While it is primarily an adult destination, there are a surprising number of family-friendly activities here.
Let's dive into all that Fremont Street has to offer!
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One of the fun things to do in downtown Las Vegas, just a block south of Fremont Street, is to visit the Mob Museum. The museum used to be a courthouse where various mob bosses were tried. Las Vegas accepts its complicated mob-related history with a chuckle and even turned the courthouse into a museum, where it has become a vital part of the downtown scene.
A tour of the crime lab examines fingerprinting, DNA, forensics, and more. The tour begins every half hour from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. The distillery tour through the Underground is a recreation of the Prohibition-era speakeasy and the conditions of the 1920s relating to alcohol. It is open from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm daily.
A firearm training simulator lets visitors live role-play law enforcement situations. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
Book Mob Museum Skip-the-line Ticket
Address: 300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas has been invigorated by the D Las Vegas Casino, the tallest downtown hotel on vibrant Fremont Street. With 626 superior rooms and nightly entertainment, D Las Vegas is the place to be and one of the major attractions on Fremont Street. This casino is in the midst of the electrifying Fremont Street Experience, the SlotZilla Ziplining, and the Neon Museum.
The rooms are well-priced, and there are several restaurants, from juicy steaks at the Andiamo Steakhouse to the 24-hour casual American Coney Island, and finally, Bacon Nation for bacon lovers everywhere. Even more exciting, two floors and 42,000 square feet are dedicated to gaming. The D offers great gaming odds and the latest slots, while the Dancing Dealers add to the fun.
Address: 301 Fremont St, Las Vegas
One of the brightest activities on Fremont Street is the Viva Vision Light Show on the largest LED screen in the world every night from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am, and it is accompanied by professional sound quality. Each incredible show lasts for six minutes, and it is absolutely free. Over 24 million visitors come for this extraordinary light experience. A recent upgrade has made the lights seven times brighter than before.
Mixology is a unique 3-D light show with classical music that begins at 9:00 pm at the top of every hour. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visitors can use the SlotZilla zipline beneath the light show. This is what memories are made of.
Address: 425 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas
Also Read: Best Free Shows in Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas, including Fremont Street, has been undergoing exciting changes in an effort to not remain “gambling” exclusive. Things to do on Fremont Street include much more than tossing a dice. The Container Park comprises 45 shipping containers of various sizes and colors. Visitors are greeted with a 40-foot-long flaming object d’art at the entrance. And then the fun begins.
There are 43 stores, bars, eateries, a playground, and a theater where visitors would least expect them. The Lawn provides Lego blocks, checkers boards, and loungers to make people comfortable, a rarity in Las Vegas, but this is where you see free concerts and movies.
The Container Park's stores are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and until 8:00 pm on Sunday. The eateries are open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and until 1:00 am on weekends.
Address: 707 Fremont Street, Las Vegas
The history of Las Vegas can be encapsulated in the story of its neon lights, which had turned the city from nighttime into permanent daytime since 1929 when the first neon lights introduced the Oasis Café on Fremont Street.
The museum is divided into neon signs for downtown, businesses, the strip, and motels. Each business has made Las Vegas glow through the decades, and the museum lights up these signs for evening tours. One of the oldest signs is for a cocktail lounge from 1933. By preserving its signs, a bit of city history is kept alive.
One of the cool things to do on Fremont Street is to take a helicopter tour with Neon Night Flight. The tour soars over Las Vegas attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, before descending for a 45-minute tour of the Neon Museum.
Address: 770 N Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Also Read: Best Museums in Las Vegas
The Golden Nuggets Casino is not just another gambling hall on Fremont Street. This is where visitors will find the biggest golden nugget in existence displayed in the casino’s lobby. Called the “Hand of Faith,” this beauty is worth over $1,000,000, and seeing it is a must-do on Fremont Street.
As impressive as this massive piece of gold is, the Golden Nugget also offers excellent nightlife. Its Troy Liquor Bar stands out on Fremont Street with its bottle service, VIP tables, and the ultimate bar music that keeps the night awake.
Another specialty of the Golden Nugget is its Shark Tank. Visitors can enjoy the shark pool with its water tank as well as the behind-the-scenes tour of this 2000,000-gallon aquarium.
Address: 129 E Fremont St, Las Vegas
It helps to remember that Fremont Street was Las Vegas before there was a Las Vegas. This is where the Rat Pack, the showgirls, and the mob all came and caroused. It was a first for many things in Las Vegas. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the movie house El Portal, built on Fremont Street in 1928, was the first movie with air conditioning. It was also the first theater of any type in the city. That was major to this desert city that was still in its infancy.
The theater eventually closed in 1970, although the famed air conditioning remains. It turned into the El Portal Gifts shop and then into the Indian Arts & Crafts store, although some of the interior has been left in its original condition. This is one of the wonderful Fremont attractions that connect us to the past.
Address: 310 Fremont Street, Las Vegas
Binion's Gambling Hall has graced Tremont Street for over 90 years. It was the first gambling hall in Las Vegas, and it originated the World Series of Poker, which still has hearts pounding to this day.
One of the activities on Fremont Street that makes Binion’s special is its free photos of guests with a million dollars. And yes, the money is real. All visitors are welcome to a “money” shot for their Instagram account – and watch as their friends come running wanting to borrow funds.
The Gambling Hall is located within the Hotel Apache, which opened in 1932 and was the first Las Vegas hotel with an air-conditioned lobby and a fully functional elevator. The resort was visited by stars such as Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable.
Address: 128 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas
Slotzilla, to be found only on Fremont Street, is an 11-story slot machine-inspired zipline and certainly one of the bravest and coolest things to do on Fremont Street. Soar above the Fremont Experience for an extraordinary view. You and your friends get an exclusive view of downtown Las Vegas while soaring 77 feet above the crowd. This is the sole zipline in Las Vegas, and well worth the view and the cost of $49.00.
A secondary Zoomline is 114 feet above Fremont Street, flying 40 miles per hour and landing the brave Zoomers on top of the Golden Gate Casino. Visitors can zipline Monday through Wednesday from noon to 1:00 am and until 2:00 am. Thursday through Sunday. Keep in mind the shiny lights of the city during a nighttime zip.
Address: 425 Fremont Street, Las Vegas
Also Read: Things To Do In Las Vegas Besides Gambling
As wonderful as Las Vegas and Fremont Street are, there are not many cheap places to grab some quick food. When hungry, one of the best things to do on Fremont Street is to visit Evel Pie, a pizzeria themed after daredevil Evel Knievel, whose attempt to jump the fountains at Ceasar’s Palace is still celebrated as a part of Las Vegas history.
Evel Pie is a local favorite and becomes even more so when ordering a slice for $4.00 or a slice and some draught beer for $7.00. This is a great deal, especially when feeding a family. Even better, those pizza slices are humungous.
Evel Pie is open from 11:00 am to 2:00 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On Fridays and Saturdays, it remains open until 4:15 am.
Address: 508 Fremont Street, Las Vegas
One of the things to do in downtown Las Vegas, just around the corner from Fremont Street, is visit the Discovery Children’s Museum, a destination for the entire family. This museum has 58,000 feet of different-themed exhibits and 26,000 square feet of hands-on displays. The museum is great for all ages, but especially for children.
Tiny tots can crawl around and play in Toddler Town and learn about socialization skills. For children just a bit older, Eco City teaches them to work as a community in a metropolitan and environmentally based setting. Water World is all about the power of water, especially in the desert, and includes interaction with mini-replicas of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.
Admission to the museum is $14.50 for everyone. It is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It opens at noon on Sundays and closes at 6:00 pm on Tuesdays.
Address: 360 Promenade Place, Las Vegas
Also Read: The Best Children's Museums in the USA
The Off-the-Strip Griffin Bar is one of the activities on Fremont Street that allows for a low-key escape from the Vegas hustle. The cocktails and beer are nicely priced, and the décor is comfortable with dim lights and fire pits. Everything is geared for relaxation and conversation – a rare find anywhere in Las Vegas.
The fire pits and leather booths make it easy to meet other visitors, many of whom are attractive, engaging, and interested in conversation about independent films and music. No pressure here, but it never hurts to keep an eye out. Happy Hour begins at 10:00 pm, and guests can savor one of Griffin’s special cocktails for $3.00.
The bartenders at Griffin are talented and enthusiastic mixologists passionate about creating specialty cocktails and discussing them with their guests. Just ordering a drink at the Griffin can be an adventure and will help create fond memories of Las Vegas. Musical entertainment can include a jukebox or a live DJ.
Address: 511 East Fremont Street, Las Vegas
Few Fremont Street attractions are as interesting as the Atomic Liquors. It can be seen in the movie "The Hangover," and at one time, it was the favorite off-strip hangout for the Rat Pack, Barbara Streisand, and others. Ms. Streisand even refers to it in her biography.
Atomic Liquor began life as a restaurant but was the first establishment in Las Vegas to receive a liquor store license and a “pouring” license. It is the city’s first freestanding bar. In effect, it was Las Vegas before there was a Las Vegas.
Atomic is far away enough from the Vegas crowds to make it a lifetime experience and helps keep it a true bar instead of a tourist attraction. The Atomic Liquors hours are noon to 2:00 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and it remains open until 3:00 am Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 917 East Fremont, Las Vegas
Also Read: Unique Things To Do in Las Vegas
This is an interesting place to look for things to do on Fremont Street. At first glance, it seems innocent enough with its pool tables, arcade games, bowling, and several board games. The VIP booth for the pool is $20.00, which is reasonable, and the drinks are good.
Then it gets noteworthy, and not only to nerds. The VIP Barbie Bottle Service is a Barbie-themed private area (which includes Barbie’s Dream House) for about half a dozen people who might enjoy getting serviced by Barbie. Barbie will charge $200.00 for the VIP bottle services.
For a bargain at a mere $20.00, visitors get to ride the world’s largest penis. The penis fits two, and this would make the ideal story when someone asks, "And what did you do on your vacation?"
Address: 450 Fremont Street, Suite 250, Las Vegas
1. Casino at the El Cortez Hotel – 600 Fremont Street
El Cortez, the longest continuously operating casino in Las Vegas, was a favorite of Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, who once owned it. It reflects Fremont Street and its attraction for the Rat Pack that contributed to its fame. It was voted Best Local Casino in 2021. Even the restaurant is named Siegel’s 1941 – after Busby. Sophistical and old-school that is the El Cortez.
2. Four Queens Casino – 202 Fremont Street
Visitors to the Four Queens Casino can join its All Access Players Club to earn comp dollars while gaming. The same card can be used at the Binion Gambling Hall. Comp dollars can be accessed at the casino’s restaurants and bars. A huge attraction at the Four Queen Casino is performer, comic, and mind reader Mike Hammer’s hour-and-a-half show. For dining, Hugo Cellar brings back romance with roses for ladies as well as fruit dipped in delicious chocolate.
3. The D Casino – 301 Fremont Street
This is the tallest casino on Fremont, with its 626 rooms that provide excellent accommodation in Downtown Las Vegas. It is the only Las Vegas casino with two gaming floors where the Dancing Dealers are popular. The bars and dining make this a favorite Fremont Street Casino.
4. Golden Gate Casino – 1 Fremont Street
The Golden Gate is one of Tremont Street’s original and most historic casinos and still enjoys a swing-style aura, and much of the art deco furniture is still there. The casino is primarily known for its dancing dealers (like the D Casino) and inexpensive shrimp cocktails.
5. Fremont Hotel Casino – 200 Fremont Street
The Fremont Hotel Casino has 22 tables and some of the newest slots in Las Vegas. If staying, the Fremont Hotel has a choice of 400 suites and rooms, five restaurants and four bars. It is located in the midst of Fremont’s free music and light shows.
The quickest and straightest route is to remain on Las Vegas Boulevard on the strip and continue north to Fremont Street, approximately 1.8 miles.
Fremont Street is very active during the day, with plenty to do. Some visitors prefer the day due to the loud music every evening.
The entire Fremont Street Experience, with its giant light show and free nightly concerts, is the number one attraction for Freemont Street.
While the strip may become less autonomous, Fremont Street has retained much of its individuality and early 20th-century ambiance. Many things to do on Fremont Street bring back the days of yore. And visiting the Golden Nugget, with its 200,000 shark tank, has become an upgrade on an original Fremont Street staple and creates a different culture from the strip. Fremont Street’s modern twists, such as the “Viva Vision Light Show” and the SlotZilla Zipline, have only added to its entertainment value, and individualism has always been its greatest asset.