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Central business district in Nevada, United States
Photo: matze_ott from Beratzhausen, Germany, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Downtown Las Vegas is the older part of Las Vegas, a few miles north of the Strip.
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A pedestrian mall lined by many of the downtown casinos, this is Las Vegas Downtown's equivalent of the Strip. Multimedia shows are displayed on a giant canopy over the street nightly.
A huge outdoor pool complex with a shark tank, a 3-story enclosed waterslide which passes through the shark tank, and private cabanas above the pool.
The urinals in the men's room are mounted on an actual piece of the Berlin Wall. If you're a woman, ask an employee to let you see it, they almost always will accommodate you.
A unique open-air shopping center filled with boutique retail shops, restaurants, and live entertainment for the whole family. Be sure to see the giant fire-breathing mantis at night.
A combination museum and playground, this museum lets children engage in creative play while exposing them to science concepts. Kids especially love the 70-foot-tall Summit tower with 12 levels of interactive exhibits. The one drawback of the museum is lack of food; it's in a remote part of Downtown with no nearby eateries and only has a snack area with vending machines so plan accordingly.
National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement
Extensive exhibits on the history of organized crime in the U.S., with lots of artifacts from famous mobsters and the law enforcement agencies that fought them. The museum is inside the old federal courthouse building, and includes a recreation of the courtroom where a major hearing on organized crime took place in 1950.
An outdoor lot loaded with huge signs that once twinkled in front of the Silver Slipper, Stardust, and El Cortez. See the giant horseshoe made of thousands of gold-colored light bulbs. Open only by one-hour guided tours.
One of the few historic attractions in Vegas is this small park which preserves the restored Mormon Fort, the first structure built by European settlers in Las Vegas. A visitor center on-site has exhibits on the fort's past.
The STRAT Tower
A 1,149 foot high tower, the tallest observation tower in the United States, with an indoor and an outdoor observation deck on top that offers a 360-degree view over the valley. A revolving restaurant also sits at the top, as well as a set of thrill rides (see below in "Do").
A professional soccer team in the USL Championship league, the Las Vegas Lights have played at Cashman Field since 2018.
Comedy and magic.
Production show with vampire mythology and topless dancers.
A zip line which stands 12 stories high and resembles a giant slot machine. Riders start at the east side of the Fremont Street Experience, the Slotzilla zip line is 114 feet high and launches riders in a horizontal position flying 1,700 feet — the entire length of the Fremont Street canopy – at speeds faster than 35 miles per hour. Up to four riders can ride at once, each on parallel zip lines.
The STRAT attractions
In addition to the observation desk on top, with its restaurant and great views of the city, there are four thrill rides on the top of the tower. Big Shot is a tower ride that makes up the mast of the Stratosphere and shoots passengers straight up 160 feet at 45 mph (over 4 Gs) until they are 1,081 feet above the ground. X-Scream is a giant teeter-totter that propels you 27 feet over the edge of the tower, 866 feet above the ground. Insanity is a massive mechanical arm that extends 64 feet over the edge of the Tower and spins riders at a force of 3 Gs. Lastly is SkyJump, a bungee jump ride that consists of an 855-foot controlled, falling descent from the 108th floor of the tower.
Located in downtown Las Vegas, the Smith Center is a world-class performing arts center consisting of three theaters in two buildings. Visitors can attend regular concerts, popular musicals, and theatrical performances almost any day or night of the week. Online ticket reservations are recommended for better seating.
Fine dining in the iconic Plaza Hotel and Casino. Named after former Las Vegas mayor and mob lawyer, Oscar Goodman.
Classic menu of seafood, chicken, steak and pasta.
Open since 1958, this is the oldest steakhouse in Las Vegas and boasts to be one of favorite restaurants of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. and has hosted dinners for many other celebrities from past eras. The Golden Steer is over 50 years old and honors "Old Las Vegas" style dining.
A revolving gourmet restaurant more than 800 feet above the Strip at the top of the Stratosphere Tower.
Hidden some two blocks north of the Stratosphere Tower (their blue building with white pillars and trim shares a parking lot with a convenience store), this family operation offers excellent frozen custards with outstanding toppings.
Cheap downtown bar with live music. Friendly with travelers and frequented often by the staff and guests of the nearby hostel.
Old School Las Vegas ambience.
Offers a variety of stylish deluxe suites, as well as standard accommodations. Amenities include a swimming pool, patio deck and large palm trees.
300 rooms, 2 restaurants and a Chinese buffet. The right place to stay if you want to be in a memory of the past that's fading. Great rewards program.
No resort fees.
Opened in 1906 under the name Hotel Nevada, this is the oldest casino hotel in Las Vegas.
Basic accommodations. Laundry and kitchen facilities, free pancake breakfast, wi-fi, some private rooms, lots of social activities.
A definite budget option. A reasonably well kept hostel with very friendly staff. Free beer and BBQ at the weekend is not to be missed. Surrounding area is not overly safe. Walking alone at night is not recommended. The pizza parlor next door does a deal on a soda and a generous slice of pizza for around $3. Fremont Experience is roughly a 20-minute walk from the hostel.
Hostel located near the north end of the Strip. Simple, clean, efficient. $15 per night in a 6-bed dorm includes continental breakfast.
No resort fees. Usually, a lot of the guests are Hawaiians, but everyone is welcome. Staff wears Aloha shirts and the buffet features Hawaiian specialties. Craps tables are usually lively, and they've got a "Golden Arm" hall of fame for craps shooters who've had an unusual hot streak. Give the big Buddha statue in the lobby a quick belly rub for luck before you play.
A downtown casino right between the Fremont Street Experience and Slotzilla. Extensively renovated in 2012.
Stylish hotel rooms with modern amenities and comfortable furnishings. The industrial chic casino features brand new slot machines and table games in a high-energy and intimate environment.
32,000 square foot casino and 4 restaurants. No resort fees.
Victorian theme. Includes not-to-be-missed Garden Court Buffet. No resort fees.
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod
Includes the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower, a Las Vegas landmark.
120 designer and name-brand outlets including Coach, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren and more.
This is the oldest gambling book store in the nation; if you need to learn how to play a game, this is where you go. This store is stacked with books that can teach you how to count cards and bet on sports. Try to visit when former owner Howard Schwartz is around for some interesting Vegas lore.
Contemporary art gallery presenting sophisticated and edgy emerging artists from around the corner and around the world. Offers new exhibitions/murals every month. Sin City Gallery produces an international annual juried erotic art exhibition.
Downtown is accessible by car, taxi or bus. To get in by bus from the Strip, take the Deuce service — depending on where you get on the trip can take 10-20 minutes in light traffic, much more if the Strip is gridlocked.
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