Las Vegas/Downtown

Downtown is accessible by car, taxi or bus. To get in by bus from the Strip, take the Deuce or SDX (Strip & Downtown Express) service — depending on where you get on the trip can take 10-20 minutes in light traffic, much more if the Strip is gridlocked.
From the airport, the WAX (Westcliff Airport Express) and CX (Centennial Express) services takes you directly to Downtown. See the RTC website for schedules and routes (also for getting in from elsewhere in the Las Vegas Valley).
If you feel like walking, you can walk north along Las Vegas Boulevard from the Strip for a couple of hours (depending on where you start), and eventually arrive in Downtown.

• Fremont Street Experience

  phone: +1 702 678-5600
  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.

• The Tank at the Golden Nugget HotelA 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.

• Urinals at Main Street Station CasinoThe 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.

• Container Park

  phone: +1 702 359-9982
  address: 707 Fremont St
  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.

• Discovery Children's Museum

  phone: +1 702 382-5437
  address: 360 Promenade Pl
  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.

• Mob Museum

  phone: +1 702 229-2734
  address: 300 Stewart Ave
  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.

• Neon Museum

  phone: +1 702 387-6366
  address: 770 N Las Vegas Blvd
  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.

• Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

  phone: +1 702 486-3511
  address: 500 E. Washington Ave
  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.

• Las Vegas Natural History Museum

  phone: +1 702 384-3466
  address: 900 Las Vegas Blvd N.

• Stratosphere TowerA 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").

• Las Vegas 51s

  phone: +1 702 386-7200
  address: Cashman Field, 850 Las Vegas Blvd N
  Triple-A baseball club affiliate of the New York Mets, the 51s have been in Las Vegas longer than any other professional sports team. The 51s began as the Las Vegas Stars in 1983, but changed their name to the 51s, a reference to Area 51, in 2000. They have won 2 Pacific Coast League crowns and 10 division titles. The current 2018 season is expected to be the 51s' last at Cashman, with the team planning to open a new ballpark in Summerlin in 2019.

• Mike Hammer

  address: Four Queens
  Comedy and magic

• Bite

  address: Stratosphere
  Production show with vampire mythology and topless dancers.

• SlotZilla

  phone: +1 702 410-7999
  address: 425 Fremont St
  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.

• Stratosphere Tower ridesIn 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.

Performing arts

• Smith Center for the Performing Arts

  phone: +1 702 749-2012
  address: 361 Symphony Park Ave
  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.

• Las Vegas Premium Outlets North

  address: 875 South Grand Central Parkway
  120 designer and name-brand outlets including Coach, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren and more.

• Gamblers Book Club

  address: 800 S Main St
  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.

• Sin City Gallery

  phone: +1 702 608-2461
  address: 107 E. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100
  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.

• Neonopolis

  phone: +1 702 243-0654

• The Beat Coffeehouse

  address: 520 Fremont St
  Free Wi-Fi, salads, sandwiches. Mostly local crowd. Also features a record store.

• Heart Attack Grill

  address: 450 Fremont St
  The Heart Attack Grill has courted controversy by serving high-calorie menu items with deliberately provocative names. The establishment has a hospital theme: waitresses ("nurses") take orders ("prescriptions") from the customers ("patients"). A tag is wrapped on the patient's wrist showing which foods they ordered and a "doctor" examines the "patients" with a stethoscope. The menu includes "Single", "Double", "Triple", and "Quadruple Bypass" hamburgers, ranging from 8 to 32 ounces (230 to 910 g) of beef (up to about 8,000 calories), all-you-can-eat "Flatliner Fries" (cooked in pure lard), beer and tequila, and soft drinks such as Jolt and Mexican-bottled Coca-Cola made with real sugar. Customers over 350 lb (160 kg) in weight eat for free if they weigh in with a doctor or nurse before each burger. Beverages and to-go orders are excluded and sharing food is also not allowed for the free food deal.

• Oscar's Steakhouse

  phone: +1 702 386-7227
  address: 1 Main St
  Fine dining in the iconic Plaza Hotel and Casino. Named after former Las Vegas mayor and mob lawyer, Oscar Goodman.

• Pasta Pirate

  phone: +1 702 385-1222
  address: 12 E Ogden Ave
  Delicious steaks, seafood, and pasta. A romantic darkened wharf decor with a view to the chef's flaming grill. The steak and lobster special is a really great value. All dinners include a glass of house wine. Call ahead for reservations to avoid a long wait.

• Triple George Grill

  phone: +1 702 384-2761
  address: 201 N. 3rd Street
  Classic menu of seafood, chicken, steak and pasta.

• Golden Steer Steakhouse

  phone: +1 702 384-74470
  address: 308 W. Sahara Ave
  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.

• Top of the World

  phone: +1 702 380-7711
  address: Stratosphere, 2000 S Las Vegas Blvd
  A revolving gourmet restaurant more than 800 feet above the Strip at the top of the Stratosphere Tower.

Desserts

• Luv-It Frozen Custard

  address: 505 E Oakey Blvd
  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.

• The Bunkhouse Saloon

  address: 124 S 11th St
  Cheap downtown bar with live music. Friendly with travelers and frequented often by the staff and guests of the nearby hostel.

Most accommodations in Downtown tend to be of the budget variety, owing to the distance to the Strip. However, hotels in Downtown still put you within very close distance to the casinos of Fremont Street. The Downtown area is also where you'll find the few hostels Las Vegas has.

Budget

• Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel

  phone: +1 702 382-1600
  address: 128 Fremont St

• The Desert Hills Motel

  phone: +1 702 309-5891
  address: 2121 Fremont St
  Offers a variety of stylish deluxe suites, as well as standard accommodations. Amenities include a swimming pool, patio deck and large palm trees.

• El Cortez Hotel and Casino

  phone: +1 702 385-5200
  address: 600 E Fremont St
  300 rooms, 2 restaurants and a Chinese buffet. Great rewards program.

• Four Queens Hotel & Casino

  phone: +1 702 385-4011
  address: 202 Fremont St
  No resort fees.

• Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

  phone: +1 702 385-1906
  address: 1 Fremont St
  Opened in 1906 under the name Hotel Nevada, this is the oldest casino hotel in Las Vegas.

• Hostel Cat

  phone: +1 702 380-6902
  address: 1236 S Las Vegas Blvd
  Basic accommodations. Laundry and kitchen facilities, free pancake breakfast, wi-fi, some private rooms, lots of social activities.

• Las Vegas Hostel

  phone: +1 702 385-1150
  address: 1322 Fremont St
  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.

• Plaza Hotel and Casino

  phone: +1 702 386-2110
  address: 1 S Main St

• Sin City Hostel

  phone: +1 702 868-0222
  address: 1208 S Las Vegas Blvd
  Hostel located near the north end of the Strip. Simple, clean, efficient. $15 per night in a 6-bed dorm includes continental breakfast.

Mid-range

• California Hotel and Casino

  phone: +1 702 385-1222
  address: 12 E Ogden Ave
  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.

• The D Las Vegas

  phone: +1 702 388-2400
  address: 301 Fremont St
  A downtown casino right between the Fremont Street Experience and Slotzilla. Extensively renovated in 2012.

• Downtown Grand Las Vegas

  phone: +1 702 719-5100
  address: 206 N. 3rd St
  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.

• Fremont Hotel & Casino

  address: 200 E Fremont St
  32,000 square foot casino and 4 restaurants. No resort fees.

• Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

  phone: +1 702 385-7111
  address: 129 Fremont St

• Main Street Station Hotel and Casino

  address: 200 N Main St
  Victorian theme. Includes not-to-be-missed Garden Court Buffet. No resort fees.

• Stratosphere

  phone: +1 702 380-7777
  address: 2000 S Las Vegas Blvd
  Includes the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower, a Las Vegas landmark.