Best Museums in Las Vegas

By Sarah Harris

An energetic entertainment hub, Las Vegas is a vacation destination quite unlike any other. And whilst the city is known for its booze-fueled nightclubs and dazzling casino floors, there’s a lot more to Sin City than perhaps first meets the eye. Peek beyond the bright neon lights, and you’ll find one-of-a-kind museums and award-winning collections dotted all across the city. At the Pinball Hall of Fame, visitors can wander through a unique collection stretching right back to the game’s inception. Or, if museums dealing with unusual subjects intrigue you, Vegas hardly falls short, with outstanding exhibits at the National Atomic Testing Museum. And for those looking for the ultimate family-friendly educational experience, we suggest checking out the Neon Museum. With so much to see and do here, it’s always a good idea to conduct a little bit of research before travelling. So, without further ado, here are some of the best itinerary tips to help you get the best out of your Las Vegas trip!

Learn About the City

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Designed to be equal parts unsettling and illuminating, The Mob Museum offers a comprehensive look into the history of organized crime in America. The institute’s exhibitions are displayed across two floors: the ground floor features displays covering use of force and organized crime today while the upper floor is home to a provocative look into the culture of brutality and the Kefauver Hearings. The museum’s permanent collection is engrossing and varied - visitors can expect to see everything from elaborately-embellished flapper dresses and timeworn leather briefcases to historic rifles and wiretap recordings. The remarkable preservation of these relics provide an inside look into this fascinating period of American history. After exploring the institute, we suggest checking out its fully operational speakeasy and distillery in the basement - The Underground. Highly informative and undoubtedly unique, this spot is perfect for anybody who wants to learn a little bit more about organized crime in the U.S. and also the law enforcement personnel who fought it.

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Another one of our favorite stops in Sin City has got to be the Neon Museum. For first-time visitors to Vegas, this is a great place to start learning about the distinctive background of the city and have fun at the same time! Living up to the unique culture and reputation of Las Vegas, this place features a fantastic and unique repository of neon signs from old casinos and other businesses. Wandering through the institute, you’ll notice that each of the restored signs has a story of who created it and why it is important. With over 800 historic signs spread across 2.25 acres, there’s most certainly a lot to see here. There are three main sections: Restored and Installed Neon signs, the North Gallery, and a fan favorite, the Neon Boneyard, featuring additional rescued signs. Captivating, quirky and educational all at once, this only-in-Las-Vegas attraction is a total must-see.

Get Cultured

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Located along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is one of the most popular visitor attractions of its kind in the region. It’s only been open since the year 1998, but it has already acquired quite the reputation for its remarkable holdings. Though the institute’s collection is small, it features some of the world’s most compelling and prolific artists. From impressionism and surrealism to pop art and minimalism, this space has it all. Previous shows have featured works by Picasso, Fabergé, Warhol and more. These exhibits are carefully curated and switched up throughout the year to provide something new with each and every visit. You don’t have to be an art aficionado to enjoy the wonderful seminal works displayed in this space.

Try Something Different

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For those visitors of a curious mind, the next item on our list should definitely spark some intrigue. With a concentration on the intersection between science and history, The National Atomic Testing Museum works to inspire excitement for STEM learning. The museum operates as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, providing fun and engaging exhibits for those of all ages. The institute is home to over 12,000 artefacts covering the history of atomic testing from the first check at the Nevada Test Site in 1951 right through to the present day. Its unique and extraordinary collection includes rare artefacts, photographs, videos, scientific and nuclear reports and more. Breaking away from all of the bright lights and casinos, this unusual little gem is a great way to spend a couple of hours in Vegas.

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For those who are looking to try something a little different, we recommend checking out the Pinball Hall of Fame. Reflecting the playful nature of the city, this living museum houses the impressive and expansive collection of Tim Arnold. Inside, visitors can enjoy nearly 700 different types of pinball games from past to present. In addition, the museum is home to other classic video arcade games and novelty machines like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong and Ms Pac-Man. These machines aren’t just there for show, though - show up with your game face on and a whole lot of change to play for a couple of hours! Offbeat, kitschy and fun, this spot is the perfect place to spend a bit of quality time with the family.

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Las Vegas is often overlooked when it comes to its museums - though it shouldn’t be! From world-class art and fascinating history and quirky little gems, there’s no shortage of spaces to explore. Maximize your travel experience with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.

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The 'Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas' sign at night
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Things to do in Downtown Las Vegas

Seeking a little respite from the non-stop sensory assault that is the Las Vegas Strip? Then Downtown may be for you. The city’s historic heart promises much the same in terms of top-flight dining, high-stakes casinos and flashing neon signs, but is a much more laid back affair, with street eats, free live shows and an artsy enclave that feels more NYC than Vegas Strip. There are stacks of things of things to do in Downtown Las Vegas, too, and we’ve put together a few of our favorites below, including: Fremont Street Experience Golden Nugget casino Mob Museum Container Park SlotZilla Zipline Neon Museum Las Vegas Arts District Fremont Street Tour A tour of historic Fremont Street is hands-down the best way to find your bearings on your first visit to Downtown Las Vegas (and a great way to discover things to do on Fremont Street once the tour is over). During the tour you’ll follow in the footsteps of the first settlers, see where the Rat Pack used to hang out and learn about Sin City’s past links to organized crime. Your guide will also point out old-school Downtown icons like the Golden Nugget casino and Neonopolis wedding chapel, where you can – should you so desire – be married by Elvis and Gene Simmons impersonators. You’ll also discover the iconic Main Street Station hotel and casino which promises, among its many treasures, chandeliers from the Coca-Cola building in Texas and the Figaro Opera House in Paris, and a section of the Berlin Wall in the, um, gentlemen’s conveniences. Fremont Street Experience The undisputed highlight of the Fremont Street Experience is its absolutely humongous vaulted canopy. At 1,500 feet in length (that’s about four blocks or five football pitches, fact fans) and containing nearly 50 million LED lights, this unashamedly decadent wraparound video screen is the world’s largest. Grab a drink at one of the many bars in this (mostly) pedestrianized part of town and settle in for the mesmerizing light shows that burst out of the big screen every hour. There’s also free live music across three stages here, starting at 6pm every single evening. The Golden Nugget You’ll recognize The Golden Nugget from its cameos in dozens of Hollywood flicks down the years, perhaps most notably Bond classic Diamonds are Forever and Elvis fave (yup, you guessed it) Viva Las Vegas. Enter beneath the iconic neon sign and check out the huge Hand of Faith nugget on display in the lobby before trying your luck at the roulette and blackjack tables or just grabbing a cocktail and soaking up the distinctly old-school vibes of this, Las Vegas’s oldest large casino. SlotZilla Zipline From high stakes to high wires, the SlotZilla Zipline is pure Vegas, with an 11-story launch deck that’s designed to look like a giant slot machine, complete with cascading coins and a pair of 35-foot showgirls. Incurable thrill-seekers can fly, Superman-style, along the epic (and appropriately named) Superhero-Zoom, which traverses the length of the Fremont Street Experience. The Zip-Zilla is a somewhat less frightening half-length option that flies a little lower and allows you to travel in an upright seated position, for those not feeling quite so dare-devilish. The Mob Museum Practise your best Al Capone impersonations on a visit to the quite excellent Mob Museum, with its plethora of interactive exhibits that chart the history of organized crime in the US, with a focus on mob activity in Las Vegas. See if you can hit the target in the firearms training simulator and visit the rogues’ gallery charting over a century of made men. There’s even an underground speakeasy here serving Prohibition-inspired cocktails to thirsty visitors. Enter via the secret door by the parking lot, but watch out for shady-looking gentlemen in fedoras and pinstripe suits! Container Park A giant metal mantis with flaming antennae and an ear-shattering sound system marks the somewhat apocalyptic entrance to the Container Park, a Downtown shopping and entertainment mecca built out of old shipping containers. It’s a pretty cool hangout, with a little something for people of old ages: there are independent boutiques, bars and live music for the grown-ups, while a huge slide and water-play area in the central courtyard keeps the kids happy. The Neon Museum This huge outdoor museum preserves and exhibits that most Las Vegas of art forms: the neon sign. It’s a kind of retirement home for neon signs, giving these masterpieces of the Nevada skyline a second lease of life as part of a major tourist attraction. This is where you’ll find classic old-school signage including sparkling examples from the Stardust, Sassy Sally’s, Lucky Cuss Motel and the Hard Rock Cafe. We recommend visiting the Neon Boneyard at sundown for the most Instagrammable photo opportunities, when the signs are lit up against the fiery desert sky in all their technicolor glory. SkyPod at the Strat Ok ok, so it’s not strictly part of Downtown, but it does command some of the best views of Fremont Street you’ll find anywhere in the city, so we say it counts! Another bonus is that this is one attraction you really can’t miss: just look for the skyscraping observation tower south of Downtown in the direction of the Strip; it's only the second-tallest of its kind in the entire Western Hemisphere! And, should your nerves be able to withstand the head-spinning super-speed elevator ride up to the 108th floor, there are plenty of attractions up here, nearly 1,000 feet above the Strip, to keep adrenaline-seekers occupied for hours. Board the aptly-named Insanity ride, a giant metal claw that dangles (and spins) its victims passengers over the edge of the building and into thin air. Or get even higher on the Big Shot, the vertical drop ride that goes up (and down) the tower’s needle, reaching a gut-churning height of 1,081 feet. Eek, eek and, furthermore, eeeeeeeeeek! Save on attractions in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
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Las Vegas in March

March marks the start of spring and kicks off Sin City’s popular shoulder season in earnest. Neither as chilly as deepest, darkest winter nor as intolerably sweaty as June and July, it’s a fine time to vacation here. Read on for our expert guide to visiting Las Vegas in March. Visiting Las Vegas in March Average Temperature: 57°F • Average Rainfall: 5 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day The period between March and May is among the very best times of year to visit Vegas, thanks to increasingly summery days and balmy evenings, though perhaps 'balmy' is a little optimistic for March. Still, what you can expect from a March Vegas vacation is highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s and clear blue skies stretching all the way to the horizon; cloud and rain at this time of year is rare, if not entirely unheard of. But hey, there’s plenty to keep you entertained indoors in this huge desert playground in the unlikely event you’re dealt a poor hand with the weather. Milder weather does of course go hand in hand with rising hotel prices though there are bargains to be had if you're willing to shop around. Vegas is traditionally a weekend destination but, frankly, the party here doesn’t stop just because it's Tuesday, so it’s worth considering a mid-week trip if you want to bag the best room rates. Prices also tend to start rising mid-month due to upcoming Easter holidays and increasingly pleasant temperatures. It’s also a good idea to do some research to find out about any major conventions taking place in or around specific hotels that might be pushing prices up. Things to do in March March means one thing in Vegas: it’s time for pool season, baby! Sure, the weather may still be a little too chilly for some. Nevertheless, March is when the vast majority of pools that closed down for winter begin to reopen again. You know what to do: claim your cabana, order a pina colada and peer over the tops of your dark glasses as the beautiful people emerge butterfly-like from hibernation and the pool decks of Sin City begin to throng with party people once again. Among the first to open will be Mandalay Bay’s sprawling Daylight Beach Club with its enormo 4,400 square foot pool, Wet Republic at the MGM Grand, and Flamingo’s Go Pool Dayclub. Dive in! (Or use the steps if the signs say ‘no diving’, obvs). If you prefer your entertainment a little... weirder, try Area15. The play on ‘Area51’ is deliberate as what goes on inside this massive warehouse is kept largely under wraps until after you’ve entered. What we do know is you can expect supersize art installations, VR experiences, altered universes, thrill rides and fantastical immersive experiences like the Illuminarium, an epic out-of-this-world space adventure where you can cruise through technicolor nebulae and asteroid belts to infinity (and beyond!). March is also prime time to visit the Neon Museum, an organization dedicated to preserving and exhibiting that most Vegas of art forms: the neon sign. Because the whole thing is outdoors it becomes somewhat less enjoyable to visit when temperatures start to soar, so March’s milder temperatures are ideal for wandering among these hulking relics that so deftly evoke Sin City’s gaudy history. Visit at night to enjoy the full impact and to feel like you’ve walked straight into a scene from Blade Runner. Las Vegas (or, at least, the mountains and canyons that surround it) are an absolute paradise for hikers. You can (and must) take a trip out to the Grand Canyon, whether by helicopter (spectacular) or coach (long). There are many variations of tours that depart Vegas for the West and South rims, but most include a bit of rambling among the wildflowers and distinctive red rocks. Bolt on posh picnics, champagne lunches and Hoover Dam excursions at your leisure. Or why not hire a car yourself and swing by the Red Rock Canyon? Much closer to Vegas – just a few miles west in the Mojave Desert, in fact – it offers many attractions along well-worn trails that weave past towering sandstone stacks, rushing waterfalls and caves daubed with Native American petroglyphs. You can find a comprehensive guide to the canyon’s marked hikes and trails here. Finally, in March as in every month in Vegas, you’ll find casinos that are open 24/7 and more magnificent magic shows, comedy acts, visual spectaculars and music concerts than you can shake a very large stick at. Take in a classic Cirque du Soleil performance or check listings at the MGM, Colosseum and T-Mobile Arena for some of the biggest names in rock and pop. What’s on in March? St Patrick’s Day Paint the town green on this special day, when revelers the world over honor the world’s most celebrated saint in the traditional manner: by dressing up as leprechauns, downing pint after pint of Guinness, attempting a dodgy Irish accent, then falling over. Vegas is no different, with major landmarks including the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and the High Roller lit up in bright green and Patrick-lovin’ parties running the length and breadth of the Strip. Head to O’Sheas at the LINQ for the ultimate St Paddy’s party pub. Here, lurid green drinks accompany high-energy beer pong and classic casino table games including blackjack and roulette. Don’t forget your novelty green hat! March Madness March Madness is the nickname given to the fantastically popular NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament that sees cavernous Vegas sports bars full to bursting for much of the second half of the month. Sports fans and gamblers alike pour into town for a piece of the action, with giant screens showing the games in many of the major casinos, including the Venetian, MGM Grand and Caesars Palace. Difficult to avoid completely and occasionally overwhelming, it can feel like the whole town’s gone, well, basketball crazy. Head to the relative calm of downtown if you fancy a bit of respite away from the fanatics. Boulder City Beerfest A mere 20-odd miles south of Vegas is where you’ll find this annual mecca for beer lovers. Ok ok, so it’s a little out of town, but you managed to make it all the way out to the Grand Canyon, didn’t you? And that’s in Arizona! Expect award-winning ales and more from dozens of top Nevada brewers, soaked up with hearty fare from local food trucks. Save on attractions in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak

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