Rainy day · Las Vegas · United States
8 things to do in Las Vegas when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk ( Tupungato ) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Sphere, Cirque du Soleil's O and Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–15 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free. February is usually the wettest month, with about 4 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 12–15 hours
- Areas
- Center Strip, Downtown and South Strip
Las Vegas on a rainy day
Experience · Center Strip
1.Sphere
Watch the Exosphere animations for free after dark from the pedestrian bridges near The Venetian or from the High Roller.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- After dark
- Rainy day
Experience · Center Strip
2.Cirque du Soleil's O
Seats in the centre sections give the best view of the stage as it shifts between solid floor and water.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Garden · Center Strip
3.Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Go early in the morning, when the conservatory is quiet and the light through the glass roof is soft.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
Architecture · Center Strip
4.The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes
Walking the indoor canal is free; book a gondola ride only if you want the full serenade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Couples
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Shopping
Museum · Downtown
5.Mob Museum
Finish with a drink at The Underground, the speakeasy in the basement.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
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Aquarium · South Strip
6.Shark Reef Aquarium
Use the free tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur to save a long, hot walk.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · South Strip
7.Pinball Hall of Fame
Bring small bills to change into quarters; older machines cost very little per game.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · West of the Strip
8.AREA15 and Omega Mart
Allow at least two hours for Omega Mart and open every door and freezer; much of the experience is hidden.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
- After dark
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Center Strip | Sphere, Cirque du Soleil's O, Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes | 2 hours + 1.5 hours + 30 minutes + 1 hour |
| Downtown | Mob Museum | 2–3 hours |
| South Strip | Shark Reef Aquarium and Pinball Hall of Fame | 1.5 hours + 1–2 hours |
| West of the Strip | AREA15 and Omega Mart | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 3 mid-priced, 2 expensive. Book ahead for Sphere and Cirque du Soleil's O. The longest visit is Mob Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Sphere: Concerts and immersive films sell out at popular times; book on the official site and compare seat sections.
- Cirque du Soleil's O: Weekend performances sell out; book ahead and compare seat sections, as some side views are partly blocked.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Center Strip): Sphere → Cirque du Soleil's O → Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Center Strip and Downtown): The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes → Mob Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (South Strip): Shark Reef Aquarium → Pinball Hall of Fame, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (West of the Strip): AREA15 and Omega Mart, at least 2 hours.
The wettest months
- February: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 4 rainy days, moderate crowds. Mild and sunny, good for hiking at Red Rock Canyon; Valentine's Day and holiday weekends push up rates.
- January: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Cool, sunny days and near-freezing nights; the huge CES technology show in early January fills hotels and raises prices.
- March: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm days and cool nights make March one of the best months; spring break and college basketball tournaments bring crowds.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Center Strip — Bellagio, Caesars Palace and the busiest stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard
- South Strip — Mandalay Bay, Luxor's pyramid and the Welcome to Las Vegas sign
- Downtown and Fremont Street — Vintage casinos, old neon and the Fremont Street light canopy
More of Las Vegas
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Las Vegas?
Sphere. Opened in 2023 behind The Venetian, the Sphere is a 112-metre-high spherical venue whose exterior, the Exosphere, is covered in LED panels showing animations visible across the city.
+Which of these are free in Las Vegas?
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes and Pinball Hall of Fame.