Bellagio on a Budget: 5 Free Activities Your Family Will Love
When it comes to luxury on the Las Vegas Strip, the Bellagio is often seen as the crown jewel, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend like royalty to enjoy it. Some of the resort’s most dazzling experiences are completely free and perfect for families looking to soak up the summer magic without breaking the bank.
1. Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Price Range: Free | Website
The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens change into different imaginative spaces several times throughout the year. The current summer 2025 theme, Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer, transforms the 14,000-square-foot space into a whimsical world of animals and chess.
Inspired by European marble artistry and French Renaissance fashion, the current display features large animals and a life-sized marble chessboard. With over 22,000 plants, 125,000 pounds of ivy, and intricate trompe-l’oeil illusions, this free attraction is a feast for the senses and a must-see for families visiting Las Vegas this summer. Plus, it’s open 24/7, so it’s perfect to fit in-between activites!
The space goes dark between exhibitions, so be sure to check the website for updates before you plan to visit.
2. Guinness World Record Chocolate Fountain
Price Range: Free | Website
Inside the Bellagio Patisserie near the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, you’ll find the world’s largest chocolate fountain! This mesmerizing masterpiece is an incredible feat of engineering and edible art. Standing 27 feet tall and circulating over 2,100 pounds of dark, milk, and white chocolate through 500 feet of stainless steel piping, this Guinness World Record-holding fountain flows 24/7 in a hypnotic cascade behind glass.
Designed by pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury, the fountain features 25 hand-blown glass vessels that guide the chocolate’s descent in a swirling ballet of sweetness. Though you can’t dip a finger in, the aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water - and the nearby patisserie offers plenty of treats to satisfy your sweet tooth!
If you go, be sure to try the amazing crepes and delicious gelato - you can’t go wrong with either option!
3. Richard McDonald Art Gallery
Price: Free | Website
Presented in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, this free gallery showcases over 50 dynamic sculptures that capture the raw power, grace, and emotion of world-class performers like dancers, acrobats, and contortionists frozen in motion. MacDonald’s neo-figurative style celebrates the human form with astonishing detail, often taking years to complete a single piece. The exhibit is open daily and is the perfect activity to fit a little bit of culture into your next Vegas family vacation.
This exhibit is located just outside the entrance to the “O” Theater. You may not be able to access this art gallery during “O” performances - the best time to see this exhibit is before 5 PM on most days.
4. The Aria Express tram
Price Range: Free | Website
The ARIA Express Tram is one of Las Vegas’s best-kept (and free!) transportation secrets. This elevated people mover connects three major resort destinations (Bellagio, ARIA/Crystals, and Park MGM) making it a convenient and scenic way to hop between hotspots without breaking a sweat. Operating daily from 8:00 AM to 2:00 AM, the tram runs every 10–15 minutes and takes just 6–8 minutes to travel the entire route.
After visiting the Conservatory and the Chocolate Fountain, continue south along the hallway to the escalators past the Spa Tower. The entrance to the tram is at the top of the escalator (there is also an elevator available too if needed).
5. Bellagio Fountain
Price: Free! | Website
No Bellagio list would be complete without mentioning the inconic Bellagio fountains! Set against the backdrop of the Las Vegas Strip, the Fountains of Bellagio are a breathtaking symphony of water, music, and light that have become one of the city’s most iconic attractions.
Spanning an 8.5-acre man-made lake, this choreographed water show features more than 1,200 nozzles and nearly 5,000 lights, with jets that shoot water up to 460 feet in the air, all perfectly timed to a rotating playlist of classical, pop, and Broadway hits. Shows run every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes in the evening - it’s a can’t miss attraction for any Vegas vacation!
Mon Ami Gabi is a French inspired restaurant directly across from the fountains. They offer outdoor seating with great views of the fountain! They don’t have a kids menu, but they still have kid friendly food and gluten-free options.
Whether you’re strolling through a surreal garden, watching chocolate dance behind glass, or catching a symphony of fountains under the Vegas sky, the Bellagio proves that luxury doesn’t have to come with a price tag. These five free experiences offer families a chance to explore one of the Strip’s most iconic resorts without spending a dime, be sure to check out one (or all!) of them on your next Vegas family vacation.