While summers in Las Vegas can be sweltering and downright oppressive, the winters can be startlingly chilly.
Many winter first-timers don’t realize that low temperatures often dip into the 40s and 30s, while highs only reach the 50s and 60s.
Although the weather may not be the balmy oasis you desired, one thing is certain: There are plenty of unique things to do in Vegas during the winter, both indoors and out. Many of which are holiday-themed activities.
Las Vegas Winter Activities
Ice Skating at Fontainebleau: The newest resort on the Strip is taking a page out of Cosmopolitan’s book and transforming a portion of the pool deck into an ice rink.
The Oasis Ice Rink offers 8,000 square feet of ice spread over 2 rinks.
Skating costs $30 ($15 if you’re a local).
Bellagio Conservatory Holiday Display: While Bellagio’s conservatory is always a sight to see, the display assumes a holiday identity during the winter months.
Get into the Christmas spirit by walking through ornaments, lights, and thousands of flowers, along with other seasonal design elements arranged to exceed your expectations.
The Bellagio Conservatory’s holiday display usually debuts in early December.
Fountains of Bellagio: A can’t-miss free show, the always elegant fountains dance to classic holiday songs like “Santa Baby”, “Carol of the Bells”, and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” in the lead-up to the holidays.
Santa at the Shark Reef Aquarium: In 2025, Santa swam with the sharks at the Shark Reef Aquarium at select times from December 20th – 24th, and I anticipate they’ll do something similar this year.
Tournament of Kings: Twas the Knight: Excalibur’s medieval dinner show sprinkles in some holiday spirit from late November to Christmas, adding holiday-inspired music and costumes to the production.
No firm plans have been announced for 2026 yet, but I anticipate it’ll return.
See the Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The popular rock/Christmas band will bring their “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” show to Vegas on December 4th.
Aria’s Winter Wonderland Display: A holiday display featuring a “Sugar Palace” and a 17-foot-tall Christmas Tree, Aria’s Winter Wonderland is made of gingerbread.
Wynn’s Winter Wonderland: Inspired by the novel Gulliver’s Travels, Wynn transforms their atrium into a whimsical winter village. Wynn does nothing less than 100%, and this holiday attraction is no exception.
Free to the public, Wynn’s Winter Wonderland should be near the top of your winter to-do list in Vegas.
See Also: A complete list of 90+ free things to do in Las Vegas.
Mystic Falls Holiday Display: While not as high-profile as Bellagio’s Conservatory, Mystic Falls Park at Sam’s Town decorates its naturally lit indoor park for the holidays as part of its Winter Wonderland display.
In addition to one of the more impressive Christmas light displays, they also feature a holiday-inspired Sunset Stampede laser light show.
Santa even makes an appearance for the little ones at select times, which are communicated via Sam’s Town’s Facebook page.
The Neon Museum: Open year-round, I can tell you (from personal experience) that the outdoor museum is more enjoyable in the cooler winter months.
The Neon Museum is a short Uber ride from Fremont Street and is home to over 250 signs that span the decades, some dating back to the 1930s.
The hotel lobby is the former La Concha Motel lobby, which was on the Strip. If you’re a Vegas nerd, you’ll love this place!
The Old Mormon Fort: Another outdoor attraction made more tolerable by cooler temps, The Old Mormon Fort State Historic Park is a short ride from Fremont Street and costs just $3 to check out!
This was the first permanent, non-native settlement in the Las Vegas Valley, established in 1855.
The experience starts inside a museum that tells the site’s history, then you’re released outdoors to check out the recreated fort.
It’s fascinating, and the Adobe building (pictured below) has been standing since the mid-1800s. It served many purposes over the years, but most notably as a concrete testing lab during the construction of the Hoover Dam.
Ethel M’s Cactus Garden: During the colder winter months of November through January, Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory invites guests to tour its 3-acre cactus garden, which it illuminates with over a million Christmas lights.
After you stroll through their festive holiday display, pop in for a chocolate factory tour.
Enchant at the Las Vegas Ballpark: Enchant is a winter wonderland featuring a holiday village with ice skating, games, dining, and holiday shopping, running from November 25th – December 27th.
Tickets range from $27 – $33, depending on the day, and tickets can be purchased here.
Fremont Street Experience Holiday Tree: Attend the lighting ceremony for Fremont’s 50-foot-tall Christmas tree, which typically occurs in early December. Even if you miss the initial ceremony, stop by to check it out!
Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway: A 3-mile experience. Glittering Lights features 600 displays and 6 million individual lights.
They’ll also acknowledge America’s 250th birthday with a display this year.
Entry starts at $44 per carload.
See Scuba Santa at Silverton: Typically, mermaids entertain the crowds in Silverton’s 117,000-gallon fish tank, but Santa commonly makes an appearance over the holidays.
I’ll update with specific times & dates for Santa appearances once Silverton makes them available.
Take Advantage of the Outdoors: The absence of heat makes it the perfect time to tackle outdoor activities near Vegas like Death Valley, the Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, Bryce Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.
I’m visiting with my kids this December, and plan to tackle a few of these.
While you’ll need a Car, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just 20 minutes from the Strip and offers amazing hiking along the 13-mile scenic loop.
Red Rock Canyon is also affordable, at just $20 per carload.
Valley of Fire State Park is about an hour from Vegas by car, and offers “out of this world” scenery, great hiking, and historic sites like the CCC Cabins.
It’s another cheap activity at $15 per carload.
I even ran into some wildlife out on the trails.
Exploring the Hoover Dam, which is about 40 minutes from Las Vegas, during the summer months can be uncomfortable.
Take advantage of the cooler temps to explore the dam’s exterior and walk the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
If you’re heading out there, ensure you take a guided full dam tour, which costs $40 per person and is insanely interesting.
Explore a Ghost Town: St. Thomas, Nevada, is about 90 minutes from Vegas and may be the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen in person.
The town, which once had a population of about 500, was submerged when Lake Mead filled behind the Hoover Dam. At times, it was up to 70 ft. underwater.
The town is once again accessible and open to explore. Placards next to foundations tell the story of what once was.
Again, much more comfortable to explore during the cooler winter months.
Go Swimming: I put together a rundown of Las Vegas pools that stay open during the winter.
Atop the list is Circa’s Stadium Swim, which doubles as a sports-viewing amphitheater and is heated to 80+ degrees 365 days a year.
Non-guests pay $20 or more, depending on the day, and it’s worth it.
Hopefully, I helped you find a unique thing to do in Vegas this Winter! From ice skating to holiday displays, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy.
See Also: Buy the exact scents Las Vegas casinos use for your home! Here’s how.
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.
Vegas123
Monday 9th of November 2020
The Bellagio holiday display is by far one of the best things to see in winter time in Vegas ;)