Attractions · Our pick in Las Vegas
Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas: the back story
The back story
About Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas: the back story
Downtown is where Las Vegas started, around the railway and the springs. Today Fremont Street’s canopy, the vintage resorts, Fremont East and two great museums make it the city’s most characterful corner.
Under the canopy
A long stretch of Fremont Street is covered by Viva Vision, a canopy screen with 16.4 million pixels and a 600,000-watt sound system. Light shows play every evening, there are concerts on three stages every night, and SlotZilla’s zip lines fly riders beneath the canopy. Circa, the Golden Nugget, the Plaza and the D line the street.
Fremont East
East of Las Vegas Boulevard, Fremont East is a strip of bars and restaurants with vintage neon: El Cortez, open since 1941, Atomic Liquors, the Laundry Room speakeasy and Downtown Container Park.
Downtown is Las Vegas with its sleeves rolled up.
Two museums
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, fills a restored 1930s federal courthouse. A short ride north, the Neon Museum keeps hundreds of old signs in the Neon Boneyard; book an evening tour.
Getting there
Downtown is a short taxi ride from the centre of the Strip, or ride the Deuce along Las Vegas Boulevard.
Our advice: arrive before sunset for the Mob Museum, eat in Fremont East, take the Neon Museum’s night tour and finish under the canopy.
Why it's on our list
- Under the canopy
- Fremont East
- Two museums
- Getting there
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas: the back story before you go.