Fremont Street Experience: reviews and practical tips

Beneath the glowing canopy of old Las Vegas

Above your head, a vault of 16.4 million pixels stretches for nearly 420 metres, suspended some thirty metres off the ground. Every evening, it comes alive with synchronized light and sound shows visible from end to end of the pedestrian mall.

Underneath this canopy, the street operates like an open-air theater featuring neon signs, live music stages, street performers, and bars spilling out right onto the thoroughfare.

Why visit Fremont Street Experience

The street was closed to vehicular traffic and turned into a pedestrian mall before its official opening on December 14, 1995. A canopy built in 2004 to cover four city blocks now houses the Viva Vision screen, which was updated in 2019.

This is where you find the historic hotels that built the city's early success, starting with the Golden Nugget, rather than on the Strip. The canopy itself has served as a filming location for several productions, including CSI and Diamonds Are Forever.

Soaring above the crowd on a zipline

The SlotZilla zipline takes the shape of a giant twelve-story slot machine. Its lines run beneath the canopy, allowing riders to fly over the pedestrian mall above the crowds and performances.

An alternative to the Strip, rougher and more wallet-friendly

The casinos, bars, and restaurants lining Fremont Street maintain a more casual atmosphere than the Strip. People come here for the retro vibe just as much as for the gaming.

Friendly tip: to get the most out of the Viva Vision light show, arrive about 15 minutes before showtime and position yourself near the center of the canopy where the view of the screen is widest.