Bellagio is the classic center-Strip luxury resort, with free fountain shows on its 8.5-acre lake, a free botanical Conservatory, Cirque du Soleil's water show O and a long list of fine-dining rooms. Expect high prices and big crowds in its public spaces.
Bellagio opened in October 1998 at the corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, and nearly three decades later it is still the resort many visitors picture when they think of Las Vegas. It is owned by MGM Resorts and has just under 4,000 rooms, including about 510 suites, split between the main tower and the Spa Tower, which opened in 2004.
Rooms facing the lake and the fountains cost more and are worth it for a special trip, because the show plays right under your window. Location is excellent: Caesars Palace is across Flamingo Road, Paris and its Eiffel Tower are across the boulevard, and The Cosmopolitan is next door to the south.
Two of the best free sights on the Strip are here. The Fountains of Bellagio, with more than 1,200 jets on an 8.5-acre lake, perform every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is open around the clock at no charge and changes its floral display five times a year, for each season and for Lunar New Year.
Go early to avoid crowds. Inside, Dale Chihuly's glass ceiling, Fiori di Como, hangs over the lobby, and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art runs paid exhibitions. O by Cirque du Soleil, the long-running aquatic show, plays in its own 1,800-seat theater, and guests under 18 must be with an adult.
Dining is a major reason to stay. Choices range from Le Cirque, Michael Mina, Prime and LAGO by Julian Serrano to Spago, Sadelle's, Carbone Riviera and The Mayfair Supper Club, plus The Buffet. The Pinky Ring by Bruno Mars and the 24-hour Baccarat Bar are the cocktail stops. Five remodeled outdoor pools with 51 cabanas sit in a Mediterranean-style courtyard, including the adults-only Cypress Pool, and they run on a seasonal schedule.
Spa Bellagio covers 55,000 square feet. As at most MGM Resorts hotels, parking is paid (higher MGM Rewards tiers get it free) and a nightly resort fee is added to the room rate, so compare total prices before you book. During the Las Vegas Grand Prix (held each November) the area around the lake is part of the race zone, with road closures and peak prices.
Why stay here
- ✓Fountains of Bellagio: free shows every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight
- ✓Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: free, open 24 hours, with five new floral displays a year; visit early to beat crowds
- ✓O by Cirque du Soleil in its own 1,800-seat aquatic theater, plus the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
- ✓Restaurants include Le Cirque, Michael Mina, Prime, LAGO, Spago, Sadelle's and Carbone Riviera, plus The Buffet for a big brunch
- ✓Five remodeled outdoor pools with 51 cabanas, including the adults-only Cypress Pool, on a seasonal schedule
- ✓Center-Strip location opposite Caesars Palace and Paris; lake-view rooms put the fountain shows under your window
- ✓Free Conservatory & Botanical Gardens open around the clock
- ✓A nightly resort fee and paid parking apply, so compare the full cost before you choose
Good questions
Are the Bellagio fountains free?+
Yes. The fountain shows are free, running every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight.
Is the Conservatory free?+
Yes. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is free and open 24 hours, with five new floral displays a year.
Is Bellagio crowded?+
Public spaces are busy, so expect big crowds around the fountains and the Conservatory. Visit early to avoid the worst of them.
