Stand on the Virginia Street bridge and the Truckee River runs green and fast beneath you, with the Reno Arch a short walk north and the casino lights of downtown stacked behind it. That compact core is where most visits begin, and it is small enough to cross on foot in an afternoon.
Reno suits travellers who want a base for the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe, and travellers who want a walkable downtown of casinos, museums and riverside parks without a big-city scale. A car helps: several of the best-known attractions sit well outside the centre.
This guide covers the in-city sights and experiences, the annual events worth timing a trip around, and the casinos that double as dining and entertainment venues. It closes with a single-day plan built only from the places listed below.
Top things to do in Reno
1. Reno Arch
The arch was erected on Virginia Street in 1926 to promote the upcoming Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927, and the city council kept it afterwards as a permanent downtown gateway. The slogan it now carries, "Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World", was chosen in a 1929 competition won by G.A. Burns of Sacramento.
It is the natural starting point for a walk through downtown, and it sits on the same street as the casino core, so you can pass under it on your way between the properties.
2. Wingfield Park
Along the Truckee River just a few blocks from the casino core, Wingfield Park has an amphitheater with regular performances during the summer months, a kayak park open year round, and many pleasant spots to sit and watch the world go by at pretty much any time of day. It is the home of the Reno River Festival, held for three days in early June, and the Artown Festival, which runs July 1–31.
Note that the park is closed through summer 2026, so check before building a day around it. When it is open, it pairs naturally with a stroll along the river and a meal on nearby California Ave.
3. Nevada Museum of Art
The museum building was designed by Will Bruder and opened in 2003. It plays host to national and international touring exhibits in addition to smaller exhibits of regional significance, and it is the only accredited art museum in Nevada.
It is on W Liberty St with free parking, and it opens late on Thursdays, which makes it a good rainy-day or late-afternoon stop near the downtown core.
4. National Automobile Museum
Here you will see more than 200 eye-popping cars with authentic street scenes and sounds. The facades bring displays to life, a hardware store here and a movie theatre there, accompanied by artifacts from each era.
It is on S Lake St and open daily, and same-day re-entry is allowed with your receipt, so you can break your visit for lunch and come back.
5. University of Nevada, Reno
The layout of the campus was inspired by Jefferson's University of Virginia, and visitors will find a parklike setting with a variety of architectural styles, plus the Fleischmann Planetarium. It is an ideal location for a pleasant stroll, and guided walking tours are available by reservation.
It sits a few blocks east of the south end of Rancho San Rafael Park, so the two combine well in one outing.
6. Rancho San Rafael Park
A few blocks west of the north end of the University, this 570-acre county park is home to an arboretum, the Wilbur D. May Museum, a fishing pond and a large off-leash dog area. The northern half of the park connects to trail networks in the hills.
It is the home of the Reno Balloon Races in late summer and early fall. For the Great Reno Balloon Race, you can see the balloons from all over town once they are up, but to watch them inflate and take off up close you need to reach the park before 5am; roads close and parking is limited, so be prepared to walk several blocks uphill.
7. Idlewild Park
A nice stroll from downtown along Riverside Drive, Idlewild Park features Reno's Municipal Rose Garden, as well as playgrounds, exercise equipment, a skate park, a swimming pool and various walking trails. It sits on the south bank of the Truckee River.
On Friday evenings in the summer there are dozens of food trucks, which makes it a good end point for a riverside walk from the centre.
8. California Ave
This area of small shops and restaurants is a short walk from the downtown casino core and provides a pleasant setting for a meal.
Treat it as a lunch or dinner stop rather than a sight in itself, and combine it with a walk along the river at Wingfield Park.
9. S Wells Ave
A local neighborhood with a decidedly Latino flavor, S Wells Ave features unique shopping and dining. It generally winds down in early evening hours, so plan it for the daytime.
Bus #19 runs there from downtown if you would rather not drive.
10. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
Known as The Discovery, this is a children's museum with two stories of interactive exhibits on S Center St.
It is the obvious choice if you are travelling with young children and want an indoor option close to downtown.
11. Circus Circus
On the second floor, the circus acts and midway arcade are great attractions for families, so if you are travelling with children they should not be missed.
Circus Circus is part of The Row, the trio of Circus Circus, Eldorado and the Silver Legacy, all connected with walkways so you can move through all three without setting foot outside.
12. Eldorado
The Eldorado is a pink neon masterpiece featuring a variety of dining options, including the Brew Brothers brewpub with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, a steakhouse, a sushi bar and La Strada Italian Restaurant.
Because it links to Circus Circus and the Silver Legacy by walkway, it works well as the middle stop of an evening that moves between the three.
13. Silver Legacy
This hotel and casino was completed in 1995 and is the tallest building in Reno. It includes a "mint press" churning out souvenir coins, as well as numerous dining options including several lounges, a steakhouse, a coffeeshop and a rum bar with dueling pianos. Other features include a concert venue with frequent shows and a comedy club open Thursday through Sunday.
Check the show schedule if you want an evening's entertainment that is not gambling, and use the walkways to reach the other two Row properties.
14. Club Cal*Neva
This property features affordable gambling of all types and a variety of cheap dining options, and it is the classic "Reno-style" casino. For those who do not like to gamble, there are arcade games on the second floor.
It is on East Second St in the downtown core, easy to fold into a walk between the arch and the river.
15. Atlantis
This tropical-themed casino resort features a variety of dining options including an oyster bar, one of the last traditional casino buffets in town, and a steakhouse. Other amenities include a pool, a spa and an arcade.
It is across the street from the convention center, south of downtown, and is well served by the #1 bus.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Reno Arch on Virginia Street, then walk the few blocks to Wingfield Park to sit by the Truckee River. If the park is closed for its summer 2026 closure, substitute a riverside stretch of the walk toward Idlewild Park instead. Continue to the Nevada Museum of Art on W Liberty St, which opens late on Thursdays.
Afternoon. Have lunch on California Ave, a short walk from the casino core. Spend the early afternoon at the National Automobile Museum on S Lake St, using the same-day re-entry if you want a break, then head to the University of Nevada, Reno for a stroll through the parklike campus and the Fleischmann Planetarium.
Evening. Walk the connected walkways of The Row, taking in the circus acts and midway arcade at Circus Circus, dinner at the Eldorado, and the mint press, lounges and dueling pianos at the Silver Legacy. If you would rather gamble cheaply, Club Cal*Neva is in the same downtown core.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Reno?
Many attractions worth considering are 30–60 minutes outside town by car, so renting a car is a good idea when visiting Reno. Within the centre, the casino core, the river parks, California Ave and the museums are close enough to cover on foot, and some outlying spots such as S Wells Ave and the Atlantis are served by bus.
When are the main events in Reno?
Most yearly events fall in the summer months. The Reno River Festival is held for three days in early June, Artown runs July 1–31, Hot August Nights takes place in early August, the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off is over Labor Day weekend, and the Great Reno Balloon Race is a three-day event over Labor Day weekend. The Reno Rodeo is a 10-day competition in mid-June, and Street Vibrations is a twice-yearly motorcycle rally in June and September.
Is Wingfield Park open during my visit?
The park is closed through summer 2026. When it is open, it is accessible daily and hosts the Reno River Festival and the Artown Festival.
Which casinos are connected to each other?
The Row refers to the trio of Circus Circus, Eldorado and the Silver Legacy. All three are Caesars Entertainment properties connected with walkways, so you can go through all three without setting foot outside.
Pick your dates around an event or a quiet weekday, decide whether you will rent a car, and the rest of a Reno trip falls into place from the list above.