Grand Canal Shoppes Las Vegas - largest indoor mall right on the famous Las Vegas Strip - by Kelly

Grand Canal Shoppes Las Vegas

The Grand Canal Shoppes Las Vegas is inside the Venetian Hotel and Casino. It's Venice and Vegas in one. The Grand Canal Shoppes consists of over 80 designer boutiques and restaurants, which feature world-renowned chefs. The unique Italian-themed promenade is punctuated with walkways of stamped concrete resembling cobblestone streets under arched ceilings painted like the sky and replicas of Italian landmarks. The storefronts are designed to look like Venice buildings.

Venetian exterior with gondola.

The simulated open-air piazza of St. Mark's Square is the Mecca. This is where it all comes together, the Grand Canal, the authentic Italian gondolas, the talented street performers, and Venetian street vendors. The Grand Canal Shoppes St. Mark's Square is the perfect place for picture taking too. The best and most famous is probably standing on one of several bridges over looking the blue water of the Grand Canal just in time for a gondola to pass with a singing gondolier. For a fee you can take a gondola ride inside the mall gliding a half a mile along the Grand Canal while being serenaded by a gondolier.

While walking though the mall you can bet that you will come across some of the free entertainment. The Grand Canal Shoppes Streetmosphere consists of a number of strolling performers. The Artiste del Arte is a variety of shows throughout the day performed by singers, actors, jugglers, life-size puppets, magicians, and stilt walkers. Each performer is adorned in fascinating Italian period costumes as well. The Living Statues dressed to look like marble statues impress children the most with their immovable poses, well almost immovable. A must see is the Gondolier March which is a parade of gondoliers making their way through the mall while singing out various Italian songs. The march begins at the food court and ends up in St. Mark's Square twice a day. The Venetian Trio entertains in the evenings with string instruments serenading with Latin favorites.

Interior of Grand Canal Shoppes gondola ride.

Even those that do not like to shop or even enter a mall will be entertained at the Grand Canal Shoppes. You can find yourself a seat and just watch all happenings in the middle of St. Mark's Square or at the food court. Another great advantage to the Grand Canal Shoppes is that they are inside the Venetian Hotel and Casino which is great if you are staying here. You can go shopping, eat at the food court, and get some free entertainment without having to leave the convenience of your hotel.

There is free parking in the garage, located at the Venetian entrance, follow the signs. The Shoppes feature valet parking, taxi services, lost and found, and wheelchair services. There are also GGP mall gift cards available to use at selected stores. I suggest you get an Italian gelato in St. Mark's Square, grab a seat, and imagine I'm in Venice; this is my favorite thing to do at the Grand Canal Shoppes Las Vegas.