Las Vegas, United States: travel guide
The desert resort that bills itself the Entertainment Capital of the World — the casino Strip actually lies outside the city limits in Paradise, while downtown keeps the older neon along Fremont Street.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- United States
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Nearest airport
- LAS
Top places to visit in Las Vegas
Fountains of Bellagio
Viewpoint · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h
Free choreographed water, music and light show on the 8-acre lake in front of the Bellagio. Shows run every 15-30 minutes in afternoon/evening.
Fremont Street Experience
Nightlife · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Pedestrian mall in downtown Vegas under a barrel-vault LED canopy (Viva Vision) with light shows, street performers, zip lines and vintage casinos. Canopy free; SlotZilla zip line ticketed.
Caesars Palace
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
Landmark Roman-themed mega-resort and casino opened in 1966, with the Forum Shops, fountains and the Colosseum theatre. Free to wander the grounds and casino.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.3 h
The iconic 1959 neon sign at the south end of the Strip. Free to visit with a dedicated parking lot; popular photo stop, often with a short queue.
Hoover Dam
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry USD 10
Iconic 1930s concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River ~45 min southeast on the NV-AZ border. Powerplant and dam tours available; the adjacent Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge gives dramatic views.
The Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes
Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Indoor canals with gondola rides under a painted sky ceiling, plus a recreated St Mark's Square. Shopping, dining and street performers; gondola rides ticketed.
Sphere
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 2 h
World's largest spherical structure, a 366-ft venue with an immersive wraparound interior LED screen. The exterior Exosphere LED display is free to view from the street; the Sphere Experience show is ticketed.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · entry USD 20
Stunning red-sandstone desert ~30 min west of the Strip with a 13-mile scenic drive, hiking trails and rock climbing. Timed-entry reservation required for the scenic drive in peak season.
The High Roller
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · entry USD 35
550-ft observation wheel at The LINQ, the tallest in North America. 30-minute rotation in enclosed cabins with Strip views. Day and night tickets; happy-hour open-bar cabin available.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h
Free 14,000-sq-ft indoor garden inside the Bellagio with elaborate seasonal displays changed five times a year. Open 24 hours.
The STRAT SkyPod & Thrill Rides
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry USD 28
Observation deck and thrill rides atop the 1,149-ft STRAT tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US. SkyJump and edge rides for the brave.
Forum Shops at Caesars
Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h
Upscale Roman-themed shopping mall at Caesars Palace with a painted sky ceiling, fountains and the spiral escalator. Free to enter.
Things to do
- The Sphere Experience Show · 1.5 h · from USD 109 per person
- Grand Canyon West Helicopter Tour Aerial Tour · 4 h · from USD 449 per person
- Gondola Ride at The Venetian Experience · 0.3 h · from USD 39 per person
- Hoover Dam Guided Tour from Las Vegas Day Tour · 5 h · from USD 89 per person
- Cirque du Soleil "O" at Bellagio Show · 1.5 h · from USD 109 per person
- High Roller Observation Wheel Ticket Experience · 0.5 h · from USD 35 per person
- Red Rock Canyon Half-Day Tour Day Tour · 5 h · from USD 99 per person
- Grand Canyon South Rim Full-Day Tour Day Tour · 14 h · from USD 159 per person
Day trips and tours
- Grand Canyon South Rim Full-Day Tour 14 h · from USD 159
- Hoover Dam Half-Day Tour 5 h · from USD 89
- Red Rock Canyon Scenic Half-Day Tour 5 h · from USD 99
- Death Valley National Park Full-Day Tour 11 h · from USD 235
Where to stay in Las Vegas
- The Strip about USD 180 per night
The classic Vegas base: walkable cluster of mega-resorts, casinos, shows and restaurants along Las Vegas Blvd. Most resorts charge a daily resort fee on top of the room rate.
- Downtown / Fremont Street about USD 90 per night
Older, cheaper and more retro than the Strip. Home to the Fremont Street Experience canopy, vintage casinos and a lively bar scene. Lower room rates and lower resort fees.
- Paradise (East of Strip) about USD 130 per night
Just east of the Strip near the Convention Center, MSG Sphere and the airport. Quieter, often better value, short rideshare to the action.
- Summerlin about USD 160 per night
Upscale master-planned suburb west of the city near Red Rock Canyon. Resort-style hotels, golf and quiet. Best for nature access and families, not nightlife.
Hotels
- Bellagio 5-star · USD 250 to USD 900 per night
- Wynn Las Vegas 5-star · USD 280 to USD 1,100 per night
- The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 5-star · USD 230 to USD 850 per night
- The Venetian Resort 5-star · USD 200 to USD 800 per night
- Caesars Palace 5-star · USD 180 to USD 700 per night
- ARIA Resort & Casino 5-star · USD 200 to USD 750 per night
Where to eat
- Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen British, Contemporary American, Steakhouse · about USD 95 per person
- In-N-Out Burger American, Fast Food, Burgers · about USD 12 per person
- Bacchanal Buffet Buffet, International · about USD 80 per person
- Mon Ami Gabi French, Bistro, Steakhouse · about USD 55 per person
- The Peppermill Restaurant & Fireside Lounge American, Diner, Breakfast · about USD 30 per person
- Tacos El Gordo Mexican, Tacos, Street Food · about USD 15 per person
- Hash House A Go Go American, Breakfast, Comfort Food · about USD 28 per person
- The Buffet at Wynn Buffet, International, Seafood · about USD 75 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Free CD / mixtape hustle
The Strip & Fremont Street
Street performers or "rappers" press a CD into your hand or ask you to "hold this," then aggressively demand $10-20 once you take it.
How to avoid it: Keep your hands at your sides and decline firmly. If handed one, hand it straight back and keep walking.
"Free" show tickets / timeshare pitch
The Strip, kiosks and sidewalks
Booths or hawkers offer free show tickets, dinner or a "prize," which turn out to require sitting through a high-pressure timeshare or vacation-club sales presentation.
How to avoid it: Buy show tickets only from official box offices or reputable sellers (e.g. Tix4Tonight). Skip any "free" offer that needs you to attend a presentation.
Costumed characters / showgirls photo tips
Outside casinos on the Strip & Fremont Street
People dressed as characters or showgirls pose for photos, then demand a large tip ($20+) and can become confrontational.
How to avoid it: Agree on a price (or that it's a free photo) before any picture. $1-5 is plenty; you can simply decline.
Taxi long-hauling from the airport
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to the Strip
Drivers take the I-215 tunnel and a longer freeway route instead of the direct surface streets, inflating a ~$20 fare to $30-40+.
How to avoid it: Tell the driver "no tunnel, surface streets, most direct route." Consider rideshare or the published flat rates; know the trip is only a few miles.
Strip club promoter / party-bus upsell
The Strip late at night
Promoters offer "free limo and free entry" to a strip club, then hit you with steep cover charges, mandatory drink minimums and inflated bar tabs once inside.
How to avoid it: Ignore street promoters. If you go, confirm all cover charges, drink minimums and fees in writing before getting in any vehicle.