Top places to visit in Las Vegas

• Fountains of Bellagio

  fountain-show · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · free entry

  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

  entertainment-district · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  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

  casino-resort · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  landmark-sign · 4.6 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  engineering-landmark · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  shopping-mall · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  venue · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  conservation-area · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  observation-wheel · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  botanical-garden · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  observation-tower · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  shopping-mall · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Las Vegas

Airport: Las Vegas (LAS)

How visitors arrive in Las Vegas

• Flights into Harry Reid By air · common

  LVCVA's visitor profile shows air and drive/ground arrivals in a near-even split, with slightly more arriving by air. Source: assets.simpleviewcms.com

• Drive or ground transport By road · common

  Nearly half of visitors come by car or other ground transport, per the LVCVA visitor profile. Source: assets.simpleviewcms.com

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from the airport

  Taxis from the airport carry a surcharge. They need a specific address and cannot pick up or drop off on the street. Source: harryreidairport.com

• Uber or Lyft from the airport

  Ride-hail drivers can pick up at the airport. Strip hotels have designated pickup areas that may be a walk from the main entrance; ask guest services. Source: harryreidairport.com

• RTC buses including the Deuce

  The RTC bus network serves the valley and the double-decker Deuce runs along the Strip and to Downtown. Check RTC for the current airport route. Source: harryreidairport.com

Getting around

• Bus useful for some trips

  RTC Transit buses include the Deuce along the Strip and the DVX express serving downtown.

• Ride Hail useful for some trips

  Uber and Lyft both operate throughout the Las Vegas Valley, including trips to the airport.

• Taxi useful for some trips

  Taxi service in Las Vegas works from designated taxi stands, so plan to pick one up at a stand, such as at a hotel.

• Walking

Paying

• Ride-hail needs the app, a registered account and a card. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

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.

Best time to visit Las Vegas

• Jan 15°C
• Feb 17°C
• Mar 21°C
• Apr 26°C
• May 32°C
• Jun 38°C
• Jul 40°C
• Aug 39°C
• Sep 35°C
• Oct 28°C
• Nov 20°C
• Dec 14°C

More in United States

• New York City
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Orlando
• Miami
• Chicago

Frequently asked questions about Las Vegas

What are the top-rated places to visit in Las Vegas?

The highest-rated places in our Las Vegas guide are Fountains of Bellagio, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Sphere, Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

Where should I stay in Las Vegas?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Las Vegas: The Strip, Downtown / Fremont Street, Paradise (East of Strip), Summerlin.

How do I get around Las Vegas?

Ways to get around Las Vegas covered in our guide: City bus, Ride-hailing app, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Las Vegas?

Scams reported to us for Las Vegas include Free CD / mixtape hustle; "Free" show tickets / timeshare pitch; Costumed characters / showgirls photo tips. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Las Vegas?

Average daytime highs in Las Vegas run from 14°C in Dec to 40°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Las Vegas?

The nearest airport to Las Vegas has the code LAS.