ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP
The High Roller — World's Tallest Observation Wheel
At 550 feet, the High Roller at The LINQ is the tallest observation wheel on Earth. Each of the 28 glass cabins holds up to 40 people and takes 30 minutes to complete one rotation — giving you sweeping panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip in every direction. The nighttime ride is the move: the Strip below you is an ocean of neon. Happy Hour cabins include an open bar. Book tickets online to skip the line.
Bellagio Fountain Show
The most iconic free attraction in Las Vegas. The Bellagio's 1,000 water jets perform choreographed fountain shows set to music every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes in the evening. Watch from the public sidewalk along Las Vegas Boulevard for the best view, or from a table at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant across the street. The show is completely free and runs year-round.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden
Inside the Bellagio, the Conservatory is a massive atrium filled with elaborate seasonal floral displays — Chinese New Year, Spring, Summer, Fall/Halloween, and Holiday/Winter — each costing millions of dollars to produce. Free to enter and one of the most breathtaking hidden gems on the Strip. The displays change 5 times per year.
Grand Canal Gondola Rides
The Venetian features a 1/4-mile replica of Venice's Grand Canal — indoors on the shopping level and outdoors in a lagoon. Real gondoliers (who are also trained singers) take you on a 15-minute ride while serenading you. Cheesy? Yes. Unforgettable? Also yes. Outdoor rides in the lagoon are more scenic; indoor rides go past the Grand Canal Shoppes.
LAS VEGAS EXPERIENCES
Walk (or Drive) the Entire Strip
The Las Vegas Strip runs 4.2 miles from the Stratosphere in the north to Mandalay Bay in the south. Walking the whole Strip takes about 3 hours at a casual pace — longer if you stop to explore casinos and attractions. The best time is evening from around 8pm when all the neon is blazing. Many visitors do a one-way walk and take an Uber back. The free trams connecting some resorts can shorten the return trip.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Located at the south end of the Strip, the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" sign is one of the most photographed spots in America. Built in 1959 and designed by Betty Willis, the sign is free to visit. Go in the morning to avoid the midday heat and long lines. Parking is available in a small lot directly behind the sign.
Bodies Exhibition & Titanic Artifacts
Two permanent exhibitions inside Luxor offer a break from the casino floor. Bodies: The Exhibition displays real preserved human bodies and organs, creating a fascinating (if slightly unsettling) look at human anatomy. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition showcases genuine artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck site, with a moving presentation of the ship's story. Both are ticketed and often discounted with hotel packages.
DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS (FREMONT STREET)
Fremont Street Experience
The original Las Vegas is on Fremont Street, 10 minutes from the Strip. A 1,500-foot pedestrian mall covered by a 90-foot-high LED canopy — the Viva Vision — hosts free light shows every hour after dark, set to music ranging from rock classics to EDM. Street performers, live bands, zip-lines overhead (SlotZilla), and the oldest casinos in Las Vegas (Golden Nugget, Binion's) line the street. A must-visit for any Vegas trip.
MUST-VISIT MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS
The Mob Museum (National Museum of Organized Crime)
One of the best museums in Las Vegas, the Mob Museum tells the story of organized crime in America through three floors of immersive exhibits, real artifacts, and multimedia presentations. Located in the original federal courthouse where mob boss hearings were held. Highlights include the St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall, a working speakeasy in the basement, and an interactive crime lab. Allow 3 hours minimum.
The Neon Museum (Boneyard)
Over 200 unrestored iconic Las Vegas signs from casinos, hotels, and businesses that no longer exist fill an outdoor "boneyard" — a haunting graveyard of Vegas history. The Stardust, Caesars Palace originals, the Sahara — they're all here. Guided daytime and nighttime tours are both worth doing. The nighttime "Brilliant!" projection show on select nights is extraordinary. Reservations required.
DAY TRIPS FROM LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas's desert location puts some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world within easy striking distance.
Grand Canyon South Rim
The most popular day trip from Las Vegas. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 280 miles (4.5 hours) by car, or accessible via bus tours and small-plane charters. Helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the canyon floor and back are available for around $400–600 per person — one of the most spectacular experiences you can have anywhere on Earth.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Just 30 minutes west of the Strip, Red Rock Canyon offers dramatic red sandstone formations, hiking trails ranging from easy walks to serious climbs, and some of the best rock climbing in the American Southwest. The 13-mile Scenic Drive is manageable in a rental car. The contrast of coming from the neon Strip to ancient desert wilderness in half an hour is striking.
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
The Hoover Dam is an engineering marvel — completed in 1935, it was the largest dam and hydroelectric facility in the world at the time. The visitor center and tours of the dam's interior are fascinating. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US (by volume), offers boating, paddleboarding, and fishing. Many tours combine both in a half-day excursion from Las Vegas.
ADRENALINE & ADVENTURE
- The STRAT SkyPod — 1,149 feet above street level, offering terrifying rides including Big Shot (launches you 160 feet up the tower) and X-Scream (tips you over the edge of the building). Not for the faint of heart.
- Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving (iFly) — Wind tunnel skydiving simulation. A 1-hour session includes instruction and actual flight time. Fun for all ages and zero real danger.
- Exotics Racing — Drive a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Porsche on a real race track. Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts experiences where you can drive up to 20 laps in your dream car.
- SlotZilla Zip Line — Two zip lines run the length of the Fremont Street Experience — a standard seated ride at 77 feet and an extreme "Superman" prone position at 114 feet. Go at night for maximum effect.