Las Vegas packs more attractions into a 6.8km (4.2 mile) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard than most cities fit in their entire metro area. Beyond the casinos, you will find world-class live entertainment, desert adventures within an hour’s drive, and one-of-a-kind museums. This guide covers the essential things to do in Las Vegas, from iconic Strip attractions to hidden gems, with practical details on tickets, hours, and locations. For weather conditions and Stip guides, see the linked articles.
Things to Do on the Las Vegas Strip
The Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory
The Bellagio Fountain show runs daily with performances every 30 minutes from 3pm to 8pm and every 15 minutes from 8pm to midnight on weekdays (noon start on weekends). The free water-and-light show is set to music ranging from Frank Sinatra to Tiësto and draws crowds every show. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, just inside the hotel lobby, rotates displays five times per year (Lunar New Year, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Holiday) and is also free to visit 24 hours a day. The Bellagio is at 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S.
The High Roller Observation Wheel
At 168m (550 ft) tall, the High Roller at the LINQ Promenade is the second-tallest observation wheel in the world. A full rotation takes 30 minutes and each cabin holds up to 40 people. Standard daytime tickets start at US$25 for adults; nighttime rides cost US$35. An open bar cabin option is available for US$60 per person with unlimited drinks during the ride. It is open daily from 11:30am to 2am. The views of the Strip from the top are unmatched, especially at sunset. Book online at the High Roller website for discounts over walk-up pricing.
The Venetian Canals and St. Mark’s Square
The Venetian Resort recreates Venice with indoor and outdoor canals complete with singing gondoliers. A gondola ride costs US$34 per person for a shared ride (up to 4 people) and runs daily from 10am to 11pm (indoor) and 11am to 10pm (outdoor). St. Mark’s Square inside the Grand Canal Shoppes features a painted sky ceiling and periodic live performances from opera singers and musicians, all free to watch. The Venetian is located at 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S.
The STRAT Tower Thrill Rides
The STRAT Hotel (formerly the Stratosphere) at 2000 Las Vegas Blvd S rises 350m (1,149 ft) and offers three thrill rides at the top: Big Shot (a compressed-air launch that shoots riders 49m up at 72 km/h), X-Scream (a teeter-totter that tips riders over the edge), and Insanity (a spinning arm that extends 20m over the tower’s edge). Individual ride tickets are US$25 each; an all-day pass covering all three rides plus the observation deck costs US$45. The observation deck alone costs US$20 and offers 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Valley. Open daily from 10am to 1am (rides until midnight).
Outdoor Adventures Near Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon sits 24km (15 miles) west of the Strip off Highway 159. The 21km (13-mile) one-way scenic drive loops through dramatic red and orange sandstone formations with multiple trailheads for hiking. Entry is US$20 per vehicle and you need a timed reservation between October 1 and May 31, booked online at recreation.gov. The best hikes include Calico Tanks (3.5km / 2.2 miles round-trip, moderate, with a hidden water pocket at the end), Ice Box Canyon (3.7km / 2.3 miles, moderate, shaded with seasonal waterfall), and Turtlehead Peak (8km / 5 miles, strenuous, 600m elevation gain with a summit view of the Strip). The Visitor Center (open 8am to 4:30pm) has restrooms, water, and exhibits. Start hikes before 7am in summer months to avoid heat exhaustion.
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam sits 58km (36 miles) southeast of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border. The dam is 221m (726 ft) tall and holds back Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The Power Plant Tour costs US$15 for adults and runs daily from 9am to 5pm (first tour 9:30am, last 3:45pm). It includes a 30-minute guided tour of the generator room and a film about the dam’s construction. The shorter Visitor Center tour is US$10. Parking at the garage on the Nevada side costs US$10. Drive time from the Strip is about 45 minutes via I-515/US-93. The nearby Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge offers free views of the dam from above.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
Multiple operators run helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim, which is 190km (120 miles) east of the city. Papillon and Maverick are the two main operators. A standard 4-hour tour including a landing inside the canyon costs US$450 to $600 per person. For a budget option, companies offer flyover-only tours for US$200 to $300 per person that last about 2 hours. Most tours include hotel pickup from the Strip. Book at least one week in advance during peak season (March through October). The West Rim is the closest point of the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas and includes the Skywalk, a glass bridge extending 21m over the canyon edge (US$25 add-on).
Shows and Entertainment in Las Vegas
Cirque du Soleil Productions
Las Vegas hosts six permanent Cirque du Soleil shows: Mystère at Treasure Island (original, family-friendly, from US$70), O at Bellagio (water-based, most acclaimed, from US$130), KÀ at MGM Grand (martial arts inspired, from US$80), The Beatles LOVE at Mirage (Beatles music, from US$90), Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay (from US$80), and Mad Apple at New York-New York (comedy and music, from US$60). All run Tuesday through Saturday with dark days on Monday or Sunday depending on the show. Book directly through Cirque du Soleil’s website or the hotel box office; third-party resellers usually charge more.
Absinthe at Caesars Palace
Absinthe runs in a Spiegeltent outside Caesars Palace. This adults-only variety show combines acrobatics, burlesque, and crude comedy in an intimate round theater. Tickets run US$120 to $170 and the show is consistently rated the best entertainment in Las Vegas. It runs nightly at 8pm and 10pm with no dark days. The 10pm shows tend to be rowdier. Book at least two weeks ahead as the small venue (600 seats) sells out regularly.
Museums and Unique Attractions in Las Vegas
The Neon Museum
The Neon Museum at 770 Las Vegas Blvd N preserves and displays retired Las Vegas casino signs from properties like the Stardust, Moulin Rouge, and Desert Inn. The main exhibition is the Neon Boneyard, an outdoor collection of over 200 unrestored signs. Guided tours run daily and cost US$28 for adults for daytime visits, US$45 for the night tour (which illuminates restored signs). The night tour is the better experience, book at least two weeks in advance as slots fill quickly. The museum is a 15-minute drive from the Strip, near Downtown. Open daily from 9am, last tour at 11pm.
Omega Mart at Area15
Omega Mart is an interactive art installation by Meow Wolf inside Area15, an immersive entertainment complex at 3215 S Rancho Drive. The 4,800 square meter (52,000 sq ft) space is designed to look like a surreal supermarket that opens into parallel dimensions through hidden portals. Tickets cost US$54 for adults and US$49 for children on weekdays, US$59/$54 on weekends. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours exploring. Area15 itself is free to enter and includes additional attractions like the Illuminarium and Wink World. Open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to midnight, Friday and Saturday until 2am.
Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas is a five-block pedestrian mall covered by a 460m (1,500 ft) LED canopy that runs light shows every hour from 6pm to 1am. The Viva Vision shows are free. Fremont Street is also home to the SlotZilla zipline: the lower Zipline costs US$49 and launches from a 23m (77 ft) platform, while the upper Zoomline costs US$69 and launches from a 35m (114 ft) platform in a superhero-style prone position. Fremont Street has a grittier, more old-school Vegas feel than the Strip, with cheaper table minimums (US$5 blackjack vs. US$15-25 on the Strip) and a live music stage. It is a 15-minute drive or 30-minute bus ride (Deuce bus, US$6 for a 2-hour pass) from the central Strip.
The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum at 300 Stewart Avenue occupies the former federal courthouse where the 1950 Kefauver Hearings on organized crime took place. The three floors cover the history of organized crime in America and law enforcement’s efforts to combat it, with exhibits including the actual wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Adult tickets are US$30, open daily from 9am to 9pm. The basement speakeasy serves Prohibition-era cocktails and requires no museum admission to enter. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the full museum. After exploring the attractions, use the neighborhoods guide to find the best area for your stay.
