FAQs
What are the must-see landmarks in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is packed with impressive landmarks and glitzy displays. It’s known for its luxury casinos and venues to escape into the fantasy of your choice. What are the ones you can’t miss?
The most iconic spot by far is the dancing fountains in front of the Bellagio. The daily performances will instantly transport you into the magic of Las Vegas. Inside the Bellagio, you will find the latest version of their Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Each season is a new display of hundreds of plants, scents, and sounds that will impress all your senses.
Catch a 360-degree view from the Strat. At 1,149 feet, it’s the tallest observation tower in the country, complete with three adrenaline-pumping thrill rides at the top, a restaurant and a cocktail lounge. If you fancy a live show mixed with alluring dancing and skilled circus performers, make sure to check out Rouge, also at the Strat.
To see the wild side of Vegas, head downtown and check out the Fremont Experience. Immerse yourself underneath the world’s largest LED canopy screen called Viva Vision — a mindblowing display of visuals playing above you. There are three permanent stages with free nightly entertainment. For a thrill, ride Slotzilla, the 11-story slot machine-inspired zipline, surrounded by the original strip of neon-lit casinos and hotels.
If you’re up for a bit of an adventure, keep on walking down into East Fremont to Atomic Liquor, the first stand-alone tavern in Vegas to get its liquor license. If the walls could talk, they would tell you stories of the Rat Pack, Barbara Streisand, and Hunter S. Thompson. They were a few of the Las Vegas legends that frequented here. And then there’s its “explosive” past.
Area 15 calls itself the immersive entertainment district. Located in a gigantic warehouse, it has a mix of cinematic excursions, alternate reality, and interactive experiences. Home to Omega Mart, Illuminarium, Wink World, and more. Amid all that are themed restaurants, bars, and shops. Watch their calendar for special events such as live electronic music, underground concerts, and festivals.
What are the best attractions in Las Vegas for families?
Las Vegas has loads of attractions for families with little ones. Whether you’re looking for fun activities, family-friendly entertainment, or places of discovery, Las Vegas has plenty of things to do and explore.
- If you want to share the joy of learning something new, take them to the Discovery Children’s Museum, complete with three floors of exhibits and interactive.
- To learn more about the roots of Las Vegas and see some resident native animals, Springs Preserve is always a fun day out. You can even jump on their train and take a ride to Boom Town to see what Vegas once looked like in the 1920s.
- When it’s hot, take the kids swimming! There are several family-friendly pools like Mandalay Bay’s man-made tropical beach complete with real sand. It boasts a 1.6-million-gallon wave pool, lazy river, and a splash zone for the little ones. But the most family-friendly pools are the Circus Circus Splash Zone and Excalibur water slides.
- Kids will also love The Adventuredome at Circus Circus, filled with thrill rides, an arcade, and free circus performances.
- At the Excalibur Fun Dungeon, you can challenge the kids to your favorite carnival game. While there, you can take them to the Tournament of Kings, an eat-with-your-hands dinner and medieval times show experience.
Speaking of shows, for energetic kids that like to scream and shout, the BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon is your show. It’s the same robot-combat show seen on TV, but in Las Vegas, you see them battle in real life! Both you and your kids will get a kick out of cheering on your favorite robots.
What are the best tours in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is filled with tours for every kind of traveler.
Curious visitors who want to know more about how Las Vegas transformed itself from a barren desert to a world-renowned destination will love our Fremont Street Tour. Hear the stories behind the city’s first arrivals, the Mob, the slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” and more. Bonus: Your Mob Museum ticket is included with this tour!
If you are the type of traveler that likes to get off the beaten track, you’ll enjoy the Las Vegas Arts District. It’s a hub for creatives, foodies, and beer enthusiasts. The Las Vegas Arts District Tour takes you on a journey to find the best local art and secret locations that most tourists miss.
To get into the heart of the Strip and catch a glimpse from the sky, the Las Vegas Strip Tour is one not to miss. Learn about how themed hotel casinos attracted millions from around the world. From the Emperor of Caesars Palace to a mobster that stole the show, hear stories that will give you a whole new perspective of the grandeur of the Strip. This tour is unique because it includes a guided ride on the High Roller, and you can upgrade to visit Madame Tussauds.
When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?
While there’s never really a bad time to visit this perpetually sunny city, spring and fall are generally considered two of the best times to visit Las Vegas. Planning your trip in March through May or September through November will allow you to take advantage of more pleasant temperatures.
Yet even with 100+ temperatures in the summer, people flock to Vegas for wet and wild pool parties. World-famous DJs will entertain you while you dance and mingle in your swimsuit, cocktail in hand. Winter can get cold, but most find it a refreshing time to explore all that Las Vegas has to offer. It can be an especially great time for nature-lovers keen to visit Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and the Arizona Hot Springs nearby.
Where should I stay in Las Vegas?
Where you stay in Las Vegas depends on what you’re planning on doing during your time in the city. Here are some top choices to start you off:
- If you want a high-end, serene experience, book your accommodation at the brand-new Hotel Fontainebleau.
- To stay at one of the only non-gaming and non-smoking hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, pick the Four Seasons Hotel aims to impress all its visitors.
- The LINQ has a great location at the center of the action on the Strip and caters to a more party-friendly crowd.
- The Cromwell is known for its sexy appeal.
- Finally, if you’re here for a getaway with your special someone, consider the Venetian for its romantic vibes.
For a bona fide Sin City experience, book your stay in the center of Downtown Vegas. Located at the heart of Fremont Street, you’ll find the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. It continues to be one of the most well-loved hotel casinos by visitors for decades. The Downtown Grand is fresh and modern. It’s still close to the action but far enough to get some quiet sleep.
If an adult-only hotel sounds like something up your alley then the Circa is your place. It hosts the largest sportsbook in the world. And if that wasn’t enough, the Circa has a 40-foot tall high-definition screen above their pool so you can watch all the sports games you love while sipping a drink poolside.
Looking for family-friendly resorts? The Excalibur or Circus Circus are good options. They both have plenty of kid-friendly activities to do and see. And a bit off the Strip is Tahiti Village Resort and Spa. They offer the comfort of home in the midst of feeling like you’re in a tropical paradise.
Wherever you stay, you’re sure to be close to some great attractions to enjoy and explore.
What are the best annual events in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas has on average 700 active events a day! No matter when you’re at in Las Vegas, you will find something to entertain you, from concerts to circus to comedy.
Fall
September and October are great months for great music. On Labor Day weekend, Vegas comes alive with the Life is Beautiful Festival. This three-day headliner music and art festival in the heart of Downtown Vegas includes new local art installations and permanent murals every year. If you want to hear world-class blues music, check out Big Blues Bender at the Westgate Hotel — five stages and four days and nights of blues, roots, and folk music.
October highlights are the Reggae Rise Up Vegas, Best Friends Forever, and When We Were Young Festival. All three are filled with massive lineups that will have you singing to some of the most well-known bands from around the world. October is also the month for the Rise Lantern Festival just 25 miles out of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert. It’s two days of immersive art, music, and lantern lighting ceremonies.
Spring
April is for rocking around the clock at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. It’s a well-established festival that has been going for almost 30 years. Enjoy four days of music, hot rods, dancing, burlesque and more.
May attracts thousands of EDM fans. People come from around the world for the Electric Daisy Carnival aka EDC. It’s a weekend of extravagant stages, laser light shows, and wild art.
Summer
May to July, you will find the World Series of Poker. This event has its roots in Las Vegas. There’s no better place to test your luck and your poker face than at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.
What food is unique to Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is the home of celebrity chefs and themed restaurants. Big names such as Guy Fieri, Wolfgang Puck, Nobu Matsuhisa, Guy Savoy, and José Andrés are a few among the crowd to look out for. One of the most sought-after celebrity dishes is Gordon Ramsay’s Beef Wellington found at Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace.
If you want true local cuisine then go to the Arts District. There you will find a row of breweries, local restaurants, and semi-hidden cocktail bars. Some Vegas favorites include:
- Good Pie
- Velveteen Rabbit
- Stray Pirate
- Able Baker
- Main St. Provisions
If you want to fix your sugar craving, pay a visit to Freeds, a three-generation family-owned bakery in Vegas.
In the mood for a romantic dinner for two? Try one of these options.
- Hugo’s Cellar is well known for its romantic vintage flavor affair. Set inside the Four Queens Resort in Downtown Vegas, it’s a classic steakhouse infused with charm and attentive service. Ladies are greeted with long-stemmed roses adding a special touch to the dining experience.
- To impress, take your date to Sinatra at Encore. It’s Italian fine dining inspired by Las Vegas legend Frank Sinatra. For an extra special touch, reserve the Chairman’s Room, your very own private room with an array of incredible wines overlooking the gardens.
What should I do on my first trip to Las Vegas?
How you spend your first trip to Las Vegas depends on the kind of travel you like doing.
If you want to be close to the action on the world famous Strip, there are four miles of hotels and casinos to choose from. You’ll be surrounded by hundreds of restaurants, theaters, and venues to experience mind-blowing entertainment. Here are some favorites:
- Carrot Top
- Cirque du Soleil
- Penn & Teller
- Absinthe (adult entertainment)
Take a trip to Downtown Las Vegas. It’s always an interesting place to people-watch. Fremont Street is alive with live music, buskers, and neon glistening vintage-themed hotels. The Sand Dollar has some of the best live music entertainment talent in Las Vegas.
If you’re a history buff or just curious, visit the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum to learn a bit more about the Vegas of yesterday.
If you love local creations, breweries, and vintage treasures, take a Las Vegas Arts District tour. You can see artists at work in their studios, learn about the city’s history and culture from a local, and more! If you happen to visit on the first Friday of the month, the Arts District has a massive street festival with local artist stalls, food trucks, and live music.
And there’s lots to do near Las Vegas. You can take tours to the Grand Canyon by bus or by helicopter. Hire ATVs and take a trip to Red Rock Canyon. Visit the Hoover Dam to learn about how it transformed Las Vegas forever. Go kayaking along the Colorado River to see Emerald Cave. Visit the Valley of Fire. The natural landscape on the outskirts of Vegas is amazing!
How much time should I spend in Las Vegas?
It takes some time to get to know this city, so we recommend you spend a minimum of 4-5 days on your first trip to Las Vegas. This timeframe will give you enough wiggle room to get a real sense of the city without needing to rush.
What are the best transportation options in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is a sprawling spaghetti of roads littered with interesting destinations. Most visitors use ride-share services to get around, although there are a few public transportation options.
Tip: You can catch the free Downtown Loop Shuttle to and from Downtown and the Arts District. The Deuce Bus runs up and down The Strip to Fremont Street. It costs just $6 for a two-hour pass or $8 for a 24-hour pass. To get around the Strip easily, take the Monorail. Trains arrive every 4-8 minutes at seven stations.
Where is the best shopping in Las Vegas?
Shopping is at your fingertips in Las Vegas. Every hotel has its own array of shops. One of the largest malls on the Strip is the Fashion Show Mall. There you will find more than 250 retailers and over 30 restaurants.
For upscale luxury shops head to the Forum Shops at Caesars. Stroll the Rome-themed streets to find specialty shops and restaurants.
To find local artisan shops and relax in a cool hip environment, a visit to Fergusons won’t disappoint. This city block of artisan shops offers locally made treasures, live music, and art.