Las Vegas doesn’t do subtle. From the moment you land, it throws everything at you at once – neon, noise, the smell of a casino floor, and that strange, intoxicating energy that makes you feel like anything could happen. On our first trip to Sin City in 2015, we were slightly overwhelmed trying to work out what to actually do. On our second trip a few years ago, we honed in on what we really wanted to get out of our Las Vegas adventure. You want it? Vegas has it. But with only three days to play with, you have to be selective.
We packed a lot in. We gambled (and lost, naturally), rode a zip line above Fremont Street, stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon, and still made time for a pool afternoon. Whether you’re here for a long weekend, a family trip, or a solo adventure, here are the top 10 things to do Las Vegas – including a few extra that go well beyond the Strip.
Top 10 things to do Las Vegas: Quick picks
- Best free experience: Bellagio fountains – go at night, every 15 minutes from 8pm
- Best show: Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio – book well ahead
- Best day trip: Grand Canyon – South Rim for drama, West Rim if you’re short on time
- Best Downtown experience: Fremont Street + SlotZilla + Neon Museum
- Best for families: Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay or a Grand Canyon day trip
- Best escape from the Strip: Red Rock Canyon, 17 miles west – go early
Quick facts about Las Vegas
- Location: Nevada, USA
- Best time to visit: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) for cooler temperatures
- Getting around: Walking the Strip, the Deuce bus, or rideshares – renting a car isn’t necessary for Strip-based activities
- Currency: US dollar
- Las Vegas to Grand Canyon: Approximately 4–5 hours by road to the South Rim, or around 1.5–2 hours by helicopter
1. Watch the Bellagio fountains
If you only do one free thing in Las Vegas, make it this. The Bellagio’s famous fountain display sends 1,214 water jets shooting up to 460 feet in the air, choreographed to music that ranges from Elvis to opera to classic show tunes. Shows run every 30 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes from 8pm, so you’ll have plenty of chances to catch one.
The crowds along the pavement can get thick, especially on weekend evenings. My biggest tip: book dinner at a restaurant inside the Bellagio and ask for a table facing the lake. You get the full show from a seated terrace without jostling for a view. Far better than squeezing behind a sea of raised phones on the Strip.
Free to watch from the pavement | Weekdays from 3pm, weekends from noon, until midnight daily
2. Try your luck on the casino floor
You don’t have to be a serious gambler to enjoy the casino floor – half the fun is the atmosphere. The clinking of machines, the focused hush around the roulette tables, the sense that anything could happen at any moment. On our visit, I lost $50 in about three minutes on the roulette at Caesars Palace, but I don’t regret a penny of it.
Caesars Palace remains one of the most famous casinos on the Strip, and it lives up to its reputation. The floor is enormous, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere is hard to beat. Circus Circus, towards the north end of the Strip, is worth a look for its sheer spectacle – circus acts perform above the casino floor on a regular schedule, which makes it one of the more surreal experiences in a city that’s full of them.
Tip: Set yourself a budget before you walk in and stick to it. The table games are better value than slots if you want your money to last.
3. Go Downtown: Fremont Street, the Neon Museum and the SlotZilla zip line
Downtown Las Vegas is a completely different world to the Strip, and it’s well worth the short journey. The Fremont Street Experience is the original Las Vegas – neon lights, street performers, live music, and a five-block pedestrian mall covered by a 1,700-foot LED canopy that puts on free light shows overhead. It’s louder, grittier, and somehow more honest than the polished resorts further south.
While you’re down here, do the SlotZilla zip line. We did, and it was one of the highlights of the trip. There are two options: the lower Zip Line, where you ride seated from 77 feet up for around half the length of Fremont Street; and the upper Zoomline, where you fly Superman-style – horizontal, belly down – from 114 feet, covering the full 1,700-foot length of the canopy. If you can stomach it, go for the Zoomline. Worth every dollar.
The Golden Nugget is the landmark hotel in this area and worth a quick look inside – particularly for the famous shark tank swimming pool, where guests can swim in a tube that passes through a 200,000-gallon tank full of sharks. You don’t have to be staying there to have a look around.
Don’t leave Downtown without visiting the Neon Museum, a fascinating outdoor collection of more than 200 decommissioned Las Vegas signs. The guided night tours are particularly atmospheric – these glittering relics tell the real story of this city more effectively than any glossy casino lobby.
Neon Museum: adults from around $25 | book ahead for night tours
SlotZilla: Zip Line from $44 | Zoomline from $64
4. Visit the Grand Canyon
Las Vegas is one of the best bases for a Grand Canyon day trip, and if you’re in the area, it would be a shame to miss it. The West Rim is the closest point to the city – around 2.5 hours by road – and is managed by the Hualapai tribe rather than the National Park Service. The South Rim, which is the version you’ve seen in most photos, takes around 4–5 hours to drive but is generally considered the more dramatic.
We took a helicopter tour over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River, landing in the Western Rim for a champagne toast on the canyon floor. It’s not cheap, but seeing those layers of red rock from above – and then from inside the canyon itself – is an experience on a completely different scale. Read our full Grand Canyon helicopter tour review here.
Tip: If the helicopter is outside your budget, coach day trips run regularly from the Strip and are a solid alternative. Book in advance, especially in spring and autumn.
5. Go up the STRAT SkyPod
The STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod tower stands 1,149 feet tall – the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. The views from the observation deck are worth it, particularly at night when the Strip lights up in both directions. There are indoor and outdoor decks, and a revolving restaurant a few floors below.
If you’re brave enough, there are also two thrill rides up there: Big Shot, which launches you 160 feet straight up at 45mph from 1,081 feet, and X-Scream, a ride that propels you headfirst 27 feet over the edge of the building from 866 feet up, then hauls you back and does it again. I went up after a large steak dinner and decided the view alone was quite enough excitement, thank you.
STRAT SkyPod: observation deck from around $30
6. See Cirque du Soleil’s O
There are dozens of shows in Las Vegas at any given time, and it’s impossible to see them all. But if you only catch one, make it Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio. The show is built around a 1.5 million-gallon pool – O is the French word for water – and features 75 artists, including swimmers, divers, aerialists, and contortionists performing continuously above, in, and around the water. The stage itself transforms seamlessly between land and water throughout the performance.
It’s been running since 1998 and shows no sign of slowing down. Tickets are expensive – expect to pay from around $185, and often more – but the production is on a scale you won’t see anywhere else. Book well in advance, particularly for weekend shows and peak holiday periods.
Cirque du Soleil O: tickets from around $185 | cirquedusoleil.com/o | at the Bellagio
7. Visit the Mob Museum
This is one of the most underrated things to do in Las Vegas and sits just a few minutes from the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown. The Mob Museum – officially the National Museum of Organised Crime and Law Enforcement – occupies a former federal courthouse where mob hearings were actually held in the 1950s, which adds a genuine sense of place.
The exhibits are interactive and extremely well done, covering the rise of organised crime in America, the personalities behind it (Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano), and the law enforcement response from the FBI. There’s a courtroom you can sit in, a use-of-force simulator, and wire tap recordings you can listen to. Plan at least two to three hours.
The Underground in the basement is a working speakeasy and distillery, included with your museum ticket. It’s a fun detail that sets the mood perfectly.
Mob Museum: open daily 9am–9pm | 300 Stewart Avenue, Downtown Las Vegas
8. Ride the High Roller observation wheel
The High Roller at the LINQ Hotel is the tallest observation wheel in the Americas at 550 feet – 107 feet taller than the London Eye, for context. Each of the 28 large glass pods takes 30 minutes to complete one full rotation, giving you plenty of time to take in 360-degree views of the Strip, the surrounding desert, and the mountains beyond.
Go at night for the most dramatic views – the city lights spread out in both directions, and you get a real sense of just how vast Las Vegas is. Adults 21 and over can book the Happy Half Hour option, which gives you an open bar in your pod for the full rotation. A memorable way to do it.
High Roller: adults from $30.65 daytime | children (ages 4–12) from $14.15 | at The LINQ Hotel
9. Go shopping – and take a gondola ride
Las Vegas has some brilliant retail in very strange settings. Two malls stand out. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is built to look like an ancient Roman city, complete with a painted sky that shifts from day to night, a Trevi Fountain replica, and over 160 shops ranging from mid-range to designer. It’s open until midnight at weekends.
At the Venetian, the Grand Canal Shoppes takes things one step further – there’s a full recreation of Venice’s Grand Canal running through the middle of it, and you can take an actual gondola ride through the shopping complex. Sitting in a gondola, being sung to by a gondolier, while floating past designer boutiques – it is surreal. We’d been to Venice the year before, and the comparison was simultaneously amusing and unsettling.
Grand Canal Shoppes gondola rides: from around $29 per person | open daily
10. Escape to Red Rock Canyon
When the Strip starts to feel too much, Red Rock Canyon is the antidote – and it’s only 17 miles west of Las Vegas. The National Conservation Area covers nearly 200,000 acres of Mojave Desert landscape, with a spectacular 13-mile one-way scenic drive through burnt-orange sandstone formations, sheer canyon walls, and desert wildlife.
You can drive the loop at your own pace, stopping at viewpoints and trailheads along the way. There are also 26 different hiking trails ranging from easy 30-minute walks to full-day routes, plus world-class rock climbing if that’s your thing. Morning visits are strongly recommended – the light on the red rock before 10am is extraordinary, and the parking lots fill up fast.
Important: Timed entry reservations are required for the scenic drive between October and May (8am–5pm). Book in advance. Entry fee is $20 per vehicle.
Red Rock Canyon: $20 per vehicle | open daily | 17 miles from the Strip
Also worth your time…
While the top 10 things to do Las Vegas will keep you busy – particularly if you only have a long weekend or a few days to play with, here are some extra attractions and experiences that are well worth doing.
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden – The Bellagio’s free conservatory changes its floral displays with the seasons, managed by a team of 140 horticulturists. There are gazebos, ponds, bridges, and elaborate themed arrangements built fresh for each season. It takes about 20 minutes to walk through and is free to enter – a surprisingly calm pocket inside one of the busiest resorts on the Strip.
Hoover Dam – Only 35 miles from the Strip (around 45 minutes by road), this engineering feat spanning the Colorado River and Lake Mead is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Las Vegas. Built between 1931 and 1936, you can take a guided tour inside the dam to see the massive generators, or simply drive the bypass bridge for views over the canyon. Many Grand Canyon tours combine a stop here, too.
Power Plant Tour from $15 | Dam Tour from $30 | Open daily 9am–5pm
Wynn Las Vegas florals – Over at the Wynn, the atrium features spectacular seasonal floral installations – think enormous flower sculptures, hot air balloons made entirely of blooms, and elaborate themed displays that change throughout the year. It costs nothing to wander through, and the interior design alone is worth a look even if you’re not staying there.
Free | Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd
Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart – One of the most distinctive things to do in Las Vegas, and unlike anything else on this list. Omega Mart looks like a surreal supermarket on the surface, but step through one of the secret portals, and you’ll find yourself in a mind-bending immersive art installation. Part art gallery, part funhouse, part escape room – plan at least 90 minutes, more if you want to unravel the full narrative. Located at AREA15, about 20 minutes from the Strip.
Adults from around $59 | 3215 S Rancho DriveÂ
National Atomic Testing Museum – This Smithsonian-affiliated museum tells the fascinating and occasionally unsettling story of nuclear weapons testing at the nearby Nevada Test Site. There’s a Ground Zero Theatre where you experience a simulated above-ground atomic test (complete with shaking seats), plus exhibits covering everything from the Manhattan Project to Cold War history. Sobering, interesting, and very much off most tourists’ radar. Adults $29 | 755 E Flamingo Road | Open Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday noon–5pm
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign – No trip is complete without a photo at this 1959 neon landmark at the southern end of the Strip. Surprisingly small in person, but brilliantly photogenic – especially lit up at night. There’s a small car park where you can pull in, and a queue usually forms for photos directly underneath. Go early morning (7–8am) to avoid the crowds.
Free | 5200 S Las Vegas Blvd
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat – Tucked behind the Flamingo Hotel, this free four-acre habitat is home to Chilean flamingos, exotic birds, turtles, koi fish, and a rescue pelican. It’s a genuinely peaceful spot in the middle of the Strip madness, and completely free to visit. An animal keeper gives an informative talk every morning at 10am.
Free | Open daily 7am–8pm | The Flamingo, 3555 S Las Vegas Blvd
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay – The aquarium houses over 2,000 marine animals including sharks, giant rays, endangered sea turtles, a Komodo dragon, piranhas, and jellyfish. You walk through a tunnel beneath the main 1.3 million-gallon shark tank. It’s a solid option if you’re travelling with children. Adults $29, children ages 5–12 $24. Open daily 10am–8pm.
The world on the Strip – Only in Vegas can you stand in front of a half-scale Eiffel Tower (at Paris Las Vegas), walk past the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty (New York-New York), or photograph a sphinx in front of a full-size pyramid (Luxor). Strolling the Strip just to take in the scale of these replicas is an experience in itself – slightly disorienting if you’ve seen the originals, but oddly entertaining all the same.
Practical tips for visiting Las Vegas
- Walk the Strip at night – the neon is the point, and daytime does it no justice
- Book shows in advance – Cirque du Soleil and popular headliners sell out weeks ahead
- Use the Deuce bus – it runs the full length of the Strip 24 hours a day and costs $6 for a 2-hour pass
- Book Red Rock Canyon reservations early (Oct–May) – slots go fast, especially at weekends
- Casino floors are free to walk through – even if you’re not gambling, the interiors of Caesars, the Venetian, and the Wynn are worth seeing
- Drinks on the casino floor – if you’re gambling, cocktails are complimentary. Tip your server
Where to stay in Las Vegas
Where you stay in Las Vegas shapes your entire trip. Staying on the Strip puts you in the thick of it – walkable to most of the attractions above, but louder, busier, and pricier. Downtown is more affordable and gives you a more local feel, close to the Fremont Street Experience and the Mob Museum.
For a full breakdown of the best areas and hotels for every budget, see our complete guide to where to stay in Las Vegas.
Frequently asked questions about Las Vegas
How many days do you need in Las Vegas?
Three days cover the main Strip highlights and allow time for a one-day trip. Allow four to five days if you want a more relaxed pace or to fit in multiple shows.
What is the best time of year to visit Las Vegas?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times, with pleasant temperatures for walking the Strip. Summer regularly tops 40°C, making outdoor activities uncomfortable. Winter is mild but can be cold at night.
Is Las Vegas good for families?
Yes, more than its reputation suggests. The Shark Reef Aquarium, Bellagio Conservatory, SlotZilla zip line, and Grand Canyon day trips are all family-friendly. Note that children are not permitted on the casino floor.
Is the Grand Canyon worth visiting from Las Vegas?
Yes. The South Rim is the most dramatic but requires a full day. The West Rim is closer at around 2.5 hours and suits shorter visits. Helicopter tours, coach trips, and self-drive all work well.
What is free to do in Las Vegas?
Plenty. The Bellagio fountains, the Bellagio Conservatory, the Fremont Street Experience light shows, walking the hotel interiors, and browsing the Forum Shops and Grand Canal Shoppes are all free.
Do I need a car in Las Vegas?
Not for the Strip – the Deuce bus runs 24 hours, and most hotels are walkable. You will need a car or a tour for Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Hoover Dam.
How far is Red Rock Canyon from the Las Vegas Strip?
17 miles west – around 25–30 minutes by car. Timed entry reservations are required between October and May and sell out fast at weekends.
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