2 days in Las Vegas

Day by day

1. Day 1: The Las Vegas Strip and Fountains of Bellagio

   The Las Vegas Strip, Fountains of Bellagio, Fremont Street Experience and Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, then Sphere in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Las Vegas Strip

      Walking it after dark, when the resorts light up, is the essential first-night experience.

   2. Late morning

      Fountains of Bellagio

      Shows run frequently from the afternoon until late at night and are free to watch from the lakeside promenade on the Strip.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Resort buffet

      Major resorts such as Caesars Palace, Wynn, Bellagio and The Cosmopolitan; Downtown buffets cost less.

   4. Afternoon

      Fremont Street Experience

      The SlotZilla zip line flies beneath the canopy.

   5. Late afternoon

      Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign

      Expect a queue for the classic photo, and costumed performers who pose for tips.

   6. Evening

      Sphere

      Watch the Exosphere animations for free after dark from the pedestrian bridges near The Venetian or from the High Roller.

2. Day 2: Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and High Roller

   Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, High Roller, The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes and Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck, then Cirque du Soleil's O in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

      Entry is free.

   2. Late morning

      High Roller

      A full rotation in one of its 28 glass cabins takes about 30 minutes, with views over the Strip and the surrounding desert; some cabins serve drinks.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shrimp cocktail

      Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, Fremont Street.

   4. Afternoon

      The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes

      Outdoor gondolas also circle the lagoon facing the Strip.

   5. Late afternoon

      Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck

      The half-scale Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas has an observation deck 46 storeys up, directly across the street from Bellagio's lake, which makes it one of the best places to watch the fountain shows from above.

   6. Evening

      Cirque du Soleil's O

      Seats in the centre sections give the best view of the stage as it shifts between solid floor and water.

Before you go

• Sphere: Concerts and immersive films sell out at popular times; book on the official site and compare seat sections.
• Cirque du Soleil's O: Weekend performances sell out; book ahead and compare seat sections, as some side views are partly blocked.

If it rains

• Swap in Mob Museum (Downtown): Finish with a drink at The Underground, the speakeasy in the basement.
• Swap in Shark Reef Aquarium (South Strip): Use the free tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur to save a long, hot walk.
• Swap in Pinball Hall of Fame (South Strip): Bring small bills to change into quarters; older machines cost very little per game.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–15 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.7 hours in December to 14.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking between neighbouring resorts is easy using pedestrian bridges, but the Strip is 6.8 km long and distances are deceptive.

More or fewer days

• One day in Las Vegas
• 3 days in Las Vegas
• 4 days in Las Vegas
• 5 days in Las Vegas
• 7 days in Las Vegas

Questions travellers ask