Things to do · Las Vegas · United States
18 best things to do in Las Vegas
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kashyap Hosdurga, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Las Vegas are The Las Vegas Strip, Fountains of Bellagio and Sphere. Of the 18 picks below, 7 are free, 8 work on a rainy day and 8 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- The Las Vegas Strip
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Las Vegas Strip | The Strip | Half a day | Free |
| Fountains of Bellagio | Center Strip | 30 minutes | Free |
| Sphere | Center Strip | 2 hours | Expensive |
| Fremont Street Experience | Downtown | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign | South Strip | 30 minutes | Free |
| Cirque du Soleil's O | Center Strip | 1.5 hours | Expensive |
| Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | Center Strip | 30 minutes | Free |
| Neon Museum | Downtown | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| High Roller | Center Strip | 45 minutes | Mid-priced |
| The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes | Center Strip | 1 hour | Free |
| Mob Museum | Downtown | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Red Rock Canyon | Red Rock Canyon | Half a day | Low cost |
| Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck | Center Strip | 45 minutes | Mid-priced |
| Shark Reef Aquarium | South Strip | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Pinball Hall of Fame | South Strip | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Springs Preserve | West Las Vegas | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| AREA15 and Omega Mart | West of the Strip | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| The STRAT SkyPod | North Strip | 1–2 hours | Mid-priced |
The 18 best things to do
Street · The Strip
1.The Las Vegas Strip
The 6.8 km stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay to The STRAT is lined with themed mega-resorts: a pyramid at Luxor, the canals of The Venetian, a half-scale Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas and the Roman forum of Caesars Palace. Walking it after dark, when the resorts light up, is the essential first-night experience.
Distances are deceptive: the next resort can be a 15-minute walk away, so use the pedestrian bridges, trams and Monorail, and carry water in summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Landmark · Center Strip
2.Fountains of Bellagio
Bellagio's choreographed fountains send jets of water up to about 140 metres above an artificial lake, set to music from opera to pop. Shows run frequently from the afternoon until late at night and are free to watch from the lakeside promenade on the Strip.
For a higher view, watch a show from the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck at Paris Las Vegas across the street.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Photo spot
Experience · Center Strip
3.Sphere
Opened in 2023 behind The Venetian, the Sphere is a 112-metre-high spherical venue whose exterior, the Exosphere, is covered in LED panels showing animations visible across the city. Inside, a wraparound 16K screen hosts immersive films and concert residencies.
Watch the Exosphere animations for free after dark from the pedestrian bridges near The Venetian or from the High Roller.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Concerts and immersive films sell out at popular times; book on the official site and compare seat sections.
- Iconic
- After dark
- Rainy day
Street · Downtown
4.Fremont Street Experience
Five blocks of Fremont Street in Downtown are covered by Viva Vision, a giant LED canopy that plays free light-and-music shows after dark, while stages, street performers and vintage casinos such as the Golden Nugget line the pedestrian mall below. The SlotZilla zip line flies beneath the canopy.
Walk a few blocks east to Fremont East for cocktail bars with a more local crowd.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- History
Landmark · South Strip
5.Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
Designed by Betty Willis and erected in 1959, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign stands in the median south of Mandalay Bay with its own small car park. Expect a queue for the classic photo, and costumed performers who pose for tips.
Go early in the morning to avoid the photo queue and the midday heat; tip performers only if you pose with them.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
Experience · Center Strip
6.Cirque du Soleil's O
Performed in and above a pool holding about 5.7 million litres of water at Bellagio since 1998, O is one of the longest-running Cirque du Soleil shows on the Strip, combining acrobatics, high diving and synchronised swimming.
Seats in the centre sections give the best view of the stage as it shifts between solid floor and water.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Weekend performances sell out; book ahead and compare seat sections, as some side views are partly blocked.
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Garden · Center Strip
7.Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Inside Bellagio, the glass-roofed conservatory is replanted five times a year with elaborate themed displays — Lunar New Year, spring, summer, autumn and the winter holidays — using thousands of flowers, trees and sculptures. Entry is free.
Go early in the morning, when the conservatory is quiet and the light through the glass roof is soft.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
8.Neon Museum
The Neon Museum's outdoor Boneyard preserves hundreds of signs from demolished casinos, motels and businesses, from the Stardust to the original Golden Nugget, and its visitor centre is the restored shell-shaped lobby of the La Concha Motel. Night visits show restored signs lit up.
Book an after-dark slot to see restored signs glowing; daytime visits need sun protection, as there is little shade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Entry is by timed ticket and evening slots sell out; book online in advance.
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Art
.jpg){kind=link}
Viewpoint · Center Strip
1.High Roller
At about 167 metres, the High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ was the world's tallest when it opened in 2014. 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.
Ride at dusk to see the Strip in daylight and as the lights come on during a single rotation.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
Architecture · Center Strip
2.The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes
The Venetian recreates Venetian landmarks from the Rialto Bridge to St Mark's Campanile, and its indoor Grand Canal Shoppes line a canal under a painted sky where singing gondoliers pole boats past the shops. Outdoor gondolas also circle the lagoon facing the Strip.
Walking the indoor canal is free; book a gondola ride only if you want the full serenade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Couples
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Shopping
Museum · Downtown
3.Mob Museum
The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement occupies Downtown's 1933 former federal courthouse, where one of the Kefauver Committee hearings on organised crime was held in 1950. Exhibits cover the mob's role in building Las Vegas, and the basement has a speakeasy and a working distillery.
Finish with a drink at The Underground, the speakeasy in the basement.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Nature · Red Rock Canyon
4.Red Rock Canyon
About 25–30 km west of the Strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has red and cream sandstone cliffs, a 21 km one-way scenic drive and trails such as Calico Tanks and Ice Box Canyon. It is the easiest escape from the city into the Mojave Desert.
Start early to hike before the heat, carry far more water than you think you need, and stay on marked trails.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Timed-entry reservations are usually required for the scenic drive from autumn to spring; book on the official recreation site.
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
- Views
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Center Strip
5.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.
Go after dark and time your visit to look down on a fountain show.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
.jpg){kind=link}
Aquarium · South Strip
6.Shark Reef Aquarium
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is built around a sunken-shipwreck tank and walk-through tunnels with sharks, rays, sawfish and sea turtles, plus a touch pool. It is one of the few attractions on the Strip designed with children in mind.
Use the free tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur to save a long, hot walk.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · South Strip
7.Pinball Hall of Fame
This non-profit arcade, now in a large hall near the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, has hundreds of playable pinball machines and vintage arcade games spanning seven decades. Entry is free; you pay per game, and profits go to charity.
Bring small bills to change into quarters; older machines cost very little per game.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
.jpg){kind=link}
Garden · West Las Vegas
8.Springs Preserve
Built around the springs that gave Las Vegas — 'the meadows' in Spanish — its name, the 73-hectare Springs Preserve has desert botanical gardens, walking trails, the Nevada State Museum, live desert animals and a flash-flood demonstration.
Visit in the morning in warmer months, and start in the indoor galleries if the afternoon is hot.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Off the beaten path
Experience · West of the Strip
9.AREA15 and Omega Mart
AREA15, just west of the Strip off Interstate 15, is a warehouse of immersive art and entertainment. Its best-known tenant, Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, begins as a surreal supermarket and opens into hidden rooms and interactive storylines.
Allow at least two hours for Omega Mart and open every door and freezer; much of the experience is hidden.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
- After dark
Viewpoint · North Strip
10.The STRAT SkyPod
The STRAT's 350-metre tower at the northern end of the Strip is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. Indoor and outdoor decks give the widest views over the valley, and thrill rides and the SkyJump hang over the edge.
Go up on a clear evening and look south to see the whole Strip lit up end to end.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Active
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Neon Museum, Mob Museum, Pinball Hall of Fame and AREA15 and Omega Mart |
| History | Fremont Street Experience, Neon Museum, Mob Museum and Springs Preserve |
| Views | High Roller, Red Rock Canyon, Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck and The STRAT SkyPod |
| Outdoors and nature | Red Rock Canyon, Shark Reef Aquarium and Springs Preserve |
| After dark | The Las Vegas Strip, Fountains of Bellagio, Sphere and Fremont Street Experience |
| With children | Fountains of Bellagio, Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, High Roller and The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes |
| On a rainy day | Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Sphere, The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes and Mob Museum |
What to book ahead
- 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.
- Neon Museum: Entry is by timed ticket and evening slots sell out; book online in advance.
- Red Rock Canyon: Timed-entry reservations are usually required for the scenic drive from autumn to spring; book on the official recreation site.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Las Vegas?
The Las Vegas Strip. The 6.8 km stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay to The STRAT is lined with themed mega-resorts: a pyramid at Luxor, the canals of The Venetian, a half-scale Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas and the Roman forum of Caesars Palace.
+What can you do for free in Las Vegas?
The Las Vegas Strip, Fountains of Bellagio, Fremont Street Experience, Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Las Vegas when it rains?
Head indoors to Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Sphere, The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes and Mob Museum.
+What is there to do in Las Vegas at night?
The Las Vegas Strip, Fountains of Bellagio, Sphere and Fremont Street Experience are best after dark.