I know Las Vegas isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s the kind of city that people either love or hate; there seems to be no in-between.
That being said, there is a bunch of things to do in Las Vegas that are scattered all across the city. Honestly, Las Vegas is the kind of city that just uses up your time; but not necessarily in a bad way.
There are so many distractions, places, events, and foodie spots that can make the city a mind-boggling effort to explore.
First things first, don’t think of Las Vegas like any other city in the United States. It’s completely different and isn’t even set up like a traditional city in itself.
Las Vegas is a city that thrives on people, spending money, and having fun. Hence the enduring moniker of “Sin City”. Though, just like any city, you can make of your time to have the best experiences and really have fun exploring and chilling.
Visit the casinos
Casinos are what made Las Vegas famous and visiting them it’s easily one of the best things to do in Vegas. Now, all casinos in Las Vegas are huge, expansive, and designed to make people spend their money. If you remember this key point, you’ll do okay.
During our visit, we kept ourselves a budget; which was easy to do since neither of us really gamble. I kept to my promise to try the slot machine just for fun and decided prior on what I was prepared to lose. I ended up losing a whopping $4!
Also, remember that you don’t ever need to buy a drink in a casino. You’ll regularly see hosts wandering the floor who will gladly fix you your drink of choice. Just remember to leave a tip each time and you’ll be guaranteed a returning host to grab your next round for free.
And remember that casinos do not have windows or clocks to remind you when to leave. Keep an eye on the time and even set an alarm if you don’t want to spend all day exploring the slots. That all being said, it’s one of the best things to do in Las Vegas.
Scale the Stratosphere
One of the older, but no less significant hotels in Las Vegas is the Stratosphere. When visiting Las Vegas, head to the top of the Stratosphere Tower.
When you get to the top, you’ll get to see all across Las Vegas and most of the Las Vegas Valley region of Nevada. And, if you’re a thrill-seeker, hop on some of the rides at the very top of the tower. One can try out the rollercoaster and the free-fall ride.
Take a gondola ride
After arriving in Las Vegas, you’ll soon realize that the city is dominated by colossal hotels along the strip. The strip is where many of the huge hotels are located and is probably one of the areas you’ll get quite familiar with while exploring Las Vegas.
The hotels are colossal and an experience in their own right. For instance, in the Venetian Hotel, you can actually take a gondola ride all around the complex and casino. Along the ride are scale models of landmarks in Venice where you can live your best Italian life.
Some of the hotels might seem a little tacky, but if you lean into the vibe and really see each place as a place of fun, you’ll love it!
See a show
One of the great things about having so many people in Las Vegas is that there are a lot of shows, concerts, and music events that are world-renowned and easy to visit. From the likes of Elton John, Cher, Celine Dion, and Lady Gaga to Cirque de Soleil.
We headed over to watch the Cirque de Soleil at the Bellagio and the Blue Man Group at the Luxor; we loved both. An outdoor show you will not want to miss is the fountains at the Bellagio.
Explore the strip
Walking the Las Vegas strip is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas during your trip. It’s huge and quite long, too. In fact, you likely will not walk it all; you’ll find monorails and taxis at each hotel if you don’t want to take that long of a walk.
But, this is a great way to see Las Vegas and find some surprises along the way. You’ll come across every kind of shop, show, and street performer you can ever imagine.
The Bellagio Fountains
During our walk along the strip, we decided to stop at the Bellagio and wander around the shops in the hotel. It’s a fabulous spot and is easily located in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. After checking out all the shops inside we took a stroll outside to see the impressive fountains. They’re huge and some of the biggest in all of North America.
The Las Vegas Sign
I know this is so old school but it’s still one of the best things to do in Las Vegas. Go see the Las Vegas sign! Sitting just beyond the Luxor hotel, it’s one of the older signs in Las Vegas and draws quite a crowd.
You’ll probably only spend 10-minutes here but it’s well worth seeing it if you’re interested in the older side of Las Vegas.
The Neon Museum
Created back in the 1990s, at the height of casinos being demolished and mega casinos being built, the Neon Museum was set up as a not-for-profit organization to preserve old Las Vegas.
Today, you can wander around the Neon Museum and explore times gone by in the glittering city. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Las Vegas if you love history.
Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street, a pedestrian mall which includes the area known for years as “Glitter Gulch,” is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas if you want to see an older part of the city. After taking a stroll through the covered walkway, hop on the zipline and zoom through the crowds.
Take a side trip
- Hoover Dam – if you fancy a drive out of the city, it’s well worth going to see the Hoover Dam. It’s a depression-era engineering marvel that formed Lake Mead.
- Grand Canyon – if you’re interested in a long drive, consider heading to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon.
- Death Valley
