Ahmed and I have both visited Las Vegas, together once and each without each other once. When we went together, we went for six days! You are probably thinking we are out of our minds, and people usually go for like 3 or 4 days. And you would be right! However, we got an awesome deal where it was the same price to go for 3 days as it was for 6, so we figured, why not?
There is so much you can do in Vegas, even if you don’t gamble. We don’t have a ton of shows on our list, but you can find many comedy, music performances, and magic shows if you want to add more of that. If you are on a budget, there are plenty of free activities you can do (we’ve included some on the list).
Here’s what you can find in our guide (click to jump ahead):
- When to Visit
- Where to Stay
- Things to Do
- A map to help you plan your itinerary
- Other Hotels to Visit
When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?
I feel like I write this on every city guide but fall (Sept – Nov) and spring (March – May) are considered the best times to visit Las Vegas. I visited mid-March both times, and Ahmed has also visited in January. March was the perfect temperature, though still a bit chilly at night. Summer is very hot in Vegas and you likely won’t be able to enjoy outdoor activities, other than maybe your hotel’s pool (which will be very crowded). Winter’s weather during the day is still pleasant, though it can get quite cool at night. Also, hotel pools are also likely to be closed.
It is recommended to avoid crowded and popular holidays such as New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day (have been there during St. Patrick’s Day…it’s busy), unless of course that’s the reason for your trip. There are also a ton of conventions hosted in Vegas (which is why Ahmed went in January), so double check that you don’t overlap during your vacation to avoid premium hotel rates.
Where to stay?
We both recommend staying on the strip, but we know people who love staying near Fremont. It really depends what you plan on doing and seeing while in Vegas.
Between the two of us, we have stayed at the Paris, Luxor, and The Strat. Out of the three, we would recommend Paris. It was central, clean, and we liked the restaurant. When my friend and I went to Luxor, our first room was so bad, we had to ask to be moved. The second room was great (it was in the new part of the hotel), but the downfall was that it was far to get places and do things. Ahmed stayed at the Strat in 2018 and said it was old, left a lot to be desired, and was also not walkable (it may have changed in the last 5 years, but we suggest doing your research).
If you have the chance and can swing the budget, we have heard from friends that the Wynn and Bellagio are fantastic.
THINGS TO SEE & DO in LAS VEGAS:
If you’re coming to Las Vegas, you must walk the Las Vegas Strip! We recommend doing this both during the day and at night, as there are different vibes to each. As you wander, pop in and out of the casinos and hotels (we have a couple recommendations below). At night, it is a wonder to see the Strip all lit up, with lights and people everywhere. Take it in!
2. See a Cirque du Soleil Show
There are six different Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas. The shows are O at the Bellagio, Mystere at Treasure Island, The Beatles LOVE at the Mirage, Mad Apple at New York-New York, Ka at MGM Grand, and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandala Bay. All but Mad Apple at 90 minutes long with no intermission. I have seen the first two, Mystere and “O”. Mystere was the first Cirque show I had seen, so I was quite impressed. Ahmed and I saw “O” and were floored. I would recommend this to anyone I know and would easily pay to go again. Tickets vary in price based on which show, which night, and what type of seats you select.
3. Go up the Paris Eiffel Tower
Sure, it’s not the real thing, but it’s pretty good! The tower is 46 stories up and is a replica of the real thing. You can catch stunning views across all of Las Vegas, including the strip. You can buy tickets on sight starting at $30.25 per adult after taxes and fees. Once you’re up at the top, you can stay as long as you like!
Also known as downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street is only open to pedestrians (no cars here!). There are stages throughout with free music each night, and a zipline that runs overhead. It is covered by a giant LED canopy screen, so in the heat you can get some shade. There are casinos, hotels, restaurants, and shops lining both sides of the street. This is a free Las Vegas activity. If you’re staying on the Strip, you can easily take public transit here or come by Uber or cab.
5. Visit the Venetian Casino & Grand Canal
Wander through the Venetian casino hotel, and make sure to look up! You will see elaborate Italian style décor, including beautiful ceilings. As you wander through the Grand Canal shopping venue, you’ll be transported to Venice. The whole luxury shopping area is decorated like an outdoor Venice, complete with a water way and gondolas (yes, you can ride these). This is a free Las Vegas activity.
6. Bellagio Casino & Fountains
Wander through the Bellagio hotel, taking in the beautiful artwork throughout. They have a Gallery of Fine Art inside with rotating exhibits. I have seen a Faberge Egg exhibit and a Samurai exhibit. Outside of the Bellagio are the iconic Bellagio Fountains. These are worth taking in during the day and at night, when they are all lit up. This is a free Las Vegas activity.
7. High Roller Observation Wheel
The tallest Ferris wheel in the world, ride the High Roller Observation Wheel. Also called “The LINQ”, we recommend riding at night. I mean, you can ride it during the day, but at night you can see the whole strip lit up. We were lucky and only had 2 other people in the pod with us (pod? cab?). Relative to other Vegas activities, this one is fairly inexpensive, starting at $29.25 per adult after taxes and fees.
8. Caesars Palace & The Forum Shops
Wander through Caesers Palace hotel and casino, checking out the Greek themed décor. Inside Caesers Palace you will find The Forum Shops. This is basically a luxury mall inside the hotel. This is a free Las Vegas activity.
9. Mob Museum
You’ll find the Mob Museum in the same part of town as the Fremont Street Experience. It is officially the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. It documents the history of the mob in Las Vegas and gives insight into some of the famous mobsters. They have hands-on activities throughout the museum that come with a regular ticket, and extra things you can purchase as add-ons. A general admission ticket is $30, and you can buy tickets on site or pre-book online. If you’re staying on the Strip, you can easily take public transit here or come by Uber or cab.
10. Neon Museum
Also located in the same part of town as the Fremont Street Experience is the Neon Museum. The museum houses signs from old hotels and casinos, or old signs from hotels and casinos that still exist. As such, going after dark is necessary to get the full experience of the signs all lit up. They lovingly refer to this as the “Las Vegas sign graveyard”. There are nights that can sell out, so it is recommended to buy tickets in advance. There are different types of tickets you can purchase, starting at $22 for an adult. If you’re staying on the Strip, you can easily take public transit here or come by Uber or cab.
11. Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum inside the Venetian hotel. This is the first Madame Tussauds in the US, and houses wax figures of celebrities and athletes such as Miley Cyrus, Beyonce, Shaquille O’Neal, and Mohammed Ali, (Sandra Bullock and Snoop Dogg pictured). This wasn’t the most riveting experience in Vegas or anything, but a good option if you need to kill some time, need something indoors, or have teenagers with you. Tickets start at about $40 for an adult, but there are different packages that you can buy where you pair your admission with a gondola ride on the Grand Canal or get a photo with the wax figures.
12. Hoover Dam
You’ll need to rent a car or book a tour for this one! The Hoover Dam is a massive concrete dam on the Colorado River. There are two types of tours available, where you can tour the tunnels, ride the elevator, and tour the power plant. There is also a Visitor Center that offers a self-guided tour, which is less than the other tour options. We rented a car with the intention of driving to the Grand Canyon (Ha! We didn’t find it…). We planned on stopping at the Hoover Dam on the way, which ended up being the biggest monument we saw during the day. Don’t forget to explore Lake Mead while you’re here!
At the end of the Las Vegas Strip, you will find the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. It is free to visit and take photos, but it will likely be busy (as with everywhere in Vegas). We went during the day and night, but I personally like it all lit up at night.
For something a little cheeky…
On my first trip to Vegas, my friend and I each chose a show to see, and she chose Thunder from Down Under. Most of the crowd were bachelorette parties, boomers on their birthday, or women celebrating their finalized divorce. While it isn’t what I would have picked, if this is what you’re looking for in Vegas, it’s a good option (and cheaper than Chippendales). (We went on a Tuesday, so I think they were training their new dancers). For those who don’t know what type of show this is, it’s very fit Australians stripping (think a cheaper version of Magic Mike).
MAP of Things to Do in Las Vegas:
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all of the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Other casinos and hotels to check out:
As you’re wandering along the strip, here are more hotels and casinos that are worth checking out.
- Wynn Las Vegas (go here for breakfast!)
- MGM Grand (home of many big-name concerts)
- Luxor Casino (can’t miss it, it’s the giant pyramid)
- New-York, New-York (home of the Big Apple roller coaster)
- Mandalay Bay Casino & Aquarium (including human-made beach!)
- Flamingo (they have actual flamingoes!)
