This desert oasis is a city that most people already know a decent amount about. It is one of the biggest epicenters for gambling in the world. When you get off a plane in Las Vegas airport you are immediately greeted by slot machines.
As you leave the airport you have amazing views of “The Strip”, which is an incredibly long stretch of mega casino and resorts lit up by glowing neon lights.
Wondering what to do in Vegas? Keep reading to find out the things not to miss in Las Vegas.
What to do in Vegas
The gambling doesn’t stop there as gas stations and even grocery stores feature slot machines (seriously, people actually hang out and gamble in grocery stores).
Las Vegas has done a good job of adding more than just gambling to its offerings. It attempts to brand itself as the “entertainment capital of the world” and frankly they are doing a pretty good job of it.
There are musicians that take up permanent residency in Vegas (yes Britney, Backstreet Boys, and maybe Gaga), an incredibly variety of shows (Cirque du Soleil to Blue Man Group), world class dining options, phenomenal golf courses, mountain hikes, endless shopping (high end to outlet malls), pool club parties and nightlife, and even a manmade beach and ski-resort.
Check out the most popular Vegas shows here.
As a Vegas local the novelty of many of these things has worn off, but I can’t deny that when I first moved to Vegas, I was enthralled with everything “Sin City” had to offer.
This list is in no way inclusive of everything you could plan on a Vegas vacation, but is designed to include some of the most iconic Las Vegas attractions that are perfect for the first timer.
TIP – SAVE MONEY BUY AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PASS!
Don’t skip this section like I normally do.
Most all-inclusive passes suck! They don’t actually include things you would want to do, or you need to visit 10,000 attractions in a short amount of time to make it worth their while.
The Go City Las Vegas Pass is different; it is a huge cost savings and includes things you actually want to do!
Seriously – if you want to see a Cirque du Soleil show alone the pass basically pays for itself.
Some of the other big ticket items included are a ride on the High Roller, LINQ Zipline, and Illuminarium at Area 15.
Some of the things that I think are coolest are the LINQ Zipline, the High Roller, SkyPod at the Strat, Area15 Illuminarium, and the New York New York Big Apple roller coaster.
There are 35 different things you can choose from.
They include other show tickets, museums, bar crawls, as well as things like go-cart racing and escape rooms.
If you don’t want to see a Cirque show you can switch out those tickets for a Strip Helicopter tour instead.
This deal literally can’t be beat if you are looking to do more than just gamble while in Vegas.
There is a day time limit though so to get your money’s worth you have to keep moving, though there isn’t a more affordable way to cover so much ground in Vegas.
10 Things Not to Miss in Las Vegas
1. Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
Of all the things not to miss in Vegas, taking a picture at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign is a rite of passage for vacationers. Whether you are here for a bachelor party, work convention, or just escaping cold winter temperatures this sign on the South end of The Strip is a perfect way to begin your trip.
Want to see some more absurd and different things to do in Las Vegas? Like knowing what it feels like to float in space?! If so, check out 14 Unique Things to do in Vegas next.
2. Ride The High Roller
This gigantic observation/Ferris wheel is brand new to Las Vegas. It is like the London Eye but bigger. Surprisingly, it really is a fun ride as pods are big enough to feature whole groups of friends and even your own bar and bartender. Skip the line by buying tickets here in advance.
Buy tickets for The High Roller and Zip lining through the air 12 stories above the Las Vegas Strip.
3. Gondola Ride at the Venetian
The sky in this picture really is painted on and it does look that amazing in person.
The Venetian Hotel is a luxury resort based off of Venice Italy. My favorite part of the Venetian is that they built canals throughout the ground floor of the mall and casino. They offer motorized gondola rides while you get serenaded by your very own gondolier.
Even though it makes my husband want to barf, I love how romantic these rides are. Somehow they designed it so that you don’t feel like you are floating through the middle of a casino. Get your tickets in advance here.
The Venetian is a great centrally located hotel to stay on in the Las Vegas Strip. Check current pricing here.
Book your tour: Madame Tussauds Celebrity Wax Museum with Gondola Boat Ride – This includes admission to Madame Tussauds celebrity wax museum in Las Vegas and an outdoor gondola ride as well as a meal (if meal option is selected). It’s a pretty good deal.
4. Visit Foreign Cities
Okay not really, but lots of the casinos are based on a location or theme from somewhere else in the world.
The Paris hotel features its own Eiffel tower (it really is eerily similar to the real one in Paris), the Venetian is based off of the canal streets of Venice (discussed more below), the Luxor is based off of ancient Egypt, Caesar’s Palace is based off classic Rome, and New York New York is pretty self-explanatory.
Obviously visiting a casino is not a substitute for seeing these places, but I recommend exploring more than just the one you stay in as it is fun to see what elements from around the world have implemented in Vegas.
One specific recommendation is to make sure you include the Vegas Paris and Eiffel Tower. The best thing about the Eiffel Tower in Vegas is the restaurant and viewing deck at the top.
You do have to buy tickets ahead of time to be able to access though.
Get your Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Ticket here.
The views of the Las Vegas Strip from the top are incredible. Another reason you should get your tickets in advance is that even if they aren’t sold out on the day you want to go, the line to get tickets can get pretty long. Save time and skip the line by buying your tickets in advance here.
5. Fremont Street (Old Vegas)
Fremont Street is where you will find the old school Vegas casinos like the 4 Queens and the Golden Nugget Hotel (featuring a water slide through a shark tank). Even though it is old, it is not run down or left behind.
Fremont Street runs straight through most of the big classic casinos, and is a perfect spot to get a drink from an outdoor bar, see some of the most unique street performers in the world, experience free live music, as well as have strippers attempt to pull you in to see their shows (seriously, be careful).
Check out the best things to do on Fremont Street here.
6. Bellagio Fountain and Gardens
One of the top 10 things to do in Vegas is watching the Bellagio fountain show. Even though each resort has amazing things to see, the water show and botanical gardens at the Bellagio cannot be missed.
The 8 acre man-made lake features a dancing water fountain show choreographed to music. The show is different every 15 minutes and the results truly are beautiful. This is the spot that was glorified in Oceans 11 (Brad Pitt and George Clooney could make anything glorious).
The gardens in the lobby are exquisitely decorated and maintained for each season with some of the most unique plants and flowers in the world. Even as a local I make a point to go down each year to see the gardens decorated with a Christmas theme.
When you book a stay at The Bellagio Hotel on the Strip you get free access to the pools (gardens are free for anyone).
7. Adventure Rides at the Strat (former Stratosphere)
The Stratosphere is a hotel and casino that towers over all on the North end of The Strip. Recently rebranded to “The STRAT”, the Stratosphere is most famous for its views of The Strip and hair-raising rides.
It is by far the tallest building in Vegas and the rides up top are NOT for someone who is afraid of heights. My favorite is the Big Shot, which shoots your seat straight up the top of the tower and into the sky.
It is the tallest thrill ride in the world. If that isn’t gutsy enough for you, you can jump off the top via controlled cables to the bottom.
8. Visit Hoover Dam
Not all the attractions in Vegas feature neon lights. The Hoover Dam is a testament to modern engineering. I found the tour showing how the dam generates power for Las Vegas fascinating. Also, the lake made by the dam (Lake Mead) is great for boating.
Here are the best ways to see Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas:
Book your tour: Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam & Route 66 Small-Group Tour
Book your tour: Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour from Las Vegas with Champagne
9. Las Vegas Ski Resort
Yes, in the mountains just 45 minutes away from The Strip developers built a ski-resort. It is not huge and does not feature the world’s best snow, but the novelty of being able to ski within 45 minutes of the scorching desert heat is unreal.
10. The Mob Museum
Part of the reason that Las Vegas is built the way it is today is because of the involvement of organized crime. The mob used casinos to launder their money. Supposedly organized crime is out of Vegas now, but a fascinating history remains.
The Mob Museum doesn’t just explore Vegas’ criminal history, but the characters that made this possible from around the country.
The museum does have some creepy elements as it allows visitors to hold a Tommy gun, explore crime scene photos, and even see the bloody walls left from massacres.
Definitely one of the best museums in Las Vegas. Skip the line and buy your tickets in advance here.
Book your tour: The Vegas Mob Tour
There are so many more things I would like to list but don’t have the space for.
Comment bellow with what would you add to this top 10 things to do in Vegas list?
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
*Budget Choice: The Golden Nugget – Located off of Fremont Street, or what many people now call Old Vegas. I have literally booked this hotel for friends at a rate of $25 per night, though in high season and on weekends it is more expensive.
This hotel recently received a complete renovation, and now the rooms feel brand new and are beautiful. My favorite feature of this hotel (other than the price) is the waterslide that goes straight through a shark tank. Seriously, a water slide that goes within inches of huge sharks! Check prices here.
Family Choice: Circus Circus – This property’s location is right off the Strip, so you have immediate access to any of the big casinos, yet you can book Circus Circus at an extremely low rate. On more than one occasion I’ve had family with little kids book this for $19 a night. Check prices here. Circus Circus also features its own INDOOR amusement park, Adventuredome. Don’t expect perfection as the property is a little tired, but for cheap and family friendly it can’t be beat.
More posts on Las Vegas:
I lived in Las Vegas for almost 10 years and loved it there! Here are a few of our most popular Las Vegas posts that will help you plan your trip.
- 10 Attractions You Can’t Miss in Las Vegas (Our most popular post ever!)
- 10 Must Do’s in Vegas for First Timer’s – The perfect guide for first time visitors
- 22 Unique Things to do in Las Vegas – You didn’t know these things existed in Vegas
- 17 Awesome Things to do on Fremont Street – don’t overlook Fremont Street when in Vegas! It’s awesome
- 9 Things to do in Vegas During the Day
- 45 Cheap Things to do in Vegas (Under $30) – Vegas doesn’t have to be expensive
- 14 Best Shows in Vegas – We’ll tell you which ones are worth seeing!
- Go City Pass Las Vegas Reviews (Is Go City Pass Worth it?) – Spoiler alert – YES! It is worth it.
- 10 Best Things to do at The Linq Promenade – New Vegas hot spot
- The Linq Zip Line – So much fun
- How to do Las Vegas on a Budget – My guide to doing Las Vegas on a budget
- Area 15 Las Vegas – Vegas’s Hottest New Attraction
- Exotic Car Racing
- Las Vegas Day Trip to the Valley of Fire
- Fire Wave Trail at the Valley of Fire
- Vegas Packing List: What to Wear in Las Vegas
- 5 Hotels You Have to Book in Las Vegas – Our top recommended Vegas hotels
