Las Vegas
A neon city in the Mojave Desert, with giant resorts and shows on the Strip and red-rock canyons, a great dam and a desert lake within an hour's drive.
- Best time to go
- March to May and October to November, avoiding the summer heat
- Local time
- –
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Reading time
- 8 min
- Language
- English
Las Vegas rose from a railway stop and a few springs in the Mojave Desert to become the most extravagant resort city on earth. Its heart is the Strip, about four miles of Las Vegas Boulevard lined with casino resorts built as pyramids, Italian lakes, Venetian canals and Roman palaces, with dancing fountains, a giant observation wheel and the glowing Sphere. Downtown, around Fremont Street, is where the city began, and it keeps the old neon, the history of the mob and a growing arts scene.
Beyond the lights, the desert is the real surprise. Within an hour's drive are the sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Canyon, the fiery rock of Valley of Fire, the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. Vegas can be as cheap or as expensive as you let it be; plan around the heat, read the small print on hotel fees, and give the desert at least a day or two.
The top 16 in Las Vegas
- 1
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The famous 1959 sign stands on the median at the south end of the Strip, with a small car park and a queue for photos. It looks best at dusk, when the lights come on.
TipUse the car park in the median rather than crossing the boulevard on foot.
- 2
Mandalay Bay and the south Strip
Photo: Cyberdoomslayer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The golden towers of Mandalay Bay anchor the southern Strip, near the black glass pyramid of the Luxor and the castle turrets of Excalibur. Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium is a good break from the casinos, especially with children.
- 3
The Fountains of Bellagio
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The fountains in Bellagio's lake shoot water high into the air in time to music, and the shows are free to watch from the pavement along the boulevard. Inside, the hotel's conservatory has seasonal displays of flowers, also free.
TipShows run more often in the evening; watch one in daylight and one after dark.
- 4
Caesars Palace and the Forum Shops
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Caesars Palace, opened in 1966, is a Roman fantasy of columns, statues and fountains. The Forum Shops, its shopping arcade, has a painted sky that changes from day to dusk and some unexpectedly theatrical fountains.
- 5
The High Roller and the LINQ
Across the boulevard from Caesars, the LINQ's pedestrian street leads to the High Roller, a 550-foot observation wheel. One rotation takes about thirty minutes, with wide views over the Strip and the mountains, best at sunset.
- 6
The Venetian
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A replica of Venice, with the Campanile, the Rialto Bridge and indoor canals under a painted sky, where gondoliers sing to passengers. Walking through is free, and it's one of the most enjoyable of the themed resorts.
- 7
The Sphere
This vast spherical arena behind the Venetian opened in 2023, and its outside is covered in LED panels that turn it into a giant eye, a planet or a moving artwork. Inside, concerts and immersive films fill a wraparound screen.
TipThe outside is best seen at night from the Strip or the High Roller; tickets for the shows inside can be expensive, so book ahead.
- 8
The Arts District
Photo: ClearLight602, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
South of downtown, the Arts District, or 18b, has galleries, murals, vintage shops, breweries and some of the city's best independent restaurants. The First Friday street festival brings art and music each month.
- 9
The Mob Museum
Photo: Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement fills the 1933 former post office and courthouse, where one of the Kefauver Committee's hearings on organised crime was held in 1950. It tells the story of the mob, and the people who brought it down, with real artefacts and plenty of storytelling.
- 10
Fremont Street Experience
Photo: [2], CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The old heart of Las Vegas, now a pedestrian street of classic casinos covered by a huge LED canopy with light-and-music shows in the evening. It's livelier and rowdier than the Strip, with street performers and a zip line overhead.
- 11
The Neon Museum
Photo: Jeremy Thompson from Los Angeles, California, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Neon Boneyard displays more than a century's worth of old Las Vegas signs, from casinos and motels long since demolished, some restored and lit. The visitor centre is the shell-shaped lobby of the 1960s La Concha Motel.
TipBook a timed ticket, ideally for the evening, when the restored signs glow; slots can sell out.
- 12
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Photo: The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 ca, via Wikimedia Commons
About half an hour west of the Strip, red and cream sandstone cliffs rise from the desert along a 13-mile one-way Scenic Drive, with trails to canyons, desert springs and rock art. It's a world-class rock-climbing area.
TipFrom 1 October to 31 May, the Scenic Drive needs a timed entry reservation, booked on Recreation.gov, for entry between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- 13
Seven Magic Mountains
Seven towers of stacked, brightly painted boulders by the Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone stand in the desert south of the city, about thirty minutes from the Strip. It's free to visit and a striking sight against the dry lake bed.
TipThe installation is temporary, and its lease on public land is due to end in 2026 or 2027; check its status before you go.
- 14
Hoover Dam
Photo: Central Federal Lands Highway Division, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Built in the 1930s to tame the Colorado River, the great concrete arch-gravity dam straddles the border between Nevada and Arizona, about forty-five minutes from the Strip. You can walk across the top, see it from the bridge walkway high above, and join tours inside.
TipArrive early for the guided Dam Tour, sold on site on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 15
Lake Mead
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The reservoir formed by the dam is the heart of a national recreation area, with boating, swimming beaches, scenic drives and desert trails. Years of drought have lowered the water, leaving pale "bathtub rings" on the canyon walls and changing the shoreline.
- 16
Valley of Fire State Park
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nevada's oldest state park, about an hour north-east of the city, is a landscape of flaming red sandstone, with petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock and Mouse's Tank, natural arches and the striped Fire Wave. It makes a superb day trip, especially in the early morning or late afternoon light.
TipMany trails, including the Fire Wave, close from 15 May to 30 September because of the heat.
When to go
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from October to November, bring warm, sunny days and the best weather for the desert. Summer is extremely hot, often above 40°C, and is best spent by the pool and indoors. Winter is mild by day but can be cold at night. Prices rise sharply at weekends and during big conventions and events, so check the calendar before booking.
Getting around
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is only a few miles from the Strip, and most hotels are about fifteen minutes away by taxi or rideshare. Taxis can't be hailed in the street; pick them up at hotel taxi ranks. The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip, from the MGM Grand to the Sahara, with seven stations. The Deuce bus runs along the Strip and to downtown. Walking is pleasant within each part of the Strip, but distances are longer than they look. You'll need a car, or a tour, for the desert.
Local tips
- Ask about the resort fee before booking. Since 2025, US rules require hotels to show the full price including mandatory fees, but the fees themselves still exist.
- Many resorts charge for parking; check before you drive.
- Drink plenty of water, especially when walking outdoors, and carry more than you think you'll need in the desert.
- You must be 21 to gamble and drink alcohol, and casinos check ID.
- Set a budget for gambling and stick to it; the odds always favour the house.
- Check closing times and seasonal rules for the desert parks before you go.
- Smoking is still allowed on many casino floors.
Eat and drink
Las Vegas has restaurants by many of the world's best-known chefs, as well as lavish buffets, steakhouses and all-night diners. For better value, try the restaurants of Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road, west of the Strip, or the independent places in the Arts District and downtown.
Where to stay
The Strip has the famous resorts, with pools, shows and restaurants, from mid-range to luxury. Downtown, around Fremont Street, is usually cheaper and more old-school. Off-Strip hotels can offer good value but need a car or transport. Weekday stays are often much cheaper than weekends.
Shows and entertainment
Las Vegas is one of the entertainment capitals of the world. Cirque du Soleil productions, magic shows, comedy and long-running residencies by major singers fill theatres along the Strip, alongside concerts at the Sphere and big boxing and sports events. Prices vary widely; book popular shows ahead, check for discount booths, and remember that free spectacles such as the Bellagio fountains, the Fremont Street canopy and the Venetian's canals are part of the fun.
A brief history of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, "the meadows" in Spanish, was named for its springs, a stop on the Old Spanish Trail. The city was founded in 1905 as a railway town. The construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s and Nevada's legalisation of gambling in 1931 brought growth, and after the Second World War, resorts such as the Flamingo, backed by organised crime, began to line the Strip. In the 1960s and 1970s, corporations took over, and from the 1990s, ever-larger themed mega-resorts replaced many of the old casinos, whose signs now rest in the Neon Museum.
The desert around Las Vegas
The Mojave is the hottest and driest desert in North America, home to Joshua trees, bighorn sheep and desert tortoises. Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire and Lake Mead show its beauty, with ancient rock art left by the region's earliest people. Further afield, Zion National Park in Utah is about two and a half hours' drive, and the Grand Canyon, with the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West or the classic views of the South Rim, makes a long day or, better, an overnight trip.
Heat and desert safety
Summer temperatures can be dangerous. Hike only early in the morning, carry plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen, and turn back early. Trails at Valley of Fire and Lake Mead close in the hottest months because of the risk of heat illness. Don't leave children or pets in cars, and keep your fuel tank full when driving in the desert.
Responsible travel
Las Vegas depends on the Colorado River, which is under severe pressure from drought, so use water carefully. In the desert, stay on trails, don't climb on or touch petroglyphs, and take all rubbish with you. Respect wildlife, especially the protected desert tortoise. Be aware of the realities of gambling, and look out for the people who work long hours in the city's hotels and restaurants.