Casinos, shows and desert canyons.
Las Vegas is a desert entertainment capital, with mega-resorts, casinos, shows and dining on the Strip. Natural wonders like the Grand Canyon are within reach. It suits night owls, couples and groups.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
A boulevard of themed mega-resorts and casinos. It lights up at night. It runs about 7 kilometres south of downtown and is technically outside the city limits.
2026 general admission is free; optional activities and purchases are extra.
A free water show set to music in front of the Bellagio. Shows run often in the evening. The fountains sit in a large lake in front of the hotel and the show is free to watch.
2026 general admission is free; optional activities and purchases are extra.
Cirque du Soleil, residencies and magic shows. They are a big part of a visit. Big resorts have their own theatres, and ticket prices vary greatly by seat and night.
Check the official site for current prices.
A conservation area of red cliffs and hiking trails. A scenic loop drive needs a timed pass in peak months. It lies about 25 kilometres west of the Strip and has a one-way scenic drive of about 21 kilometres.
Scenic drive fee per vehicle; timed entry may apply in busy months.
Downtown's pedestrian mall with a giant LED canopy and zipline. It feels retro. It covers the original casino district on Fremont Street, where the first hotels were built.
2026 general admission is free; optional activities and purchases are extra.
A giant LED-covered venue with immersive shows and concerts. Its exterior lights the skyline. It opened in 2023 near the Venetian and is the largest spherical building in the world.
Prices vary by event; roughly 2026.
The vast canyon of the Colorado River; the West Rim with its Skywalk is closest. The South Rim is a longer trip. The West Rim is on Hualapai tribal land, about four hours by road from Las Vegas.
Check the official site for current prices.
A giant observation wheel at the LINQ. A ride takes about 30 minutes. It stands about 167 metres tall and was the largest observation wheel in the world when it opened in 2014.
Day and night prices differ; roughly 2026.
A 1930s concrete dam on the Colorado River. Tours go inside. It lies about 50 kilometres southeast of the city on the border of Nevada and Arizona and created Lake Mead.
Parking, visitor center and tours priced separately; roughly 2026.
A Venice-themed resort with canals and gondolas indoors. The shops are inside. It opened in 1999 and recreates the Grand Canal, St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge.
Resort and shopping mall entry are free; gondola rides require paid tickets.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one Strip, day two Red Rock and Fremont, day three Sphere and High Roller.
Red sandstone park.
50 mi · Car, about 1 hour
Canyon hikes.
162 mi · Car, about 2h30
Skywalk and canyon views closest to Las Vegas.
124 mi · Drive about 2h30 each way, or a tour
Salt flats and dunes, best outside summer.
118 mi · Drive, about 2h30 each way
Higher-elevation trails give a change of scenery, with seasonal snow and weather requiring preparation.
37 mi · Drive or arrange a guided outing; tourism guidance checked in 2026 suggests about an hour from the Strip.
Best: March to May and October to November. Warm days without extreme summer heat.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
December 31
Fireworks from resort rooftops.
November
Formula 1 night race on the Strip.
Early January
A giant tech trade show that fills hotels.
December 31
Fireworks along the Strip.
May
A huge electronic dance music festival.
December
The announced 2026 dates are December 3 to 12, with arena events and citywide entertainment; future dates need checking.
May
Massive international electronic dance music festival held over three nights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
There is no US State Department advisory for US cities, and Canada's advice for the US is to take normal security precautions; theft in casinos and heat illness outdoors are common visitor issues.
The Strip is walkable, but distances are longer than they look and heat is intense.
The Deuce bus and Monorail cover the Strip; ride apps fill gaps.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers
Near the Bellagio and Caesars.
Best for: families
Big resorts near the airport.
Best for: budget
Fremont Street and lower prices.
Best for: value, shows
Close to Resorts World and Sphere.
Best for: quiet, outdoors
Residential area near Red Rock Canyon.
Best for: first-timers, couples, shows
A convenient base for the main resort walks and entertainment venues.
| Main airport | Harry Reid International (LAS), 3 mi from the center |
| To the center | A taxi or ride app to the Strip takes about 15 to 20 minutes in normal traffic (2026). |
| Around town | Walk short Strip sections and use ride apps or the Monorail. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Huge resort buffets.
Classic Vegas dinner.
A retro Vegas classic.
Many top chefs have restaurants here.
Big resort buffets are a Vegas tradition, though pricey now.
Open 24 hours in many places.
Creative bars inside resorts.
Contemporary casino restaurants offer elaborate versions of this familiar casual meal.
Expansive gourmet multi-cuisine feast featuring crab legs, prime rib carving stations, sushi, and dessert displays.
Slow-roasted beef prime rib served with natural au jus, creamed horseradish, and a loaded baked potato.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 22 percent in restaurants and a few dollars to valets and housekeeping. |
| Payments | Cards are accepted everywhere. |
| Etiquette | Resort fees are added to many room rates. |
Las Vegas was founded as a railroad town in 1905. Nevada legalised gambling in 1931, and the nearby Hoover Dam brought workers. Mob-backed casinos and then corporate resorts made it a global entertainment capital. Gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1931, and mob-backed resorts transformed the Strip after World War II.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.