Las Vegas – The legendary Sin City in the Nevada desert
Las Vegas is a legendary tourism brand in the southern part of Nevada. This city born out of the desert has now become the ultimate fun and entertainment hotspot of the USA. Along the Las Vegas Strip, you'll find an unbelievable concentration of hotels and resorts, mainly combining accommodation with massive casinos. Beyond the rooms and the neon-lit halls operating 24/7, both in and around the hotels, there's an amazing array of attractions of all kinds and sorts.
- On the Las Vegas Strip, you'll find countless shopping malls, large entertainment venues hosting famous artists, luxury restaurants and various types of buffet restaurants, amusement parks, large aquariums, and more.
- The incredible abundance of Las Vegas blends well with the vast offerings of the Strip, providing something for everyone. Whether you want to splash thousands of dollars on pampering or simply enjoy the city's unique vibe and drop a few coins into the slot machines.
- Beyond the Strip, there are many attractions in the downtown area and fascinating natural sites nearby, with the massive Hoover Dam at the top of the list
How many days are needed for a trip to Las Vegas?
For a pure Las Vegas trip, you need at least two to three full days. The trip will include the Strip, downtown, and nearby nature sites such as the Hoover Dam. For relaxation and fun at the resorts of the Strip, the more time, the better… Feel free to indulge in extended stays!
14 Things You Must See and Do in Las Vegas
- Party, gamble, celebrate, and drink on the Las Vegas Strip
- Travel back to ancient Rome at Caesars Palace
- The iconic fountain show at the Bellagio entrance
- Boat ride through the Venetian canals
- Eiffel Tower and City of Lights streets at the Paris Hotel
- The legendary buffet at the Wynn
- Times Square at the New York-New York Hotel
- Shopping at Fashion Show Mall Las Vegas
- The spectacular pyramid of the Luxor Hotel
- A walk over the towering Hoover Dam
- Vintage gambling on Fremont Street
- Meet the gangsters at the Mob Museum
- Vintage neon signs of Las Vegas lights at the Neon Museum
- Spectacular geological formations in the Valley of Fire
Click here for all the information on the iconic themed hotels of the Las Vegas Strip…
Click here for the list of the 10 most popular casino hotels on the Strip…
Click here to find a hotel for lodging, vacation, and fun on the Las Vegas Strip…
What is Las Vegas?
- Las Vegas is currently the largest city in Nevada and is home to about 600,000 residents. The metropolitan area houses approximately 2.5 million people
- The main employment and economy of Las Vegas of course rely on tourism, with no less than 35 million visitors coming to the Strip every year. It is estimated that around one hundred thousand people stay in the city every night on average throughout the year.
For a delicious dining experience at the Hard Rock Cafe hotel, click here…
The sparse settlement in this area of Nevada first began in the early 19th century, when Spanish explorers arrived and named it after the large meadows – Las Vegas in Spanish.
In 1855, a small settlement of Mormon missionaries was established halfway between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. The Mormon fortress, Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, still stands as a national site in the northern part of the city. The American army settled in the fort during the Civil War.
- It was only in 1905 that the city was officially founded as a small, insignificant settlement.
- In 1931, the city legalized gambling as part of its desire to develop and attract investors during the Great Depression.
- In 1941, two Jewish mobsters, Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, settled in the city and opened the Flamingo.
- This hotel was the first in a series of casinos and large hotels that began to be built nearby, forming what became the Las Vegas Strip, after many mobsters realized the potential of gambling and entertainment in Sin City.
- A strip of casino hotels developed along Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
- In 1989, with the opening of The Mirage across from the old Flamingo, hotels began to be built along South Las Vegas Boulevard, and the Strip evolved at a rapid pace.
The Strip is now the central tourist destination throughout the United States and the busiest tourist street in the world. Stretching several kilometers from south to north, it's home to an unfathomable number of businesses supporting the colossal tourist traffic. The resorts and hotels of Vegas are constantly evolving and getting better, new attractions keep popping up, and the place is alive and bustling 24/7.
The city is a very popular destination among Americans (and also tourists) for those looking to get married in style. On Las Vegas Boulevard, you’ll find plenty of Wedding Chapels, institutions that are like a one-stop-shop for buying a wedding. Just remember, you need to get a marriage license a bit in advance (to avoid that drunk wedding, just ask Ross and Rachel).
Click here to get married in style at an Elvis Presley-themed Wedding Chapel…
What is the Las Vegas Strip?
- The Las Vegas Strip, or the southern part of Las Vegas Boulevard, is the most touristy street in the world
- The Strip is Vegas at its finest, stretching for a few miles west of Harry Reid International Airport, home to a mind-boggling collection of giant casino hotels bursting with countless attractions for entertainment and leisure 24/7/365
- The Strip is a world disconnected from Earth filled with fun, entertainment, and indulgences, where time runs separately from the sparkling neon lights, with endless stimuli and an atmosphere of fantasy at its peak
- The Las Vegas Strip is a massive amusement park similar to Disney World, but for adults. You can find everything on the Strip – luxury hotels (and also cheap motels), lavish casinos, shopping malls, family attractions, sprawling spas, entertainment halls, and more
- The Strip is the tourist hotspot of Las Vegas, welcoming about 35 million tourists every year (yep, just on one street)
- It is located in an unofficial city called Paradise, which technically is a township in the city of Las Vegas
To check availability and prices in the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, click here…
The development of the strip in the nineties
The Strip was more or less founded in the early 1940s with the purchase of the Flamingo Hotel by the mafia, operated by the two Jewish mobsters Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky. In 1966, Caesar's Palace opened across from it, which has since been considered one of the largest and most famous hotels in Vegas. At that time, the sinful world of Vegas was developing in the downtown area, on Fremont Street, separately.
To purchase skip-the-line tickets for the High Roller in the LINQ Hotel, click here…
- In 1989, the large Mirage resort opened, shifting the focus of the gambling and entertainment world south from downtown Vegas
- In the wake of the mirage, dozens of massive resorts for hotels and gambling opened at a dizzying pace, and the Strip was built at an incredible rate over ten years.
- Since the mid-90s, Vegas officially became the top leisure tourism destination in the USA, offering in-house entertainment options in its gigantic hotels.
- The hotels competed with each other, launching grandiose tourist attractions.
Click here for a thrilling guided night tour of all the Strip's dazzling attractions…
The city of Vegas and the Strip are an important part of American cultural life, with dozens of blockbuster Hollywood films centered around the city and its essence. Phrases like “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” or the nickname Sin City accurately express the sense of detachment from the mundane world, making it an almost ideal escape for Americans and tourists from abroad.
The leading institutions on the Strip, such as the Bellagio, the Venetian, Caesars Palace (examples of the prominent Italian theme – mafia or not?!) and more, have become tourist attractions in their own right with the iconic fountains of the Bellagio or the picturesque canals of the Venetian.
Click here for combined tickets to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum + a gondola ride at the Venetian…
Map of Las Vegas
How to get to Las Vegas?
How to fly to Las Vegas?
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – The Las Vegas airport is located right next to the Strip and fuels the unreal amount of tourists on this long avenue. The airport was more commonly known by its former name McCarran, but changed its name in 2021 due to McCarran's controversial character. The airport is situated east of the Strip, a five to ten minutes drive from the center of the Strip, the area of the Bellagio and Caesars Palace.
Click here for a breathtaking helicopter tour over the city…
This is one of the busiest airports in the USA, entirely dedicated, all year round, to providing access to Sin City and the city's tourism functions. It is connected with almost every airport in the USA and Canada, both small and regional. There are several routes that arrive at the airport, including from major airports in Europe, South America, and East Asia. The airport is connected to the Strip by a bus line, but the most efficient and cost-effective way to reach the Strip is by taxi (due to its proximity to the Strip, the taxi fare is more economical for two people or more).
How to get to Las Vegas by car?
The main highway through Las Vegas is the I-15, which connects Los Angeles with Salt Lake City. The drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas takes nearly four hours. This route is bustling with heavy vehicle traffic from the massive Los Angeles metropolis. Due to Las Vegas's relative proximity to Los Angeles, the city is almost officially considered part of the metropolis and the central entertainment spot for the city.
Click here for shuttle services within Las Vegas…
The Las Vegas Monorail
The monorail system is probably the main public transportation option on the Strip that can be considered public transport. The rail line runs on the east side of the Strip from the MGM Grand in the south, near the airport, all the way to Sahara Avenue, not far from the Strat and the iconic tower. The system has 7 stations along the Strip. It's a nice system and can be efficient for getting around the vast avenue (in general, it's usually better to just walk the Strip).
Click here for the official website, ticket purchase, and map of the monorail system…
When to Visit Las Vegas?
Technically – you can visit Las Vegas at any hour of the day and any day of the year. The desert city is heavily influenced by the weather, yet those who visit the Strip are hardly aware of it.
The Vegas Strip is an autonomous covered world where the air conditioning is set to constant temperatures, the humidity is always controlled (it's dry in the desert), and the sparkling and dazzling neon lights replace sunlight. The Las Vegas Strip is a place that's active 24/7/365.
For a day trip to Mount Charleston (there's snow in winter!!), west of Las Vegas, click here…
- The weather in Las Vegas is desert-like, with a scorching and dry summer and a pleasant winter.
- There is very little rain in the city, which usually doesn't affect the daily schedule. Except perhaps for a short time in winter when it's not really worthwhile to visit the hotel's luxurious pool because it's quite cold (there are plenty of other options for swimming like indoor pools, spa facilities, etc.). For the rest of the year, pools are a great place to spend the midday, shortly after the morning buffet and before the nap.
If you want to travel in Nevada, including the Grand Canyon National Park (and especially if you want to reach Death Valley in California), it's better to come in the winter when the weather allows life in the scorching desert.
For a light aircraft flight over the Grand Canyon (departure from Las Vegas), click here…
How to plan a trip itinerary in Las Vegas?
- The trip in Las Vegas naturally focuses mainly on the Strip. The tour along the Strip is extraordinarily intense, and, generally speaking, it's worth just flowing from one hotel to another and into the large malls.
- There are a few must-visit institutions like The Venetian, Caesars Palace, the Bellagio fountains, the Paris Hotel’s Parisian decor, and New York-New York Hotel's Big Apple decor.
- Beyond that, everything on the Strip is about gambling, entertainment, drinking, shows, pools, and fun, so it's a good idea to plan your schedule accordingly.
In downtown Las Vegas, there are also some places worth visiting like Fremont Street, the main artery of downtown, and a series of interesting museums such as the Mob Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the cool Neon Museum.
Click here for a day trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley in California…
- You can combine the Las Vegas trip with a road trip from Los Angeles, which is a four-hour drive.
- Near the city, there are several national parks such as the Valley of Fire State Park and the Red Rock Canyon.
- Destination number one near the city is the artificial Lake Mead, located a short drive east from the city. On its western side, the lake is blocked by the impressive Hoover Dam, one of the most famous dams in the world. It's a very popular spot for a day trip from Vegas.
Click here for trip planning in Las Vegas and professional advice…
A 4-hour drive east takes you to the unique Grand Canyon National Park, and a 2-hour drive west will bring you to California's Death Valley National Park.
Click here for a day trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon…
All hotels and attractions on the Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is the epicenter of some of the world's most glamorous and fun tourist options. It's the most intense place in the USA when it comes to gambling and is a generic name for a getaway with a hint of sin. Gambling was the foundation of the city's development as a tourist destination, but the hotels and resorts on the Strip have evolved significantly since the wild days of Bugsy Siegel and Sin City.
Today, the hotels offer unique vacation options with pools, spa facilities, indoor malls within the casinos, and a vast array of entertainment choices. The Strip's hotels are the most liberating places in the world with options for drinks, dining, buffets, and everything else you can think of to enjoy 24/7.
Click here for all the information on the Strip's resorts, casinos, and attractions…
Click here for the list of the 10 most popular casino hotels on the Strip…
Click here for the five most luxurious resorts on the Las Vegas Strip…
Everything to See and Do in Downtown Las Vegas and Surroundings
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower
The STRAT Hotel now stands on the site of the famous Stratosphere Hotel. Situated on the remote northern end of the Strip towards downtown, the hotel was established in 1995 and features nearly 2,500 rooms. It's a three-star hotel mostly known for its huge revolving tower dominating the city's skyline.
Click here to purchase entry tickets to the SkyPod observation deck + thrill rides…
The tower is the hotel's main attraction, soaring to an astonishing height of 350 meters. It is the tallest revolving needle tower in the USA, second only to the CN Tower in Toronto. At the top of the tower, there's an observation deck with a stunning view of the city and, of course, a luxurious revolving restaurant.
Address: Las Vegas Blvd S. 2000, Las Vegas
Click here to check availability and prices at the STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod…
Click here for all information on climbing to the tower's observation deck…
The Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street is the historic heart of downtown Las Vegas and the birthplace of the Sin City brand. The first casinos in the city opened on Fremont Street during the 1940s. Meanwhile, the Flamingo opened on the outskirts of Las Vegas Boulevard and operated like a mafia-run independent state. Over the years, several hotels were built around the Flamingo, but Vegas still lived and breathed in the casinos and hotels of downtown.
Click here for a guided tour of the Fremont Street experience in the evening…
In the early '90s, the Strip became a highly competitive destination for wealthy entrepreneurs, and large, glittering resorts were built. During this period, Fremont Street declined. In 1994, the city decided to save the street, investing heavily to refurbish and re-market it. A huge canopy was erected over the street to protect from the weather and sun, hotels and casinos were renovated, and the place returned to being a big celebration of crowds and bright neon signs. The area is now brimming with restaurants, casinos, and the cool Neonopolis mall.
On Fremont, several large hotels and casinos like the Plaza Hotel & Casino and the historic Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino thrive.
The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum is located two blocks north of Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. Opened in 2012, the museum effectively summarizes the intricate connection between the city's development and the mob. The mafia built Las Vegas starting with the city's approval to allow gambling in the 1930s. Gambling was a superb tool for money laundering, and the casinos (the house always wins) were a massive source of tremendous and legitimate income. Las Vegas is the symbol of the mob's transition from the world of crime to what is technically the hospitality industry.
The museum exhibits displays and items of the key mobsters who settled in the city, primarily Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, who developed the Flamingo on the Strip. The museum explores the connection between the mafia and the casinos and provides information about the main gangsters who operated in the city.
Address: Stewart Ave. 300, Las Vegas
Click here to buy online tickets for the Mob Museum…
For the museum's current operating hours, click here…
The Neon Museum Las Vegas
The cool vintage museum of Las Vegas is situated north of Downtown, not far from the city's Natural History Museum. It houses a large and comprehensive collection of the city's iconic symbol – neon signs. The museum's collection boasts a plethora of old signs from significant brands on the Strip and Fremont Street, signs that have been part of the hotels since their inception. Naturally, this is a museum best visited at night, and it operates from late afternoon until 10 PM.
Address: Las Vegas Blvd N. 770, Las Vegas
For a helicopter tour over Vegas' neon lights at night + entrance to the Neon Museum, click here…
For the museum's current operating hours, click here…
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Las Vegas Natural History Museum is an interesting place to visit with children. It's located north of downtown, in the northern part of the expansive Las Vegas Boulevard. The museum features a large geological collection, fossils, dinosaur models, and all the entertainment and fun of American natural history museums. A special exhibit is dedicated to ancient Egypt and the figure of King Tutankhamun.
Address: 900 Las Vegas Blvd N., Las Vegas
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Las Vegas Natural History Museum…
Click here for the museum's current opening hours…
Hoover Dam
The massive arch dam is a forty-minute drive southeast of the Las Vegas Strip. The dam is adjacent to Boulder City, which was originally built to house the dam's construction workers. It's a huge arch dam completed in 1935, playing a significant role in the development of nearby Las Vegas.
For a round trip day tour from Vegas to Hoover Dam with lunch, click here…
The dam harnesses the waters of the Colorado River, creating the artificial Lake Mead. The construction of the dam was part of the U.S. government's initiatives during the Great Depression to provide employment and develop the American empire. It was named after President Herbert C. Hoover, the 31st President of the USA, remembered for the stock market crash.
The height of the Hoover Dam is about 222 meters, and its length is around 340 meters. It's not the biggest dam in the USA, but it's probably the most famous one. The dam supplies electricity to the crazy consumption of the nearby Vegas lighting empire, as well as the rest of Nevada, Arizona, and parts of California.
For a half-day trip to Hoover Dam from the Strip, click here…
The Hoover Dam has become a popular tourist destination over the years. You can reach the dam via the I-11 highway heading south from Vegas. You can drive over the dam or park nearby and walk on the sidewalks on both sides of the road. There are several observation points near the dam where you can park. The visit to the dam is very organized, with a visitor center, souvenir shop, and more.
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire is a popular desert hiking destination east of Las Vegas in the northern part of Lake Mead. The park features unique geological formations composed of red sandstone. The park is accessible from Las Vegas by car, with its center at Atlatl Rock Campground. Another base in the park is Arch Rock Campground. Close to both bases are most of the park's highlights, such as the popular Atlatl Rock, which can be climbed, Arch Rock, Piano Rock, and Fire Cave.
Click here for guided hikes in Valley of Fire attractions…
To the east lies the Valley of Fire Visitor Center, from where you can head north to the stunning geological expanses along The White Domes Trail.
Click here for all the information on visiting the national park…
Sports in Las Vegas
Football
Las Vegas Raiders
As part of branding the city as an entertainment hub, there is a serious effort to bring major sports franchises to the city. By 2025, the legendary Oakland Athletics baseball team is expected to move from San Francisco to Las Vegas. Even before that, Oakland's football team, the Raiders, moved to the city in 2020 and is now known as the Las Vegas Raiders. They are the city's premier representative in American professional sports, playing in the NFL.
The team was founded in Oakland and moved for a period to Los Angeles. In the past, it has won 3 Super Bowls, though in recent years it has lacked achievements. Its current home ground is Allegiant Stadium, next to Mandalay Bay, just west of the I-15 freeway. The stadium seats 65,000 and there’s a good chance you can snag tickets.
The home stadium address for the Raiders: Al Davis Way, 3333, Las Vegas
Click here to purchase tickets to games on the team's official website…
Hockey
The Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are the most successful desert hockey team in the USA. The frozen game, which is mainly popular in the cold and icy regions of North America and Canada, has managed to adapt well to the desert and brings impressive achievements to the city. The team was founded in 2017 as part of the city's strategy to add professional sports to the rich entertainment offerings of Las Vegas. The investment in the team playing in the NHL league was massive, and in 2023 they even won the Stanley Cup.
The team plays at the T-Mobile Arena, located just west of the New York-New York Hotel. The stadium holds 18,000 spectators and offers a super fun experience for anyone unfamiliar with this popular American sport.
Home stadium address: S Las Vegas Blvd. 3780, Las Vegas
Click here to purchase tickets for Golden Knights games on the NHL website…
Boxing Matches
Boxing competitions are an integral part of the entertainment world of Las Vegas, just like gladiators were an essential part of ancient Rome's entertainment. These competitions are not held in a league but are high-profile rolling events considered one of the most attractive forms of entertainment in the city.
A large number of professional competitions are held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the MGM Grand Resort. The arena is also the venue for entertainment performances, shows, etc. It has a capacity for 16,000 spectators. Boxing matches are extremely popular, and it's hard to get tickets, especially if the competitors are top-notch fighters from the violent sport.
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Mystère show by Cirque du Soleil in Vegas…
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Love show by Cirque du Soleil in Vegas…
Click here to purchase online tickets for the O show by Cirque du Soleil in Vegas…
