Things to Visit in Las Vegas

The Strip runs 4.2 miles from Mandalay Bay to the STRAT tower. Walking the whole thing takes about 90 minutes without stops, but plan 3-4 hours with casino and attraction detours. The elevated pedestrian bridges at major intersections save time and keep you out of the heat.

The free water show runs every 30 minutes from 3pm-8pm and every 15 minutes from 8pm-midnight on weekdays, with earlier start times on weekends. Over 1,200 nozzles shoot water up to 460 feet. The best viewing is from the front railing directly on the sidewalk — arrive 10 minutes early for a spot.

At 550 feet, it's the tallest observation wheel in North America. One full rotation takes 30 minutes. Daytime tickets cost around $25; nighttime tickets run $37. The sunset time slot offers the best views but books out fast — reserve 2-3 days ahead on weekends.

The quarter-mile indoor canal has painted sky ceilings and singing gondoliers. Gondola rides cost $34 per person for a 12-minute trip. Walking through the shopping area along the canal is free. The outdoor pool-side gondola ride on the front canal costs the same but has real sky views.

This 14,000-square-foot indoor botanical garden changes its display 5 times per year (Chinese New Year, spring, summer, fall, winter). Free to enter, open 24 hours a day. The installations use over 10,000 live flowers and cost roughly $1 million each to produce.

The 1,149-foot tower has an indoor and outdoor observation deck at 869 feet ($25 admission). Three thrill rides operate on top of the tower starting at $30 each — one dangles you over the edge. Package deals combining the deck and rides save about 25%.

The 1,500-foot-long LED canopy runs 5 blocks over Fremont Street and displays a free light-and-sound show every hour from dusk until midnight. The screen contains 12.5 million LEDs. Live bands play on 3 stages nightly — the party peaks around 10pm-1am.

Two levels: the lower zip line runs 850 feet at 7 stories high ($30), while the upper Zoomline runs 1,750 feet at 11 stories ($55) in a superhero-style harness. Lines can hit 90 minutes on weekend nights — book a time slot online to skip the wait.

About 6 blocks south of Fremont Street between Las Vegas Boulevard and Commerce Street. First Friday (monthly, 5-11pm) brings out 10,000+ people with art walks, food trucks, and live music. The rest of the month is quieter with galleries, murals, and independent bars.

The outdoor 'boneyard' displays over 250 retired Las Vegas signs, including the original Stardust and Moulin Rouge signs. Guided tours cost $28 for daytime and $42 for the evening 'Brilliant!' light show tour. The lot covers about 2 acres. Book at least a week ahead — tours sell out regularly.

Six permanent Cirque shows run in Vegas. Tickets range from $70 for rear seats to $200+ for premium. Same-day discount tickets are sometimes available at the venue box office. Shows run 5-6 nights per week, usually at 7pm and 9:30pm. Buy 2-3 weeks ahead for the best seat selection.

Major residencies play at venues holding 4,000-17,000 people. Ticket prices vary wildly — from $50 for nose-bleed seats to $500+ for floor access. Shows typically run Thursday-Saturday. Residency schedules are announced 3-6 months ahead; popular dates sell out within days of release.

The Bellagio fountains, Mirage volcano (shows at 8pm and 9pm nightly), and Fall of Atlantis at Caesars Palace (every hour, 11am-8pm) all cost nothing. Street performers on the pedestrian bridges and sidewalks are out nightly from about 7pm onward.

Dozens of small-venue comedy and magic shows run nightly, with tickets from $40-80. Most small venues hold 100-300 seats, so you'll be close to the stage. Half-price ticket booths on the Strip sell same-day show tickets starting at noon — available shows change daily.

The West Rim with the glass Skywalk is 125 miles from Vegas (about 2.5 hours). The more dramatic South Rim is 275 miles away (4.5 hours each way). West Rim admission is $49 per person plus $32 for the Skywalk. South Rim entrance is $35 per vehicle for a 7-day pass.

Only 50 miles northeast of Vegas (about 55 minutes). The 46,000-acre park has bright red Aztec sandstone formations that are 150 million years old. Entry is $10 per vehicle. The Fire Wave trail is 1.5 miles round trip and the most photographed spot. Bring at least 1 liter of water per person per hour.

Just 20 miles west of the Strip (about 30 minutes). The 13-mile scenic loop drive costs $15 per vehicle. Over 30 hiking trails range from easy 1-mile walks to strenuous 6-mile scrambles. The Calico Tanks trail (2.5 miles round trip) ends at a rock pool with Strip views on clear days. Arrive before 8am on weekends — the loop closes when the parking lot fills.

35 miles southeast of Vegas, about a 45-minute drive. The dam is 726 feet tall and holds back 9.2 trillion gallons of water in Lake Mead. The visitor center costs $10, and the guided Powerplant Tour is $15 for a 30-minute walk through the dam's interior. Parking is $10.

Over 40 celebrity chef restaurants operate in Vegas. Expect $80-150 per person for a full dinner with drinks at the mid-tier spots. Lunch menus at the same restaurants often cost 40-50% less. Reservations should be made 2-4 weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner slots.

Buffet prices range from $30-45 for weekday lunch to $55-75 for weekend dinner and brunch. Most operate on a 2-hour seating window. Lines can run 30-60 minutes on weekends without a reservation — many now accept reservations through their resort apps.

Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road (2 miles west of the Strip) has 150+ Asian restaurants with meals from $10-20. The Boulevard Mall food court area on Maryland Parkway has local spots with $8-15 plates. A short rideshare from the Strip costs $6-10.

Vegas never closes. Many casino restaurants serve until 2-4am. The Peppermill restaurant on the north Strip has been serving 24 hours since 1972 with massive portions for $15-25. Off-Strip diners and taco shops are open until 3-5am and far cheaper than casino options.

Hotel pools are free for guests; day passes for non-guests run $20-75 depending on the property and day of the week. Cabanas cost $200-500 and fit 4-6 people. Pool season runs March through October, with peak pool parties from May through September on weekends.

The monorail runs 3.9 miles along the east side of the Strip from the MGM Grand to the SAHARA. Single rides cost $5; a 24-hour pass is $13. It runs Monday-Thursday 7am-midnight, and until 2am on weekends. The stops are inside the resorts, so factor in a 5-10 minute walk from the monorail platform to the Strip sidewalk.

Summer temperatures average 104°F with less than 10% humidity. Drink at least 1 liter of water per hour when outdoors. UV index hits 10-11 in summer — sunburn can happen in 15 minutes. Convenience store water bottles on the Strip cost $3-5; buy a case from a grocery store for $5 total.

The average Vegas visitor spends $580 on gambling per trip. Table game minimums on the Strip start at $15-25; downtown casinos are cheaper at $5-10. Slot machines accept bets from $0.01 to $100+ per spin. Many casinos offer free drinks to active players — tip the server $1-2 per drink.