Las Vegas – what to see in and around the city? Comprehensive guide

Las Vegas is one of those places that won’t appeal to everyone, yet everyone will look here anyway while in the US West ;) Either because it’s just down the road driving from the West Coast towards the Grand Canyon, or to get a feel for the vibe of the place, see the famous hotels and casinos and have fun. Today we will show you what to see in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is one of the most famous cities in the world, associated with casinos, neon lights, exclusive hotels, unique cultural events and all kinds of glamour. Located in the Mojave Desert, it attracts millions of tourists a year who want to try their luck at the casinos, watch world-class performances or simply experience its unique atmosphere. And this is one of the phenomena of this city – how is it possible that in such an inhospitable climate, in the middle of nowhere, an agglomeration was created that acts like a magnet, and its lights are visible from space?

The city offers something for everyone, from luxury resorts and upscale restaurants to nightclubs, concerts, museums and more extreme attractions. It’s the perfect place for an unforgettable getaway, as the cult movie “Hangover Vegas” brilliantly demonstrates – full of twists, crazy adventures and unpredictable situations that can befall anyone who decides to enjoy a night of excitement in the City of Sin.

Of course, our trip to Las Vegas was not so crazy, after all, we were traveling with children ;) But it probably wouldn’t have been much different without the kids either, as it’s not quite our vibe and we would have just let the nightlife go. As for Las Vegas itself, like in few other places, opinions are divided, but we will try to show you objectively.

We visited Las Vegas twice – once staying close to the Las Vegas Strip and the second time on the outskirts, and our impressions were completely different each time. The city has many faces, and even traveling with children you will find interesting places here and in the surrounding area, which we write about below.

A brief history of the city – where did Las Vegas come from in the desert?

The history of Las Vegas began in the early 20th century, when the city was officially established as a railroad settlement in 1905. Its name, meaning “meadows” in Spanish, comes from the nearby water springs that were a green oasis in the Mojave Desert. It owes its rapid growth primarily to the legalization of gambling in 1931, which attracted investors and tourists. Soon luxury hotels and casinos began to spring up, and the city became a symbol of the American dream and entertainment.

In the 1940s. i 50. In the 1970s, Las Vegas was known as a center of mafia activity, and casinos were often financed by criminal organizations. However, over the years the industry has been regulated, and today Las Vegas attracts families, celebrities and tourists looking for top-notch entertainment. Today Las Vegas is one of the most famous cities in the world, and its rapid growth is not slowing down anytime soon.

Las Vegas is now a popular base for tourists who want to visit, among other things. Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park or Hoover Dam.

Interesting facts about Las Vegas

• Las Vegas is one of the most illuminated cities in the world – from space it can be seen as a bright spot in the desert.
• There are an average of 300 weddings every day in Las Vegas – the second most popular place in the world to get married, after Paris. You can get married here at the Elvis Presley Wedding Chapel or during a helicopter flight over the Strip.
• In the 1950s. In the 1970s, tourists could watch atomic bomb tests conducted at a nearby training ground.
• Las Vegas’ desert climate means temperatures can drop below freezing in winter and reach 45 degrees Celsius in summer.
• Las Vegas casinos don’t have clocks or windows – all to make gamblers lose track of time and stay as long as possible.
• Las Vegas has more than 150,000 hotel rooms, making the city one of the largest hotel centers in the world.
• The city never sleeps – concerts, performances and entertainment are available 24/7.
• Las Vegas is home to dozens of museums, from classic art galleries to unusual attractions such as the Pinball Museum and the Neon Museum.

Attractions in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the city that never sleeps (sounds like New York, doesn’t it? ;) ) and offers many activities for both those who want to visit museums and exhibitions and those who want to throw themselves into the nightlife. Las Vegas’ biggest attractions are, of course, its impressive luxury hotels and casinos, but there’s more.

Below we’ve compiled a list of places to visit or see in LV, and even below is also a list of places to see in the area, for typical day trips.

Las Vegas Strip

The city’s main street, Las Vegas Boulevard, or more precisely the section called the Strip, is home to the city’s most famous hotels, casinos and many other attractions. Here it is worth noting that it lies outside the city limits, but look at LV as a whole metropolis. It is a busy street, with two-way traffic and a fairly wide sidewalk for pedestrians, which becomes too narrow in the evenings anyway.

Walking along the Strip, you can see some of the most famous Las Vegas landmarks including. The miniature Eiffel Tower, Venetian canals or the spectacular fountain of the Bellagio Hotel (be sure to wait for the evening shows!). Each hotel offers something unique, from circus shows at Circus Circus to exotic gardens at Mirage to spectacular performances by Cirque du Soleil. The most interesting hotels and casinos will be discussed later in this post, but here it is worth noting that in LV hotels can be visited! You can go inside, you don’t have to be a hotel guest to admire their interiors, which will make you pick your jaws off the floor.

Even if you are shy and ashamed to enter like this, walking down the street every now and then someone will accost you and invite you to enter a casino or show.

In the evening, the street lights up with millions of lights and becomes one of the most spectacular thoroughfares in the world. Going you will not know what to look at…. We were getting a veritable nystagmus from the numerous lights, neon signs, advertisements, cross-dressing people and glowing cars.

Fremont Street

The older part of the city, known as Downtown Las Vegas, is where you can feel the vibe of old Vegas, though forget the old sights or quieter attractions, of course. The main attraction in this part of the city is Fremont Street, famous for the Fremont Street Experience light show Viva Vision, which takes place on a giant screen stretched over the street. It’s also a place full of historic casinos that existed here before the Strip was built, such as the Golden Nugget and Binion’s Gambling Hall.

Golden Nugget is one of Downtown’s most famous casinos, offering luxurious accommodations and a famous shark aquarium. Binion’s is the legendary venue where the first World Series of Poker tournaments began.

In addition to the casinos, Downtown Las Vegas offers many interesting attractions. One of them is the controversial but fascinating Mob Museum, which details the role of gangsters in the city’s history (more on museums in a moment).

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign

One of the city’s most iconic symbols, the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, is located on Las Vegas Boulevard at the southern end of the Strip. Put up in 1959, it has become an integral part of the city’s identity and a must-see on every tourist’s itinerary. The pedestrian zone located here allows you to take a souvenir photo against the backdrop of this neon symbol of entertainment and luxury.

Don’t be surprised by the queues at this location to take a picture ;)

Sphere

One of Las Vegas’ newest attractions, the giant Sphere multimedia sphere, is a revolutionary concert and performance space. Its LED surface displays stunning animations, and the interior offers an unparalleled visual and audio experience. This is one of the most modern concert venues in the world, and it was officially opened after our visit to LV, so we weren’t able to go inside.

Of course, it’s probably the concerts and shows that make the biggest impression, but if they aren’t happening at the time, you can enter Sphere for the show “The Sphere Experience – Postcard from Earth.” Ticket prices start at around $90.

The most interesting museums in Las Vegas

Neon Museum

Las Vegas is famous for its neon signs, and the Neon Museum is the place to see iconic signs from old casinos and hotels. A walk through this museum is a trip back in time to the city’s golden era. Many of these neon signs witnessed the development of the city and its entertainment culture.

Discovery Children’s Museum

If you are traveling with children then this museum is worth a visit. It is a place where all the space is prepared for children, they can take on different roles, learn and play. There is a creative zone, a river current, playgrounds, and you can become a dentist or mechanic.

There are such museums in most major US cities, and we are always eager to enter them.

Mafia Museum

The Mafia has played a huge role in the development of Las Vegas, and the Mob Museum tells its history in a fascinating way, showing both the activities of gangsters and the actions of the police in the fight against crime. This is a must for fans of criminal history.

Pinball Museum

This unique museum is a paradise for lovers of classic slot machines. The Pinball Museum offers hundreds of working machines on which to play, ranging from retro slot machines to modern versions of this pastime. It’s a great place for families and fans of arcade games.

Atomic Test Museum

Las Vegas is located near the Nevada Test Site, where in the 1950s. i 60. conducted nuclear tests, which we wrote about as part of the trivia at the beginning of the post. The Atomic Test Museum offers displays on the history of atomic testing, its impact on the environment and the Cold War.

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

The museum offers a wide cross-section of exhibits related to natural history – from dinosaurs to fossils to exotic animals and desert ecosystems. It is a great place for science lovers and families with children who want to learn more about our planet’s past. Of course, it’s not as impressive as, for example, the Museum of Natural History in New York, but if you’re interested in the subject you can take a look here.

Additional attractions

If you still need more inspiration, other Las Vegas attractions include:

• the Strat Tower – an observation tower in LV, offering many additional extreme attractions.
• High Roller – the second tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
• Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park – a place where you can learn a little history

Famous hotels and casinos

Las Vegas is famous for its luxury hotels and casinos, which offer not only gaming opportunities, but also amazing attractions, spectacular shows and unique dining experiences. Each of these hotels has its own unique character and theme that makes it special. If you are lucky, try to book accommodation just in one of such hotels, sometimes you can find good promotions and bargains. However, we recommend that you plan your stay in such a way that you stay in LV during the week, on weekends accommodation can be even several times more expensive.

However, if you won’t be staying overnight on Las Vegas Boulevard it’s still worth a visit.

Caesars Palace

One of the most recognizable hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, known for its luxurious ancient Roman-style decor, world-class restaurants and spectacular live shows. Yes, this is where the heroes of Hangover Vegas were. Check out Ceasars Palace Hotel »

Luxor Las Vegas

A distinctive Egyptian pyramid-shaped hotel with interiors reminiscent of ancient Egypt. It houses a casino, luxury rooms and hosts shows. Check out Luxor Las Vegas Hotel »

Paris Las Vegas

The hotel is inspired by the French capital, featuring replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, charming Parisian-style streets and elegant restaurants serving French cuisine. You will recognize Paris Las Vegas from afar without any problem ;) Check out Paris Las Vegas hotel »

The Venetian

One of the most luxurious hotels in the city (The Palazzo), with Venetian canals, gondolas and a beautifully designed casino and exclusive boutiques. Yes, yes, gondolas can be flown :) Check out The Venetian hotel »

Bellagio Resort

Known for its fountain in front of the hotel, the Bellagio offers elegant interiors, art exhibitions, a casino and luxury accommodations for discerning guests. The show “O” by Cirque du Soleil® also takes place here.

New York-New York Hotel & Casino

One of the most recognizable hotels in Las Vegas that pays homage to New York. Its facade features replicas of famous buildings such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, there is also the Statue of Liberty, and you can ride the Big Apple Coaster on the hotel grounds. Inside there are numerous bars, restaurants and a casino inspired by the vibe of the Big Apple. Check out the New York-New York Hotel & Casino »

Attractions in the Las Vegas area

If you plan to treat Las Vegas as a base for your trip, there are several interesting places in the area. We are skipping the Grand Canyon of the Colorado here – it is too far from Las Vegas to drive and return here, a better option would be to stay overnight in Flagstaff. Death Valley is closer, but it’s still more than 2 hours away, so in our opinion it’s better to go further from there than to go back to LV specifically.

Red Rock Canyon

A picturesque park located on the outskirts of Las Vegas, offering stunning scenery, hiking trails and viewpoints. Just beyond the entrance, you can access the Calico Hills Trail, which runs along Scenic Drive. The Calico Tanks Trail is 4 kilometers long (both ways) and should take about 2 hours to complete, with LV views waiting at the end. In addition, there are many trails of different levels of difficulty offering mountain and desert views, opportunities to observe wildlife or petroglyphs.

Like many such places in the US, you can drive your own car here. Scenic Drive, which leads to viewpoints and hiking trails, is a one-way road about 21 kilometers long.

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most beautiful places in the Las Vegas area, famous for its amazing rock formations of intense red color. The park offers numerous hiking trails, such as the Fire Wave Trail, which leads to undulating rocks with a unique appearance. Visitors can also admire ancient petroglyphs that bear witness to the presence of Native Americans in the area thousands of years ago.

In addition to breathtaking scenery, Valley of Fire is a great place for picnics and wildlife watching.

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam (Hoover Dam) is one of the most impressive engineering achievements of the 20th century, located about 50 kilometers southeast of Las Vegas. The structure was built in the 1930s. It was established in the 1970s and plays a key role in regulating the Colorado River, supplying water and electricity to several US states.

Visitors can take a guided tour, or go to public viewing points.

Practical information

Traditionally, it’s time for a handful of practical information about Las Vegas.

Accommodations in Las Vegas

The city offers a wide range of hotels, from luxury hotels with casinos located on the Strip to budget motels on the outskirts. As we have already written, it is worth looking even at the offer of the more expensive ones, because it may turn out that you will find a good opportunity and you will be able to spend the night in truly royal conditions :)

The most important thing, however, is to plan your trip so that you don’t sleep here on the weekend. Then the prices for the same accommodations can be several times more expensive – in no other American city have we seen such differences between a weekend and a weekday.

You already have some suggestions for accommodations above in this post, because why not stay the night in one of the better ones? :) Below you will find two more accommodations where we stayed and we quietly recommend you:

• Desert Rose Resort
  Address: 5051 Duke Ellington Way, Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, NV 89119
  Prices: from $293 per double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-desert-rose-resort
• Home2 Suites By Hilton Las Vegas Northwest
  Address: 8906 W Deer Springs Way, Las Vegas, NV 89149
  Prices: from $172 per double room (with breakfast)
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-home2-suites-las-vegas

How to get around Las Vegas

Las Vegas offers several convenient ways to get around the city. The most popular means of transportation is…. walking ;) especially along the Las Vegas Strip, where most of the attractions are close together, or at least looking at a map. The end of the day you will take many steps marching down this street.

One of the more convenient ways to get around is the Las Vegas Monorail-ahigh-speed train that runs along the Strip, stopping at major hotels and casinos. A single ride costs $5.5 and an all-day ticket costs $13.45. More information and a map is here.

Alternatives include cabs and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, which are rather easily accessible and often cheaper than traditional cabs. However, it’s worth remembering that stopping cabs on the street is prohibited – use dedicated stops at hotels and casinos.

For those wishing to explore the Las Vegas area, car rental is a good option. It provides easy access to attractions outside the city, such as Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire and the Grand Canyon. Although hotel parking lots in Las Vegas itself sometimes charge a fee, some offer free parking for guests.

Public transportation, operated by the RTC, also runs smoothly. Deuce and SDX buses run regularly on the Strip and Downtown, and fares are affordable. This is a good option for travelers on a tight budget who want to get around the city without having to rent a car or use cabs.

Worth knowing before you travel

Here is some important information to keep in mind before traveling to Las Vegas and the US in general:

• You don’t need a visa to enter the US in most cases, but you still need an ESTA. Remember to apply for it before you leave, and it is still possible to apply for a visa if ESTA is rejected.
• Internet is quite easily accessible in the US: in any hotel, campground, store or restaurant you will connect for free without any problem. However, if you want to have Internet on the road then it’s worth buying a SIM or eSIM card (we recently bought an eSIM before flying out). We recommend, by the way, our entry Phone in the US: Will yours work? Traveler’s Guide.
• If you plan to travel in an RV or rent a car, it is worth booking it in advance (especially if you are traveling in the so-called high season).
• Book your accommodations in advance :)
• Buy travel insurance for the US. This is very important, because in many policies the States are excluded and you have to buy a larger package (covering countries like the US or Japan). On top of that, it is important to remember that health care in the US is private so you pay for everything, and not a small amount of money.
• Adapters: European appliances will not plug into American outlets, so be sure to bring the appropriate adapters.

Map of Las Vegas attractions

To make it even easier for you to visit Las Vegas, we have prepared a map with marked locations, which we wrote about in this post.

Our opinion – is it worth visiting Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is a one-of-a-kind place – full of glamour, spectacular attractions and unforgettable experiences. Whether you come for the casinos, concerts, shows or to explore the beauty of the surrounding parks, the city is sure to surprise you.

Admittedly, the main attractions of Las Vegas are primarily hotels and casinos, but one can also find more traditional museums here, and it’s not far from beautiful state parks.