34 Must-See Attractions in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a city like no other. This cosmopolitan metropolis is like a big playground offering a lot of things to see and do, particularly on the Strip, where you’ll find endless restaurants, shops, casinos and adventures on every corner. Make the most of your vacation by exploring these must-see attractions in Las Vegas.
Mystère
Theater
Of all the productions on the Las Vegas Strip, Mystère stands out as a classic. One of six resident Cirque du Soleil shows, it has made its home at the Treasure Island Hotel since 1993, and it is still going strong. The production is brimming with high-energy performances, including a revamped teeterboard act and the timeless hand-to-hand duo that has been part of the show since its debut. Resident clown Brian Le Petit starts the night off with his mischievous antics before the show narrator, Moha-Samedi, leads the audience on a dreamlike journey that celebrates the beauty, sadness and mystery of life.
Fremont Street Experience
Architectural Landmark
Stratosphere
Casino Hotel, Hotel
The High Roller at The LINQ
Amusement Park
The Las Vegas Strip
Building, Casino
Hoover Dam
Historical Landmark
The Welcome to Las Vegas sign
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
The Welcome to Las Vegas sign is easily one of the most popular attractions in Las Vegas. Located at the south end of the Strip next to Mandalay Bay and the Little Church of the West, the famous sign has graced Las Vegas Boulevard since 1959. Designed by late local artist Betty Willis, the sign is a must-see and one of the best places in Las Vegas to take a selfie.
Shark Reef
Aquarium
The Mob Museum
Museum
The Neon Museum
Museum
While the Mob Museum tells the story of Las Vegas and its relationship with organized crime, the Neon Museum tells the city’s story through neon signs. Next door to Cashman Field off the Interstate-15 highway, the collection of hotel and business signs shows the evolution of Las Vegas, from its early days as a stopping point on the way to California to its status as a top tourist destination. While tours occur daily, they are limited and sell out quickly.
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Architectural Landmark
Like many things in Las Vegas, the Bellagio Conservatory draws a crowd. Located across from the hotel front desk, the conservatory changes throughout the year thanks to the over 100 gardeners designing and caring for the facility. Just like the fountains in front of the property and the glass flowers in the lobby, the conservatory and garden make the Bellagio a worthwhile stop on any traveler’s to-do list.
Dig This Las Vegas
Amusement Park
Paris Las Vegas
Casino Hotel
This mini version of the City of Light comes complete with a lit-up half-scale Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Hotel de Ville. You can wander through the cobbled alleyways, buying souvenirs at charming boutiques and testing your luck on authentic French roulette wheels in the opulent casinos. Top tip: Ride up the glass elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, stopping for dinner halfway up at the mid-air French restaurant to soak up the Parisienne vistas with the Strip’s neon lights and desert mountains beyond. Recommended by Rebecca Speare-Cole.
Park MGM Las Vegas
Architectural Landmark
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
Museum
The Strip has its own version of the worldwide wax museum where the velvet ropes have been removed, so you can strike a pose next to Elvis or sit on Hugh Hefner’s lap. You can also mingle with Thor or Black Widow before you join the action – getting sprayed with water or hit by wind tremors in the Marvel Super Heroes 4D cinema experience. Top tip: Nurse your hangover at the Hangover Bar, where you can order themed drinks inspired by the Wolf Pack. Recommended by Rebecca Speare-Cole.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Hiking Trail, Park
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Art Gallery
Located inside the Bellagio hotel and casino, the gallery holds paintings by Monet, Rembrandt, and Andy Warhol. If you’re looking for something fun and unusual to do, try the Art & Wine event in the evening for an interactive wine-and-art discussion. Recommended by Sarah Lantz.
National Atomic Testing Museum
Museum
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Natural Feature
The Las Vegas Springs Preserve is an oasis of nature away from Las Vegas’s neon lights and bustling casinos. You’ll find all kinds of things to do in this area, from a visit to the Nevada State Museum – that will fascinate you with its massive mastodon skeleton – to a tour of the botanical garden, which is home to the largest collection of Mojave Desert cacti and succulent plants. Recommended by Sarah Lantz.
Cocktail lounges and speakeasies
Bar
When drawing up your “things to do before turning 30” list, bar-hopping in Las Vegas should feature high. Start at Commonwealth: a 6,000sqft (557sqm) downtown tavern with a rooftop terrace, live DJs, a banging dance floor and ever-changing cocktail menu. From here, hop between dive bars, seedy cocktail lounges and speakeasies such as the Downtown Cocktail Room, Atomic Liquors (the oldest bar in Vegas) and Corduroy. Hangovers are a guarantee. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder.
Lee Canyon, Mount Charleston
Lee Canyon is one of the more picturesque places to visit in Mount Charleston. An hour outside of Las Vegas, the ski resort offers skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking in the summer. Due to its scenic appearance, the area is also popular among couples for weddings in the spring and summer months.
Pinball Hall of Fame
The Pinball Hall of Fame is just one of the many offbeat museums visitors will find in Las Vegas. Located just minutes away from the Strip, the museum pays tribute to the classic arcade game and houses over 100 pinball machines from the 1940s up to 2009. Stop by the museum for a fun night. The entrance is free.
VooDoo Zipline
VooDoo Zipline at the Rio Hotel is an adrenaline junkie’s dream. Open 23 hours a day, seven days a week, VooDoo Zipline offers a unique view of the Las Vegas Strip through a thrill ride at 33mph (53kph). The ride takes off at the VooDoo Lounge and allows visitors to ride alone or with a friend.
M&M World
Chocolate lovers and the young at heart will love M&M World, next door to the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. Passers-by are drawn in by the chocolate aroma and the bright colors in the window display. Inside, visitors can get lost on four floors of souvenirs, movie posters and candy displays. Guests can also personalize their own M&Ms, which makes for a great treat to take home.
Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail Head
The Gold Strike Hot Springs is one of the better-kept secrets about Las Vegas. A 40-minute drive outside the city, the springs offer a unique and transformative experience for those who can rough the approximately 4mi (6.5km) hike, which takes about 3 hours and isn’t suitable for young children or animals.
The Cosmopolitan pool
Every pool on the Strip hosts spectacular pool parties, but the pool at the Cosmopolitan is really something special. Throughout the year, the pool stays open not only for hotel guests but for special events and seasonal activities you can’t find anywhere else. During the summer, the pool hosts its Dive-In Movies series, featuring a variety of current and classic films. The hotel extends the festivities by offering a winter wonderland during the colder months, complete with an ice rink, s’mores and Christmas lights.
The Basement – A Live Escape Room Experience
Thrill-seekers and horror-film fans will love the Basement, which began in Los Angeles and is part of the growing trend of escape-room attractions in the United States. Guests have 45 minutes to navigate a room of their choice – the study or the basement – to escape from Edward Tandy, the serial killer with a taste for human flesh. Single tickets are available, but the experience is far more enjoyable in a group.
CityCenter
Opened in 2009, this vast and beautifully sleek urban complex in the heart of the Strip stands tall across 67 acres (27ha). CityCenter’s glassy modern architecture comes as a stark contrast to the garish neighbouring resorts. The Crystals shopping centre offers a cool respite from the Nevada heat. Inside, stop by the Gallery to marvel at Dale Chihuly’s spectacular glass masterpieces at the Gallery. Next, head to the Chandelier bar and order the “We’re All Mad Here” cocktail – a drink that changes colour when stirred and is paired with an edible flower that makes your tongue tingle. Recommended by Rebecca Speare-Cole.
Adventuredome Theme Park
With all sorts of rides and attractions, including rollercoasters like the Canyon Blaster (the world’s only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew rollercoaster), you won’t be bored here. Adventuredome is a great place to take the whole family, offering junior rides for the younger kids. Recommended by Sarah Lantz.
The Summer League Games
The Summer League Games are a highlight on the Las Vegas calendar. Former and current NBA basketball players play in the four-tournament-style games. You can watch slam dunking legends alongside undrafted rookies courtside while escaping the searing desert heat outside. The games traditionally take place at the Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center, both on the official UNLV campus. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder.
Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn Bowl started out in 2009 as a music venue, bowling alley and Blue Ribbon restaurant in Williamsburg, New York, housed inside an old iron works warehouse. It’s now a massive music venue on the Linq Promenade in Las Vegas and the place to catch rock, indie and hip hop concerts, plus themed dance party nights and tribute shows. Past performers include Ellie Goulding, Beck, Jimmy Eat World and Tinie Tempah. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder.
The Dirty
Las Vegas can be an expensive city for young people, but the laughs are free. The Dirty at 12:30 is a free-entry, late-night stand-up comedy show every Friday at the Southpoint Hotel and Casino. Safely assume from the name you’ll get more than dad jokes here. Hosted by Gabe Lopez, the night often draws in 350 people (there’s seating for 185). Expect regular celebrity cameos, unbilled walk-ons by established comedians and sets by upcoming comics. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder.
First Friday Las Vegas
Allow a lazy afternoon melt into evening at this ever evolving community-driven festival in the city’s Arts District that pulls together art, music, food and fashion in a laid-back space. Watch a live gig, eat delicious bites from food carts and browse various stalls. The event is underpinned by the First Friday Foundation, which works with the local community to harness creativity in the city. If you happen to be in town on the first Friday of the month, you’ve no excuse but to head down. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder.
West Wind Drive-in Theater
For a real “throwback Thursday,” drive out to the West Wind Drive-In Theater. It’s one of the few drive-ins left in the US and is ideal for group outings. It’s the cheapest movie theater to go to in Las Vegas, and you can bring food and drinks inside. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder.
Fancy something a little more different? There are plenty of unusual things to do in Las Vegas as well. Alternatively, why not head out for a few day trips to discover the areas surrounding Sin City? Unwind with a drink at one of the best bars downtown before heading back to your boutique hotel or romantic stay for two.
This article is an updated version of a story created by Lauryn Wilder.