Las Vegas travel guide

The Las Vegas Strip

In a few miles you pass gondolas on a Venetian canal, a half-size Eiffel Tower, a Roman palace and the New York skyline, all lit up at night along Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay north to the Strat. Distances fool people: neighbouring resorts can be a long walk apart, so plan one stretch at a time and go out after dark.

Fountains of Bellagio

More than a thousand jets in the lake in front of Bellagio throw water up to about 140 metres, swaying to Sinatra, opera or pop, and it costs nothing to watch. Shows run every half hour from mid-afternoon on weekdays and from noon at weekends, then every 15 minutes in the evening until midnight. High wind cancels them.

Sphere

At night, about 1.2 million LEDs turn this 112-metre globe beside the Venetian into an eyeball, a moon or a basketball, visible from much of the Strip. Inside, a single screen wraps up and over the audience, so the film or concert fills your whole view. Shows inside are ticketed and often sell out, so book before you travel.

Fremont Street Experience

Downtown's original casino street keeps the old Las Vegas feel, with the neon cowboy Vegas Vic, a zip line flying overhead and a 1,375-foot screen canopy for a roof. Light-and-music shows play on it at the top of every hour from 6 pm to 2 am.

Neon Museum

The Stardust lettering, the Moulin Rouge's script and Treasure Island's giant skull now stand in an outdoor yard of retired casino and motel signs, the city's history told in bulbs and tubing. It is just north of downtown. Timed tickets go on sale 60 days ahead and often sell out; evening slots show the restored signs lit. In summer it opens only at night, and tours stop in extreme heat.

Arts District

Away from the casinos, the blocks south of downtown known as 18b have murals, galleries, vintage shops, breweries and bars with a local crowd. On the first Friday of each month the streets fill for an evening art fair, with food trucks and live music.

Red Rock Canyon

Red and cream sandstone cliffs rise out of the desert along a 13-mile scenic drive, with short trails to rock art and boulders to scramble over, about 30 minutes west of the Strip. From 1 October to 31 May you need a timed-entry reservation on Recreation.gov to enter between 8 am and 5 pm.

Hoover Dam

From the top of this 1930s dam you look over 200 metres down its curved concrete face to the Colorado River, with Lake Mead behind you and Arizona across the way. It is under an hour southeast. The Power Plant Tour can be booked online; the longer Dam Tour is sold only on site and sells out, so arrive early.

Valley of Fire State Park

At sunrise and sunset the sandstone really does look on fire, twisted into waves, arches and beehive shapes, with petroglyphs left by ancient peoples at Atlatl Rock. Nevada's oldest state park is about an hour northeast. Popular trails such as Fire Wave and White Domes close from mid-May to the end of September because of the heat.

Chef-led resort restaurants

Few cities put so many famous chefs within walking distance: big Strip resorts hold dining rooms from names such as Joël Robuchon, Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck, from steakhouses to French tasting menus. Reserve for weekend dinners and show nights, and check the dress code.

Buffets

Long counters of crab legs, carving stations, sushi and desserts keep the all-you-can-eat buffet a Las Vegas ritual at several large resorts. Weekday lunch is the cheapest and least crowded time to go.

Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road

This long stretch of strip malls, a few minutes west of the Strip, is where locals, and many of the city's chefs after work, eat: ramen, Korean barbecue, dim sum, hot pot and late-night noodles at a fraction of resort prices.

Downtown and the Arts District

Off the Strip, the city eats like a city: bars and kitchens around Fremont East and the Arts District serve tacos, burgers and craft beer to a mostly local crowd, at lower prices than the resorts.

Best: October to November

The heat breaks and evenings turn cool: the best weeks for Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire and Hoover Dam.

Best: March to May

Warm, dry days for hiking, and the pools open. Red Rock Canyon needs a timed-entry booking until 31 May.

Harder: June to September

Highs often pass 40°C (104°F). Hike only at dawn; popular Valley of Fire trails close from mid-May through September.

How do you get around Las Vegas?

• MonorailThe monorail runs behind the east-side resorts from MGM Grand to SAHARA, seven stations in all, with trains every four to eight minutes.
• TaxisTaxis can't be hailed on the street; pick up at a hotel taxi line or a set address.
• Airport pickupsTaxis wait outside baggage claim. Ride-app pickups are in the parking garages: Level 2 at Terminal 1, the Valet level at Terminal 3.
• Between terminalsA free shuttle and an automated tram link Terminals 1 and 3, as walking between them isn't possible.
• Deuce busThe Deuce bus runs the length of the Strip and on to downtown 24 hours a day. Buy passes in the rideRTC app.

Do you need cash in Las Vegas, and do you tip?

• CardsCards and phone payments are taken across the resorts, shops, taxis and ride apps.
• ATM feesATMs on casino floors charge high fees per withdrawal. Take out larger sums less often, or use a bank ATM away from the casino.
• TippingTipping is expected for service; restaurant servers usually get around 18 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill.
• Cash tipsKeep small bills for tips: a dollar or two a drink at the bar. Check the bill first, as large groups often get a service charge added.
• Resort feesSince May 2025 hotels must show the full nightly price including resort fees, so compare totals when booking.

Local manners

• QueuingAmericans say line, not queue, and wait in one orderly line.
• Small talkA friendly hello and a smile go a long way with strangers.
• Crossing the StripLas Vegas Boulevard is wide and fast. Cross at the pedestrian bridges and signals, never mid-block.
• VolumeSpeak at a moderate level on trains, buses and in restaurants.
• Age 21You must be 21 to gamble or drink, and casinos check ID. Younger visitors can walk through the casino but cannot linger at the tables.

Useful apps

• Uber - Rides, Eats, HotelsGetting rides around the Strip and downtown
• LyftAlternative rideshare across Las Vegas
• Google MapsWalking directions and transit along the Strip
• rideRTCPasses and live times for the Deuce and other RTC buses

Download links for these are in the Las Vegas guide in the Journey app.

Before you book

Check your government’s travel advice before you book.