Here are the top 20 things to do in Las Vegas
What does one think of when they hear the name Las Vegas? Casinos, nightlife, neon lights and entertainment. And these are not wrong, as this is precisely what the fame of Las Vegas is all about. Many people come here to gamble, for better or worse, and many just want to have a long night of fun in the large variety of hotels and resorts available here, not to mention the shops. This is city found in a relatively deserty area is all about having fun. Las Vegas is famous among tourists from both the USA and outside of it. This list of the top 20 things to do in Las Vegas is just for them.
- Las Vegas Strip
If you come to the city, you probably can’t miss this part of it, as the southern part of the Las Vegas Boulevard, the Las Vegas Strip is the center of the city. This 6.8 km long boulevard is filled with casinos and hotels in every direction. Just walking along this road shows the majority of the upcoming things you can find and experience in this city.
2. Paris Las Vegas
If you haven’t been to France yet, or if it’s too far away, then this hotel and exhibition can offer a good substitute for that. The Paris Las Vegas hotel has smaller replicas of all the famous landmarks of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Paris Opera House, among others.
3. Luxor Las Vegas
The Luxor Las Vegas is a hotel dedicated to Egypt. The decorations both inside and outside are all based on the ancient egyptian style. Replicas here can be found of the Great Sphinx of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, Ziggurats, obelisks, and more. The most distinct feature is the shape of hotel, which is a pyramid.
4. Luxor Sky Beam
Although it’s part of the Luxor Las Vegas hotel, the Luxor Sky Beam is worth mentioning alone. This light beam that goes up from the peak of the pyramid is the strongest visible light beam in the world. Precisely placed curved mirrors collect the light from 39 xenon lamps and focus it into one beam. The beam is visible from 443 km away, and even pilots can see it on a clear day. The cost of the beam and its operation is quite high, therefore it isn’t always operating on its full potential. The Sky Beam is definitely a must-see on the list of things to do in Las Vegas.
5. Venetian Las Vegas
Just like the previous two, the Venetian Las Vegas is dedicated to a famous city, in this case Venice. The Italian-inspired hotel has locations resembling famous spots of Venice, including the Piazza San Marco, the Lion of Venice Column and the Column of Saint Theodore, and the Rialto Bridge, among others.
6. The Mirage
The Mirage is a Polynesian-themed hotel, and a popular choice for those that would like to have a piece of Oceania. The main attraction of the hotel is an artificial volcano that erupts every evening at specific times to the music of the Grateful Dead band. The avoid the smell of the gas, they add the fragrance of pina colada to the eruption. The event is worth seeing at least once while you are in Las Vegas. A theatrical production of the world-famous circus, Cirque du Soleil, also plays here. The performance is called LOVE, and is based on popural songs of The Beatles.
7. Caesars Palace
The Caesars Palace is one of the most known hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. As its name suggests, the hotel is inspired by the ancient Roman Empire with many columns, statues and replicas both inside and outside. Restaurants can be found throughout the building, each from different parts of the world. The hotel has appeared in numerous movies, and has provided a venue for a wide variety of entertainers.
8. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace deserves a mention apart from the hotel itself. This is the main venue of the hotel, and has housed performances from many famous entertainers, including Elton John, Celine Dion, Cher, Maria Carey and more. The venue is based on the Colosseum of Rome, and has been the most expensive venue in all of Las Vegas.
9. Excalibur Hotel and Casino
This hotel, just like its name suggests, is inspired by the mythical sword of King Arthur, and is built in a medieval style. The central part of the hotel resembles as a giant castle. For a while, a figure that looked like a wizard, representing Merlin, could be seen looking out from one of the high turrets, but it was removed a few years ago. For those who like the medieval castles of Europe, this place is definitely worth seeing.
10. Treasure Island
The Treasure Island is of course a hotel inspired by pirates. The place is famous for its events where pirates and the British Royal Navy clash in a battle atop ships at the “Buccaneer Bay”. Explosions and other pyrotechnics offer an excellet experience to anyone passing by. The Cirque du Soleil show, Mystère, is also played here.
11. Flamingo Las Vegas
The architectural style of the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel is based on the art deco and streamline moderne style of Miami. It’s the oldest of the hotels still operating on the Strip, but it’s still just as popular. The hotel also features a courtyard with flamingos living there, keeping true to its namesake.
12. New York-New York Hotel and Casino
The New York-New York Hotel and Casino is inspired by the busy and famous city of New york, as per its namesake. The towers and the architectural style of the hotel resemble the skyscrapers of New York, like the Empire State Building. Replicas of famous landmarks are also available for visitors to see. These include the Statue of Liberty, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Main Immigration Building on Ellis Island, and the Grand Central Terminal, among others.
13. The Roller Coaster
The Roller Coaster, also known as the Manhattan Express or the Big Apple Coaster, is an almost 1500 m long roller coaster located at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino. The ride goes through the inside and outside of the hotel, and offers a very fun experience as it travels around the New York landmarks. The trains somewhat resemble checker cabs located throughout New York.
14. Bellagio
The Bellagio is a luxury hotel and casino in Las Vegas, and is one of the most known thanks to its elegance. The building is both beautiful inside and outside, but the main attraction of the hoter is especially spectacular. The fountains infront of the building offer a wonderful show every 30 minutes, with water jets and light effects, resembling a dance.
15. Stratosphere Las Vegas
The Stratosphere Las Vegas is famous not only as a hotel, but for its main attraction, the 350 m tall observation tower, the tallest structure in Las Vegas, and one of the tallest observation towers in the United States. The top of the tower has four thrill rides, out of which the Big Shot was one of the highest elevated rides in the world. The SkyJump also offers a thrilling decelerator descent, similar to bungee jumping.
16. Neon Museum
As a city of neon lights, Las Vegas has a museum dedicated to the neon lights illuminating the city every night. The Neon Museum houses an exhibition for its collection of unused and old neon signs from casinos and hotels. This “boneyard” is a spectacular way to see the changing of the city as old casinos and hotels are replaced by new and bigger ones so many times. Some of them still work, some of them don’t, but this museum is a must-see on the list of things to do in Las Vegas for those who love this city and want to learn more about its history.
17. Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian shopping mall in Las Vegas, visited not only for its casinos and slot machines, but the overhead light shows. This mall is frequently visited by both tourists and citizen at night, as that is the time this place truly lives.
18. Mob Museum
The Mob Museum, just like its name suggests, is dedicated to the history of organized crime in the United States. Visitors can see exhibitions about gangsters and maffia members including Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel and John Gotti, and the hardworking policeman and FBI agents that fought crime, like J. Edgar Hoover, Harry Anslinger and Eliot Ness.
19. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Located next to Las Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This place is perfect for those that want to take a break from the bustling and busy streets of Las Vegas. The park is popular for its beautiful red rocky and deserty landscape, which is also used for activities like rock climbing, hiking, camping and biking, among others.
20. Hoover Dam
While not exactly at Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is definitely worth a visit, as this is probably one of the most known dams in the world. The Hoover Dam large concrete arch-gravity dam that helped provide power to Nevada, Arizona and California for almost a hundred years. Guided tours are availabe for visitors to see the dam inside and outside and learn about its history.
If you want to see other thrilling attractions like the one atop the Stratosphere Tower, check out this link. Or if you want to see other great attractions centered around entertainment, see our list on the top 20 places to visit in Los Angeles here.