Looking for the best things to do on the Las Vegas Strip? Here are all our favorites, along with our local tips.
Las Vegas was once a destination to party hard and gamble, but it’s not the same Sin City as it once was. Although you can still do those things, we now see visitors show up for a variety of reasons.
As locals, we like to say we never visit the Strip, but we still go for specific activities, shows, and dining. Also, it can’t be avoided when you host a constant stream of visitors.
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Last Updated: January 12, 2023
15 Best Things to Do on the Las Vegas Strip
Between taking visitors and attending conferences, we’ve experienced 99% of what the Strip offers. These are the things we recommend you do if it’s your first time.
1. Ride a Gondola at the Venetian
3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
The Gondola Ride at the Venetian is one of our favorite things to do on the Las Vegas Strip, especially for photos.
There are two different rides, the indoor one and the outdoor one. Out of the two, we prefer the outdoor one. Keep in mind that in the summer, it gets hot.
Local Tip: To see the differences between indoor and outdoor rides, check out the full post linked below.
See Related – 15+ Best Things to Do at the Venetian Las Vegas
2. Watch a Cirque du Soleil Show
There are a variety of shows in Las Vegas, but Cirque Du Soleil is by far the most impressive. If you can only see one show, we recommend checking out a Cirque show first. We’ve seen them all, and O is our favorite, followed by Ka and Mystere.
Local Tip: Popular shows sell out quickly, so get tickets ASAP.
See Related – The Ultimate Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Road Trip
3. Feed Sharks at the Shark Reef Aquarium
3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89119, map
The Shark Reef Aquarium has animal encounter programs, where you feed stingrays, sea turtles, or sharks.
You get a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium, and then they walk you through safely interacting with the animals. Afterward, you can explore the aquarium from the other side of the glass.
Local Tip: You can also dive with sharks!
See Related – Feeding Sharks at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium
4. Skyjump Off the Strat
2000 Las Vegas Blvd S, 89104, map
The Stratosphere (now called the Strat) is an iconic part of the Las Vegas skyline, but did you know you can jump off of it?
It’s an 855-foot fall but a different sensation from a typical bungee jump.
If that’s too intense, there are other rides on the top of the Strat and an Observation Deck to enjoy the views.
Local Tip: While at the LINQ Promenade, don’t miss these other spots.
See Related – Jumping Off the Stratosphere with Skyjump Las Vegas
5. Stroll Through the Bellagio Botanical Gardens
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
We love revisiting the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens every season. They completely transform the 14,000-square-foot space five times a year.
It’s open 24/7, and it’s free to visit.
Local Tip: It can get crowded! Visiting early morning on weekdays is best if you’re trying to shoot photos. If not, go after midnight.
See Related – Your Ultimate Guide to Bellagio Conservatory Botanical Gardens
6. Watch the Iconic Fountains At The Bellagio
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
If it’s your first time in Vegas, you must check out the iconic Fountain Display at the Bellagio. It plays every 30 minutes from 3-8 PM Monday through Thursday and every 15 minutes from 8 PM to Midnight.
Local Tip: It can get crowded! Visiting early morning on weekdays is best if you’re trying to shoot photos. If not, go after midnight.
See Related – 101 Things to Do in Las Vegas Bucket List
7. Ride the High Roller
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
The High Roller Las Vegas is currently the biggest Ferris wheel in the world, although Ain Dubai will overtake it in October 2021. It’s a fun ride to get a bird’s eye view of the strip. To make more of a Vegas experience, go for a happy half hour which includes an open bar.
Local Tip: It can get crowded! Visiting early morning on weekdays is best if you’re trying to shoot photos. If not, go after midnight.
See Related – The High Roller Las Vegas – Biggest Ferris Wheel in the World
8. Zipline with Fly Linq
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
This is the only zipline on the Strip. It was a lot higher than we expected as we soared 1,121 feet above the promenade, and it was cool to fly toward the High Roller.
Local Tip: If you wear sandals, flip-flops, or other loose items, they provide a bag to put them in.
See Related – The LINQ Promenade – Your Ultimate Guide on What to Eat, See, and Do
9. Hit the Driving Range at TopGolf
4627 Koval Ln, 89109, map
TopGolf takes the driving range to a new level. You can order food and drinks, and they have pre-programmed games you can play with your friends.
On top of that, even though it’s outdoors, it’s temperature-controlled to keep you cool in the summer.
Local Tip: Pack your bathing suit. They even have a pool that you can hop in to cool off.
10. Check Out the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck / Experience
3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
This is one of the few things we’ve been putting off until we have visitors that want to go, but we love that we can get a taste of Paris right on the strip.
Once we go, we’ll be sure to write a guide. In the meantime, you can get your tickets here.
Local Tip: One of the best photo spots for the Eiffel Tower is across the street. Just head to the Bellagio valet area and walk across to the overlook.
11. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
5200 Las Vegas Blvd S, 89119, map
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is a fun stop to snap a photo. Lines get long, though, so be prepared to wait. To avoid crowds, early morning is best.
Local Tip: They will light up the sign in different colors for the holidays.
See Related – 25 Best Las Vegas Photo Spots with Tips from a Local
12. Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
3720 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109, map
This is the original immersive Van Gogh exhibit that has been touring the world, starting in Paris. Now you can experience it in Las Vegas at Crystals Shops. We saw both immersive Van Gogh exhibits, and this one is the better one.
Local Tip: Wear light colors, and you can be a canvas for the projectors.
See Related – Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in Las Vegas – What You Need to Know
13. Try an Escape Room
We’ve done over ten escape rooms in Las Vegas and will continue to check them out as new ones pop up.
The Escape Game has the best rooms we’ve played. To make it extra fun, we’ve been bounding to the room’s theme.
Local Tip: Most escape rooms in Las Vegas are scary, but you can find a few that aren’t. See them in our escape room guide.
See Related – 9 Best Las Vegas Escape Rooms
14. See the Pyramid and Sphinx at Luxor
3900 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89119, map
Even though we’ve been in Las Vegas for a while, we only recently went to check out the front of Luxor for our anniversary shoot. There’s a massive Sphinx and other small sculptures that make great backdrops for photos.
Local Tip: There is a Las Vegas Monorail that runs from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur, which stops right in front of the Sphinx. This brings a flow of people every so often.
15. Get a Drink at the Chandelier Bar
3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, 89109, map
The Cosmopolitan has one of the unique bars/lounges on the Las Vegas Strip. The Chandelier has three different levels where you can grab drinks and enjoy the casino views while being inside a huge chandelier.
Local Tip: The bar is open 24 hours and gets busy on weekends. You can make reservations for parties of 15 or more.
More Things to Do on the Las Vegas Strip
If it isn’t your first time or you happen to do an extended stay, here are more things to do on the Las Vegas Strip.
- 4D Ultimate Experience, Excalibur
- Adventuredome, Circus Circus Theme Park – Canyon Blaster, Chaos, Disk’ O, El Loco, Inverter, Motion Rides, Sling Shot, World’s Largest Permanent Circus, 4D Special FX Theater
- Big Apple Coaster, New York New York
- Brooklyn Bowl, LINQ
- ESPORTS Arena, Luxor
- Fall of Atlantis Show, Forum Shops Caesars
- Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, Flamingo
- Helicopter Flight Over Vegas
- Hershey’s Chocolate World, New York New York
- Ice Rink, Cosmopolitan (Nov to Jan)
- M&M’s World
- Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and Gardens
- The Park Vegas, The Park
- Pools / Lazy River – Mandalay Bay
- Streetmosphere, Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes
- Stripper 101, Planet Hollywood
- Swarovski Starburst, Bally’s
- T-Mobile Arena
- Vegas Indoor Skydiving
- Virtual Reality Powered by Zero Latency, MGM Grand
- Wynn
See Related – 101 Things to Do in Las Vegas Bucket List
Museums on the Las Vegas Strip
- ARIA Campus Fine Art Collection
- ARIA Water Features
- Madame Tussauds, Venetian
- Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
- Bodies the Exhibition, Luxor
- Real Bodies, Bally’s
- The Art of Richard MacDonald, Bellagio
- Marvel Avengers Station, Treasure Island
- Hunger Games the Exhibition
- Titanic The Artifact Exhibition
- The Gallery Featuring Dale Chihuly, CityCenter – Permanently Closed
See Related – 15 Best Museums in Las Vegas + Local Tips
Shopping on the Las Vegas Strip
- Fashion Show Mall
- Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
- Grand Canal Shoppes
- LINQ Promenade
- Miracle Mile Shops, Planet Hollywood
Best Places to Eat on the Las Vegas Strip
So many celebrity chefs are opening restaurants on the strip. Overall, the food on the strip tends to be overpriced, but you can still find worthwhile food, especially for special occasions. See our full list of the best places to eat in Vegas here.
- Bacchanal Buffet, Caesars – The best buffet on the strip, but also one the priciest.
- Bazaar Meat, Sahara – everything we tried was good, but I’m still craving that uni toast.
- Best Friend by Roi Choi, Park MGM – Love the uni fried rice and frosé.
- Bouchon, Venetian – A great brunch spot!
- Eataly, Park MGM – We tried pizza, pasta, and desserts. It wasn’t amazing, but you have various options, and it’s great for a big group.
- Earl of Sandwich, Planet Hollywood – This is a chain, but it’s our go-to cheap eat on the strip.
- Mizumi, Wynn – So far, our favorite Japanese restaurant on the strip. The Otoro and Kobe beef are so good.
- Restaurant Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace – For a special occasion, pre-fixe meal.
- Tacos El Gordo – Still better in TJ or San Diego, but great if you’re craving tacos.
- Tea Lounge, Waldorf Astoria – Our fave spot for afternoon tea.
- The X-Pot, Venetian – elevated hot pot!
See Related – 49 Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas
Where is the Las Vegas Strip? Where Does it Start and End?
The Strip starts at Sahara Ave on the north end and ends at Russell Road on the south end.
Map of the Best Things to Do on the Las Vegas Strip
We created a map to highlight all the places we mentioned here. This will help you get around and plan activities next to each other.
- Las Vegas South Strip – Planet Hollywood, Vdara, ARIA, Waldorf Astoria, CityCenter, Park MGM, The Park / T-Mobile Arena, NYNY, MGM Grand + Signature at MGM Grand, Excalibur, Luxor, Tropicana, Mandalay Bay + Delano, Four Seasons, Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
- Mid Strip – Venetian + Palazzo, Casino Royale, Treasure Island, Mirage, Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, LINQ Hotel + Promenade, Flamingo, Cromwell, Bally’s Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Paris
- North Strip – Festival Grounds, SAHARA, Circus Circus, Wynn, Convention Center, Resorts World, The STRAT (formerly Stratosphere)
FAQs
What part of the Vegas Strip is best?
It depends on what you want to do! For us, Mid Strip is the best spot to be and where we spend most of our time. South Strip is where we spend the second most amount of time.
What is the Street Name of the Strip in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas Boulevard
Why Do THey Call it the Strip in Las Vegas?
The Strip was named after Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip by LA police officer and businessman Guy McAfee who co-founded casinos in the 40s and 50s.
How long is the Vegas Strip Walking?
It’s 4.2 miles. You’ll find different definitions of what is considered the Strip, but for most people, it runs from Sahara Ave to Russel Road.
Who Owns Most of Las Vegas Strip?
18 of the 29 strip casinos are owned by MGM Resorts and Caesar’s. MGM Resorts owns Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Park MGM, and New York New York. Caesar’s owns Bally’s, Caesars Palace, The Cromwell, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Linq, Paris, Planet Hollywood, and Rio.
What is the Oldest Casino on the Strip?
The Flamingo Las Vegas was opened in 1946 as The Fabulous Flamingo. It was the third resort built and is now the oldest remaining establishment.
How Many Casinos are on the Las Vegas Strip?
There are about 30 casinos on the strip and another 2 dozen nearby, like on Fremont.
What is the Most Famous Casino in Las Vegas?
The most popular casino definitely changes from time to time based on what is new or what attractions just opened, but the most famous casino is the Bellagio, mainly because of the iconic fountains and references from movies and tv.
What is the most luxurious hotel in Las Vegas?
The Nobu Villa at Caesars Palace.
Which casino in Las Vegas has the most slot machines?
Surprisingly enough, Red Rock Resort in Summerlin has the most gaming machines, with 2,545, followed by Boulder Station and Green Valley Ranch. None of the Strip casinos make the top five because the local clientele is more drawn to slot games.
What was the first hotel built on Las Vegas Strip?
The first hotel resort was the El Rancho Vegas, built in 1941. The Flamingo was the first larger-than-life casino opening. in1946.
What Casinos are no longer in Vegas?
There are over 50 casinos that are no longer in Las Vegas. The Aladdin Hotel & Casino was last demolished in 1998. Other notable casinos no longer around are Desert Inn, El Morocco, Klondike Hotel and Casino, Moulin Rouge Hotel, Riviera, Sands Hotel and Casino, and Stardust Resort and Casino. The latest to change is The Mirage, which is transitioning to the Hard Rock.
Tips for First Time Visitors
- How long is the Strip? It’s 4.2 miles. You’ll find different definitions of what is considered the Strip, but for most people, it runs from Sahara Ave to Russel Road.
- Walking the Strip? Remember that the Strip is much larger than it looks. If you see a casino in the distance that you want to walk to, walking there usually takes 3-4x longer than you think. Because of that, bring good walking shoes!
- Is there a free shuttle on the strip? Unfortunately there isn’t a free shuttle. You can ride share, walk, or take the monorail.
- Can I walk from the airport to the Strip? Technically yes, but it is not recommended. From arrivals to Tropicana (the closest hotel), it still takes an hour.
- Get a Las Vegas Explorer Pass to save money if you plan on doing multiple activities.
- Remember to Hydrate. Have fun but remember to hydrate! Especially in the hot summer months if you’re spending a lot of time outside.
- Casinos are Huge. It’s easy to get lost in a casino and it always takes longer than you think to walk from your room to the strip. Give yourself extra time if you have to be somewhere by a certain time.
- Don’t Limit Yourself to the Strip. We know this post focuses on the strip but Las Vegas has a ton to offer off-strip as well. Most tours offer pick ups on the strip so be sure to check out other spots!
Best Time to Visit
The spring and fall seasons are the best time to visit Las Vegas, specifically March, April, October, and November. They offer the most moderate weather plus best prices on the strip (minus any holiday weekends).
Summer gets extremely hot which makes it great for pools but horrible for any other outdoor activities. Winter brings short days but cool weather.
When you’re planning your trip, keep an eye out for conferences or festivals. Hotel prices go up significantly during those times.
How to Get There
If you’re flying into Las Vegas, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) will be the main airport you’ll fly into. Here are flight times from some of the most popular cities. You can take a short uber ride from the airport, and you’re on the strip.
Atlanta | 4 hrs
Boston | 6 hrs
Chicago | 2.5 hrs
Dallas | 2.5 hrs
Denver | 1.5 hrs
Honolulu | 6 hrs
Los Angeles | 45 min
Miami | 5.5 hrs
NYC | 5 hrs
New Orleans | 4 hrs
Orlando | 4.5 hrs
Philadelphia | 5.5 hrs
San Diego | 55 mins
San Francisco | 1.5 hrs
Seattle | 2.25 hrs
Washington DC | 5 hrs
If you prefer to drive into Vegas, there are plenty of parking options on the strip, and most hotels give free parking to guests. Here are the drive times from some major cities.
Reno, NV | 7.25 hrs
Los Angeles, CA | 4 hrs
San Diego, CA | 5.25 hrs
Phoenix, AZ | 4.75 hrs
San Francisco, CA | 9 hrs
San Jose, CA | 8 hrs
Salt Lake City, UT | 6 hrs
Best Places to Stay
What are your favorite things to do on the Las Vegas Strip?
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Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.