Things to do in Las Vegas
From the towers and observation decks along the Strip to a cruise on Lake Mead, a headline show in a resort theater, and a walk down Fremont Street, Las Vegas packs more into a week than most cities manage in a lifetime.
Signature experiences
The categories that define a first trip to Las Vegas — walking tours of the Strip, the observation decks, a Hoover Dam tour, a headline show, and a cruise on Lake Mead.
Antelope Canyon and Page Day Trips
Long full-day trips from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona, visited only with a Navajo guide, often paired with a stop at Horseshoe Bend. A demanding day, best for visitors who won't get another chance to see the slot canyons.
4 guides
Grand Canyon West and South Rim Tours
Guided tours reaching Grand Canyon West on Hualapai tribal land, about two and a half hours from the Strip, and the farther South Rim inside the national park, about four and a half hours away. Suited to visitors with a full day to spare for the farther option.
4 guides
South Rim Grand Canyon Day Trips
Full-day trips to the Grand Canyon's South Rim, inside the national park, about four and a half hours each way by coach or van. A long but manageable day trip for visitors with a full day free.
4 guides
Zion National Park Day Trips
Day trips to Zion National Park, where a shuttle is mandatory through the main canyon from March through November, usually by small coach with a guide. Best planned around the shuttle schedule and, for Angels Landing, a permit obtained by lottery.
4 guides
Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley Day Trips
Day trips into the Grand Circle, covering Bryce Canyon's amphitheater of hoodoos and, on longer itineraries, Monument Valley's Navajo tribal park further east on the Utah–Arizona border. Bryce Canyon alone is a comfortable single day; combining it with Monument Valley makes for a longer one.
2 guides
Kanab Slot Canyons
The slot canyons around Kanab, Utah include Peek-a-Boo, Great Chamber, Belly of the Dragon and Wire Pass, along with the nearby Coral Pink Sand Dunes. These narrow sandstone passages are reached on guided hikes from the Kanab area.
2 guides
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a Navajo tribal park straddling the Utah-Arizona border, known for its sandstone buttes and 4x4 tours led by Navajo guides. It is often paired with other stops on a broader Grand Circle itinerary.
2 guides
Death Valley Day Trips
Full-day trips west into California's Death Valley, including Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 86 meters below sea level, usually by small coach with a guide. A long but manageable day trip from the Strip.
3 guides
Hoover Dam Tours
Guided tours out to Hoover Dam, straddling the Nevada–Arizona border about 45 minutes from the Strip, including dam interior access and the visitor center exhibits. Book ahead for interior tours, which have limited daily capacity.
5 guides
Valley of Fire Tours
Guided day trips to Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada's red-rock landscape east of the city, covering the park's sandstone formations and scenic overlooks. A full day out from the Strip into the desert.
3 guides
Red Rock Canyon Tours
Guided tours and bike outings through Red Rock Canyon's scenic drive west of the city, often including stops at overlooks and short hiking trails. Suited to visitors wanting desert scenery beyond the Strip on a half-day trip.
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Helicopter Flights Over the Strip and Grand Canyon
Helicopter tours over the Strip's neon skyline and out to the Grand Canyon, running from brief loops to longer routes across the desert. The most direct way to see the region's scale from above, at a premium price.
5 guides
ATV and Off-Road
ATV, buggy and 4x4 tours run through the Mojave Desert, sand dunes and off-road trails surrounding Las Vegas. Outings range from short desert loops to longer backcountry routes.
3 guides
Lake Mead Cruises and Boat Tours
Sightseeing cruises on Lake Mead near Hoover Dam, from short scenic runs to sunset sails and dinner cruises. A relaxed way to see the reservoir and surrounding desert canyons from the water.
3 guides
Horseback Riding and Ranches
Desert ranches around Las Vegas offer horseback rides, including sunset outings and cowboy-style dinners. Rides vary from short guided loops to longer excursions into the surrounding desert landscape.
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Hiking and Canyoneering
Trails at Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon and Zion range from short walks to full-day hikes, with canyoneering options adding rappelling, climbing, via ferrata and zip line elements. Difficulty and terrain vary widely by location and season.
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Stargazing
Stargazing outings take place in the desert away from the Strip's light pollution, in national parks and across the Mojave, often with a telescope and a guide. Clear desert skies make these areas well suited to viewing stars and constellations.
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Weddings and Vow Renewals
Las Vegas wedding chapels host ceremonies, vow renewals and proposal packages, often including photo packages. Options range from quick chapel ceremonies to more elaborate arrangements.
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Las Vegas Show Tickets
Tickets to Las Vegas headline shows, magic acts and Cirque du Soleil productions across the Strip's resort theaters, plus package deals pairing a show with dinner. Popular titles sell out well ahead, especially around holidays.
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Speakeasy, Mafia and Ghost Tours
Themed walking tours covering Prohibition-era history, organized crime's role in the city's casino past, and ghost stories from older downtown buildings. An evening alternative to standard sightseeing.
3 guides
Nightlife and Comedy Clubs
Tickets to comedy clubs, rooftop bars and nightlife tours across the Strip, some bundled with pub crawls or bar-hopping guides. Nevada's minimum age of 21 for gambling and drinking applies throughout, and this is where a guided night out beats sightseeing.
4 guides
Food Tours and Tastings
Guided food walks through Strip resorts and downtown Las Vegas, sampling buffets, steakhouses and local specialties along the way. A good way to eat well while getting local context on each stop.
5 guides
Thrills and Adrenaline
Adrenaline options around Las Vegas include shooting ranges, sports car track driving, go-karting, indoor skydiving, roller coasters, monster trucks and simulators. Several combine multiple activities at a single venue for a full day of high-intensity experiences.
4 guides
Museums and Galleries
Tickets and guided visits to Las Vegas museums covering neon signage, organized-crime history and local art, across downtown and the Strip. Options include skip-the-line entry and guided small-group tours.
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Professional Photo Sessions
Booked photographers who meet you at iconic spots like the Strip, downtown Fremont Street or Red Rock Canyon for a private photo session, delivering edited shots afterward. Popular for couples, proposals and family trips.
2 guides
Spa and Wellness
Spas around Las Vegas offer massages, yoga, sound baths and other wellness treatments for recovering after a night on the Strip. Options range from hotel spa facilities to standalone wellness centers.
2 guides
Strip Landmarks
The Strip's icons and viewpoints include the High Roller observation wheel, hotel towers and observation decks, the Bellagio fountains, canal gondola rides, the Sphere and the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas. Most sit within walking distance of each other along Las Vegas Boulevard, day and night.
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Downtown Las Vegas History Tours
Guided tours of downtown Las Vegas and the Fremont Street area, tracing the city's early casino history, some combined with a Strip tour or a Hoover Dam day trip. A distinct, older side of the city compared with the modern Strip.
4 guides
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours and City Passes
Double-decker bus loops covering the Strip's main sights, plus multi-attraction Las Vegas passes bundling entry to several attractions at a discount. Suited to visitors who want to cover a lot of ground with minimal planning.
3 guides
Las Vegas Walking Tours
Guided walks through the Strip and downtown Las Vegas, from the casino corridor to Fremont Street's old Vegas core, covering history, architecture and local stories. Options range from short introductions to in-depth small-group tours led by local guides.
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Games, Workshops and Classes
Escape rooms, mixology classes, gaming lessons and scavenger hunt games across the Strip, built for groups and families wanting an interactive activity. A change of pace from standard sightseeing.
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Airport Transfers
Private and shared transfers between Harry Reid International Airport and Strip hotels, about eight kilometers away, bookable ahead to skip the taxi line and avoid surge pricing. Useful for late arrivals or groups with luggage.
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Bike Rentals
Bicycles, e-bikes, scooters and Segways are available for rent along and near the Strip, alongside guided cycling outings such as the scenic loop through Red Rock Canyon. Options range from short self-guided rides to longer guided routes outside the city.
2 guides
Passes and Tickets
Multi-attraction passes, skip-the-line tickets and combination admissions cover a range of Las Vegas attractions. Bundling entries this way can simplify planning a visit across several sites.
3 guides
Multi-Day National Parks Tours
Multi-day tours from Las Vegas cover the national parks of the Grand Circle over two to four days, with overnight stays along the route. Itineraries typically link several parks and landmarks rather than a single stop.
4 guides
Day Trips from Las Vegas
The full range of day trips out of the city, from nearby Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon to the long hauls to the Grand Canyon, Zion Country, the Grand Circle and Los Angeles. A way to see the wider region without staying overnight elsewhere.
4 guidesMore ways to experience the region
Specialist interests and practical planning — food tours, museums, day trips beyond the city, airport transfers, and the comparisons every first-time visitor searches for.
Planning Your Las Vegas Visit
An editorial guide to choosing between a Strip walking tour and a day trip further afield, depending on how many days you have. Aimed at visitors mapping out an itinerary before booking anything.
4 guides
Day Trips vs Walking Tours
An editorial side-by-side of what a Las Vegas walking tour covers compared with a day trip out of the city, including typical duration and focus. Useful for deciding which suits your schedule and interests, not a page for booking a specific activity.
4 guides
Las Vegas by Season
An editorial look at how sightseeing changes through the year, from scorching Mojave Desert summers above 40°C to milder, more comfortable atv-off-road visits. Helpful for timing a trip around weather and crowds rather than for booking anything specific.
3 guides
Family Activities in Las Vegas
Suggestions for child-friendly options including easier Strip attractions, Lake Mead boat cruises, and gentler day trips to Red Rock Canyon or Hoover Dam. Aimed at families balancing sightseeing with activities that keep younger children engaged.
3 guides
Accessible Ways to See Las Vegas
An editorial comparison of standard walking tours against lower-effort alternatives like bus tours, boat cruises and private transfers for covering the same ground. Useful for visitors with limited mobility or who prefer not to walk long distances.
2 guides
Getting To and Around Las Vegas
An editorial guide covering airport transfers from Harry Reid International, the paid monorail along the Strip's east side, and how day trips typically rely on a rental car to reach places like Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon. Useful for visitors planning how they'll move around, since there is no metro system.
3 guidesBrowse by destination
Tours and activities organised by where you're headed — the best of each city and region.
Good to know about things to do in Las Vegas
This hub arranges Las Vegas activities into more than a dozen categories, because a Strip built around casino resorts, a historic downtown, and a day-trip radius stretching to the Grand Canyon and Los Angeles don't fit under one label. 8 km long through Paradise and Winchester, where walking between hotels takes longer than the map suggests. Downtown & Fremont Street groups the older gambling district, about 7 km north of the Strip, centered on the covered Fremont Street canopy. Desert scenic drives split Red Rock Canyon, where the Scenic Drive loop needs a timed entry reservation from October to May, and Valley of Fire State Park, both under an hour from the Strip.
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead is its own category: the dam itself, about 45 minutes away and straddling the Nevada–Arizona border, and the reservoir behind it. 5 hours away inside Grand Canyon National Park. Zion Country covers Zion National Park, where a shuttle runs the canyon road from March to November, and the slot canyons around Kanab. Grand Circle groups Antelope Canyon near Page, only visitable with a Navajo guide, Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheater, and Monument Valley on the Utah–Arizona line. Los Angeles is the long day-trip category on its own.
Food & shows, family activities, day trips, transport, seasons and planning round out the rest, since a summer day over 40°C changes what's actually pleasant to do outdoors.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Las Vegas
What are the main categories on this hub?
The Strip, Downtown & Fremont Street, desert scenic drives (Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire), Hoover Dam & Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon, Zion Country, the Grand Circle, Los Angeles day trips, food & shows, family activities, transport and seasons.
Is the Fremont Street Experience suitable for a first visit?
Yes — it's a pedestrian-only covered street a short walk from most downtown hotels, with no reservations needed and no driving required once you're there.
What is Valley of Fire State Park?
A Nevada State Park of red sandstone formations, under an hour from the Strip, distinct from Red Rock Canyon, which is a separate conservation area closer to the city.
Is the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive always open?
Access needs a timed entry reservation from October through May because of high demand; outside that window it's first-come, first-served.
What's the best way to see Hoover Dam?
By rental car, about 45 minutes from the Strip — there's no public transit to the dam, which sits directly on the Nevada–Arizona border overlooking Lake Mead.
Grand Canyon West and South Rim Tours
Verified deep-linked GetYourGuide tours. Book through these links and we earn a small commission at no cost to you.
GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
