The best things to do in Las Vegas are the ones that fit your time, your season and your tolerance for crowds. For most first-timers, that means the Bellagio fountains at night, one big show, Fremont Street Downtown, and a day out at Red Rock Canyon or Hoover Dam. Couples and adults lean toward shows, museums and high views. Families do well with the High Roller, AREA15 and the desert. If you only have a day or two, a private guided tour of the Strip and Downtown covers the most ground with the least stress.
The hard part is the number of options. The Strip is about four miles long, summer afternoons often top 100°F, and an itinerary built around casinos burns money and energy fast. Many visitors arrive with a copied list of landmarks and no sense of how far apart they are or which ones deserve a full hour.
Another Side Tours has run guided tours in Las Vegas since 2007, and these ten picks reflect that experience. Each one tells you what it is, what it costs, how long to allow and who it suits. Nearly all of them work for travelers who never touch a slot machine.
1. Take a private guided tour of the Strip and Downtown
Why it is worth doing
A private guided tour is the fastest way to understand how Las Vegas fits together, which is why it opens this list. The Strip and Downtown sit several miles apart and feel like different cities. A guide explains who built what, why the resorts look the way they do, and which stops deserve your limited time. Another Side Tours runs these in a climate-controlled luxury van, which matters when summer heat makes walking between resorts miserable.
The route is the other draw. The Famous Las Vegas Tour starts at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign and finishes Downtown, so you get the classic photo stops, the neon history and the Fremont Street area in one loop. You skip the guesswork about parking, ride-share pickups and timing. For a half day, that does the work of several separate trips.
A guide turns four miles of hotels into a story you can follow.
Cost, timing and who it suits
Three private options cover the Strip and Downtown. Each has a two-guest minimum, and any group size can be accommodated.
| Tour | Length | Price per guest | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Famous Las Vegas Tour | About 2 hours | $169 | Strip and Downtown, starting at the Welcome sign |
| The Las Vegas Tour | About 3 hours | $199 | Strip and Downtown with history and architecture |
| The Private Las Vegas Highlights Tour | About 5 hours | $349 | Strip, Downtown and Red Rock Canyon |
A couple on The Las Vegas Tour pays 2 x $199 = $398. A family of four on the five-hour Highlights Tour saves $50 per guest as a party of three or more, so they pay 4 x $299 = $1,196. This tour suits first-timers with limited time, multigenerational families and anyone who dislikes planning. Note that there are no cancellations or refunds within seven days of your tour date. Online reservations are open 24/7.
2. Watch the Bellagio fountains at night
Why it is worth doing
The Fountains of Bellagio are the best free thing to do in Las Vegas. About 1,214 jets send water up to 460 feet in the air, choreographed to music that ranges from show tunes to opera. Go after dark, when the lights on the water and the lit hotel facades behind it do most of the work.
Crowds pack the sidewalk on Las Vegas Boulevard, especially on weekend evenings. You have better choices. A fountain-view table on a Bellagio restaurant terrace gives you a seat and the full show, though it costs a dinner. The observation deck of the half-scale Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas also looks straight down on the fountains, and it is far quieter than the pavement.
The best spot for the fountains is rarely the sidewalk.
Cost, timing and who it suits
Once you have picked a vantage point, the logistics are simple.
- Cost: Free to watch from the sidewalk.
- Show times: Afternoons through midnight, starting earlier on weekends and running more often after dark. Confirm on the Bellagio site before you go.
- Time needed: Each show lasts a few minutes. Allow 45 minutes if you add the free Conservatory and Botanical Garden inside the hotel, which changes its displays with the seasons.
- Best for: Everyone, including budget travelers, couples and families with small children.
- Tip: Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early if you want a front-row spot on the sidewalk.
3. Walk the Strip at night and tour the themed resorts
Why it is worth doing
Walking the Strip after dark is the Las Vegas experience most first-timers remember. Neon, traffic and crowds create a scene you cannot find anywhere else, and the evening air is far kinder than the afternoon sun. Focus on the central stretch, where Bellagio, Paris, Caesars Palace and the Venetian sit within a few blocks. It is one of the best things to do on the Las Vegas Strip, and it costs nothing.
The resorts are attractions in their own right, and all are free to walk through. Luxor is a pyramid, Excalibur is a castle, and Paris has its half-scale Eiffel Tower. The Venetian recreates canals inside the Grand Canal Shoppes, and gondola rides are a paid extra. Check the current price on the resort’s site. Fancy casino floors double as people-watching, and you do not need to place a bet to enjoy them.
The Strip rewards slow walking, not a checklist.
Cost, timing and who it suits
Distances look shorter than they are, so plan your route before you set out.
- Cost: Free, apart from drinks, shopping and optional rides.
- Time needed: Two to three hours for the central stretch with stops. Walking the full length takes much longer.
- Best for: First-timers, couples and photographers.
- Tip: The Deuce bus runs the length of the Strip if your feet give out. A restaurant patio overlooking the sidewalk makes a good rest stop.
- Heat: From June through September, do this after sunset. Daytime walks are tough.
4. See one big show, such as Cirque du Soleil’s O
Why it is worth doing
Pick one big show and book it, because that is how most visitors do Las Vegas entertainment well. Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio has run since 1998 and is the standard recommendation. It is built around a pool of about 1.5 million gallons, with swimmers, divers and aerialists performing above and in the water. The stage changes between land and water so smoothly that first-timers often miss the transitions.
Other strong choices include magic shows, comedy clubs and concert residencies. The Sphere opened in 2023 and hosts concerts and immersive films. The Strat has a comedy club, which makes a cheaper night out than a Cirque ticket. Whatever you choose, book ahead for weekends and holiday periods, because the best seats go first.
If you only buy one ticket in Las Vegas, make it a show.
Cost, timing and who it suits
Prices for headline shows move with demand, so treat these figures as a guide.
- Cost: Expect roughly $150 to $200 for entry-level seats to a Cirque show, and more for the best seats. Comedy shows usually cost far less.
- Time needed: About 90 minutes for most shows, plus time to arrive and find your seat.
- Best for: Couples, adults and anyone who wants one splurge night.
- Families: Check age limits for each show before you buy.
- Tip: Book directly through the venue or an official seller, and compare dates, since prices vary by night.
5. Explore the Fremont Street Experience and SlotZilla
Why it is worth doing
Downtown Las Vegas is the older, louder and cheaper side of the city, and Fremont Street is its heart. The Fremont Street Experience is a five-block pedestrian mall covered by an LED canopy that runs free light and music shows overhead. Buskers, bars and casino entrances line the walk. It feels grittier than the Strip, and many visitors find drinks and food cost less here.
SlotZilla adds the thrill. A lower zip line takes you seated partway down the street, and the higher Zoomline sends you flying Superman-style under the canopy. Recent listings show roughly $45 for the zip line and $65 for the Zoomline. A maximum rider weight of 300 pounds applies. Come after dark for the full effect of the canopy lights.
Fremont Street shows you the Las Vegas that the Strip polished away.
Cost, timing and who it suits
You can do Downtown on a modest budget, and it pairs well with the next pick.
- Cost: Free to walk and watch the shows. SlotZilla is extra, and drinks and food run lower than on the Strip.
- Time needed: Two to three hours, longer if you stop for dinner.
- Best for: Thrill seekers, music lovers and travelers on a budget.
- Getting there: Take a ride-share or the Deuce bus from the Strip, or ride along on a Downtown tour.
- Tip: Crowds thin on weeknights, and the canopy shows run through the evening.
6. Visit the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum
Why it is worth doing
Las Vegas has strong museums, and two of the best sit Downtown. The Mob Museum, officially the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, occupies a former federal courthouse. Senate crime hearings were held there in 1950 and 1951. The exhibits are interactive and cover Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel and the law enforcement response. There is also a basement speakeasy and distillery called The Underground.
The Neon Museum is an outdoor collection of more than 200 retired Las Vegas signs. These glowing relics tell the real history of the city better than any lobby does. Guided evening tours show the signs lit up, which is when the visit is at its best. Tickets for both sell in timed slots, so reserve ahead in busy seasons.
The museums are where Las Vegas explains itself.
Cost, timing and who it suits
Both are easy to fit into a Downtown day alongside Fremont Street.
- Cost: Adult Neon Museum tickets start around $25 at recent listings. Check current Mob Museum prices on its site.
- Time needed: Plan two to three hours at the Mob Museum and about an hour for the Neon Museum.
- Best for: History buffs, couples and photographers.
- Heat tip: The Mob Museum is indoors, so it makes a good midday escape in summer. Save the outdoor Neon Museum for evening.
- Address: The Mob Museum is at 300 Stewart Avenue.
7. Hike or drive Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire
Why it is worth doing
Two desert parks give the best break from the Strip. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area sits about 17 miles west of the Strip, a drive of roughly 30 minutes. Its 13-mile scenic loop passes burnt-orange sandstone cliffs, with viewpoints and trailheads along the way. Go early, because the light is better and the lots fill up. Calico Tanks and Ice Box Canyon are popular hikes.
Valley of Fire State Park lies a little over an hour from the Strip. Its red Aztec sandstone, the Fire Wave, Elephant Rock, the Beehives and the petroglyphs make it more dramatic, and photographers prefer it. In summer, start at sunrise or skip both. The heat is serious, and you need to carry plenty of water.
Spend one morning in the desert and the whole trip feels bigger.
Cost, timing and who it suits
| Red Rock Canyon | Valley of Fire | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive from the Strip | About 30 minutes | A little over 1 hour |
| Time to allow | Half a day | 4 to 6 hours |
| Best for | Easy scenery and short hikes | Photography and bigger views |
| Entry | Per-vehicle fee, around $20 recently | Per-vehicle fee |
Red Rock requires a timed-entry reservation for the scenic drive during its busy season, roughly October through May, so book through the official site. Another Side Tours runs The Ultimate Red Rock Tour at $249 per guest for about four hours, stopping at the Visitor’s Center, Wilson Cliffs, Calico Hills and Red Rock Overlook. It also offers a private Valley of Fire tour of about six hours. Both suit hikers, photographers and anyone who wants a driver.
8. Take a day trip to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
Why it is worth doing
Hoover Dam is the classic day trip from Las Vegas, and it is easy. It sits about 35 miles from the Strip, a drive of roughly 45 minutes. Built between 1931 and 1936, it holds back Lake Mead on the Colorado River, and the scale is far more impressive in person than in photos. You can walk across the dam and see it from the Memorial Bridge, an elevated, front-on view.
The official guided tours go inside, and many visitors wish they had booked one. A dam tour or power plant tour explains how the generators work and how the project was built. Parking on the Nevada side costs around $10 in a garage, while the Arizona side is often free. A guide handles all of this, along with the history. Another Side Tours runs private Hoover Dam tours, including combinations with Red Rock and Valley of Fire.
Hoover Dam is the easiest big sight within an hour of the Strip.
Cost, timing and who it suits
Costs vary by how you go.
- Cost: Parking and official tour fees at the dam, or a private guided tour. Another Side Tours’ natural attractions tours run $249 to $399 and last 3 to 5 hours.
- Time needed: Three to five hours, or most of a day if you combine it with another stop.
- Best for: Families, history and engineering fans, and visitors without a car.
- Combine it with: Seven Magic Mountains, Boulder City or Red Rock Canyon.
- Tip: See the Bureau of Reclamation’s tour page for current official tour options.
9. See the city from above: High Roller or helicopter
Why it is worth doing
Las Vegas looks best from above, where the grid of lights stretches into the desert. The High Roller at the LINQ is an observation wheel standing 550 feet tall, with 28 glass cabins and a rotation of about 30 minutes. It is the easiest high view on the Strip. The Strat’s SkyPod offers another, with indoor and outdoor decks and thrill rides on top of a 1,149-foot tower.
For a premium view, take a helicopter. Another Side Tours offers the Vegas Views Helicopter Tour, a semi-private ECO-Star flight over the Strip lasting about 12 to 15 minutes, at $149 per guest. It meets at 6075 S. Las Vegas Blvd. There is also The Private High Roller Tour, a private pod for six guests that can be booked for up to 35.
A 30-minute ride tells you more about the Strip’s size than a day of walking.
Cost, timing and who it suits
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Roller, public cabin | About 30 minutes | Around $30 and up, daytime | Couples and families |
| Strat SkyPod | About an hour with the deck | Around $30 and up | Thrill seekers |
| Vegas Views Helicopter Tour | 12 to 15 minutes | $149 per guest | Special occasions |
| Private High Roller pod | About 30 minutes | $400 for 6 guests | Groups and celebrations |
Six guests in the private pod pay about $67 each. A couple on the helicopter pays 2 x $149 = $298. Go at sunset to see daylight and city lights in one ride. Public ticket prices change often, so check the venue’s site first.
10. Lose an afternoon at AREA15 and Omega Mart
Why it is worth doing
AREA15 is an entertainment complex a short ride west of the Strip, built around immersive art and unusual attractions. Its centerpiece is Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, which looks like a surreal supermarket until you find the secret portals. Behind them is a walk-through art installation with a story to unravel, part gallery, part funhouse, part puzzle. Allow at least 90 minutes, longer if you like to follow the narrative.
General admission to AREA15 itself is free, while individual experiences are ticketed. Adult tickets to Omega Mart start around $59 at recent listings. For traveling families, the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is another good option, with more than 2,000 animals and a tunnel beneath the main shark tank. Both beat a casino floor with kids in tow.
AREA15 is proof that Las Vegas has an imagination beyond slot machines.
Cost, timing and who it suits
This is a good choice for midday, when the heat peaks outdoors.
- Cost: Free entry to AREA15, with ticketed experiences extra. Omega Mart adults start around $59, and Shark Reef prices vary by age.
- Time needed: Two to four hours at AREA15, or about two hours at Shark Reef.
- Best for: Families, teens, couples who like quirky art and anyone who has had enough of the Strip.
- Tip: Buy tickets online ahead and arrive early in the day to avoid the crowds.
- Getting there: A ride-share from the Strip is the easiest way.
Planning your Las Vegas days
The best things to do in Las Vegas mix the famous with the unexpected. Start with the free classics, the Bellagio fountains and a night walk down the Strip. Add one big show, spend an evening Downtown, and give a full morning to the desert at Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam. Pick a high view and one quirky stop, and you have a trip that avoids both the casino floor and the checklist fatigue.
If you would rather have a local handle the details, a private Las Vegas tour with Another Side Tours covers the Strip, Downtown and the desert with a guide, a driver and a plan built around your time.
