From a make-believe volcanic eruption and dancing fountains to mesmerizing stage shows and museums like no other, Las Vegas offers much more than just gambling. The city in the desert is one ball of excitement offering a myriad of things to do and see.
This is especially true if you end up on the Las Vegas Strip, a resort oasis packed with endless casinos, shops, restaurants, and adventures at every turn. Most casinos and resorts are wow-inspiring attractions in their own right: featuring contraptions, lakes, and architectural themes lifted out of the world’s beloved cities like Venice and Paris.
Sin City is, without a doubt, a great place to visit no matter the season, but if you’re in a time crunch and can’t experience ALL that Vegas has to offer, then here are the top 10 attractions in Las Vegas you must see to make the most of your visit to the Entertainment Capital of the World.
1- Fremont Street Experience
Where: Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Website: www.vegasexperience.com
There’s a good chance that you’ll get to The Strip via downtown Las Vegas and visiting the famous Fremont Street is hands down the best way to kick off your trip. It’s the second most-visited street in Sin City, just trailing the Las Vegas Strip and boasting some of the oldest casinos and hotels in the city in the desert. The Fremont Street experience encompasses an ever-busy pedestrian street stretching five blocks and a gigantic arched steel canopy soaring a dizzying 1,500 ft. (roughly 450 m) over N Las Vegas Boulevard.
The real magic happens every evening when the imposing canopy comes to life with awe-inspiring sound-and-light shows. A troupe of street musicians, artists, vendors, and street performers do their thing on the sidewalks, breathing even more charm and life to this pedestrian-only gem. Your Fremont Street experience won’t be complete without trying out the adrenaline-inducing ziplines from Slotzilla.
2- The Venetian Casino and Grand Canal
Where: 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, NV 89101
Website: www.venetian.com
Let’s face it; gambling is the main attraction of Las Vegas, which is why visiting The Venetian Casino and Grand Canal is a no-brainer. Why take a flight across the Atlantic to enjoy all that Venice has to offer when you can get a taste of it at the Venetian Hotel & Casino?
The Venetian’s majestic casino sports more than 120,000 square feet of the marble floor, featuring well over 120 gaming tables, hand-crafted ceiling frescoes, poker rooms, and so
much more. It’s an uncanny replica of its namesake city complete with Grand Canal and gondola rides. Inside, you’ll enjoy excellent dining, hospitality like no other, and game shows that include stilt walkers, singers, comedians, and other performers.
Whichever way you look at it, The Venetian has it all –gambling, fine dining, great service, and much more. While it can be pricey, most recent guests rave about its romantic vibe and holistic Vegas experience. Did we mention that its sister casino, the Palazzo, is right next door?
3- The High Roller at the LINQ
Where: 3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: www.caesars.com/linq/things-to-do/attractions/high-roller
The High Roller is undoubtedly one of the most visited amusement parks in the US and the most recognizable landmarks in the Las Vegas skyline. Its main pull is the massive High Roller Ferris Wheel measuring 520 ft. in diameter and around 550 ft. in height, so it’s the tallest freestanding observation tower you’ll probably ride in your lifetime.
Nested at the LINQ and operated by Caesars Entertainment, the High Roller Observation Wheel gives you an unprecedented bird’s eye view of the Strip and far beyond the city limits. Make sure to take a seat on the southwest side of the pod to enjoy the most amazing views and thrill rides. If you want to make the most of your visit, you can hold a private party or take a yoga class on the site.
4- The Las Vegas Strip
Where: Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: www.visitlasvegas.com
You can never call your Las Vegas experience complete without visiting The Strip. It’s a stretch of around three miles, running along Las Vegas Boulevard through the city from southwest to the northeast. It’s what most people picture when they talk about Las Vegas, as it features themed buildings, stage performances, luxury resorts,the famous night clubs of Vegas and world-famous restaurants, just to name a few.
The Strip is one of the most recognized streets and famous attractions in the world – and with good reason. It’s home to the biggest chunk of glitzy casinos, hotels, resorts, and attractions that Las Vegas is known for. This ever-bustling boulevard attracts throngs of locals and visitors alike, which makes it an ideal place to visit on your own, with a group of friends, with your family, with colleagues, or whatnot.
5- Mandalay Bay
Where: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, NV 89109
Website: www.mandalaybay.com
Mandalay Bay is a top-choice hotel, casino, and entertainment property in Las Vegas. Open 24 hours, 365 days a year, this glittering gold attraction is tucked to the south end of the Strip. It’s the first thing that most people see as they enter Las Vegas, making it the perfect place to visit first.
The first thing that’ll catch your eyes the moment you set your foot on the resort is the Bay Beach, a wave pool holding more than 1.6 million gallons of water and occupying around 11 acres. It can waft waves of up to 6 feet high, plus the facility includes Moorea Beach Club for adults only and a lazy river for the little ones.
Mandalay Bay Hotel is also a cuisine haven, giving guests access to more than 27 restaurants. And best of all? Most of these restaurants are celebrity chef driven. Whether you fancy Mexican dishes, steak, or anything in between, you can get a sumptuous meal at this location.
Some of the most exciting things to see and do at Mandalay Bay include:
– Shark Reef Aquarium
The walk-through Shark Reef Aquarium is a favorite for marine lovers, as well as kids and adults alike. It houses more than 2,000 marine species, including sharks, piranhas, stingrays, eels, and jellyfish. How about laying your eyes on the world’s only existing golden crocodiles?
– Casino
If you’re out to try your luck at the tables, you’re in for a special treat at the resort. It features more than 135,000 square feet of gaming floor, with well over 1,200 slot machines and many gaming tables for roulette, blackjack, poker, craps, and baccarat.
– Catch a Show (Cirque du Soleil)
The resort hosts a variety of shows, including those of the famous Cirque du Soleil, such as Michael Jackson ONE.
6- The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas
Where: 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas
Another popular Vegas attraction brought to you courtesy of Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas is unmissable. It’s a somewhat kitschy mini replica of the namesake French city, Paris. It’s one of the most beloved spots on the Strip and offers an enchanting trip down the iconic French city. You’ll come across the recreation of the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe.
The real highlight of your visit is, of course, the half-size recreation of the Parisian grand jewel, the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower Experience at Caesars Palace features the replica of
the exterior décor of the famous Paris Opera, Hotel de Ville, and more. You’ll be able to ride the glass elevator to the observation deck for breath taking vistas of the Strip, desert mountains, and the valley.
There’s a lot to enjoy in Paris Las Vegas, as well. These include the casino where you can play keno, table games, slots, and horse racing. It also includes a roster of crowd-pulling shows, French-themed bars, Paris Hotel, restaurants, and swanky shopping spots. Don’t forget to enjoy a meal at a romantic Eiffel Tower restaurant.
7- Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden
Where: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: www.bellagio.com/conservatory-botanical-garden
Bellagio conservatory & Botanical Garden. And it’s easy to see why tourists flock to this spot – it’s perhaps one of the most spectacular botanical gardens in Las Vegas. It changes every season because the conservatory is designed and cared for by more than 100 gardeners.
Together with the dancing fountain in front of the building, the conservatory & botanical garden make the Bellagio Casino a spot worth adding to your must-visit list. It showcases an enchanting collection of floral arrangements. At the back, you’ll find classic paintings replicated with flowers and buds rather than oil paints.
8- The Mob Museum
Where: 300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Website: www.themobmuseum.org
The fact that organized crime had an immense influence on Sin City’s history is no secret. The Mob Museum tells the tale of how mobsters and organized crime influenced not only Vegas but the rest of the country. It’s technically known as the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement and opened in February 2012.
The Mob Museum’s exhibits recount the mafia’s history in the US and display mob-related artifacts and practical equipment used by the FBI to foil their organizations. With a small fee, you’ll get access to a speak-easy tour, a crime lab, and a firearm (Tommy gun) training simulator. Its centerpiece is the bloodstained wall resulting from the horrendous St Valentine’s Day Massacre.
If you ever wanted to learn or experience the mystic and myth of America’s most revered mobsters, from Al Capone to Bugsy Siegel, this is one attraction you don’t want to miss.
9- Hoover Dam
Where: Nevada 89005
Website: www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam
Although it’s physically outside of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is the lifeblood of the city. In fact, if the Strip put Sin City on the map, this mega-dam made it sustainable. Turns out, the Hoover Dam is one of the biggest attractions and a must-visit for people visiting Las Vegas. If you are willing to splurge on your trip, you take a helicopter ride that will take you over the city, Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam.
You can also explore both the power plant and the dam itself through various bus tours that take off from downtown or the Strip. The visually appealing dam is not only quite a spectacular sight but also provides power and water to three major states.
10- Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage
Where: 3400 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: www.themirage.com
Let’s get one thing right first: the Mirage Hotel & Casino is an attraction in and of itself. However, the real gems are tucked away from the rowdy gaming rooms. For one, a fascinating erupting volcano sits in front of the resort, showcasing eruptions at regular intervals. The nightly explosions and glowing fiery fires shooting out of the volcano’s mouth are certainly the most exciting part of visiting the Mirage.
The world’s famous Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is located inside the resort. It’s been around for more than three decades and plays host to majestic animals, including lions, panthers, white tigers, dolphins, and other exotic species. For a small extra fee, you can practice yoga, swim, or paint with the animals.
There you go – the 10 best Las Vegas attractions. Note that these only scratch the surface of what Vegas has to offer. Other visit-worthy attractions include the Stratosphere Tower, Mystère, Pinball Hall of Fame, The Welcome to Las Vegas sign, Grand Canyon, Chapel of the Flowers, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New York-New York, and Bellagio Fountain Show.
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