Las Vegas

United States Updated Apr 2026

Step onto Las Vegas Boulevard at 2 a.m. and the air itself feels electric. The Strip pulses with colored light bouncing off glass towers while the desert night presses in from every side. 拉斯ベガス in United States still catches people off guard this way. Beneath the spectacle sits a city that quietly reinvented itself into something far more interesting than its reputation suggests.

Listen to the guide · 6 h 56 min Open the map

Photo: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Attractions: 18
Audio: 6 h 56 min
Trip length: 3-5 days
Best season: Fall to Spring (Oct-Apr)

Why Las Vegas

Built from cited sources · see the method · How we make our guides →

The contrasts arrive without warning. One moment you stand beneath the Sphere’s impossible skin of LEDs. Minutes later you sip coffee in the 18b Arts District while murals dry on warehouse walls. The same valley holds both 1,149-foot observation decks and 180-acre desert springs that once gave the city its name.

Locals chase late-night xiao long bao on Spring Mountain Road after their shifts. They drink at Atomic Liquors, the oldest freestanding bar in town, then drive out to Red Rock Canyon where the sandstone turns blood-red at dusk. This split personality defines the place more than any single attraction.

The real surprise isn’t the neon. It’s how quickly the city reveals its other selves once you step off the main corridor. Fremont East feels like an actual downtown. The Neon Museum’s old signs tell better stories than most casino floors. And the light in the Nevada State Museum’s atomic exhibits changes how you see everything else.

The Sphere
This 516-foot-tall exoskeleton wrapped in 1.2 million LEDs dominates the north Strip skyline. Inside, it hosts The Wizard of Oz at Sphere in 2026 and a No Doubt residency from May 6 to June 13. The scale changes how you understand spectacle in Las Vegas.
Springs Preserve
Built on the exact site that gave the city its name, this 180-acre desert preserve holds the Nevada State Museum, desert gardens, and trails. It tells the story of Las Vegas before the casinos arrived. Most visitors never see this side.
Neon Museum
The restored La Concha Motel lobby by Paul R. Williams now serves as the visitor center for a boneyard of 250+ retired casino signs. Evening visits turn the graveyard into glowing art. The history feels more honest here than on any casino floor.
18b Arts District
Murals cover former warehouses a short walk from Fremont Street. Galleries, craft breweries, and the monthly First Friday event create the city's real creative pulse. This is where locals actually go.

Places to Visit

Not every monument, just the ones we'd walk you past ourselves.

All 75 places in Las Vegas

Neighborhoods

Where to wander, by quarter — each with its own rhythm.

The Strip
Las Vegas Boulevard between Sahara and Russell remains pure spectacle. Here the Sphere glows like a sentient moon, Bellagio’s fountains reach 460 feet, and every block compresses multiple themed worlds into a single mile. Walk it at night when the light reflects off wet pavement and the scale becomes almost overwhelming.
Downtown
The area splits cleanly at the Fremont Street Experience canopy. Beneath the LED sky runs a five-block pedestrian zone with ziplines and stages. Just east lies Fremont East, smaller, louder, and far more local. Atomic Liquors anchors the corner with its 1940s bones still intact.
18b Arts District
Warehouses between Charleston and Colorado now hold galleries, breweries, and vintage shops. First Friday turns the streets into an open-air party with live music and food trucks. The murals change monthly while the light inside Vesta Coffee Roasters stays warm well past midnight.
Chinatown
Spring Mountain Road west of the Strip functions as the city’s real late-night kitchen. Chefs eat here after their shifts at Lotus of Siam or Sparrow + Wolf. The smell of garlic prawns and xiao long bao drifts past 24-hour bars like the Golden Tiki, where tiki mugs glow under blacklight.
Symphony Park
This downtown cluster holds the Smith Center’s clean modern lines, the twisted titanium of Frank Gehry’s Lou Ruvo Center, and the Discovery Children’s Museum. Even on quiet afternoons the architecture feels deliberate, a deliberate counter-statement to the themed resorts a few miles south.
Downtown Summerlin
Ten miles west of the Strip sits this polished local counterpoint. Residents walk tree-lined streets between shops and restaurants with mountain views behind them. The farmers market on Saturday mornings draws a completely different crowd than the one fighting for tables at Tacos El Gordo.
West Las Vegas
The Historic Westside tells a different origin story than the Strip. Legacy Park and the old Fifth Street School preserve layers of Black Las Vegas history that most visitors never see. The light here feels quieter, the narratives more grounded in actual civic memory.

Plan your trip

Before you go

Getting There: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) handles all commercial flights. There is no rail connection from the terminals. Use Route 109 bus to the South Strip or Centennial Express (CX) to Downtown Bonneville Transit Center. Taxis charge fixed zone fares of $21.25–$29.25 to the Strip in 2026.
Getting Around: No subway exists. The Las Vegas Monorail runs 3.9 miles with seven stations from MGM Grand to SAHARA, every 4–8 minutes. RTC Deuce buses serve the Strip while the free Downtown Loop shuttle connects Arts District, Fremont, and Symphony Park. 24-hour visitor bus pass costs $8.
Climate & Best Time: Daytime highs average 71°F in March, 104°F in July, and 81°F in October. Summer nights stay above 80°F while winter lows drop to the high 30s. March–April and October–November offer the best balance of mild temperatures and lighter crowds.
Safety: Keep valuables in front pockets and avoid street vendors selling drinks. The main risks are opportunistic theft and poor decisions after heavy drinking. Stay alert on poorly lit side streets and parking garages after midnight.

03 Top tickets in Las Vegas.

Book ahead

Curated from places in this city. Same price as official sites.

The Cromwell Las Vegas

Grand Canyon Deluxe Helicopter Tour with Landing from Las Vegas

★4.8 from €517.18

Fountains Of Bellagio

Las Vegas Helicopter Night Strip Flight Tour with Optional Dinner

★4.3 from €87.85

The Cromwell Las Vegas

Las Vegas: The Strip's Celebrity Chefs Tour or Downtown Food Tour

★4.9 from €120.87

High Roller

LINQ High Roller: Entry Ticket

★4.8 from €18.42

Las Vegas Post Office And Courthouse

Las Vegas Mob Museum Admission Ticket

★4.6 from €31.32

The Cromwell Las Vegas

Las Vegas Strip Helicopter Night Flight

★4.5 from €120.01

Prices shown are indicative — final pricing and availability are confirmed at checkout. Audiala may receive a commission from bookings made via these links.

Water, Rails, and Neon: The Making of Las Vegas

From desert springs to the spectacle that remade America

c. 9000 BCE
The Valley Holds Water
The Las Vegas Valley was wet then. Marshes and springs supported mammoths, camels, and the first human hunters. Tule Springs fossils still carry their bones. Water defined this place long before any city dreamed of existing.
c. 1100
Nuwuvi Make Their Home
The Southern Paiute, the Nuwuvi, camped beside Las Vegas Creek. They tended small gardens in the meadows the Spanish would later name. Their fires lit the same springs that still feed the city’s memory.
1829
Rafael Rivera Finds the Meadows
New Mexican scout Rafael Rivera veered off the Old Spanish Trail and stumbled on the lush springs. He named them Las Vegas — the meadows. One man’s shortcut fixed the valley on American maps forever.
1855
Mormons Build the Adobe Fort
On June 14 William Bringhurst led 29 missionaries into the valley. They raised a 150-foot-square adobe fort beside the creek and planted crops. Two years later the Utah War pulled them home. The walls still stand at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort.
1865
Helen Stewart’s Ranch Begins
Octavius Gass claimed the abandoned fort and started the Las Vegas Rancho. After Gass lost everything in 1881, Helen Stewart took over. She ran the ranch, became the first postmaster, and sold the land that created the city. Locals still call her the First Lady of Las Vegas.
1905
The Railroad Auction Births a Town
On May 15 the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad auctioned 110 acres east of the tracks. Lots sold in minutes under a blistering sun. That dusty day marks the official founding of Las Vegas. The railroad, not gold, built the city.

Show the full timeline (20 moments)

1911
Las Vegas Incorporates
168 votes to 57. That slim margin made Las Vegas an official city on June 1. The population barely topped one thousand. They had water rights, a railroad stop, and not much else.
1931
Gambling Returns
Nevada re-legalized casino gambling on March 19. The first license went to the Northern Club downtown. Within weeks divorce laws loosened too. Las Vegas discovered it could sell both sin and speed.
1935
Hoover Dam Powers the Future
On September 30 President Roosevelt dedicated the finished dam. Its turbines soon sent cheap electricity and Colorado River water to the desert town 30 miles away. Without that concrete plug, modern Las Vegas simply could not exist.
1941
El Rancho Opens the Strip
The first resort-casino on what would become the Strip opened on April 3. Its Western-style ranch theme felt modest compared to what followed. Yet El Rancho proved people would drive out into the desert for glamour.
1946
Bugsy Siegel Opens the Flamingo
On December 26 Bugsy Siegel’s pink Flamingo finally opened after massive cost overruns. It lost money at first. Siegel was murdered six months later. The mob dream of a desert casino empire had begun anyway.
1955
Moulin Rouge Agreement
After the short-lived Moulin Rouge experiment, Black leaders threatened a march down the Strip. On March 26, 1960 the casinos finally agreed to desegregate. The change came quietly but it cracked the city’s racial order.
1966
Howard Hughes Buys the Desert Inn
The reclusive billionaire moved into the top floor of the Desert Inn and refused to leave. He began buying casinos. His corporate money slowly pushed the mob out of the Strip. The city would never look back.
1969
Elvis Begins His Residency
On July 31 Elvis Presley walked onstage at the International Hotel. He would perform 636 sold-out shows in Las Vegas. The shy boy from Memphis became the sequined king of the desert. His image fused with the city forever.
1989
The Mirage Launches Megaresorts
Steve Wynn opened the $630 million Mirage on November 21. Its volcano erupted every fifteen minutes. The age of family-friendly corporate mega-resorts had arrived. Everything that came after — Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn — followed its blueprint.
1995
Fremont Street Experience Opens
A $70 million barrel-vaulted LED canopy covered five blocks of downtown. The old Glitter Gulch suddenly had a reason to exist again. Tourists discovered there was more to Las Vegas than the Strip.
2017
The Worst Mass Shooting in Modern U.S. History
On October 1 a gunman opened fire from the Mandalay Bay into the Route 91 Harvest festival crowd. Fifty-eight people died, more than 850 were injured. The city responded with grief, silence, then stubborn resilience. The Community Healing Garden still stands as quiet witness.
2020
Raiders Move to Las Vegas
The NFL’s Raiders played their first game in the brand-new Allegiant Stadium on September 13. The $2 billion domed stadium on the edge of the Strip gave the city its first major-league team. Las Vegas had finally arrived as a big-league town.
2023
Sphere Opens on the Strip
The $2.3 billion, 366-foot-tall exosphere lit up the desert sky on September 29. Its 1.2 million LED pucks can show anything from floating planets to cascading waterfalls. The building itself became the show.
2024
Super Bowl LVIII Comes to Town
On February 11 Allegiant Stadium hosted the biggest Super Bowl yet. The city that once survived on gambling and atomic tests now welcomed the world’s most-watched sporting event. The circle from desert outpost to global stage was complete.

Who lived here

Entertainer · born 1942

Wayne Newton

Longtime Las Vegas headliner

Wayne Newton first performed in Las Vegas in 1958 and never really left. For decades the Strip marquees simply called him "Mr. Las Vegas." He still lives in the valley and remains the human link between the old showroom era and whatever comes next.
Pianist and entertainer · 1919–1987

Liberace

Major Las Vegas residency star

Liberace turned the Las Vegas Hilton into his personal palace of rhinestones and grand pianos. His over-the-top residencies defined 1970s Vegas excess more completely than any casino floor. The city still feels his influence every time someone decides more is more.
Singer · 1935–1977

Elvis Presley

Transformative Las Vegas residency

Elvis revived his career with a 1969 residency at the International Hotel. He performed 837 shows in Las Vegas between 1969 and 1976. The jumpsuit era was born here under those giant chandeliers.
Gangster · 1906–1947

Bugsy Siegel

Early Strip developer

Bugsy Siegel took over construction of the Flamingo in 1946 and forced it open despite massive cost overruns. He was killed the next year but the blueprint he left turned a desert highway into the Strip we know today.
Entrepreneur · 1973–2020

Tony Hsieh

Downtown revitalization leader

As Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh moved the company downtown and poured millions into the Downtown Project. He tried to turn empty lots into a walkable creative neighborhood. Some efforts succeeded while others faded, but the Arts District still carries his fingerprints.

Where to Eat

Where locals actually book dinner — not the tourist menus.

Le Thai

Local favorite · €€ · ★ 4.7
AmeriBrunch Cafe

Quick bite · € · ★ 4.8
Vesta Coffee Roasters

Cafe · €€ · ★ 4.7
PublicUs

Quick bite · €€ · ★ 4.7
Poppy's Donuts

Quick bite · € · ★ 4.7
Baguette Cafe

Quick bite · €€ · ★ 4.9
Whole Lotta Sweets

Quick bite · €€ · ★ 5
Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse

Fine dining · €€€€ · ★ 4.6

Insider tips

Small things that change how the city treats you.

Beat the Desert Heat
Visit between October and April when daytime temperatures stay under 27°C. Summer highs regularly top 40°C and make even short walks on the Strip exhausting.
Skip the Strip for Food
Head west to Spring Mountain Road in Chinatown after 10pm. Locals and chefs eat there for xiao long bao at Shanghai Taste or Northern Thai at Lotus of Siam at half the price of celebrity restaurants.
Use Rideshares Smartly
Uber or Lyft from the Strip to Downtown or Chinatown costs $12–20 and takes 15 minutes. The monorail only serves the east side of the Strip and misses most good local spots.
Hydrate Constantly
The desert air pulls moisture from your body even indoors. Carry a water bottle and refill at hotel stations. Dehydration hits faster here than most visitors expect.
Catch the Neon Museum at Night
Book the evening tour when the restored signs glow against the dark sky. The 2.5-acre outdoor space shows classic Vegas signage from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Budget for Tipping
Plan 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and $1–2 per drink at bars. Service workers rely heavily on tips in this city. Golden Steer strictly enforces its no-sweatpants dress code.

Gallery

The city, as it actually looks.

An aerial night view of the illuminated Las Vegas Strip in United States, showcasing iconic hotel architecture, glowing skyscrapers, and vibrant city lights. — A stunning aerial perspective of the Las Vegas Strip at night, capturing the vibrant energy and iconic architecture of the famous resort corridor in United States.

The iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in United States, featuring the famous neon lettering, a star topper, and palm trees against a clear blue sky. — The world-famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign stands as an iconic landmark in United States, framed by desert palm trees.

Night view of Las Vegas, United States, featuring the Venetian's bell tower, the Mirage hotel, and illuminated canals with gondolas. — A stunning nighttime view of the iconic Las Vegas, United States skyline, highlighting the Venetian's canal and the illuminated Mirage hotel.

Night view of the iconic neon-lit Las Vegas Strip in United States, featuring the Stardust, Riviera, and La Concha hotel signs glowing in the dark. — A nostalgic night scene on the Las Vegas Strip in United States, showcasing the vibrant neon architecture of legendary hotels like the Stardust and Riviera.

The iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in United States, featuring its classic neon lettering, star topper, and surrounding palm trees under a clear blue sky. — The world-famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign stands as a historic landmark under the bright Nevada sun.

Las Vegas (Las Vegas), United States, featuring the iconic Bellagio hotel architecture, fountains, and clear blue sky on a sunny day. — The iconic Bellagio hotel and its famous fountains stand under a brilliant blue sky in the heart of Las Vegas, United States.

Aerial view of the Las Vegas skyline in United States at sunset, featuring the Bellagio fountains, Eiffel Tower replica, and illuminated hotel architecture. — A breathtaking aerial view of the iconic Las Vegas Strip in United States, captured during the golden hour as city lights begin to glow.

Frequently asked

Is Las Vegas worth visiting?

Yes if you want to see the contrast between spectacle and real local life. The Strip delivers massive production values and architecture that changes every few blocks. Spend two days there, then head to the 18b Arts District, Chinatown, or Red Rock Canyon to meet the version of the city that locals actually use.

How many days do you need in Las Vegas?

Three to five days works for most people. Two days covers the Strip, Sphere, and a couple of shows. Add a third day for Downtown, the Neon Museum, and Chinatown. Four or five days lets you reach Red Rock Canyon or Springs Preserve without rushing.

Is Las Vegas safe for tourists?

The Strip and Downtown Fremont Street Experience are heavily policed and safe at all hours. Use normal big-city awareness after dark in less crowded areas. The biggest risks are dehydration, overdrinking, and pickpockets in crowds, not violent crime.

When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?

October through April offers pleasant 20–27°C days. Avoid June to September when temperatures regularly exceed 38°C. Major events like the No Doubt residency at Sphere run May 6 to June 13 2026.

Should I stay on the Strip or Downtown?

Stay on the Strip if you want easy access to shows, big casinos, and spectacle. Choose Downtown for cheaper rooms, walkable nightlife on Fremont East, and quicker access to the Arts District and local restaurants. The two areas sit 6km apart.

All Places to Visit.

75 places to discover

Place

Fountains of Bellagio

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Caesars Palace

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Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

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Las Vegas Strip

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High Roller

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Pinball Hall of Fame

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Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

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Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

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Springs Preserve

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Plaza Hotel & Casino

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Neon Museum

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Mob Museum

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Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

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Marjorie Barrick Museum

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Las Vegas Natural History Museum

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Veer Towers

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Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

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Huntridge Theatre

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The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

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Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden

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Sam'S Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas

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Las Vegas Art Museum

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Imperial Palace

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Clark County Wetlands Park

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Las Vegas Little Theater

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Sunset Park

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The Strat Hotel, Casino & Skypod

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Sam Boyd Stadium

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Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino

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Aria Resort and Casino

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The Linq

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Encore

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Cashman Field

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New Frontier Hotel and Casino

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Citycenter

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Old Las Vegas Fort State Historical Park

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Fremont Street

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Binion'S Horseshoe

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Fremont Hotel and Casino

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South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

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El Cortez

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California Hotel and Casino

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Marriott'S Grand Chateau

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Silver Slipper

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Las Vegas Premium Outlets North

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The Mint Las Vegas

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Underground House Las Vegas

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Pioneer Club Las Vegas

Showing 1–48 of 75 places

Photo credits (12)

Downtown Las Vegas from Stratosphere 3 — Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) — Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Downtown_Las_Vegas_from_Stratosphere_3.jpg
Pixabay — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/161772/
Diego Ferrari — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35895730/
David Vives — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/2837909/
Malcolm Hill — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/12238998/
Abhishek Navlakha — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/33443698/
Yannick — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/19023575/
Stephen Leonardi — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/35120571/
Kio — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/1092257/
David Vives — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/5447716/
Snapwire — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/165799/
Abhishek Navlakha — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/33533266/

Photos may have been resized or cropped.

Why Las Vegas

The Sphere

Springs Preserve

Neon Museum

18b Arts District

Places to Visit

Neighborhoods

The Strip

Downtown

18b Arts District

Chinatown

Symphony Park

Downtown Summerlin

West Las Vegas

Plan your trip

03 Top tickets in Las Vegas.

Water, Rails, and Neon: The Making of Las Vegas

The Valley Holds Water

Nuwuvi Make Their Home

Rafael Rivera Finds the Meadows

Mormons Build the Adobe Fort

Helen Stewart’s Ranch Begins

The Railroad Auction Births a Town

Las Vegas Incorporates

Gambling Returns

Hoover Dam Powers the Future

El Rancho Opens the Strip

Bugsy Siegel Opens the Flamingo

Moulin Rouge Agreement

Howard Hughes Buys the Desert Inn

Elvis Begins His Residency

The Mirage Launches Megaresorts

Fremont Street Experience Opens

The Worst Mass Shooting in Modern U.S. History

Raiders Move to Las Vegas

Sphere Opens on the Strip

Super Bowl LVIII Comes to Town

Who lived here

Wayne Newton

Liberace

Elvis Presley

Bugsy Siegel

Tony Hsieh

Where to Eat

Insider tips

Beat the Desert Heat

Skip the Strip for Food

Use Rideshares Smartly

Hydrate Constantly

Catch the Neon Museum at Night

Budget for Tipping

Gallery

Frequently asked

All Places to Visit.

Fountains of Bellagio

Caesars Palace

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

Las Vegas Strip

High Roller

Pinball Hall of Fame

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Springs Preserve

Plaza Hotel & Casino

Neon Museum

Mob Museum

Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

Marjorie Barrick Museum

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Veer Towers

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

Huntridge Theatre

The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden

Sam'S Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas

Las Vegas Art Museum

Imperial Palace

Clark County Wetlands Park

Las Vegas Little Theater

Sunset Park