Las Vegas attractions

The 550-foot (168-meter) rotating observation wheel at the heart of The LINQ in Las Vegas is far from your normal Ferris wheel. Climb aboard the glass-enclosed pods—home to music and video displays, as well as thousands of LED lights—and admire the view from one of the world’s largest observation wheels as it completes a full 30-minute rotation.

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s oldest state park, covers around 40,000 acres (16,190 hectares) of red rock formations, sandstone cliffs, and dramatic canyons. Big draws include the ancient petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock and its hiking trails, which wind past the colorful sandstone landscape that gives the park its name. In addition to being one of the most popular hiking destinations near Las Vegas, the Valley of Fire also attracts picnickers, campers, and photographers.

Downtown Container Park is an open-air shopping and entertainment destination made from stacked shipping containers. Here, visitors can explore a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options—including boutiques, bars, a kids’ playground, a stage for live music, and even a dance studio. However, one of its most memorable and photoworthy attractions is a giant flame-throwing praying mantis sculpture that speaks 20 different languages.

The Venetian® Resort on the Las Vegas Strip recreates the romantic experience of a gondola ride down the Grand Canal of Venice, Italy. Travelers can glide down the replica canals under graceful bridges, passing striking architectural structures as well as the hotel’s Grand Canal Shoppes in the duplicated Venetian streetscape.

Lined with cobblestone walkways and wrought-iron street lamps, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino offers a taste of the French capital on the Las Vegas Strip. Enjoy Parisian-style shopping and cafés, a Montgolfier-style hot-air balloon, a mini version of the Arc de Triomphe—and of course, a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower. The massive hotel and casino is also home to a variety of restaurants, clubs, and a spa.

Centrally located on the Las Vegas Strip, the LINQ Hotel & Casino provides all the requisite offerings—shows, bars, restaurants, shops, and even a comedy club—but what sets it apart are the Fly LINQ zipline and the High Roller, a 550-foot-high (168-meter) observation wheel that opened as the world’s largest in 2014, offering on-board happy hour, yoga, and more.

Despite being one of the driest, hottest, and lowest places in the United States, Death Valley National Park—on the border of California and Nevada—is not as ominous as it sounds. Comprising otherworldly landscapes, from volcanic hills and snowcapped mountains to dunes and badlands, the area is also home to plenty of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and jackrabbits. The park also protects the largest wilderness area in the contiguous US, which measures over 3,190,400 acres (1,291,100 hectares).

Bryce Canyon National Park is an active traveler’s playground, featuring the red rock canyons and rugged horizon-stretching vistas that make Utah famous. Among its otherworldly geological formations are pinnacles, spires, and eroded-rock formations—called hoodoos—that reveal layers of red, orange, and white. Park highlights include the hoodoo-filled Bryce Amphitheater and the Rim Trail, which offers spectacular views.

A shark-filled aquarium and 11 acres (4.5 hectares)of pools are just the beginning at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, a landmark on the Las Vegas Strip with a luxurious reputation. Entertainment here doesn’t stop at the water’s edge. Between the huge Michelob ULTRA Arena and the smaller House of Blues Music Hall, the Mandalay also hosts shows that range from major headliner musicians to circus and nostalgic favorites.

Channeling Hollywood glitz on the Las Vegas Strip, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino draws a high-energy crowd—and it often has big-name shows to match. This is a favorite among travelers for nightlife of all kinds, from gaming to music, magic, and adults-only burlesque. It’s also home to the sprawling Miracle Mile Shops, where brand-name and boutique shops abut art galleries, dining, and venues for live shows.

The Venetian Resort offers a nod to Italy’s “Floating City” in the middle of Las Vegas, with its hand-painted frescoes and Renaissance-inspired architecture, including recreations of Venice’s Campanile Tower and St. Mark’s Square. What really sets it apart from other resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, though, is its gondola ride—where a singing gondolier ferries you past luxury boutiques, cafés, and restaurants along the indoor Grand Canal.

Big-name and boutique shops stretch for more than 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers) at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, which is among the biggest shopping malls in Las Vegas. It’s got your shopping needs covered, naturally—you can find everything from art to apparel to fine jewelry here. But there’s also dining, bars, and entertainment, including live shows at three major venues.

Located just outside Las Vegas, inside the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Fortification Hill attracts serious hikers looking to conquer the 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) trail to the top, where they’re rewarded with panoramic views of the lake and the Hoover Dam. The mesa was formed millions of years ago by volcanic magma and basalt. The top has since eroded to reveal its light-colored granitic core.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is more than just a waxwork museum; it’s an attraction that allows you to get up close and personal with its figures of celebrities across a variety of fun settings. Housed within The Venetian resort, here, you can watch a movie featuring Marvel superheroes in the 4D theater, grab a drink in a rooftop bar inspired by The Hangover, and, of course, take photos with your favorite stars, whether it’s Taylor Swift, Rihanna, or Beyoncé.

Dancing fountains draw strolling crowds to Bellagio Las Vegas, which is among the most glittering landmarks on the Las Vegas Strip. There’s more behind the fountains than an upscale casino and hotel. The Bellagio is also home to big-name shows, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, two pools with cabana rentals, and an indoor botanical garden transformed by seasonal displays and special events.

Multimedia and interactive exhibits at this museum tell the story of organized crime in the United States—and especially in Las Vegas, whose earliest development is tied to mob activity. The museum itself is located within a former courthouse, so visitors get a firsthand look at the very rooms where criminals and federal investigators once clashed. There’s even an on-site distillery and speakeasy-style bar that hosts weekly live music.

Among the most recognizable landmarks in the city, Luxor Las Vegas channels ancient Egypt on the exterior—with a pyramid-top spotlight that illuminates the night. Beyond the glass pyramid lies a complex of accommodations, entertainment, dining, and one of the city’s most expansive pool decks. Shows here range from family-friendly comedy to adults-only burlesque, while museum-style exhibitions showcase fascinating artifacts and history.

Fashioned like a medieval fairy tale, the castle-inspired facade of the Excalibur Hotel & Casino is an instantly recognizable landmark along the Las Vegas Strip. Named after the fabled sword of King Arthur, the long-established resort features an almost 4,000-room hotel, a huge casino with all the most popular slot machines and table games, kid-friendly activities, and some of Vegas’ longest-running shows.

The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop gained fans worldwide after being featured on the hit TV show, Pawn Stars. Join the many visitors who flock to the shop in hopes of spotting cast members while browsing the eclectic mix of items. The shop is packed with curiosities—from antiques and vintage toys to historical firearms, jewelry, and rare fossils—making every visit a surprise when it comes to what you might find.

Located at the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Adventuredome is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the country. Spanning 5 acres (2 hectares), it features more than 25 rides and attractions, including a corkscrew roller coaster, bumper cars, a pirate ship, and a 4-D theater. There are plenty of family-friendly options, including junior rides for smaller visitors, making this an all-ages favorite with something for just about everyone.

Over-the-top Vegas entertainment is truly larger than life at MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. With nearly 7,000 rooms—as well as a vast pool complex, shows, and attractions—it’s the third-largest hotel complex in the world. It’s a serious dining destination, too, with options ranging from Michelin-starred French cuisine at Joël Robuchon to a sprawling breakfast buffet that hosts a beloved mimosa brunch.

The Eiffel Tower, a monumental half-scale replica of the French icon connected to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on the Strip, offers views of glowing neon signs and the dancing fountains of the Bellagio from its 46th-floor observation deck. The attraction also has a restaurant on its 11th floor and a light show that takes place every 30 minutes from sunset until 12am.

Many of the neon signs that once branded historic Las Vegas buildings have ended up here in the Neon Museum, also known as the Neon Boneyard. The museum has 250 discarded signs on display—including those from the Stardust, Moulin Rouge, Desert Inn, Aladdin, and Flamingo—memorializing Las Vegas’ history and culture while also preserving an art form for which Las Vegas is famous.

The New York-New York Hotel & Casino is one of the most recognizable structures on the Las Vegas Strip. Visitors can see downsized replicas of iconic Manhattan landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. Inside, the Big Apple theme continues with replicas of Greenwich Village and Times Square, as well as New York–themed eateries, a roller coaster, entertainment spaces, bars, and slot machines.

Glittering stars of comedy, music, burlesque, and magic draw crowds to these performance spaces on Las Vegas Boulevard. It’s a sister theater to the Saxe Theater, which is located a short distance away within the Miracle Mile Shops. Together, they are where old-school Las Vegas glamour—think showgirls decked in sequins and feather headdresses—meet innovative offerings such as pole-dancing workshops and mind-reading.

One of Las Vegas’ original hotels—and still as popular as ever—Flamingo Las Vegas brings together classic Vegas glamour with modern amenities in an art deco–style building along the neon-lit Strip. Highlights include a vast casino floor, more than a dozen restaurants and bars, oasis-style pools for families and adults, a wildlife center, and a wide range of shows and entertainment each evening.

The driest desert in North America, the Mojave is home to Death Valley National Park and Badwater Basin, the lowest point on the continent—282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. The Mojave’s 31,000 square miles (81,000 square kilometers) also encompass Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Mojave National Preserve, and more. The region attracts all kinds of visitors, from outdoorsy travelers interested in hiking and camping to rock climbers, road-trippers, and beyond.

Binion’s Gambling Hall, opened in 1951, is one of the oldest and most notable casinos in the city. It blends classic Vegas charm—think vintage poker rooms and neon‑lit signage—with modern gaming and multiple bars and restaurants. If you want a feel for the city’s past, with plenty of slots and table games to keep things lively, head to this Fremont Street landmark.

Treasure Island used to be famous for greeting guests with its swashbuckling pirate show. Today, the model pirate ships and dancing buccaneers have long gone, but the long-running hotel—now rebranded as TI—still offers many of its original features, including the palm-lined pool, the Wild West-themed Gilley’s Saloon, a huge casino floor, and the popular Mystère™, the original Cirque du Soleil® show.

If you’re into American cars, it doesn’t get much better than Las Vegas’ Shelby Heritage Center, the brainchild of race car driver Carroll Shelby. Shelby American is behind the AC Cobra and has churned out premier performance versions of Ford Mustangs and other cars. At this Las Vegas museum, fans can check out 25 of the company’s cars or take a tour for a more in-depth experience.