Must-See Sights & Top Attractions in Las Vegas
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Las Vegas
Since the first casino in the city was built in 1905, Las Vegas has continued to expand and evolve into the world's most epic tourist destination. Nearly every year, a major new attraction finds its home along the iconic Las Vegas Strip, and every year over 40 million visitors from around the world make the journey to visit the legendary casinos and brand-new attractions.
You could spend a month in Las Vegas and still not see everything that this city has to offer. If you're planning a Las Vegas vacation, you might already be trying to plan an itinerary of places to visit and activities to prioritize. Our guide lists the top must-see locations within the Strip, our picks for activities that can't be missed, and even day trip opportunities located just outside of Las Vegas.
Best Las Vegas Activities
Experience a Las Vegas Strip Helicopter Tour
Think the Las Vegas Strip is breathtaking from the ground? They're even more spectacular when seen from above on a Las Vegas helicopter tour! You'll see the Luxor pyramid, Allegiant Stadium, T-Mobile Arena, the Eiffel Tower at Paris, the Bellagio Fountains, the High Roller Observation Wheel, and the newly constructed MSG Sphere. The helicopter will even pass the STRAT Tower and fly over historic Downtown Las Vegas before turning around and flying the same flight path in reverse.
For an even more memorable experience, you can book your Las Vegas helicopter tour at night, when the neon lights and signs are at their brightest. You'll even fly past the Luxor space beam!
Ride the High Roller Observation Wheel
You can also find sky-high views of the Las Vegas Strip in one of the bubble-shaped cabins on the High Roller Observation Wheel. With a diameter of 520 feet, this is the second-largest observation wheel in the world, bigger than the London Eye. Each cabin can hold up to 40 visitors and some even include bar services. A full rotation on the High Roller takes about 30 minutes.
Visit The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum provides a world-class interactive journey through the true mafia stories that helped build Las Vegas. This authentic view of organized crime's impact on the city (and the world) and the law enforcement agencies that fought to bring them to justice is one that true crime junkies won't want to miss. Located in the former courthouse in Downtown Las Vegas, visitors to the Mob Museum can browse authentic clothing and possessions of famous mobsters, grab a drink in the speakeasy, and even sit in on a mock trial in the actual courtroom!
Check Out the Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street, which intersects with Las Vegas Boulevard about 6 miles from the center of the Strip, is where the city's first casinos were built - and still stand today. This area of town is commonly referred to as "Downtown Las Vegas". Today, this section of Fremont Street is covered with a massive LED rooftop that displays delightful animations and video. Visitors to Fremont Street can enjoy a variety of street performers, free concerts every night, several unique hole-in-the-wall restaurants, a fun bar scene often frequented by locals, and of course the historic casinos. One of the most appealing aspects of the Fremont Street Experience is that the betting minimum and drink prices are far cheaper than the casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard.
Visiting Downtown Las Vegas is a must for anyone visiting the city of Las Vegas - it offers a truly unique experience compared to the hustle and bustle of the Strip and provides a full day of entertainment.
Dine at the Top of the STRAT Tower
Nowhere else in the world can travelers find more dining options than in Las Vegas. From quick bites to celebrity chef-owned fine dining establishments, and every ethnicity imaginable, you can find what you're craving in Las Vegas.
If you're looking for a truly once-in-a-lifetime dining experience, you simply must make a reservation at the Top of the World restaurant located at the very top of the STRAT tower. This upscale circular restaurant actually slowly rotates a full 360 degrees, offering nonstop views of the Strip casinos, Downtown Las Vegas, and the mountainous scenery in the distance.
While you're there, check out their 1,149-foot-tall observation deck, complete with shops and bars.
Take a Trip to the Neon Museum
History buffs will love the Neon Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and restoring the iconic neon signs from Las Vegas casinos that are no longer standing. Check out the outdoor exhibition known as the Neon Boneyard and enjoy a thrilling augmented reality experience.
If you plan to experience a helicopter tour, you can even bundle your Las Vegas helicopter tour with entry into the Neon Museum.
Places To Visit Near Las Vegas
The Grand Canyon
Many visitors to Las Vegas are not aware that the Grand Canyon is just a short distance from the Strip. If you find yourself with a spare day or even a few hours available in your Las Vegas vacation, you can reach either the Grand Canyon National Park, known as the South Rim, or the Grand Canyon West. Papillon offers helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim, where you can experience landing on the very bottom or walk along the Skywalk Bridge. For a full day adventure, you can fly to the Grand Canyon National Park aboard a sightseeing airplane, then enjoy a helicopter flight over the South Rim or a Hummer ground excursion to multiple lookout points.
Hoover Dam
Just under an hour from Las Vegas Boulevard lies one of the United States' most impressive constructions, the Hoover Dam. Nestled within the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, this colossal dam generates power for the states of Nevada, Arizona, and California. You can make the journey to Hoover Dam and tour its interior and observation deck, or you can see it from the on a flight to the Grand Canyon.
Valley of Fire State Park
The Valley of Fire State Park is another must-see natural landmark outside of Las Vegas. This wild landscape is aptly named for the otherworldly bright red and orange rippling sandstone stretching across the horizon. Located just under an hour from the Las Vegas Strip, nature enthusiasts, hikers, and families can explore trails scattered across 40,000 acres of red Aztec sandstone mixed into limestone. You can even find petroglyphs dating back over 2,000 years and petrified trees.
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon, located within the nearby city of Page, Arizona, is one of the most world-famous and ancient landmarks hidden within the United States. This otherworldly slot canyon is property of the Navajo Nation and draws thousands of visitors each year. The winding sandstone corridors and rays of sunlight that beam down between the canyon walls are photographer favorites and recognized all over the world. You can reach Antelope Canyon on a day tour from Las Vegas that lands at the Page Municipal Airport. Enjoy a tour led by a Navajo guide who will explain the history of the canyon and its importance to their tribe. An Antelope Canyon tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that your family won’t soon forget!
Las Vegas Weather
Due to its desert location, Las Vegas experiences subtropical conditions year-round. Standard annual weather typically includes mild to brisk winters and extremely hot summers, often reaching well above 100 F (38 C). These hot conditions usually begin in June and last through September, with semi-frequent monsoon seasons appearing in July and August. The powerful heat is often subsided by extremely low humidity, creating what is also known as "dry heat". Light clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sun protection are highly encouraged when spending any amount of time outdoors in Las Vegas.
Accessibility
The Las Vegas Strip stretches over 5 miles with 45 magnificent casinos scattered across its entirety. The entire Strip is lined with paved sidewalk with elevators next to each raised stairway bridge. Additionally, the Strip and surrounding area featured 46 certified accessible hotels. If you plan to visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas and require special accommodations, we encourage you to visit our accessibility page to learn more about wheelchair accessibility on our aircraft.