Las Vegas 3-day itinerary

Start at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign — arrive before 9am for no line. Walk north to the Luxor pyramid and Excalibur (camp medieval castle), then to Park MGM for breakfast at Eataly's cafe counter — fresh pastries and espresso ($8–12). Continue to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — a free, jaw-dropping seasonal display of flowers and sculptures inside the hotel. The adjacent gallery of fine art is $18.

Walk the iconic stretch: Bellagio fountains (free shows every 15 minutes from noon), Caesars Palace Forum Shops, the Venetian Grand Canal with gondoliers singing under a painted sky ($34 ride), and the Mirage volcano (free nightly show). Lunch at the Cosmopolitan's Secret Pizza on the 3rd floor — $6 slices in a hidden spot. Ride the LINQ High Roller ($25 daytime) — the world's tallest observation wheel at 550 feet.

Take the Deuce bus ($8 all-day pass) to downtown Fremont Street — five blocks of pedestrian mall under a massive LED canopy with shows every 15 minutes after dark. This is old-school Vegas with cheaper drinks ($3 beers), looser table minimums, and more character. Dinner at Carson Kitchen ($16–24 plates). Walk to the Arts District on Main Street for cocktails at Velveteen Rabbit or ReBar. Container Park has live music and a fire-breathing mantis sculpture.

Rent a car or join a tour to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area — a stunning 13-mile scenic loop through red sandstone formations just 30 minutes from the Strip. The Calico Tanks trail (2.5 miles round trip) rewards you with panoramic views of the canyon and Las Vegas Valley. Entry is $15 per vehicle. Bring water, sunscreen, and closed-toe shoes. Stop at a drive-through coffee shop on Charleston Boulevard on your way back.

Vegas pool parties are legendary: Wet Republic at MGM Grand, Encore Beach Club at Wynn, and Daylight at Mandalay Bay ($30–75 cover, often free for women before a cutoff time). For non-pool thrills, the Stratosphere Tower has insanity rides 1,000+ feet up ($35 per ride) — Big Shot, Insanity, and X-Scream. The STRAT observation deck alone ($25) has the best full-Strip panoramic views.

Vegas shows are world-class. Cirque du Soleil has multiple residencies — "O" at Bellagio ($120+) and "Mystère" at Treasure Island ($75+) are classics. For comedy, catch a residency show or visit the Comedy Cellar at the Rio ($30–40). Dinner at Nacho Daddy on the Strip — $5 nachos during happy hour. Then hit the clubs: Hakkasan at MGM ($30–75 cover) or Marquee at the Cosmopolitan. Guest lists through promoters save 50%+ on cover.

Vegas brunch culture is serious. Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace ($50–65) is widely considered the best buffet in the world — 250+ dishes, live-cooking stations, and unlimited crab legs. Alternatively, Hash House a Go Go on Sahara Avenue does absurdly large farm-to-table plates ($16–22) — the fried chicken Benedict serves two. After brunch, visit the Neon Museum ($20–26) — a graveyard of iconic Las Vegas signs from the 1930s onward.

The Las Vegas North Premium Outlets are a 10-minute bus ride from downtown — designer brands at 40–65% off. Or visit the Mob Museum ($30) on Stewart Avenue downtown — an interactive museum about organized crime in a former federal courthouse where real mob hearings took place. The distillery in the basement makes prohibition-era cocktails ($14) and moonshine. Walk to Fremont East for lunch at Le Thai ($12–16 mains) — excellent Thai food in a casual setting.

End with a sunset walk along the Strip. The Bellagio fountains at night with music are genuinely moving. Grab a final dinner at In-N-Out Burger on the Strip ($7–10 for a combo) — the California fast-food icon. For one last splurge, Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas has Strip views and French cuisine ($40–60 mains), or keep it casual at the Peppermill Fireside Lounge — a retro neon diner with massive cocktails ($14) and fire pits.