Las Vegas 7-day itinerary

Start at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign — arrive before 9am for no line. Walk north past the Luxor pyramid, Excalibur castle, and the Tropicana. Breakfast at Eataly inside Park MGM — fresh Italian pastries and espresso ($8–12) at the cafe counter. Continue to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — free, stunning, and changes every season. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art ($18) is worth it for art lovers.

Watch the Bellagio fountain shows (free, every 15 min from noon). Walk to Caesars Palace — the Forum Shops have a painted sky ceiling that cycles through day and night. Continue to the Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes — gondola rides ($34) under a frescoed ceiling with singing gondoliers. 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 Strip transforms after dark — every hotel is lit up in neon. Watch the Mirage Volcano show (free, runs nightly at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm). Walk to the Wynn for its Lake of Dreams show (free, every 30 minutes after dark). Dinner at Nacho Daddy for $5 happy-hour nachos and $6 margaritas. End at the Chandelier Bar inside the Cosmopolitan — a three-story bar wrapped in crystal beads. Order "The Verbena" for a secret off-menu cocktail ($18).

Start at the Neon Museum ($20–26) — a graveyard of iconic Las Vegas signs spanning decades. The guided tour tells stories of old Vegas through salvaged neon. Then walk to the nearby Arts District on Main Street — galleries, coffee shops, and murals. Breakfast at Makers & Finders on Main Street — Latin-inspired coffee and Colombian empanadas ($5–8). First Friday (first Friday of each month) turns the whole district into a massive art walk.

Visit the Mob Museum ($30) on Stewart Avenue — organized crime history in a former federal courthouse. Interactive exhibits let you take a mugshot, sit in the courtroom, and learn about the Vegas mob era. The basement speakeasy makes prohibition-era cocktails ($14). Walk to Fremont East for lunch at Le Thai ($12–16) — excellent Thai food. Browse Container Park — an outdoor shopping and entertainment center made from shipping containers with a 40-foot fire-breathing mantis.

Fremont Street comes alive after dark. The Viva Vision LED canopy stretches five blocks with light shows every 15 minutes. Zip-line overhead on the SlotZilla ($25 zipline, $55 zoomline). Drink prices are half the Strip — $3 beers, $5 margaritas. Gamble at downtown casinos where $5 blackjack tables still exist (El Cortez, Golden Nugget). Golden Gate Hotel has the city's best $1 shrimp cocktail — a Vegas tradition since 1959.

Drive 30 minutes west to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area — a 13-mile scenic loop through red and cream sandstone formations. The Calico Tanks trail (2.5 miles round trip) ends with panoramic views of the canyon and Las Vegas Valley. Ice Box Canyon (2.6 miles) has seasonal waterfalls in a narrow slot canyon. Entry is $15 per vehicle. Bring water, sunscreen, and proper shoes — it's desert terrain.

Back in Vegas, hit a pool party — Wet Republic (MGM Grand), Encore Beach Club (Wynn), or Stadium Swim at Circa ($20–55 cover, often free for women before noon). For adrenaline without pools, the STRAT Tower has rides 1,000+ feet up — Big Shot, Insanity, and X-Scream ($35 each). The observation deck alone ($25) offers the best panoramic Strip views. Lunch at In-N-Out Burger on the Strip ($7–10 combo).

Vegas shows are world-class. Cirque du Soleil's "O" at Bellagio ($120+) is a water-based masterpiece. "Mystère" at Treasure Island ($75+) is their longest-running show. For laughs, Comedy Cellar at the Rio ($30–40) or a headliner residency. Dinner at Lotus of Siam on Sahara ($18–28 mains) — widely considered the best Thai restaurant in America, James Beard Award winner. Book well ahead.

Rent a car and drive 2.5 hours to Grand Canyon West — the Hualapai Nation's section of the Grand Canyon with the famous Skywalk. Alternatively, book a bus tour ($90–140 per person including entry). The Grand Canyon is one of those places that photos simply cannot capture — the scale is overwhelming. The West Rim's Eagle Point and Guano Point offer stunning viewpoints included in the general admission ($49).

The Grand Canyon Skywalk ($32 add-on) extends 70 feet beyond the rim with a glass floor 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Even if you skip the Skywalk, the viewpoints are staggering. Guano Point has a hiking trail along the rim with panoramic views and no crowds. Lunch at the Hualapai Ranch or pack food — onsite options are limited and pricey. Start the drive back by 3pm to avoid desert darkness.

Arrive back in Vegas by evening. Low-key dinner at the Peppermill Fireside Lounge — a retro neon diner with massive cocktails ($14), fire pits, and 24-hour service. The scorpion bowl is meant for sharing but legendary for solo attempts. Or head to AREA15 — an immersive entertainment complex with Meow Wolf's Omega Mart ($49), a mind-bending art installation disguised as a supermarket. Perfect for a surreal wind-down after the canyon.

Vegas buffets are an art form. Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace ($50–65 weekend brunch) is widely considered the world's best — 250+ dishes, live cooking stations, unlimited crab legs, and quality that rivals fine dining. Or try The Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan ($45–55) for a more curated experience. The key is arriving hungry at opening time (8–9am) when everything is freshest. This is a meal that replaces breakfast AND lunch.

Hit the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets (10-minute bus from downtown) for 40–65% off designer brands. Or visit Springs Preserve ($19) — a 180-acre nature park and museum complex telling the story of Las Vegas from desert springs to neon city. The botanical gardens and desert trails are a peaceful contrast to the Strip. For vintage, Retro Vegas on Main Street has old casino memorabilia and Rat Pack-era collectibles.

Vegas has an incredible Chinatown along Spring Mountain Road — nothing like the tourist trap version. Raku ($15–30 plates) serves late-night Japanese robata-grilled dishes that chefs eat at after their shifts. Hwaro ($25–35 per person) has Korean BBQ rivaling Koreatown. After dinner, find hidden bars: The Laundry Room (text for a reservation — literally a hidden bar behind a laundromat) and Ghost Donkey at the Cosmopolitan (mezcal bar hidden behind a wall panel).

Drive an hour northeast to Valley of Fire State Park ($10 per vehicle) — Nevada's oldest and most stunning state park. Red Aztec sandstone formations dating to 150 million years ago glow like fire at sunrise. The Fire Wave trail (1.5 miles round trip) is a photographer's dream — swirling bands of pink, red, and white stone. White Domes trail (1.25 miles) passes through a narrow slot canyon and past old movie sets.

On the drive back, stop at Lake Mead — the largest reservoir in the US (when full). The shoreline views and turquoise water against desert mountains are stunning. Continue to Hoover Dam ($15 for the visitor center, $30 for the powerplant tour) — an art deco engineering marvel built in the 1930s. Walk across the dam and the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for vertigo-inducing Colorado River views. The dam straddles Nevada and Arizona — stand in two time zones at once.

Tonight is your big Vegas nightclub night. Pre-game at your hotel or a happy-hour spot, then hit the clubs after 11pm. Hakkasan at MGM Grand is a multi-story mega-club with world-class DJs. XS at the Wynn has a nightswim pool party. Marquee at the Cosmopolitan has a rooftop terrace. Cover runs $30–75 for men, often free for women on guest lists. Dress code: no athletic wear, shorts, or sandals for men.

Ease into the last day with brunch at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas — Strip-side patio with Bellagio fountain views, French crepes ($14) and eggs Benedict ($18). If you're feeling rough from last night, many hotels offer spa day passes ($35–60) — the Venetian's Canyon Ranch and the Aria's spa are both excellent for recovery. Or simply lounge at the pool — most hotel pools are free for guests and open by 9am.

Set a gambling budget for your last afternoon — $50 is enough for a few hours of entertainment at low-stakes tables or penny slots. The Pinball Hall of Fame on the Strip ($10–15 in quarters buys an hour of play) is a quirky alternative to casinos. Pick up souvenirs — playing cards from different casinos are free (ask at the cage), and ABC Stores on the Strip have cheap Vegas merch.

One last walk down the Strip at night when it's at its most electric. Watch the Bellagio fountains one more time — each show uses different music and choreography. Farewell dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas ($40–60 mains) for Strip views from 46 stories up, or keep it classic at In-N-Out Burger ($7–10). The Peppermill Fireside Lounge at 3am is a Vegas tradition for one last neon-lit drink.