Las Vegas in 3 days

Neon, nonstop energy and the desert at the door: shows, dining, casinos and canyon escapes. Best time to visit: March-May and September-November. Average daily budget: $130 to $300 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: The Strip (South), Bellagio, Aria, Cosmopolitan and the luxury core, fountains, dining and the biggest shows.

Morning: A headline show or residency. Cirque du Soleil, a pop residency or a magic show, Vegas entertainment is genuinely world-class, book ahead.

Afternoon: Explore The Strip (South), Bellagio, Aria, Cosmopolitan and the luxury core, fountains, dining and the biggest shows.

Evening: The Sphere. The jaw-dropping immersive venue, catch a show or simply marvel at the exosphere lighting up the skyline.

Eat: A celebrity-chef tasting menu on the Strip

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: The Strip (North) & Resorts World, Newer mega-resorts, the Sphere nearby and a slightly calmer stretch of the boulevard.

Morning: Bellagio Fountains & Conservatory. The free water show set to music, paired with the lavish seasonal botanical displays inside.

Afternoon: Explore The Strip (North) & Resorts World, Newer mega-resorts, the Sphere nearby and a slightly calmer stretch of the boulevard.

Evening: Red Rock Canyon scenic drive. A 13-mile loop of red sandstone cliffs and easy trails, 30 minutes from the Strip.

Eat: Late-night noodles in Las Vegas Chinatown

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Downtown & Fremont Street, Old-school Vegas, the Fremont light canopy, cheaper tables and a grittier, more local energy.

Morning: Fremont Street Experience. The downtown light canopy, zip-lines and live music, old Vegas at its rowdiest.

Afternoon: Explore Downtown & Fremont Street, Old-school Vegas, the Fremont light canopy, cheaper tables and a grittier, more local energy.

Evening: Craft cocktails and murals in the Arts District (18b), far from the Strip crowds.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: An over-the-top brunch buffet

Hidden gems

Craft cocktails and murals in the Arts District (18b), far from the Strip crowds.
Sunrise at Red Rock Canyon before the heat and the tour buses.
The Neon Museum boneyard, where retired Vegas signs go to glow.
Local eats in Chinatown's Spring Mountain Road, the best-value dining in the city.

Getting around

The Strip is walkable but deceptively long, distances between resorts take far longer on foot than they look, so use the monorail, the Deuce bus, rideshare or the resort trams between properties. For Red Rock, Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon you'll want a rental car or an organised tour. Casino floors are designed to disorient, so give yourself extra time to navigate them.

Safety

The Strip and Fremont Street are heavily policed and generally safe, even late, but they attract pickpockets, scammers and aggressive street performers, so keep your belongings close and be wary of 'free' photo and CD hustles. Watch your alcohol intake and pace yourself in the desert heat. Venture beyond tourist zones with normal big-city caution.

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