The Strip after dark, downtown neon and canyons an easy drive away
Las Vegas is a walkable strip of enormous resorts, a downtown that feels nothing like it, and some of the best desert scenery in the country within an hour's drive. Come for the shows and restaurants, stay for a day at Red Rock or the Grand Canyon.
The basics most travellers check before they start planning.
Spring and autumn are warm and comfortable; midsummer is extreme desert heat.
3–4 days is the classic trip; add a day for a canyon excursion.
Hot desert climate — very hot dry summers, cool nights and mild winters.
Walking the Strip, the monorail, rideshare, and a car for desert day trips.
Couples, friends, groups, foodies, show-goers and weekend travellers.
Long weekends, celebrations and city-plus-nature combinations.
Start with whatever you're most interested in — each pathway leads deeper into the guide.
Resorts, fountains, observation wheels and the main attractions.
ExploreResidencies, circus-style productions, comedy and magic.
ExploreClubs, lounges, speakeasies and rooftops across the Strip.
ExploreCelebrity kitchens, buffets, food halls and 24-hour diners.
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Resort pool decks are a core part of the Vegas day.
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Older casinos, neon history and cheaper food and drink.
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Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead and Valley of Fire.
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Coach, small group or helicopter, usually a full day.
ExploreAquariums, arcades, thrill rides and shows suited to all ages.
ExploreResort shopping arcades and two large outlet centres.
ExploreExperiences worth planning your days around. Availability and pricing are always shown by the travel partner, never by Zaventra.
Fountains, themed resorts and pedestrian bridges over four miles of boulevard.
Distances are much longer than they look — one resort to the next can be a 15-minute walk. Do the Strip after sunset when it is cooler and the lighting is the point.
Residency concerts, acrobatic productions, magic and stand-up every night.
Book before you fly; the strongest nights sell out. Matinees and off-Strip theatres are usually easier to get into than headline weekend slots.
The original casino strip under a canopy of lights, plus the Arts District.
A 15-minute rideshare from the Strip and a completely different atmosphere — cheaper food, live bands and the Neon Museum's restored signs nearby.
Cabanas, lounge chairs and shade — the standard way to spend a Vegas afternoon.
Most resort pools are open to their own guests; day clubs sell separate entry. Between May and September, mornings and late afternoons are far more comfortable.
A 13-mile scenic loop with hiking trails, 30 minutes west of the Strip.
Timed entry reservations apply in peak season. Go early, carry far more water than feels necessary, and pair it with a late breakfast in Summerlin.
The West Rim is closest; the South Rim is the classic view and a longer day.
Coach tours take a full day, helicopter tours a few hours. Driving yourself to the West Rim is realistic; the South Rim is a long round trip for one day.
Chef-led restaurants, food halls and long-running 24-hour spots.
Lunch menus at big-name restaurants are the easiest way into the famous kitchens. The Chinatown corridor west of the Strip is where locals eat.
Red rock formations and desert lake views about an hour from the city.
A rental car makes this trip simple. Valley of Fire's short trails suit a half-day, and the Lake Mead drive can be added on the way back.
Las Vegas is really several very different areas. Pick the ones that match the trip you want.
The busiest stretch — most shows, restaurants and walkability.
Quieter resorts with easier access to downtown.
Arena events, the airport and big family-friendly resorts.
Neon history, cheaper rooms and a livelier street scene.
Murals, breweries, vintage shops and independent restaurants.
The best-value eating in the city, minutes west of the Strip.
Quiet suburban base closest to Red Rock Canyon.
Residential, calmer and handy for Lake Mead.
Closest to the convention centre and event venues.
Choose the kind of trip you're taking first, then compare real stays with our hotel partner.
Center Strip keeps shows, food and the fountains within walking distance.
Resorts with quieter adult pools and good in-house restaurants.
Suites near the clubs so nobody needs to travel late at night.
South Strip resorts with pool complexes and family attractions.
Downtown rooms and off-Strip hotels usually cost less.
Center Strip flagship resorts, spas and private pool areas.
Stay beside the club you plan to visit; walking beats queuing for rides.
Summerlin and Henderson shorten the drive to the canyons.
How most travellers arrive, and what to weigh up before booking.
Harry Reid International (LAS) sits minutes from the south end of the Strip.
I-15 connects Los Angeles and Salt Lake City; Sunday-afternoon traffic to LA is heavy.
Frequent coaches from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Southern California.
Vegas pairs naturally with Zion, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.
The best option depends on where you stay and which parts of the city you plan to see.
Fine along the Strip, but blocks are long — allow more time than the map suggests.
The default for late nights and downtown runs.
The monorail runs behind the east-side resorts; the Deuce bus covers the whole Strip.
Worth it only for desert day trips; resort parking is often charged.
Shuttles, rideshare and taxis all run from LAS to the resorts.
Free trams link several neighbouring resort groups.
Vegas is a genuine restaurant city now. Balance one big-name dinner with a Chinatown lunch and a late-night counter meal.
Internationally known kitchens across the Strip resorts.
Fewer than there once were, but still a Vegas institution.
Classic Vegas dinner, usually inside the big resorts.
Ramen, dim sum, Korean barbecue and late-night noodles.
Diners, taquerias and counters that never close.
Arts District roasters and long-running local breakfast spots.
Resort food halls make group meals easy without a reservation.
Rooftops, speakeasies and cocktail rooms off the Strip.
There isn't one Las Vegas trip — find the version that sounds like yours.
A show, a quiet pool morning and one memorable dinner.
Pool days, clubs and a suite big enough for everyone.
Center Strip, one show, one canyon trip.
Aquariums, thrill rides, arcades and all-ages productions.
Strip lunches, Chinatown dinners and Arts District bars.
Red Rock, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon.
Flagship suites, spa days and private cabanas.
Downtown rooms, free attractions and off-Strip eating.
Two nights covers a show, a pool day and one big dinner.
Three realistic shapes for a trip, depending on how much time you have.
A weekend focused on the Strip.
City and desert in one trip.
Use Vegas as a base for the Southwest.
Ready-made shapes for a trip. Swipe on mobile.
Zaventra never shows invented prices. Estimate your own trip using the categories that actually add up.
Flights or driving into southern Nevada.
Room rates swing hugely by night of the week; resort fees are common.
Strip dinners cost far more than downtown or Chinatown.
Productions, residencies and day clubs.
Grand Canyon coaches, helicopters and guided desert hikes.
Rideshare, monorail passes, car hire and parking.
Tips, resort fees, souvenirs and travel insurance.
Vegas swings from desert heat outdoors to heavy air conditioning indoors, and evenings dress up more than most US cities.
Light daytime clothes plus a layer for cold interiors.
Clubs and some restaurants enforce a dress code.
The Strip is far longer on foot than it looks.
Swimwear, cover-up and sandals for pool days.
High-SPF sunscreen, hat and sunglasses — desert sun is intense.
A refillable bottle, and proper shoes for canyon trails.
ID for venues, show tickets and reservations.
Portable charger for long days away from the room.
Search each part of the trip with our travel partners. Prices, terms and availability are set and shown by the provider.
One-way and round-trip fares.
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One unpack, several ports.
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Tours, tickets and experiences.
See what's coming →Planning articles from the Zaventra Travel Guide that apply to this trip.
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