The Ultimate Las Vegas Bucket List Guide
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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…but we’ve got the ultimate bucket list you’ll be dying to talk about! Las Vegas turns fantasy into reality with around-the-clock gaming, exquisite dining, world-class entertainment, and tons of high-elevation thrills. The odds are in your favor for having a good time when checking off items from this Las Vegas bucket list.
Whether you have 24 hours or spend a few days in ‘Sin City,’ here’s a bucket list of activities to experience what Las Vegas is truly about.
1. Walk The Strip
The hotels and resorts lining the Strip are architectural wonders—no wonder it’s called Paradise. Every venue transports you to a new world—experience the medieval times of the Excalibur Hotel, uncover ancient Egyptian history in the Luxor, or globe-trot your way from the New York, New York Hotel to Paris in less than a 20-minute walk.
The Strip is one of the busiest areas for casino-hopping or exploring the different shops and restaurants. It’s always packed with tourists and stay alert for the street performers and street marketing teams vying for your attention as you make your way from one venue to the next.
2. Win Big in the Casino
Feeling lucky? Casinos are the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Vegas. From the moment you land at the Harry Reid International Airport, you’ll be greeted with slot machines and card tables—and it’s nothing like you’ll find by the time you reach the hotels.
Las Vegas is a haven for gamers looking to hit the jackpot, kill time before their next activity, or even just take a break from walking around in the heat all day.
Casinos are open 24 hours in Las Vegas, so there’s always time to fit in a few hands of blackjack or drop a few pennies in the slot—you just might come out as a winner!
3. Take a Picture at the Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Capture your ‘money shot’ in front of the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” sign. It’s the gateway to the Strip, located on the southern end at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South.
The sign sits in the median of the road with space to stand and take pictures around it. Bring your patience because you likely won’t be the only one waiting to take this famous photo.
4. Dance to Tunes at the Bellagio Water Show
Join the crowds lining the 8.5-acre lake in front of the Bellagio to catch the most famous water show in the world. For the last 20 years, the Fountains of Bellagio has been a staple for entertainment—and the best part is that it’s free!
More than 1,200 water jets shoot water to heights of 460 ft while dancing to songs like Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk,” Lady Gaga “Bad Romance,” Frank Sinatra “Fly Me to the Moon,” and everyone’s singalong favorite: “Viva Las Vegas.”
The water show runs every half hour between 3-8pm and every 15 minutes between 8 pm-midnight.
5. Get Fired Up for the Mirage Volcano Show
The Mirage Hotel Volcano show will heat things up for your Vegas vacation. As if the desert heat wasn’t enough, the Mirage built a volcano on the Strip to turn up the heat even more.
Flame throwers erupt from below the lagoon’s surface as the volcano explodes into a fiery display. You can feel the heat on your face while watching fireballs shoot up to 12 feet into the night sky.
The volcano erupts every night on the hour between 7-11pm and lasts approximately five minutes. Arrive early to get a front-row spot on the lagoon’s railing for the best view.
6. Ziplining on Fremont Street
Soar above the crowds at the Fremont Street Experience via zipline. This old part of town got new life with this pedestrian-only attraction filled with retro casinos, outdoor bars, restaurants, and more.
Get ready for a rush of adrenaline because the SlotZilla Zipline whizzes riders across 1,700 feet from end to end at speeds of 35 miles per hour. Hope you’re not afraid of heights because you’ll be dangling 114 feet above the busy street below.
7. Ride the High Roller Ferris Wheel
You won’t need deep pockets to ride on the High Roller Ferris Wheel. Plop down in one of 28 pods and ride up 550 feet overlooking the Strip. That’s even higher than the London Eye!
The High Roller is the world’s largest observation wheel. Each pod holds 40 people at a time with 360-degree views. And in true Vegas style, you can even luck up and get in a pod with a full cocktail bar inside for drinks and a view at the top.
8. Big Drops on the Big Apple Coaster
Twists, turns, and even a loop-de-loop. You can hear the screams of riders on the Big Apple Coaster from the Strip as the coaster roars through the New York New York Hotel. The ride is the highlight at the Big Apple Arcade, attracting more than 1.4 million thrill-seekers every year.
The ride cranks up to the 203-ft drop before sending you on a heart-racing ride at 67 miles per hour around iconic NYC Buildings like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.
9. Thrill Rides at The Strat SkyPod
Thrill rides at The Strat should be high on your bucket list—1,149 feet high! The tallest free-standing observation tower in the country lets visitors come face-to-face with their fear of heights. It has two outdoor ride experiences that test your trust in engineering.
Strap yourself into the X-Scream as you’re jolted over the edge of the Strat to hang 866 feet above the Strip. The Big Shot will take you to new heights at your propelled 169 feet in the air at 45 miles per hour before plunging back down.
10. Taste Your Way Through World-Class Cuisine
Want to know why Las Vegas consistently ranks among the top US foodie destinations? It’s a hotbed for celebrities and world-renowned chefs to showcase their talent in the kitchen to the hungry patrons dining at their award-winning restaurants.
Some top restaurants to check out are Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen with its signature Beef Wellington dish, Restaurant Guy Savoy serving up delicious Wagyu beef, and the upscale Japanese seafood dishes prepped to perfection at Nobu Restaurant. Be sure to make reservations to your favorite spot to guarantee a seat at the city’s finest dining tables.
Fancy something more budget-friendly? Buffets are a staple in many hotels giving guests their pick of entrees, sides, desserts, and more. Load up your plate with all your favorites at Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace or the trendy small-plate style servings at Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan.
11. Catch a Night Show
Las Vegas is the world capital for live entertainment. From hosting the biggest names in show biz to showcasing upcoming talents, there’s always something playing.
You’ll never have a dull night in ‘Sin City.’ There are shows for everybody—concerts and tribute shows, magic shows, burlesque, theater, variety shows, and even unusual talents you won’t see anywhere else in the world.
12. Take a Laid-back Gondola Ride at The Venetian
It’s easy to get caught up in the fast life, but attractions like a gondola ride at the Venetian Resort give everyone a moment to take things slow and enjoy a more Italian way of life.
Cruise the mellow Venetian Lagoon, an artificial waterway winding around the interior and exterior of the Venetian Resort. The 15-minute boat ride is guided by a friendly gondolier who will sing songs and gives light-hearted dialogue.
13. Get a bird’s eye view on a helicopter ride
The Strip has plenty of rooftop venues for drinks and eating with overlooking views. However, for the best view, lift off in a helicopter ride over the Strip.
Take in a bird’s eye view of all of Las Vegas, downtown, and even see the desert and mountains on the outskirts of town. Take a tour in the daytime to point out all your favorite casinos, or take flight at night to see the lights illuminating the restless city.
14. Day Trip to the Grand Canyon
Having one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders just 2.5 hours away from Las Vegas is hard to pass up. Take a day trip to the Grand Canyon to witness the power of erosion. It took the Colorado River millions of years to leave behind a void in the Earth measuring 6,000 feet deep and 18 miles wide. It’s a geological wonder with viewpoints, hikes, points of interest, and more.
Tours include activities like spending the day at the canyon taking in views from the Desert View Watchtower, trekking to the Grandview Point to see the Horseshoe Mesa, or tip-toeing the Grand Canyon West Skywalk with a see-through bottom revealing the canyon floor 800-ft below you.
15. Party Hard in World-Class Nightclubs
Las Vegas comes alive at night with one of the best nightlife experiences in the world. The world-class nightclubs feature international DJs spinning hits that will have you dancing all night long. With state-of-the-art lighting, sound systems, and unmatched energy, there isn’t a place on Earth that parties quite like ‘Sin City.’
Dress to impress if you want to get in top clubs like Hakkasan Nightclub at the MGM Grand, the Marquee Nightclub in the Cosmopolitan, and many more. If you won big at the casino, you might find yourself splurging on a VIP table with top-shelf bottle service. For the true party animals, live on the wild side with a party bus tour with Skip-the-Line entrance at multiple nightclubs all in one night!
16. Keep Cool at the Pool
When the mid-day desert heat rolls in, the strip clears out and everybody heads to the pool! But these aren’t your typical hotel pools. Resorts feature exotic pools like the massive 6.5-acres Grand Pool Complex at the MGM Grand or exotic décor like the roman-inspired monuments at the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace.
For those who want to relax can lounge in a cabana or poolside sunbed. But for those craving some water fun, dayclub pool parties are all the rave with live DJs, poolside bars, and energetic crowds having splashing fun.
17. Experience the Future of Entertainment at The Sphere
The next time you visit Las Vegas you’ll see a new attraction lining the Strip. The MSG Sphere at the Venetian ushers in a futuristic era of entertainment providing a completely immersive, one-of-a-kind experience. It was revealed July 2023 as the largest sphere in the world—a whopping 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide!
This unique venue will host some of the city’s best concerts and tech-enhanced shows in the 18,600-seat dome theater (opening September 2023). However, no tickets are required to marvel at the spherical lightshow of 1.2-million LED lights shining over the Strip.
This bucket list is packed with the most famous attractions and activities in Las Vegas. Pick out your favorites from the list to add to your itinerary, or go for the ultimate Las Vegas experience by checking off each one during your visit. This leads us to a final question: did you really visit Las Vegas if you missed out on any of these bucket list items?
