By air
Harry Reid International (LAS), ~8 km
North America · United States
Las Vegas, United States
Neon nights and desert parks
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to May and October to November — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Strip
The Bellagio fountains
Fremont Street
The Hoover Dam
Things to do
Shows on the Strip
The Fremont Street Experience
Day trips to the Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Lasvegaslover · CC BY 3.0
What to pack
Light clothes by day, layers for the air-conditioning
A quieter corner
Red Rock Canyon, 30 minutes west
Questions travellers ask
What's the best season for Las Vegas?
March to May and October to November, when it's warm, not scorching. Pack light clothes for the day and layers for the air-conditioning.
Is the Las Vegas airport close to town?
Harry Reid International (LAS) is about 8 km away.
What should I do on a first night in Las Vegas?
Catch a show on the Strip, watch the Bellagio fountains and see the Fremont Street Experience. Buffets and big-name restaurants take care of dinner.
What day trips can I take from Las Vegas?
The Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire. Red Rock Canyon, 30 minutes west, is the hidden gem.
About Las Vegas
- Desert
Where it is
Las Vegas is in southern Nevada in the western United States, in a basin of the Mojave Desert ringed by mountains, a short drive from the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the Colorado River.
History
Springs in the valley, whose meadows gave Las Vegas its Spanish name, made it a stop on the Old Spanish Trail, and Mormon missionaries built a fort here in 1855. The city was founded as a railway town in 1905; Nevada legalised gambling in 1931, the year work began on the Hoover Dam, and after the Second World War casino resorts spread along the Strip.
People
Las Vegas grew fast in the late 20th century, and many of its people work in the hotels, casinos, shows and conventions that drive the local economy. English and Spanish are both widely spoken, and the Southern Paiute, the valley's original people, keep a small reservation just north of downtown.
Known for
- The Las Vegas Strip and its casino resorts
- Stage shows, concerts and magic acts
- The Bellagio fountains
- Fremont Street and the Neon Museum
- Day trips to the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon
Did you know?
Most of the Strip lies outside the city of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester in Clark County.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.