Las Vegas is known for casinos and nightlife – but let me tell you – it is WAY more than that! There is something to do for everyone, even if you don’t drink and gamble. My friend, Nicole Neissany, moved to Vegas a few months ago and invited me to visit and show me around. It was my first time going to Vegas and exploring the South West so I was super excited! I went for three days and it was so much fun! In this Las Vegas Travel Guide, I will be sharing the best time to go, day trip ideas, and the best things to do for three days in Las Vegas.
Best Time to go to Vegas
The best time to go to Vegas is between March-May and September-November. January and December are the coldest months and I would avoid July and August since those are the hottest. I went at the end of February and it was 60s during the day and 40s at night. It was crazy though because during the day, it felt like it was 80 degrees haha and at night it got super chilly! For packing, I recommend bringing a mix of dresses, shorts, pants, and sweaters if you plan on visiting early in the year.
Things to do in Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
A must-do on your Vegas trip is walk and explore the Las Vegas Strip. This is a 4.2 mile stretch where you will find the resort hotels, casinos, restaurants, and shops. I recommend hotel hopping and going inside some of the hotels to check out their unique decor and architecture design. The Venetian was my favorite – I loved their Italy-inspired design.
Here are some of the popular spots to see on the Las Vegas Strip:
Paris Las Vegas + Eiffel Tower
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo
Bellagio Fountain Show
Venetian + Gondola Rides
Luxor Pyramid and Sphinx
New York New York + Statue of Liberty
Excalibur Castle
Neon Museum
The Neon Museum collects and preserves signs from old casinos and other businesses that are displayed outdoors. You can experience the collection during the day or at night! We went at night and it was cool seeing the signs lit up.
Tickets during the day are $20 and you can explore at your own pace. At night, they offer different experiences (ranges from $23-45) where it includes a 45-minute guided tour.
You can purchase tickets here in advance to guarantee the time slot you prefer.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. It is on the border between Nevada and Arizona. It is massive and incredible to see!
Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic Mountains is an art exhibition located in the desert outside of Las Vegas (about a 30 minute drive). It consists of seven towers of colorful stacked boulders that are about 35 feet tall. I recommend going early in the morning since it gets pretty crowded.
Take a Photo at the Las Vegas Sign
This is the most iconic photo to take in Las Vegas! I recommend getting there as early as possible because it gets pretty crowded where you have to wait in line. We got there around 7:30am and there were only a few people there!
The sign is located 10 min from the airport so you can also plan to visit before or after your flight depending on the time!
Enjoy the View from The High Roller Observation Wheel
The High Roller is the largest observation wheel in North America. You get to see incredible 360 degree views of the Las Vegas Strip from 550 feet above. The ride is about 30 minutes and it is located at The Linq.
You can purchase tickets to the High Roller here!
Helicopter Tour
An epic experience to do in Las Vegas is a helicopter tour! You can fly over the Las Vegas Strip or even fly over the Grand Canyon from Vegas!
Here are two helicopter tours you can book!
Fremont Street
The Fremont Street Experience is Las Vegas’ second most famous street scene, following the Las Vegas Strip. In 1925, it became the first paved street in Las Vegas and before The Strip, it was the iconic Vegas scene. It’s been converted into a pedestrian mall, where you can shop, gamble, drink, and enjoy entertainment from live music and performers.
One of the awesome things about Fremont Street is the Viva Vision canopy, the world’s largest video screen. This light canopy covers the Fremont Street Experience and it broadcasts light shows throughout the day and night. It’s pretty cool! You can also zip line through the canopy with Slotzilla, which looks so fun!
Brunch at Cafe Lola
Cafe Lola is the cutest cafe where you can eat breakfast, brunch and afternoon tea all day long. I love their pink floral decor and the food is so good! I also recommend trying their creative drinks like the Rose Cardamom latte.
Day Trips from Vegas
Depending on how long you are staying in Vegas, there are a bunch of day trips you can take to explore the outdoors and go hiking. Here are some day trip ideas from Vegas:
Valley of Fire
This is an easy day trip from Las Vegas – about one hour drive. We spent a whole day here and it was so much fun exploring and seeing all the cool red rock formations. It legit felt like we were on Mars – haha!
Check out the best things to do at the Valley of Fire in my post here!
Red Rock Canyon
This is another easy day trip from Vegas – only a 30 min drive! It features a one-way 13 mile drive that offers stunning views and 26 scenic hiking trails. You can check out all their hiking trails here!
Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree is a bit of a drive (around 3.5 hours) so it’s hard to do in one day, but if you have time, you can add this as part of your Vegas Trip! This is a National Park in southern California, famous for its distinct trees and great hikes!
Death Valley
Death Valley National Park is about a 2.5 hour drive from Las Vegas. It is located in southeastern California between the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park in Utah is a little less than a 3 hour drive from Vegas. You can wake up early to spend the entire day there or you can add this as part of your Vegas trip and spend a few days hiking. Angel’s Landing is on my bucket list!
Hope you enjoyed my post on how to spend three days in Las Vegas!
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