The Las Vegas Strip in Nevada is a world-famous boulevard lined with iconic resort casinos, landmark architecture, and round-the-clock entertainment.
The Las Vegas Strip as it exists today traces its origins to the mid-twentieth century, when visionary hoteliers began building resort properties just outside the city limits of Las Vegas along what was then a quiet desert highway. The Flamingo, opened in the late 1940s, helped establish the template of the glamorous casino resort, and subsequent decades brought an escalating competition in scale and theatricality that continues to define the boulevard. Today the Strip is anchored by some of the largest hotels in the world, each one a self-contained destination with its own restaurants, performance venues, pools, and attractions.
Visitors come to see the free outdoor spectacles, including the Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano display, and the light canopy of the Fremont Street Experience nearby. Inside the resorts, world-class chefs operate restaurants ranging from casual to formally elegant, and the variety of cuisines available within a short walk is genuinely impressive.
Live entertainment ranges from long-running residencies by major musical artists to cirque-style acrobatic shows and comedy performances. The surrounding desert landscape, often forgotten amid the indoor environments, is visible at the edges of the valley and provides a striking contrast to the density of the built environment. The Las Vegas Strip rewards both the first-time visitor absorbing its spectacle and the returning traveler who knows exactly which hidden lounges and quieter corners to seek out.
Visit during the week rather than on a Friday or Saturday night if you prefer navigating the sidewalks without heavy crowds.
Try walking the elevated tram connections between certain resort properties to rest your feet and gain an aerial perspective of the boulevard.
Bring comfortable, flat-soled shoes, as the distances between resort entrances are far greater than they appear from the street.
Catch the Bellagio fountain show after dark, when the water, light, and music performance is most visually dramatic against the night sky.
Step inside the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes to see the painted sky ceiling and canal, a curious indoor environment worth experiencing even without shopping.
Sunrise hot air balloon flight with round-trip property transport
Kayak 12 miles from Hoover Dam to Emerald Cave, with hikes and hot springs
Explore desert canyons and river vistas on a 15-hour guided trip from Las Vegas with lunch
Follow a guide through Mojave Desert terrain at dusk on a 2.5-hour RZR ride
Paddle Black Canyon to Emerald Cave with shuttle and park entry
Kayak to Hoover Dam with shuttle ride and park entry included
Drive a guided Mojave Desert RZR tour with a stop at Pioneer Saloon
Paddle a 3-person canoe from Willow Beach Marina toward Hoover Dam