Las Vegas Itinerary – 3 Days in Vegas for First Timers

Our guide to spending three days in Vegas.

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024
By Katie Sagal
Las Vegas Skyline

Spending a few days in Las Vegas? See the best of this delightful city and experience all the highlights with our 3 days in Las Vegas itinerary. Jam-packed with classic Vegas sights and attractions, this popular 3-day itinerary encompasses a wide variety of things to do to showcase the best the city has to offer in a limited amount of time.

This 3-day itinerary includes:

  • Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Sightseeing Tour
  • Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (free!)
  • Fountains at Bellagio (free!)
  • Show at the V Theater
  • Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
  • High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ
  • Eiffel Tower Experience
  • Grand Canyon South Rim Tour

Day 1, Stop #1: Big Bus Las Vegas

If you really want to see what Las Vegas is all about, then you have to take a Hop-On Hop-Off tour with Big Bus. They offer the most informative sightseeing tours around, with insider tips and historical trivia for all to enjoy. Best of all, as it's a hop-on hop-off tour, if you find something you just have to explore during your travels, you can disembark and spend some time checking it out.

The Classic Tour takes 2.5 hours if you stay on the bus for the entire time, so it packs in a lot to see! Be sure to check out our helpful Hop-On Hop-Off guide for top tips to make the most of your visit.

Getting In: Big Bus Las Vegas Sightseeing Tour tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas pass.

Big bus

Stop #2: Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Check out the seasonal displays at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, prepared by a team of 140 horticulturalists. Bring your camera for memorable photo opportunities, displays that include incredible flower formations, and water features that are nothing short of mesmerizing.

Getting in: Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are free to enter.

Bellagio Conservatory

Stop #3: Fountains at Bellagio

Next, stroll over to the Fountains of Bellagio for a beautiful musical water show. This stunning water show features choreographed fountains timed to famous musical numbers, from concert opera and classical to Broadway tunes, for an always entertaining show. The fountains are a quirky, classic Las Vegas attraction and an unmissable stop on your itinerary.

Getting in: Fountains at Bellagio are free to watch.

Bellagio fountains

Stop #4: Catch a show at the V Theater

Don’t leave Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” without seeing one of the shows that uphold the city’s title. Head to the V Theater to catch one of their award-winning performances. Owned by the famed Las Vegas producer David Saxe, the V Theater is home to some of the most entertaining shows, including VEGAS! The Show; V - The Ultimate Variety Show; The Mentalist; Zombie Burlesque; and several more!

There are plenty of kid-friendly options, too like pet-based shows and comedy shows. Each show creatively pays tribute to the spectacle that is Las Vegas’ unique entertainment culture.

V Theater

Day 2 Stop #1: Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Be sure to work some celebrity sightings into your Las Vegas itinerary. Head to Madame Tussauds for an interactive and entertaining experience with all your favorite movie stars, athletes, celebrities, and more. Pose for the paparazzi with Lady Gaga, relive a crazy Vegas night with Bradley Cooper, sing on stage for Simon Cowell, and fight crime alongside Nick Fury.

Taking pictures with the wax statues is highly encouraged, and props are provided that visitors can use for unforgettable (and highly believable) photos. Cameras at the ready - be prepared to fool your Instagram followers!

Getting In: Madame Tussauds Las Vegas tickets are included on all Las Vegas passes.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
The images shown depict wax figures created and owned by Madame Tussauds.

Stop #2: High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ

Take an afternoon spin on the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel – 550ft above the ground! Your 30-minute ride will feel like it ends too soon, as you soak up amazing panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip and the scenery below. Don't forget to keep your phone or camera charged for this attraction!

Ready to get the party started? Grab a drink from the High Roller’s wheelhouse bar before boarding. Afterwards, there are plenty of options to explore in the LINQ area, whether you're after food and beverages or shopping. For our High Roller top tips, read our helpful guide.

Getting in: High Roller tickets are included on all Las Vegas passes.

High Roller

Stop #3: Eiffel Tower Experience

Visit Paris without the transatlantic flight! Head to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel - their Eiffel Tower Experience is just like setting foot into a recreated Parisian cityscape. Ascend to the top of their Eiffel Tower (46 storeys above ground level), and then stroll through replicas of the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and more.

It's a great way to experience the grandeur and opulence of Las Vegas casino culture, and makes for some awesome photos to fool your friends that you're in Paris too. Here's our guide to the Eiffel Tower Experience before your trip. It's full of top tips and ideas to help you make the most of your visit.

Getting In: Eiffel Tower Experience tickets are included with the Go Las Vegas pass.

Las Vegas Eiffel

Day 3 Stop #1: Grand Canyon South Rim Tour

You simply can't visit Las Vegas without taking the time to see the natural wonders nearby. Take a guided bus tour out to the Grand Canyon, where you'll see many of the South Rim's signature spots. Visit the historic (but still operational) Grand Canyon Railway, Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and many sites in Grand Canyon Village, where you can pick up souvenirs.

You'll pass by the Hoover Dam on the way, a nice included extra where you can get great photos, and pass over the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, located adjacent to the Dam itself.

This tour will take the entire day (from approximately 5am to 7.30pm), so sit back and relax on your ride out to the Canyon aboard a luxury motorcoach. You have three hours to explore the National Park itself, so make the most of your chance to see this natural wonder. The Bright Angel Trail is a good choice for active folks, and provides excellent photo opportunities.

Getting In: Grand Canyon South Rim Tour tickets are available as a premium attraction option with the 3, 4, and 5 day Las Vegas All-Inclusive passes.

 

Grand Canyon South Rim

Let’s Recap

This 3 days in Las Vegas itinerary features a variety of activities and attractions that cover all the best Las Vegas highlights. The itinerary is jam-packed with fun but features a schedule that’s easy to do in three days. 

🗓️ Spending less time in Las Vegas? We’ve also put together a sample 1 day itinerary and a weekend in Vegas itinerary.

Las Vegas

Save up to 50% on Orlando attractions

Discover our full line-up of Las Vegas attractions from Bellagio Fountains to the High Roller Observation Wheel.

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option.

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Casino croupier taking bets at the roulette wheel
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Las Vegas in March

March marks the start of spring and kicks off Sin City’s popular shoulder season in earnest. Neither as chilly as deepest, darkest winter nor as intolerably sweaty as June and July, it’s a fine time to vacation here. Read on for our expert guide to visiting Las Vegas in March. Visiting Las Vegas in March Average Temperature: 57°F • Average Rainfall: 5 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day The period between March and May is among the very best times of year to visit Vegas, thanks to increasingly summery days and balmy evenings, though perhaps 'balmy' is a little optimistic for March. Still, what you can expect from a March Vegas vacation is highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s and clear blue skies stretching all the way to the horizon; cloud and rain at this time of year is rare, if not entirely unheard of. But hey, there’s plenty to keep you entertained indoors in this huge desert playground in the unlikely event you’re dealt a poor hand with the weather. Milder weather does of course go hand in hand with rising hotel prices though there are bargains to be had if you're willing to shop around. Vegas is traditionally a weekend destination but, frankly, the party here doesn’t stop just because it's Tuesday, so it’s worth considering a mid-week trip if you want to bag the best room rates. Prices also tend to start rising mid-month due to upcoming Easter holidays and increasingly pleasant temperatures. It’s also a good idea to do some research to find out about any major conventions taking place in or around specific hotels that might be pushing prices up. Things to do in March March means one thing in Vegas: it’s time for pool season, baby! Sure, the weather may still be a little too chilly for some. Nevertheless, March is when the vast majority of pools that closed down for winter begin to reopen again. You know what to do: claim your cabana, order a pina colada and peer over the tops of your dark glasses as the beautiful people emerge butterfly-like from hibernation and the pool decks of Sin City begin to throng with party people once again. Among the first to open will be Mandalay Bay’s sprawling Daylight Beach Club with its enormo 4,400 square foot pool, Wet Republic at the MGM Grand, and Flamingo’s Go Pool Dayclub. Dive in! (Or use the steps if the signs say ‘no diving’, obvs). If you prefer your entertainment a little... weirder, try Area15. The play on ‘Area51’ is deliberate as what goes on inside this massive warehouse is kept largely under wraps until after you’ve entered. What we do know is you can expect supersize art installations, VR experiences, altered universes, thrill rides and fantastical immersive experiences like the Illuminarium, an epic out-of-this-world space adventure where you can cruise through technicolor nebulae and asteroid belts to infinity (and beyond!). March is also prime time to visit the Neon Museum, an organization dedicated to preserving and exhibiting that most Vegas of art forms: the neon sign. Because the whole thing is outdoors it becomes somewhat less enjoyable to visit when temperatures start to soar, so March’s milder temperatures are ideal for wandering among these hulking relics that so deftly evoke Sin City’s gaudy history. Visit at night to enjoy the full impact and to feel like you’ve walked straight into a scene from Blade Runner. Las Vegas (or, at least, the mountains and canyons that surround it) are an absolute paradise for hikers. You can (and must) take a trip out to the Grand Canyon, whether by helicopter (spectacular) or coach (long). There are many variations of tours that depart Vegas for the West and South rims, but most include a bit of rambling among the wildflowers and distinctive red rocks. Bolt on posh picnics, champagne lunches and Hoover Dam excursions at your leisure. Or why not hire a car yourself and swing by the Red Rock Canyon? Much closer to Vegas – just a few miles west in the Mojave Desert, in fact – it offers many attractions along well-worn trails that weave past towering sandstone stacks, rushing waterfalls and caves daubed with Native American petroglyphs. You can find a comprehensive guide to the canyon’s marked hikes and trails here. Finally, in March as in every month in Vegas, you’ll find casinos that are open 24/7 and more magnificent magic shows, comedy acts, visual spectaculars and music concerts than you can shake a very large stick at. Take in a classic Cirque du Soleil performance or check listings at the MGM, Colosseum and T-Mobile Arena for some of the biggest names in rock and pop. What’s on in March? St Patrick’s Day Paint the town green on this special day, when revelers the world over honor the world’s most celebrated saint in the traditional manner: by dressing up as leprechauns, downing pint after pint of Guinness, attempting a dodgy Irish accent, then falling over. Vegas is no different, with major landmarks including the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and the High Roller lit up in bright green and Patrick-lovin’ parties running the length and breadth of the Strip. Head to O’Sheas at the LINQ for the ultimate St Paddy’s party pub. Here, lurid green drinks accompany high-energy beer pong and classic casino table games including blackjack and roulette. Don’t forget your novelty green hat! March Madness March Madness is the nickname given to the fantastically popular NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament that sees cavernous Vegas sports bars full to bursting for much of the second half of the month. Sports fans and gamblers alike pour into town for a piece of the action, with giant screens showing the games in many of the major casinos, including the Venetian, MGM Grand and Caesars Palace. Difficult to avoid completely and occasionally overwhelming, it can feel like the whole town’s gone, well, basketball crazy. Head to the relative calm of downtown if you fancy a bit of respite away from the fanatics. Boulder City Beerfest A mere 20-odd miles south of Vegas is where you’ll find this annual mecca for beer lovers. Ok ok, so it’s a little out of town, but you managed to make it all the way out to the Grand Canyon, didn’t you? And that’s in Arizona! Expect award-winning ales and more from dozens of top Nevada brewers, soaked up with hearty fare from local food trucks. Save on attractions in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Las Vegas
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10+ Things to Do in Las Vegas in Winter

Are you not entertained? Despite being in the desert, Sin City has winter activities galore, from fascinating circus shows to unique museums and side trips to the stunning Hoover Dam.
Casey Makovich
The Las Vegas Strip at sunset
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Las Vegas in January

Party season may be over but, while Sin City nurses its massive holiday hangover, there are still stacks of fun things to see and do here in the city that quite literally never sleeps. Bonus: it’s less busy than usual, making the Strip and its many attractions much easier to explore. Dive in to our expert guide to discover why you should visit Las Vegas in January. Visiting Las Vegas in January Average Temperature: 48°F • Average Rainfall: 6 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 8 hours/day Being one of the hottest cities in the States doesn’t mean Las Vegas can’t also get chilly, particularly at night when desert temperatures have been known to plummet as dramatically as Celine Dion hitting an unexpected bass note on stage at Caesars Palace. Daytime highs at this time of year are around 57°F which, to be fair, is pretty darn pleasant for January especially when compared to, say, New York. But you might still be left wondering if the locals you see wandering around in shirt sleeves and shorts have been hitting the sauce a little too hard over the holiday season. We recommend layering as a safe bet to cover all bases. Think jeans, top and light jacket during the day with maybe an extra jumper or even a scarf on the chillier evenings, especially if this is when you plan to stroll the Strip to see the Bellagio fountains in action, or the erupting volcano outside the Mirage which, spectacular though it is, is unlikely to warm you up much. It’s a great time to visit Vegas, for many reasons. Such as the January sales: you could easily spend days losing yourself in the supersize malls here (though your bank manager might not thank you for it). Then there are the casinos, restaurants and shows. As Las Vegas is way less busy this time of year, you’ll likely find it much easier to get that reservation at Robuchon, or the best seats in the house for Cirque du Soleil. Flights into Vegas are also traditionally cheaper at this time of year, with most hotels lowering prices too, though note that you should expect a significant hike during the massive Consumer Electronics Show near the start of the month. Things to do in January The holiday party season may be over, and pool season proper won’t start until March, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find yourself a daybed and chill with cocktails by the pool someplace. Many of the major hotels here have heated pools that remain open throughout winter. These include the main pool at the MGM Grand, the palm-fringed pool deck at ARIA, and Resorts World with its enormous pool deck and infinity pool overlooking the Strip. However, to access others including Mandalay Bay and the Cosmopolitan you’ll need to be a guest, as day passes are unavailable. From relaxing poolside to screaming your head off on some of the planet’s scariest thrill rides, there’s a January activity here to suit all tastes. Take a ride on Insanity, 900 feet above the Strip atop the Strat’s SkyPod observation tower. Soar through the skies on the Fly LINQ Zipline. Loop the loop on the Big Apple Roller Coaster. Or try the relatively sedate (but no less terrifying) High Roller Observation Wheel – at 550 feet, it’s the second highest on the planet. After a couple of days spent enjoying Vegas’s non-stop assault of high-octane rides, high stakes casinos, high-priced steaks and endlessly mesmerizing neon lights, you may find yourself hankering for something a bit more... down to earth. Answer the call of the wild with a hiking trip to Red Rock Canyon, just south of the city. This sprawling conservation area is filled with towering sandstone peaks, waterfalls and Native American petroglyphs, and guided tours of its paths are available. Or steel yourself for a ramble up Mount Charleston, Clark County’s highest. The strenuous 16-hour round-trip to the mountain’s (probably snow-capped) summit is rewarded with unbeatable panoramic views of Death Valley, the Sierra Nevada, and Las Vegas itself. A journey almost as lengthy (but considerably more comfortable) is a coach trip out east of the city to some of the Nevada-Arizona state line’s finest natural and manmade wonders. You can pause at the Hoover Dam for spectacular views of the Colorado River from hundreds of feet up, or drive through the Joshua Tree National Park to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim where further awe-inspiring views await. Heck, why not just combine all three for the ultimate day trip out of Vegas? What’s on in January? One of the surprise treats that awaits visitors to Vegas in January is the proliferation of festive attractions that remain open. Soothe your holiday hangover with a trip to the Glittering Lights extravaganza at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Here, a whopping five million lights (give or take) create a dazzling drive-through show packed with Christmas scenes and Vegas icons. There’s even an accompanying festive radio station to tune into in your car. Meanwhile over at the Bellagio, you still have time (for the first week of January, at least) to view the displays at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Expect holiday decorations made from flowers and plants, giant polar bears and trees festooned with tinsel and baubles. Head to the Cosmopolitan rooftop for firepits, s’mores and a massive ice-skating rink complete with regular snow flurries. There’s plenty of Christmas spirit left up here and the views of the Paris resort’s neon-lit Eiffel Tower are second to none. Also worth looking out for in January is the parade in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The biggest in the state, it draws tens of thousands of participants annually, all eager to see its colorful floats and live performances. Hot enough to melt the snow that blankets Mount Charleston’s highest peaks, the AVN Adult Entertainment expo also rolls into town at this time of the year, raising temperatures and offering fan meet and greets with some of the industry’s hottest stars. And if there’s an event more ‘Sin City’ than a porn convention, we’ve yet to hear of it... Save on attractions in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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