Las Vegas Skyline

Las Vegas Itinerary – 3 Days in Vegas for First Timers

This popular Las Vegas itinerary includes the best things to do during your 3 days in Las Vegas.
By Katie Sagal

Our guide to spending three days in Vegas.

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

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The Seven Magic Mountains art installation in the Mojave Desert south of Las Vegas
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5 Days in Las Vegas

Metropolises the world over dub themselves ‘the city that never sleeps’ on a near-daily basis. But none have turned that tired old cliché into a neon-lit reality with quite the show-stopping aplomb of Las Vegas, where the entertainment – regardless of what time of year you visit – stays turned up to eleven 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Five days in Las Vegas is just about enough time to get a taste of this unique desert city’s hedonistic lifestyle and visit some of its most memorable attractions: the Strip’s mega-hotels, the laidback downtown neighborhood and the Grand Canyon being among the most essential. We’ve put together a suggested 5-day itinerary to help guide and inspire you on your Sin City adventure. So put on your best poker face, cram your pockets full of dollar bills and dive in! Viva Las Vegas! And may lady luck smile upon you... Day 1: Vegas in a Nutshell Kick off your Vegas experience with a spin aboard the hop-on hop-off bus tour. It’s a great introduction to the city’s many pleasures and, best of all, requires minimal effort from you. The tour calls at iconic landmarks along the Strip and Downtown, including the famous ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign, the Strat’s skyscraping SkyPod observation tower and Fremont Street. You can hop off anywhere you like to start filling your Instagram feed with classic Vegas selfies, or stay on for the full two-hour loop to get a proper introduction to Sin City – there’s no better way for a newbie to experience the Strip than from the comfort of an open-top bus, as the supersize hotels and neon-lit casinos roll past. Book a private pod with a decadent glass of bubbles aboard the High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ Hotel and watch the sun go down over the Strip and surrounding desert from a sweaty-palmed 550 feet up. Then, suitably emboldened, it’s time to hit the blackjack and roulette tables and one-armed bandits in your first (of what will no doubt be many) Vegas casino experiences. We favor the old-school glitz of Caesars Palace for first-timers – movie mavens may even recognize its cavernous interiors from the likes of The Hangover and Dream Girls. Stick around for a show at its Colosseum theater, which has hosted megastars including Madonna, Elton and Sinatra in its time, or head to the Bellagio, Mirage or MGM Grand for one of Vegas’s ever-popular Cirque du Soleil spectaculars. Day 2: A Spot of Culture Anyone who tells you Vegas is purely about high rolling and horrific hangovers is missing a trick. Did you know, for example, that Sin City also boasts some pretty great galleries and museums? Fill your pockets with quarters and get down to the Pinball Hall of Fame, where you can try your luck on over 150 antique machines. Or don a fedora, pinstripe and your best Al Capone face and get yourself made at The Mob Museum, a fascinating journey into the US’s history of organized crime, with interactive exhibits that include a rogues’ gallery of gangsters and a shooting range simulator. There’s even a working distillery and Prohibition-style speakeasy tucked away in the basement. Meanwhile, the National Atomic Testing Museum explores Nevada’s explosive past when, in the 1950s, atomic weapons were detonated out in the desert here with alarming frequency. Check out the ever-changing program at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, which has hosted exhibitions focusing on the work of Warhol, Picasso, Lichtenstein and others. And step inside the mind of a Dutch master at The Immersive Van Gogh experience, where spectacular set designs by Tony-nominated David Korins of Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton fame make you feel like you’re walking through his best-loved paintings, including Starry Night and Sunflowers. Spend your evening in the neon boneyard at the excellent Neon Museum. Here, retired Vegas signs of yore including iconic examples from the Stardust and Lucky Cuss Motel are given a second lease of life. Day 3: Downtown! Often overlooked by visitors here for the higher octane thrills and spills of the Strip, Vegas’s laidback Downtown has many charms of its own. Get yourself down to the Fremont Street Experience, where an arched canopy over the mall area doubles as a giant video screen. And when we say giant we mean length-of-five-football-pitches giant. Expect spectacular hourly light shows as you browse the shops and sip cocktails in the bars below. Stick around for live music across three stages, kicking off at 6pm every evening. Downtown is also where you’ll find the Las Vegas Arts District aka the 18b. Soak up the boho vibe and shop 18 blocks of art galleries, unique independent stores, vintage clothing boutiques and craft breweries. An arts walk on the first Friday of every month showcases eclectic local art and features live music, fire breathers, fortune tellers and other such Vegas entertainments. Afterwards head over to the nearby Strat, where the Skypod and its utterly terrifying 108th floor thrill rides await nearly 1,000 feet above the Strip. Day 4: Get Outta Town! We get it: the constant noise, bright lights and general chaos of the Strip can get a little overwhelming. We recommend a relatively soothing day out to the Grand Canyon. Charter a helicopter to the South Rim in the afternoon. You’ll soar over the epic Hoover Dam en route and get the opportunity to take a short hike among the wildflowers and rust-red rocks before returning along the Strip at sundown, as the desert skies turn a bruised purple and the Neon City is at its picture-perfect best. Or rent a Cadillac, put the top down and cruise south along Interstate 15 to the wildly incongruous Mojave Desert art installation that is Swiss sculptor Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains. These gravity-defying tall stacks of boulders – some as high as 35 feet – are painted in a rainbow of trippy colors. Then make for the nearby Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon’s diminutive sibling which, at a mere 200,000 acres, still offers plenty of hiking opportunities. Look out for hidden waterfalls and ancient Native American petroglyphs among its towering sandstone crags and deep, cacti-filled valleys. Day 5: Go Hotel-Hopping Vegas’s mega resorts are attractions all of their own, and no Vegas vacation would be complete without spending a day wandering the Strip and taking in essential attractions like the dancing fountains outside the Bellagio, or the Mirage’s exploding volcano. If you’re here during pool party season (March to October), get yourself along to Mandalay Bay’s sprawling Daylight Beach Club with its enormo 4,400 square foot pool, massive man-made beach and winding lazy river. Dive in, or grab a cabana and pina colada and people-watch the day away. Major exhibitions at the Luxor are always worth a couple of hours of anyone’s time and the Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are a horticultural marvel, with exhibits that change with the seasons and culminate in a hugely over-the-top festive display at year’s end. You’ll also want to ride the gondolas at the Venetian, with its faithful replica of Venice’s Grand Canal, and ride the glass elevator in the Paris hotel’s glitzy half-size Eiffel Tower facsimile. While you’re there you might as well stop to gorge on caviar, steak tartare and escargots in the panoramic restaurant 100 feet above the Strip. Bon appetit! 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
The 'Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas' sign at night
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Things to do in Downtown Las Vegas

Seeking a little respite from the non-stop sensory assault that is the Las Vegas Strip? Then Downtown may be for you. The city’s historic heart promises much the same in terms of top-flight dining, high-stakes casinos and flashing neon signs, but is a much more laid back affair, with street eats, free live shows and an artsy enclave that feels more NYC than Vegas Strip. There are stacks of things of things to do in Downtown Las Vegas, too, and we’ve put together a few of our favorites below, including: Fremont Street Experience Golden Nugget casino Mob Museum Container Park SlotZilla Zipline Neon Museum Las Vegas Arts District Fremont Street Tour A tour of historic Fremont Street is hands-down the best way to find your bearings on your first visit to Downtown Las Vegas (and a great way to discover things to do on Fremont Street once the tour is over). During the tour you’ll follow in the footsteps of the first settlers, see where the Rat Pack used to hang out and learn about Sin City’s past links to organized crime. Your guide will also point out old-school Downtown icons like the Golden Nugget casino and Neonopolis wedding chapel, where you can – should you so desire – be married by Elvis and Gene Simmons impersonators. You’ll also discover the iconic Main Street Station hotel and casino which promises, among its many treasures, chandeliers from the Coca-Cola building in Texas and the Figaro Opera House in Paris, and a section of the Berlin Wall in the, um, gentlemen’s conveniences. Fremont Street Experience The undisputed highlight of the Fremont Street Experience is its absolutely humongous vaulted canopy. At 1,500 feet in length (that’s about four blocks or five football pitches, fact fans) and containing nearly 50 million LED lights, this unashamedly decadent wraparound video screen is the world’s largest. Grab a drink at one of the many bars in this (mostly) pedestrianized part of town and settle in for the mesmerizing light shows that burst out of the big screen every hour. There’s also free live music across three stages here, starting at 6pm every single evening. The Golden Nugget You’ll recognize The Golden Nugget from its cameos in dozens of Hollywood flicks down the years, perhaps most notably Bond classic Diamonds are Forever and Elvis fave (yup, you guessed it) Viva Las Vegas. Enter beneath the iconic neon sign and check out the huge Hand of Faith nugget on display in the lobby before trying your luck at the roulette and blackjack tables or just grabbing a cocktail and soaking up the distinctly old-school vibes of this, Las Vegas’s oldest large casino. SlotZilla Zipline From high stakes to high wires, the SlotZilla Zipline is pure Vegas, with an 11-story launch deck that’s designed to look like a giant slot machine, complete with cascading coins and a pair of 35-foot showgirls. Incurable thrill-seekers can fly, Superman-style, along the epic (and appropriately named) Superhero-Zoom, which traverses the length of the Fremont Street Experience. The Zip-Zilla is a somewhat less frightening half-length option that flies a little lower and allows you to travel in an upright seated position, for those not feeling quite so dare-devilish. The Mob Museum Practise your best Al Capone impersonations on a visit to the quite excellent Mob Museum, with its plethora of interactive exhibits that chart the history of organized crime in the US, with a focus on mob activity in Las Vegas. See if you can hit the target in the firearms training simulator and visit the rogues’ gallery charting over a century of made men. There’s even an underground speakeasy here serving Prohibition-inspired cocktails to thirsty visitors. Enter via the secret door by the parking lot, but watch out for shady-looking gentlemen in fedoras and pinstripe suits! Container Park A giant metal mantis with flaming antennae and an ear-shattering sound system marks the somewhat apocalyptic entrance to the Container Park, a Downtown shopping and entertainment mecca built out of old shipping containers. It’s a pretty cool hangout, with a little something for people of old ages: there are independent boutiques, bars and live music for the grown-ups, while a huge slide and water-play area in the central courtyard keeps the kids happy. The Neon Museum This huge outdoor museum preserves and exhibits that most Las Vegas of art forms: the neon sign. It’s a kind of retirement home for neon signs, giving these masterpieces of the Nevada skyline a second lease of life as part of a major tourist attraction. This is where you’ll find classic old-school signage including sparkling examples from the Stardust, Sassy Sally’s, Lucky Cuss Motel and the Hard Rock Cafe. We recommend visiting the Neon Boneyard at sundown for the most Instagrammable photo opportunities, when the signs are lit up against the fiery desert sky in all their technicolor glory. SkyPod at the Strat Ok ok, so it’s not strictly part of Downtown, but it does command some of the best views of Fremont Street you’ll find anywhere in the city, so we say it counts! Another bonus is that this is one attraction you really can’t miss: just look for the skyscraping observation tower south of Downtown in the direction of the Strip; it's only the second-tallest of its kind in the entire Western Hemisphere! And, should your nerves be able to withstand the head-spinning super-speed elevator ride up to the 108th floor, there are plenty of attractions up here, nearly 1,000 feet above the Strip, to keep adrenaline-seekers occupied for hours. Board the aptly-named Insanity ride, a giant metal claw that dangles (and spins) its victims passengers over the edge of the building and into thin air. Or get even higher on the Big Shot, the vertical drop ride that goes up (and down) the tower’s needle, reaching a gut-churning height of 1,081 feet. Eek, eek and, furthermore, eeeeeeeeeek! 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
High Roller Vegas
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Visiting the High Roller Observation Wheel – Tickets, Tips & More

Get sweeping views across the Las Vegas Strip with a ride on the High Roller Observation Wheel. Here are our top tips on how to get the most from your visit.
Casey Makovich

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