Las Vegas rose from a railroad stop and dam worker outpost to a neon-lit capital of entertainment after casino gaming was legalized in 1931. Today the city pairs A-list shows and chef-driven restaurants with easy access to the American Southwest’s most dramatic landscapes.

Beyond the Strip’s dazzle, you’ll find powerful stories at the Mob Museum, vintage signage glowing at the Neon Museum, and murals in the Arts District. Day trips fan out to Hoover Dam’s engineering marvel, the fire-red formations of Valley of Fire, and the glass-bottom Skywalk over Grand Canyon West.

Practical notes: summers are very hot—hydrate and plan outdoor time early or late; many hotels charge nightly resort fees; rideshare, taxis, and the Las Vegas Monorail make getting around simple. Book popular restaurants and shows in advance, especially on weekends and during major events.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is spectacle with substance. Gawp at the Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory, then step into cutting-edge art at AREA15 or the Sphere’s immersive shows. Eat your way along the Strip—from hand-pulled noodles to dry-aged steaks—and sip inventive cocktails in hidden speakeasies.

• Top sights: Bellagio Conservatory & Fountains, High Roller at The LINQ, Sphere exterior and atrium, the canals at The Venetian, Fremont Street Experience, Neon Museum, Mob Museum.
• Nature near the city: Red Rock Canyon scenic drive, Valley of Fire State Park, Lake Mead and Black Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Grand Canyon West.
• Food & drink highlights: Northern Thai at Lotus of Siam, sushi and robata at Raku on Spring Mountain, wood-fired pizzas in the Arts District, and late-night eats like Secret Pizza at The Cosmopolitan.
• Fun fact: The Strip isn’t in Las Vegas proper—it runs through unincorporated Paradise and Winchester.

Where to stay (hotels and vacation rentals):

• The Venetian Resort — palatial suites, indoor canals, Bouchon Bakery mornings, and a central-Strip location.
• The LINQ Hotel + Experience — value-friendly, steps from the High Roller and the LINQ Promenade’s dining.
• Circus Circus Hotel & Casino — budget pick with the Adventuredome for families.
• Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino — tropical pool complex with a lazy river and easy access to Allegiant Stadium and shows.
• Compare more stays on Hotels.com (Las Vegas) and browse whole homes on VRBO (Las Vegas).

Getting to Las Vegas (LAS): Most nonstop US flights are 1–5 hours. Typical roundtrips range ~$120–$450 depending on season and departure city. Search fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. From the airport, rideshare and taxis are plentiful; the Strip is 10–20 minutes away, traffic permitting.

Day 1: Arrival, first look at the Strip, and a neon night

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs at the Bellagio Conservatory—seasonal floral installations change five times a year—and watch a couple of Bellagio Fountain shows on the half hour. Coffee fix at Bouchon Bakery (The Venetian) for a palmier or at Sambalatte (Boca Park or Molasky) if you’re headed off-Strip.

Evening: Welcome dinner ideas: Best Friend by Roy Choi (Korean-Mex street flavors; fun vibe at Park MGM), China Poblano (Chinese-Mex mashup at The Cosmopolitan), or Bazaar Meat by José Andrés (SAHARA; modern steakhouse—book ahead). Then orient yourself with the open-top Big Bus Las Vegas: Sightseeing Night Tour—a relaxed, guided loop through the Strip and downtown’s lights (about 2–3 hours; ~$55–$65).

Big Bus Las Vegas: Sightseeing Night Tour by Open-Top Bus

Day 2: Icons of the Strip from canals to sky wheels

Morning: Breakfast at the retro Peppermill Restaurant & Fireside Lounge (generous portions; old-Vegas photogenic) or Sadelle’s at Bellagio (bagels to lemon pancakes with fountain views). Explore The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes and consider a gondola ride; peek at the Sphere’s massive exterior as you exit on the east side.

Afternoon: Grab lunch at Tacos El Gordo (house-made tortillas; adobada carved from the trompo) or Din Tai Fung at ARIA (xiao long bao, cucumber salad). Stroll the LINQ Promenade and ride the High Roller for sweeping desert-and-Strip views, then cool off with a pool siesta.

Evening: Choose a headliner: Cirque du Soleil’s “O” (aquatic spectacle at Bellagio), “KÀ” (martial-arts epic at MGM Grand), or “Michael Jackson ONE” (Mandalay Bay). Dinner before or after at Carbone (classic red-sauce Italian at ARIA), Estiatorio Milos (seafood at The Venetian), or The Mayfair Supper Club (Bellagio; live music-dining). Nightcap at The Chandelier (The Cosmopolitan) with a Verbena if available.

Day 3: Downtown stories, vintage glow, and the Arts District

Morning: Coffee and a breakfast sandwich at PublicUs (Fremont East), then dive into the Mob Museum for Prohibition tunnels, wiretaps, and crime lore. If you like, slip into The Underground, the museum’s speakeasy, for a Prohibition-style mocktail or gin fizz.

Afternoon: Lunch at Le Thai (house-made curries) or Pizza Rock (award-winning Margherita Napoletana). Visit the Neon Museum’s outdoor Boneyard to see the city’s history in neon—golden hour is ideal for photos. Swing through the 18b Arts District for local galleries and a pick-me-up at Vesta Coffee Roasters or Makers & Finders.

Evening: Fremont Street Experience brings live music and a soaring LED canopy; buskers and zip-liners amp it up. Dinner downtown at Barry’s Downtown Prime (Circa; steaks and seafood) or Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District (house pastas; seasonal veg). For craft cocktails, book the tiny The Laundry Room (inside Commonwealth) or try Velveteen Rabbit for creative infusions.

Day 4: Grand Canyon West Rim and the Hoover Dam (full-day tour)

Set your alarm for a bucket-list day: the Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam Stop and Optional Lunch and Skywalk tour includes hotel pickup, desert driving, and VIP access to viewpoints like Eagle Point (home to the glass Skywalk) and Guano Point with its panoramic ridge. Most tours run 11–13 hours and often include a Hoover Dam photo stop; plan for comfortable shoes, layers, and plenty of photos. Typical pricing ranges ~$150–$250 depending on options.

Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam Stop and Optional Lunch and Skywalk

Back in Vegas late, refuel with late-night bites: Secret Pizza (The Cosmopolitan), Shang Artisan Noodle (hand-pulled noodles on Spring Mountain), or In-N-Out by The LINQ.

Day 5: Valley of Fire’s red rock cathedrals + a helicopter night flight

Morning–Afternoon: Escape the Strip on the Small Group: Valley of Fire Half Day Tour (about 5–6 hours; ~$99–$149). Wander past 2,000-year-old petroglyphs, wave-like Aztec sandstone, and pastel canyons. Your guide shares geology and Paiute history as you stop at highlights like Atlatl Rock and the Fire Wave (trail conditions permitting).

Small Group: Valley of Fire Half Day Tour from Las Vegas

Evening: After a restorative pool hour or spa visit, take the quintessential Strip skyline flight—the Las Vegas Helicopter Night Strip Flight Tour. You’ll soar past Luxor’s beam, Allegiant Stadium, the Eiffel Tower replica, and the Bellagio Fountains (flight time ~10–12 minutes; hotel transfers make the total ~90 minutes; ~$99–$149).

Las Vegas Helicopter Night Strip Flight Tour with Optional Dinner

Dinner picks before or after: Lotus of Siam (Northern Thai; order khao soi and crispy rice), Carbone (spicy rigatoni, veal parm), or Javier’s (Margarita flights; polished coastal Mexican at ARIA).

Day 6: Pools, shopping, and immersive art

Morning: Brunch at The Henry (The Cosmopolitan) for short rib Benedict or at Primrose (Park MGM) for a garden-set French omelet. Reserve a cabana or nab loungers; Mandalay Bay’s beach and lazy river or The Venetian’s multi-pool deck are leisurely options.

Afternoon: Wander The Shops at Crystals (artful architecture and luxury brands) or Fashion Show Mall for broader options. Then head to AREA15 for immersive art and mind-bending installations—Omega Mart by Meow Wolf is a surreal supermarket-with-secrets adventure. Coffee at Mothership Coffee Roasters on your way back.

Evening: Splurge on The Mayfair Supper Club (live vocals with dinner and fountain views) or try Superfrico for cheeky Italian and pop-up performers. Consider a Sphere experience or major headliner; schedules change, so book ahead once dates are set. Nightcap at SkyBar (Waldorf Astoria) for floor-to-ceiling skyline views.

Day 7: Hoover Dam, Boulder City charm, and lakeside time

Morning: Drive or rideshare 45 minutes to Hoover Dam for a look at 1930s Art Deco engineering and the bridge overlook. Continue 10 minutes to historic Boulder City for brunch at The Coffee Cup Café (hearty plates, old-town vibe) and a stroll along Arizona Street’s antique shops.

Afternoon: Head to Lake Mead National Recreation Area (vehicle fee applies) and Willow Beach for an easy paddle on the Colorado River to the Emerald Cave (calm water; plan ~3 hours on the water—rentals and guided trips are available, or relax on the pebbly shoreline). Alternatively, linger at the pool and book a restorative spa treatment back in town.

Evening: Dinner at Raku (intimate off-Strip Japanese robata; reservations recommended) or Bardot Brasserie (ARIA; French classics—steak frites, onion soup). For a moody cocktail, try The Underground at the Mob Museum or Foundation Room (Mandalay Bay) for a terrace view.

Day 8: Last bites and farewell fountains

Morning: A final brunch at Bardot Brasserie or Tableau (Wynn) if you want a quiet, elegant sendoff. Pick up souvenirs—Eataly at Park MGM for Italian goodies, or the Forum Shops for one last lap.

Afternoon: Squeeze in one more Bellagio Fountain show, then depart for the airport (plan 45–90 minutes door-to-gate depending on time of day). If you’re extending, compare later flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites to plug into any day:

• Coffee/breakfast: Bouchon Bakery (The Venetian; kouign-amann), PublicUs (Fremont East; pour-overs), Vesta Coffee Roasters (Arts District; single-origin), Sadelle’s (Bellagio; smoked fish platters), The Henry (late-night/early-morning breakfast at The Cosmopolitan).
• Lunch: Tacos El Gordo (adobada), Din Tai Fung (xiao long bao), Eataly at Park MGM (quick counters from focaccia to gelato), Dirt Dog (bacon-wrapped street dogs).
• Dinner: Lotus of Siam (Northern Thai), Raku (robata and tofu specials), Barry’s Downtown Prime (classic steakhouse), Estiatorio Milos (Mediterranean seafood), Carbone (New York-Italian nostalgia), The Mayfair Supper Club (supper-and-a-show).
• Dessert and late-night: Secret Pizza (no signage; slices at The Cosmopolitan), Milk Bar (Cereal Milk soft serve), Peppermill Fireside Lounge (retro sundaes).

How to get around: The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip (from SAHARA to MGM Grand). Rideshare is ubiquitous; taxis queue at every resort. Walking distances can be longer than they look—hydrate and wear comfortable shoes.

With a balance of headline attractions and nature escapes, this 8-day Las Vegas itinerary lets you savor the city’s world-class food and shows while checking off Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam, and Valley of Fire. You’ll leave with a camera roll of neon nights, red-rock mornings, and one unforgettable skyline from the air.