Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary for 2024

Check out our detailed Las Vegas 3-Day itinerary if you plan a trip 2024 to this amazing city! We have often been to Vegas and always enjoy this place, so we share the best experiences with you. Las Vegas is called a Sin City that never sleeps. It is the capital of gambling, but you will also find great shops, excellent restaurants, unique entertainment, and mysterious nightlife here! What is the best time to go to Vegas? How to plan a trip to Vegas to fulfill three days perfectly? What to do if you go first time to Vegas? All the information we reveal in our Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary 2024.

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Las Vegas Itinerary – Our Experiences

Las Vegas has much more to offer than gambling and casinos. This city is fantastic and offers world-class entertainment. My partner Chris and I have been to Vegas more than ten times. We often arrive there for an Arizona road trip or Utah road trip because of the great rental prices and excellent localization. So, it’s a perfect place to start a road trip.

On each visit, we spend some time enjoying the city. We photograph Vegas (here, you can see 10 of the best photoshoot locations in Las Vegas) or go to some amazing shows, like David Copperfield at the MGM Grand or Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil.

We only share our proven places, photos, activities, and our best experiences from Las Vegas.

What is The Best Time to Go to Las Vegas?

The best time to go to Las Vegas is between March-May and September-November. There is a couple of reasons for those months. The weather is favorable – it’s not too hot, and most hotels’ swimming pools are open. And you will find a lot of price deals for hotels and attractions.

Summer is also sweltering and crowded. But if you must go during summer, book everything in advance. This will avoid getting stuck in lines at the most exciting attractions.

Las Vegas Itinerary – How to get to LV?

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport is very well connected to cities in the USA, Europe, and Asia. Except for local airports, people often fly to Los Angeles and drive to Las Vegas. Driving from Los Angeles will take about 5-6 hours, and the distance is 270 miles.

Las Vegas is a city where you can spend a week without being bored. There are so many attractions and things to do. Moreover, it is a great base for exploring the Southwest and the most beautiful places in the USA. Also, check out our recommendations for the best day trips from Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Itinerary – Best Places to Stay in Vegas

Like no other city, Las Vegas has an incredible number of hotels available at excellent prices. The choice is unlimited until no event or conference is held in the city. The city is made of hotels. Some hotels are cities within a city.

The Las Vegas Strip is a fabulous place to spend the night. The hotels are stunning. Prices are competitive in Las Vegas, so we often start and end our Southwest travels here. You can get very affordable deals if you book your hotel in advance.

Is Las Vegas expensive? Check here. In our opinion, if you book your stay ahead, you can find a reasonable price. Last time, before our hike to incredible Havasu Falls, we stayed three nights in Vegas to prepare for our backpacking adventure to Havasu Creek Waterfalls.

We paid $100 per night in a 4-star hotel but booked it months ahead. With current prices and inflation, this is probably impossible, but still, if you plan your trip ahead, you can find great deals!

Beast deals in Vegas

Check the Deals Finder below for the best Las Vegas hotel options for your stay!

Booking.com

Most of the Las Vegas hotels have resort fees to increase their base rate, which is usually attractive. If you want to avoid it, you can still find some hotels that don’t have a resort fee. Please also remember that in the last couple of years, many hotels have introduced parking fees, so before deciding where to stay, count all the costs carefully.

Finally, you can consider getting a loyalty card. We are fans of Ceasars Rewards because we saved a lot of money with the membership. And you can get the best room prices. But other hotels definitely have similar loyalty cards. You can check the best rates in Las Vegas on the map below.

Booking.com

Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary – Buy Las Vegas Pass

If you plan to use many Las Vegas attractions and stay 3 days in Las Vegas, buying a pass that will save you 50% of the money might be a perfect idea! We recommend Las Vegas Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 30+ Attractions.

It’s a great solution. Enjoy 2, 3, 4, or 5 days of Las Vegas activities for one low price. Choose from 35+ museums, tours, and top attractions, and save up your money. You can enjoy one premium attraction choice between a Las Vegas Strip helicopter ride, a Zion National Park tour, and tickets to Ka by Cirque du Soleil. Book it below:

Las Vegas Itinerary – Where to Eat in Vegas?

Las Vegas is not only a city of hazards but also a place to eat in excellent restaurants. So you should start your day with a great breakfast, and there are plenty of places to choose from. We will give here three of our breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations—you can use one for each day if you want.

Breakfast in Las Vegas

Overlook Grill ($$)—This elegant restaurant is in The Cosmopolitan Hotel, adjacent to the Boulevard Pool. It is open seasonally, so make sure it is accessible when you visit Sin City. We recommend trying their Avocado Toast Benedict or Blackened Mahi-Mahi Sandwich!

Grand Lux Cafe ($$)—This beautiful place to start your day has more than one location. Our favorite is at The Venetian Hotel, and we recommend it for breakfast, but it’s open 24 hours a day. The best option to start your great day might be one of the morning cocktails accompanied by Chilaquiles or a Fresh Garden Omelette.

Bruxie ($$) – This restaurant is in New York, New York hotel next to Park Avenue. It should be your choice if you are fun of waffles because they are the best. We were trying Bacon, Egg & Cheddar, and Green Eggs & Ham, which were delicious! If you are late for your breakfast, you can still order it because they serve it all day.

Las Vegas Itinerary – Lunch in Las Vegas

We are sharing a few lunch propositions with you below:

Nine Fine Irishmen ($$) – This Irish restaurant is in New York, New York hotel. And it is perfect for staying for lunch. The Irish Cheesesteak Sandwich and NFI Burger with original Irish beacon are favorites.

Maggiano’s Little Italy ($$) – If you are more after Italy than Ireland, visit this chain restaurant located in the Fashion Show Mall. You can find all the Italian classics at their best – starters, salads, and pasta. We can, for sure, recommend fantastic bruschetta and mozzarella marinara.

Mon Ami Gabi ($$$)—This slightly more expensive restaurant is in a different league. It is located in the Paris Las Vegas hotel and offers French-style meals, like Oysters du Jour or Scallops Gratinees. It also offers typical American meals with a French accent, like Maine Lobster Rolls or regular cheeseburgers.

Las Vegas Itinerary – Dinner in Las Vegas

Peppermill restaurant ($$) – The restaurant centrally located on Las Vegas Blvd between the Wynn and the Riviera offers you a savory dinner. If you trust our personal recommendations, you should order Savory Ribeye Steak or BBQ Pork Ribs accompanied by spinach salad and rosemary rustic bread.

Firefly Tapas Kitchen ($$) – We love Spanish-origin cuisine; this place is an excellent example. Of course, it seems that it’s not the best idea to order something from the massive selection of tapas for dinner, but I would hesitate. However, consider Firefly Burger or Seafood Paella if you want to go the traditional way. Finish them with caramel flan.

Crush ($$) – If you decide to see the magic after David Copperfield at the MGM Grand show, you could enter this exquisite restaurant. They have an excellent selection of wines priced reasonably, and you can consider ordering Crispy Shrimp, Togarashi Sea Bass, and Summer Berry Tiramisu.

Las Vegas Itinerary – How to move around the city?

If you rent a car, park it and leave it at the hotel. There is a huge problem with parking spaces in the city. If it is your first time in Las Vegas, start with a relaxing walk on the Strip and see some of the unique hotels. Vegas is a walkable city. If you don’t like walking, you can catch the hop-on/hop-off bus.

The price is affordable, and you will see the best highlights. What we recommend here is to consider a three-day hop-on/hop-off bus ticket. Thanks to this, you will be able to move between the most important attractions of Vegas during your 3-day stay in an easy, fast and cheap way. Another option to move around the city at an affordable price is to use a Monorail Train. You can also use a taxi or Uber, but you will pay more.

Day 1 of Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary

Eiffel Tower Experience in Paris Hotel

Start your trip with a spectacular view of Vegas. We highly recommend the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Entrance Ticket. We are sure it’s worth paying for this incredible view.

The panorama from the Viewing Deck is incredible. If you have always dreamed of going to Paris and taking the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but it has never come true, maybe it’s time to try it in Hotel Paris, Las Vegas.

The replica is half-scale of the original French monument, but the experience is similar. Everything was designed to remind the unique construction of Paris. You will get to the panoramic observation deck and look at The Strip, the mountains around Las Vegas, and even the Mojave Desert. Observing the magnificent Bellagio Hotel Fountains from this perspective might also be a good idea!

Gamble in Caesars Palace

The Fantastic Caesars Palace Hotel opened in 1966 and has never lost its level of luxury. At the entrance, you will spot a 20-foot sculpture of Julius Cesar welcoming you. But for your luck, follow the signs to the Appian Way Shops, find an 18-foot replica of Michelangelo’s Statue of David, and touch his big toe for good luck.

A lot of people coming to Vegas and staying in Caesars Palace Hotel are asking for room 2452 – featured in the movie “The Hangover.” Unfortunately, this room was only inspired by the Forum Classic Emperor Suite and built in the studio for movie production purposes.

Las Vegas Itinerary – Gondola Ride in The Venetian

The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino is our favorite hotel in Las Vegas, and we love to stay there if it has rooms available. What is really strange is that it can run out of rooms, even though it has 7,000 of them (combined with The Palazzo), which makes it the biggest in the United States.

We believe that this is probably because this hotel reminds us of beautiful Venice, Italy, with its Grand Canal and the streets of Venice.

You can have a gondola ride here and enter Madame Tussauds museum, and it’s a lot of fun! You can feel like you are in Venice!

This trip is worth buying if you want to give your loved one a romantic and fun surprise. It’s worth booking in advance. In our opinion, it is one of the best experiences of the Las Vegas 3-day itinerary.

Rides at the top of Stratosphere

Coming to Vegas by car, you will first notice the tower of the Stratosphere Hotel (the name is: The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Skypod). It is 1149 feet tall and fits 2427 rooms! It is not only the tallest building in Las Vegas but also in Nevada.

You can choose to stay in this hotel not only because of the cheap room price (it is usually less expensive because the hotel is a little bit remote from the main Strip activities) or the grand casino but also because of the three rides at the top. You will choose between The Big Shot, Insanity, and X-Scream. All of them are equally terrifying and exciting at the same time.

If you decide to stay in a different hotel, it is worth buying at least a STRAT Tower SkyPod Observation Deck Ticket, and STRAT Tower – Thrill Rides Admission. But do it in advance, due to the popularity of those fabulous attractions.

Las Vegas Itinerary – Admire Fountains at Bellagio

The first day of our three-day visit to Las Vegas is slowly ending. In the evening, treat yourself to a beautiful artistic experience.

You should plan this attraction after sunset. Fountains at Bellagio Hotel are at their best in the dark with all those lights on. And you must see them in person because they were destined to romance your senses. During the day, you can admire them every 30 minutes, but at night, even more often – every 15 minutes.

At Bellagio Hotel, more than a thousand fountains dance in front of the hotel, enhanced by music and light. The display spans over 1,000 feet, with water soaring as high as 460 feet into the air.

Night Show “O” by Cirque du Soleil at Bellagio

If you plan to visit Vegas and see those fountains, think that you can leave Las Vegas – the Entertainment Capital of the World – without seeing one or more of the shows that uphold the city’s title! So, if you are already in the Bellagio Hotel, why don’t you see the “O” by Cirque du Soleil?

In this timeless production, they weave an aquatic tapestry of artistry, surrealism, and theatrical romance. “The international cast of world-class acrobats, synchronized swimmers, divers, and characters perform in, on, and above water to create a breathtaking experience in a magnificent theatre reminiscent of a European opera house.” Book your ticket ahead.

Day 2 of Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary

On the second day of this three-day Las Vegas Itinerary, you can explore the other side of The Strip, around hotels like Luxor Hotel, Excalibur Hotel, or Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

First thing in the morning, might be a good idea to take a ride to the famous Las Vegas sign – it will be less crowded, and lines should be shorter to make the must-have selfie or picture.

Many people ask how to find the sign. The easiest way is to set up Google Maps at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South. To your surprise, it’s not Las Vegas but the neighborhood town of Paradise. 

Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay

The vast Mandalay Bay Hotel stands next to the Las Vegas sign, so visiting it on your way back to the city center is a good idea. People are usually coming here for awesome gambling, lovely rooms, and epic clubs, but there is more to experience.

The main attraction in this hotel is the Shark Reef Aquarium. Here, you can see more than 2,000 animals, including sharks, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, and a Komodo dragon. This unique exhibit gives you the chance to dive with a higher concentration of exotic sharks than you’d ever find in the wild. Become an Aquarist for a day and feed our stingrays, sharks, or turtles in our Animal Encounters program.

Shark Reef Aquarium is introducing its newest exhibit – the world premiere of Polar Journey, An Interactive Adventure. Open for a limited time, this interactive experience gives guests a glimpse into the Earth’s polar regions and the animals that call them home.”

Las Vegas Itinerary – Visit The Luxor Pyramid

Next to Mandalay Bay, you will pass a tremendous black mysterious pyramid and some Egyptian-style monuments. The Luxor Hotel & Casino once opened in 1993, the tallest building in Las Vegas. The hotel’s pyramid is similar in size to the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid of Egypt.

When the resort opened, it featured the Nile River Tour, which was a river ride that carried guests to different parts of the pyramid and passed by pieces of ancient artwork on a river that encircled the casino. The casino also featured King Tut’s Tomb and Museum, a duplicate of King Tutankhamen’s tomb as found in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt.

You can enter the Atrium through the Great Sphinx of Giza replica at Giza. It covers the moving pathway leading into the Atrium. The original sphinx is 70 feet high, while the Vegas replica is 110 feet.

Encounter the Medieval Style of The Excalibur

In 1990 it was opened as the largest hotel in the world with over 4000 rooms. Excalibur Hotel was designed in line with the “theme resort” strategy popular among some casino operators during the 1990s, which included the traditional Las Vegas gaming experience and family-oriented elements.

You can step in if you like medieval-style scenery (however, it was significantly reduced during one of the recent renovations) or would like to get a reasonable room rate (Excalibur is known for its competitive prices). And you can check if the rumor about the haunted 10th floor is true or not…

Las Vegas Itinerary – Evening Show in MGM Grand Las Vegas

We already mentioned that The Venetian has 7000 rooms and is considered the biggest in the United States in the “under one roof” category. But MGM Grand Hotel, with its 6852 rooms, is 3rd biggest in the world and 1st biggest in the category of a single hotel.

Similar to The Excalibur, when it was opened in 1993, it was themed “Wizard of Oz.” At that time, it was a general idea to build more family-friendly objects to attract not only gamblers. It quickly failed, and the hotel was redesigned to get rid of the theme.

But we would like to emphasize the show in the MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas – David Copperfield nightly performance. The price for his Show is affordable. The famous magician has so far sold 33 million tickets and grossed over $4 billion US Dollars, more than any other solo entertainer in history.

In 2015, Forbes listed his earnings at $63 million for the previous 12 months, ranking him the 20th highest-earning celebrity worldwide.

We strongly recommend booking tickets to David Copperfield at the MGM Grand Show and seeing it live. Even if you have seen it on TV, the live show (changing over time) is spectacular. You would not believe what your eyes will see.

This man is a legend. The Society of American Magicians awarded him “Magician of the Century” and “King of Magic.” It was a magical experience for us. In our opinion is one of the best experiences of the Las Vegas 3 days itinerary. We loved it!

Day 3 of Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary

On day three, you are probably already a little tired of all those luxury hotels, so we propose different kinds of activities, like shopping and one of the best rollercoasters in the United States.

Shopping in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is an excellent place for shopping. You can visit places like Fashion Show Mall, Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, or shops at Planet Hollywood Hotel. Shops downtown might be more expensive but have a better choice of products.

If you don’t want to break the bank and haven’t already won in the casino, you should head to Premium Outlets – they have over 150 stores with reasonable prices and excellent choices.

But if you prefer to indulge your shopping fantasies, maybe your option is Fashion Show Mall – one of the largest enclosed malls in the world. They have 250 stores, including famous brands like Calvin Klein, Guess, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Louis Vuitton, among many others.

And believe us, if you start browsing items in those stores, it’s hard to stop, so book the proper amount of time for this activity in your Las Vegas 3-day itinerary.

Rollercoaster ride in New York, New York

When approaching the New York, New York hotel, you will notice a couple of things. It will surely be a replica of the Liberty statue, a Brooklyn Bridge model, and the Rollercoaster. Of course, we don’t need to mention famous architectural pearls like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, or Grand Central Terminal. You will find it all here.

The best way to see all those attractions of New York at a 1/3 scale is to take a Roller Coaster Ride. It was a fantastic, thrilling experience. I almost lost my glasses while on the roller coaster was driving.

So don’t forget to take off your glasses, caps, or hats while driving. We can highly recommend Big Apple Coaster at the New York-New York Hotel, as we had a lot of fun and thrills. In our opinion is one of the best experiences of the Las Vegas 3 days itinerary. It’s great fun for all families.

If you are traveling to Las Vegas with kids, it might be an excellent option to visit the part dedicated to children where no real money is used, but you have coupons for winning and swap them for awards.

This is probably the only casino-like place where all kids are welcome! After that, you can visit Hershey’s Chocolate World – your kids will love it!

Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary – Other Things To Do in Las Vegas

Day trips from Vegas

Even though we believe in giving you plenty of propositions to fulfill the whole 3 days of your Las Vegas itinerary, it might not suit you best. If you are looking for other attractions or just better diversification, read this section carefully. Las Vegas is great for day trips to the Southwest. We wrote a separate article about Vegas day trips.

Moreover, its competitive prices make Las Vegas an excellent base for exploring Arizona or Utah. So you can check out our detailed Arizona Road Trip Itinerary or Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary.

Las Vegas area with organized tours

You can use those hints below to extend your Las Vegas 3 days itinerary or to spend some time during the sunny days out of the city. There are plenty of places to visit near Las Vegas by car, just an hour or two drive, and it might be a good idea to visit them if you are already in Vegas. You can purchase an organized tour with a guide and transport or explore each of the following places on your own. Let’s briefly describe our best Las Vegas day trips recommendations:

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire – You will drive about one hour to reach the Valley of Fire, located 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. It is a state park covering 46000 acres of rock formations made from Aztec sandstone. On a sunny day, those rocks look like being on fire and, thus, the park’s name. You can drive just an hour or two and stop at the selected overlooks in the park. If you have more time or like to hike, there is more to do – even for a couple of days. Hikes are short and long, even with an overnight option (permit required). If you don’t have a car, don’t worry. You can always book this wonderful excursion.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon – Visiting Grand Canyon is a lifetime experience. It’s a trendy destination reachable from Las Vegas. The best, but also the most expensive option, is a helicopter tour. It might offer options like Grand Canyon Tour & Helicopter Landing Experience or from Las Vegas Grand Canyon Helicopter West Rim Flight.

Or you can do a trip to Grand Canyon yourself – it is just 2 hour drive from Las Vegas. Follow our tips in the article The Best Grand Canyon Viewpoints & Travel Guide to South Rim.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon – For sure, you have seen amazing pictures taken in this canyon plenty of times. It’s not located very close to Las Vegas, but still, you can make it. And even better, this excursion might be done together with Horseshoe Bend. We can recommend booking Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour.

Lake Mead

Lake Mead – This 30 minutes drive destination offers a lot but is barely known to people visiting Las Vegas. Except for quite a popular Hoover Dam with the Powerplant Tour, you have a couple of hot springs, plenty of water activities (houseboat, scuba dive, kayaks, or fishing), and hikes. Everyone can find something for themselves in this paradise. If you want to go on an organized tour, please check Lake Mead ATV Tour.

Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary – Related articles to plan a perfect Southwest road trip

• Las Vegas Photo Shoot Locations – check the best spots for photos in sin city.
• Arizona Natural Hot Springs – go for half a day hike to beautiful hot springs!
• Grand Canyon Viewpoints South Rim – spend a day in Grand Canyon and prepare for a great tip.
• Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary – it’s a ready-to-go Utah Mighty 5 itinerary that starts and ends in Las Vegas.
• Arizona Road Trip Itinerary – it’s a detailed and ready-to-go 14 days Arizona road trip that starts and ends in Las Vegas.

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