| | |

Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary 2023

Check out our detailed Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary for 2023 if you plan a trip to this amazing city! We have been to Vegas many times 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 2023.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
las vegas itinerary
Table of Contents show

Las Vegas Itinerary – Introduction

Las Vegas has much more to offer than gambling and casinos. This city is fantastic and offers world-class entertainment. We’ve been to Vegas more than ten times because we often arrived there for an Arizona road trip or a Utah road trip because of the great rental prices and excellent localization. Each time we spend some time there 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 the best own 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 sweltering and crowded as well. But if you must go during summer, book everything in advance. You will avoid getting stuck in lines at the most exciting attractions.

Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary 2021

Las Vegas Itinerary – How to get to LV?

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport is very well connected with cities in the USA, Europe, and Asia. Except for local airports, people often fly to Los Angeles and drive to Las Vegas. It will be about 5-6 hours of driving from Los Angeles, and the distance is 270 miles. Las Vegas is a city where you can spend a week and you won’t be bored. It’s 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. If you plan a day trip from Las Vegas, check our recommendations.

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. Las Vegas Strip is a fabulous place for a night. The hotels are stunning. Prices in Las Vegas are competitive, 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. And we paid $60 per night in a 4-star hotel. But we booked it months ahead. We know that with current prices and inflation probably is impossible, but still, if you plan your trip ahead, you can find great deals!

Beast deals in Vegas

Check the Deals finder below to see 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 think of 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 for sure other hotels 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, it might be a perfect idea to buy a pass that will save you 50% of the money! 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 the only 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 ($$) – You will find this elegant restaurant in The Cosmopolitan Hotel adjacent to Boulevard Pool. The important thing is to remember that this place is open seasonally, so make sure it is accessible when you visit the sin city. We recommend trying their Avocado Toast Benedict or Blackened Mahi-Mahi Sandwich!

Grand Lux Cafe ($$) – There is more than one location of this beautiful place to start your day. 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 ($$) – You will find this restaurant 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.

3 days in las vegas
3 days in las vegas

Las Vegas Itinerary – Lunch in Las Vegas

We are sharing a few lunch propositions with you below:

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

Maggiano’s Little Italy ($$) – If you are more after Italy than Ireland, visit this chain restaurant located in 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 little bit more expensive restaurant is a different league. It is located in Paris Las Vegas hotel and offers you French-style meals, like Oysters du Jour or Scallops Gratinees. But also typical American meals with some 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, and this place is an excellent example of it. 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
las vegas itinerary

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 Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Entrance Ticket. We are sure it’s worth paying for this incredible view. The panorama from Viewing Deck is incredible. If you always dreamed of going to Paris and getting the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and it never came 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. It might also be a good idea to observe the magnificent Bellagio Hotel Fountains from this perspective!

las vegas itinerary
las vegas itinerary

Gamble in Caesars Palace

Fantastic Caesars Palace hotel was opened in 1966 and never lost its level of luxury. You will spot a 20-foot sculpture of Julius Cesar at the entrance, welcoming you. But for your luck, follow the signs to the Appian Way Shops and 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 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 if it has rooms available, we love to stay there. And what is really strange is it can get out of rooms even having 7000 of them (combined with The Palazzo), which makes it the biggest in the United States. We believe that the reason for this is probably because this hotel reminds 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! It is worth buying this trip if you want to give your loved one a romantic and fun surprise. It’s worth booking it in advance. In our opinion is one of the best experiences of the Las Vegas 3 days itinerary.

Gondola Ride in The Venetian

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 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 3-day visit to Las Vegas is slowly ending. Treat yourself to a beautiful artistic experience in the evening.

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.

fountain in Bellagio Las Vegas

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 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.

las vegas itinerary

Day 2 of Las Vegas 3 Days Itinerary

On the second day of this Las Vegas 3-day Itinerary, you can focus on the other part of The Strip around hotels like Luxor Hotel, Excalibur Hotel, or Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

The 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 your google maps to 5100 Las Vegas BoulevardSouth. To your surprise, it’s not Las Vegas, but the neighborhood town of Paradise. 

Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay

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

The main attraction in this hotel is Shark Reef Aquarium. 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, shark, or turtle 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 fun fact is that the original sphinx is 70 feet high while the Vegas replica is 110 feet.

The Luxor Pyramid las vegas 3 days itinerary

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…

Hotel Excalibur las vegas 3 days itinerary

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 VegasDavid 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 and ranked 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 all over time) is something 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 some 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.

Miracle Mile Shops Las Vegas

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 days itinerary.

Rollercoaster ride in New York, New York

You notice a couple of things when approaching the New York, New York hotel. 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 States 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. Agnes almost lost her 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 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 got 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!

new york, new york hotel las vegas 3 days itinerary

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.

Valley of Fire State Park is possible in 3 days las vegas itinerary

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.

grand canyon
antelope canyon

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.

Do you like this post? Pin it!

13 Comments

  1. Thank you for making Las Vegas seems so affordable for us. We are used to think that Las Vegas is an expensive, exquisite destination but the way you have presented it, it makes it more easy to explore. The Venetian hotel looks amazing and this mix of new architectural styles creates a new atmosphere for the wanderlust. 

  2. Your post reminded me of my two days in Las Vegas three years ago. I wish I read your post before visiting. Your details of tours would help someone like who has a short time in the city. I never visited Grand Canyon then and now I know how to go there next time. Very helpful

  3. Las Vegas is expensive, thank you for tips for budget travel. I would love to visit here for casinos and Venetian hotel! Else I am not much city person. Bu yeah again day trips to Grand canyon and Antelope canyon will make me happy!

  4. This brings back memories of our visit there- we stayed at MGM Grand with David Copperfield shows which I unfortunately missed. There are so many Hotels there and you have a good tip regarding resort fees and other hidden fees. Although a lot of the sightseeing are for free. 

  5. These budget tips for Las Vegas is such a boon! Had been always dreaming to get there. The day trip suggestions like Grand canyon and Antelope canyon are the BEST! I am not much of a gambling fan so these day trips are the ones I will spend my time on.

  6. I always thought that vacationing in Las Vegas costs a lot of money so it’s never on my radar! Aside from the “casino” and “luxury” environment, what’s more interesting about this post are the nearby adventures – I didn’t think that there are lots of outdoor activities near Vegas

  7. I just miss Las Vegas. It has been years since we last visited and we can’t wait to go back. I love the idea of the Las Vegas Pass. Thank you for sharing this. We would love to revisit as many attractions as possible so, this is just perfect. 

  8. Las Vegas has always been a fun weekend trip for me. Especially since living in SoCal makes it super close! I loved your list of activities, there is so much fun packed into this article! Some of my favorites were the Bellagio Fountains and the Top of the Stratosphere. The Valley of Fire and Lake Mead are great day trips from Vegas as well! Great post, thank you so much for sharing!

  9. I’ve always thought that Las Vegas is such an expensive place to visit. This has been one of my dream destinations and I’m glad that it is not that costly to visit this place. Hopefully to visit Las Vegas after the coronavirus pandemic!

  10. It has been far too long since we last visited Las Vegas. We are not big gamblers but we found so much to see and do in the area. We used the monorail for the first time on our last visit. A good option when we were too tired to keep going. Will have to plan on a day trip to the Valley of Fire next time. A good overview of ways to spent a few fun days in Vegas.

  11. Great suggestions for a 3 day trip to Las Vegas. However, I feel that one day would be enough for me. The David Copperfield Show sounds interesting – good to know that it is better to make a reservation in advance.

  12. I can totally see that you enjoyed a place like Las Vegas after all those natural wonders you’ve visited. However, I’m mostly underwhelmed by obviously overwhelming places. All those men-made larger-than-life spots are not for me. However, I can see myself going there on a day trip – but maybe that wouldn’t give me the real LV-experience?!

  13. Your suggestions reminded me of my trips there. I didn’t stay for 3 days, but I got to take the elevator to the deck of the Eiffel Tower. It was a fun experience. On our second visit I thought about doing one of the rides in the Stratosphere Hotel. But after seeing people screaming, better not doing it. I didn’t need a trip to the ER. lol. So many interesting attractions in your list that I still have to do.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *