It’s no secret that Las Vegas is the nation’s capital for gambling and partying. So if you’re not into those things, you should skip it, right? WRONG! The famous Las Vegas Strip is home to many more attractions than just casinos and nightclubs. Check out our picks for the best things to do on the Strip in Las Vegas—one of the most iconic streets in the world.
Pro Tip: Organizing your trip is easier when you have all your resources in one place. Create a browser folder and bookmark this post along with our Las Vegas Guide for more planning resources, our top Las Vegas tours for a memorable trip, and the best rooftop bars in Vegas.
18 Fun Things To See And Do on the Las Vegas Strip
Whether you’re a thrill seeker or just love to be wowed, you’ll find fun things to do on the Strip at every hotel. Explore hidden flamingo habitats, push the limits with a bungee jump, or stuff yourself at one of the top buffets in Vegas. Whatever floats your boat, whether it’s free or not, Vegas delivers. Here are some of the top things to do on the Strip in Las Vegas.
Not ready to book a tour? Read more in our Las Vegas Guide.
18. Spot Pink-Feathered Friends at the Flamingo Habitat
Since Vegas is the entertainment mecca of the West, they guarantee some of the best shows you’ll find anywhere. These aren’t your typical Broadway plays or America’s Got Talent acts. These are world-class shows with stories, action, drama, acrobatics, and incredible precision. Best of all, you won’t have to pay $500 to see one of the best shows in Las Vegas! You can get tickets to any Cirque du Soleil show for less than $80!
The Cirque du Soleil shows have long reined as the top shows in Las Vegas with lineups like “O,” KÀ, Mystère, The Beatles LOVE, and Michael Jackson ONE. But there are plenty of other entertainment options to consider too. Blue Man Group is a wildly popular show for families and music enthusiasts.
There are always magicians and illusionists who have also taken up residency in Vegas. See Matt Franco, David Copperfield, or even Piff the Magic Dragon. Yep, he’s got his own show here! Whatever you choose, you’ll love experiencing one of the best things to do in Las Vegas.
Address: Cirque du Soleil Shows
Cost: Starts at $50
Not ready to buy tickets? Read more in our Guide to the Best Shows in Vegas for 2023
17. Spot Pink-Feathered Friends at the Flamingo Habitat
Yes, we said flamingos! Behind the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino—the Strip’s oldest resort—there’s an outdoor wildlife habitat where you can see Chilean flamingoes up close! The wildlife habitat is four acres wide and full of grass, streams, and small waterfalls. It also features other types of birds, plus koi fish and turtles.
Visiting the wildlife habitat is a fun, free detour you can take on an afternoon spent wandering the strip. This is a good Vegas Strip activity for families with young children, as well as anyone who just wants to take a break from the craziness of the Strip for a minute.
Address: 3555 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: Free
16. Take A Helicopter Ride Over the Strip
See the glittering Strip like never before with a helicopter tour! Your helicopter will fly over some of the most famous hotels in Las Vegas and allow you to see them in an entirely new light. The tour itself typically lasts 10-12 minutes and includes in-flight music to make your experience even more epic.
Most helicopter tour companies, such as 5 Star Helicopter Tours, also offer a complimentary champagne toast before takeoff to calm the nerves of any first-time passengers. This is definitely a unique Vegas activity to tell all your friends back home about.
Address: 5596 Haven St, Las Vegas
Cost: $99
15. Get Hitched at Graceland Wedding Chapel
Love him or hate him (really?), Elvis can be in the house at a moment’s notice. Vegas has a reputation for shotgun weddings fueled by drunken partying. Yet plenty of weddings happen here under more sober times—and yours could be one of them!
As the oldest chapel in Sin City, Graceland Wedding Chapel is the place to get married if you want to go all out in Vegas. And who doesn’t? Celebrities are often married here, but if you’re a regular person like us, your Elvis impersonator is sure to entertain you if you book the Elvis ceremony. If you’ve been thinking about getting married or renewing your vows, perhaps this is the perfect surprise activity in Vegas.
Address: 619 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: starts at $249
Heading to Vegas? Don’t miss our other list of iconic things to do around Vegas plus our recommendations for where to stay in Vegas!
14. Treat Your Tastebuds To An International Coca-Cola Tour
If you’re in Las Vegas with little ones or just an adult with tired feet, a stop at the Coca-Cola Store is a great way to take a break from exploring the Strip. It’s full of Coca-Cola memorabilia that’s fun to look at, but we love it for the “Around the World” Coca-Cola tasting tray!
For $20, you can sample 16 different soda flavors from different countries all over the world! The Russian cucumber soda is a customer favorite. Close your eyes while tasting each one and see if you can guess which country it’s from. It’s harder than it sounds!
Address: 3785 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: Free to enter; $20 for the tasting
13. Escape to Paris (Kind Of)
Paris Las Vegas makes you feel like you’re walking through the streets of the city of love itself—without leaving the hotel lobby! Located in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip, Paris Las Vegas has an actual model of the Eiffel Tower, which even lights up at night and twinkles like the real one.
There’s also a nightclub inside the Eiffel Tower: the Chateau Rooftop. You’ll love the rooms that have the elegant blue, white, and gold you’d expect of a fine Parisian hotel. You can also dine at their Paris-inspired restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi.
P.S. If you’re looking for more information about epic Vegas hotels, check out our Vegas hotel list!
Address: 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: varies
12. Get to Know the Flavors of the Strip on a Food Tour
Exploring the tastiest food inside the coolest hotels has got to be something you do in Vegas. And you don’t have to break the bank doing it either. Follow a local guide on a casual journey of food from MGM Grand to Cosmopolitan and the Bellagio.
Why else should you go on a food tour? Because it’s so much fun to make new friends with like-minded travellers. And you’ll get plenty of other recommendations of places to eat thanks to your local guide, who knows all the best spots.
Not ready to book a tour? Read more in our Las Vegas Guide.
11. DIY Scavenger Hunt for Fine Art at the ARIA
The ARIA Resort & Casino is an award-winning, 5-star hotel full of spas and entertainment, but did you know it’s also home to a myriad of artwork by different artists? Fifteen painters and sculptors created an assortment of creative paintings and works of art that can be found all over the ARIA campus.
Pictured above is Maya Lin’s bright depiction of the important Colorado River that gives life to so many cities in the desert southwest. This sculpture of cast, reclaimed silver, sits over the registration desk for all guests to admire. Fun fact: Maya Lin is also well known for her famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.
Throughout ARIA, VDARA, and the Shops at Crystals, there are 20 different works of art of all different types. There are installations made with wood, stainless steel, aluminum, and many other materials. Some are even seasonal for the holidays. Walk around the ARIA and see how many of the installations you can spot! It’s one of our favorite free things to do on the Strip if you’re into art.
Address: 3730 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: Free
10. Eat Like Royalty At A Vegas Buffet
Las Vegas is famous for its extravagant buffets; the ones on the Strip are no exception. Like everything else in Vegas, the buffets are over-the-top and decadent, which makes them a top thing to do on the Las Vegas Strip. Many Vegas buffets feature many different types of cuisine from countries worldwide, and usually also contain dessert options and a full bar.
One of the most famous buffets on the Strip is the Bacchanal Buffet, located inside of Caesar’s Palace. This iconic buffet includes nine different kitchens, worldly cuisines, and gourmet desserts. Feast your eyes—and your stomach!
Address: 3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: $59.99 (brunch) and $74.99 (dinner)
9. Sip Creative Cocktails Inside A Chandelier
Anyone who’s visited the Cosmopolitan hotel knows there’s a shimmering purple chandelier inside, but did you know that inside the chandelier, there’s an upscale cocktail lounge? Simply called The Chandelier, this three-story lounge offers a different experience for its patrons on each level. Every level has its own menu (although beer and wine are served throughout).
The Chandelier is most famous for its creative cocktails inspired by Alice in Wonderland. One of the most popular drinks is the color-changing cocktail “We’re All Mad Here.” Brave patrons will order the Verbena, a tequila-based cocktail that’s one of the bar’s most popular offerings, even though it’s not even on the menu. Try this mouth-numbing drink at your own risk!
Address: 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas
Cost: Free to enter; reservations recommended
Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Hoover Dam tour is worth it.
8. Be Dazzled By The Bellagio Fountains
When your feet need a break after walking the Strip and exploring, make time to watch the famed fountain show at the Bellagio Hotel. You’ll be amazed by these fountains’ choreography, variety, and imagery, perfectly timed to popular songs. Even if you’ve seen the fountain show before, it’s worth taking a few minutes to see it again.
The choreography and music vary, so you’ll rarely see the same show twice on one trip. The fountain display is 1,000 feet wide, and the fountains shoot water as high as 460 feet into the air, so you can get a clear view of the show even if you’re not standing right in front of it.
Schedule:
- Monday – Friday: every 30 minutes from 3:00 pm – 8:00 m; every 15 minutes from 8:00 pm-midnight
- Saturday – Sunday: every 30 minutes from noon – 8:00 pm; every 15 minutes from 8:00 pm-midnight
Address: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: Free
7. Immerse Yourself in an Extravagant Conservatory Garden
After you’re finished being mesmerized by the Bellagio fountain show, you can head inside the hotel and check out the display at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This stunning conservatory uses flowers, trees, and 10,000 potted plants to create a unique display that changes throughout the year.
The 14,000-square-foot space shows off vibrant colors, statues, lights, waterfalls, and other incredible features that you won’t want to miss. The display changes for Chinese New Year between January and March, then again for spring between March and May, and again for summer (shown) between June and September.
It also takes on a totally new look for fall between September and October and transforms into a Christmas display in December. No matter when you come, you’ll love the pictures you take here!
Address: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: Free
6. Relive the Glory Days at the Shelby American Museum
If you’re a racing enthusiast, then a stop at the Shelby American Inc heritage center is a must. A surprising number of vintage racing cars are found here, all waiting to be fawned over. There are decades of cars to explore here, all the way back to 1962.
You’re welcome to explore on your own, but there’s nothing a guided tour by a passionate guide who knows more facts and stories about Shelby and his cars than you can imagine. If you’re lucky, you might tour with a man who actually knew Shelby too!
They also offer production facility tours where you can talk with mechanics and see what’s happening in new Ford vehicles. Kids under 6 are free, and every purchase comes with a bag of Shelby merchandise too! What a deal!
Address: 6405 Ensworth St, Las Vegas
Cost: Free or starts at $59
Want more Vegas? Try our top adventure activities, how to get to the Grand Canyon, plus awesome day trips to take (#10 is super unique)!
5. Ride An Upside-Down Roller Coaster
Thrill-seeking Vegas vacationers will love this twisting roller-coaster attached to the New York New York Hotel & Casino. The Big Apple Coaster goes 64 miles per hour and features twists, turns, and a 203-foot drop. It also includes a brief moment when riders are upside-down over the iconic Las Vegas Strip! (Don’t come on a full stomach!)
1.4 million riders dare to try this coaster every year! It’s also attached to an arcade, so riders can play skee ball, air hockey, and classic arcade games either before or after their roller-coaster experience. Daredevil kids are welcome to ride the roller-coaster, but they must be at least 54 inches (4 and a half feet) in order to ride.
The Big Apple Coaster is open Monday – Thursday from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Friday – Sunday from 11 a.m. until midnight.
Address: 3790 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas
Cost: $19 – $23
Not ready to book a tour? Read more in our Las Vegas Guide.
4. Take A Gondola Ride Down A Venetian Canal
First you transported yourself to Paris, France; now you can transport yourself to Venice, Italy! The Venetian Hotel on the Strip is modeled after one of Italy’s most famous towns, complete with a canal and gondolas!
Located indoors and outdoors, the canal snakes by the Grand Canal Shoppes, including stores like Godiva, Be Gioielli, Breitling, and Tommy Bahama. You can window-shop while gliding down the canal, propelled by a singing gondolier (he’s a true Venetian, too!).
As you’re enjoying your gondola journey, make sure to look up! The ceiling is a mural of a perfectly lit blue-and-white sky that is so perfectly lit you’ll think you’re outside in the Venice streets.
The gondola rides are offered daily from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the rides go until 12 a.m.
Address: 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: $34 – $39 per person
3. Bungee Jump Off The STRAT
Riding an upside-down roller-coaster isn’t the only adrenaline-pumping activity that thrill seekers can do on the Strip. Even more daring daredevils can also try any of the four thrill rides located at the top of the STRAT Hotel & Casino.
The tall, skinny STRAT tower is already an iconic part of the Las Vegas landscape. But did you know you can jump off of it? With SkyJump, you can bungee jump off of the STRAT’s SkyPod observation deck. Make sure you have a friend at the top to take a video of you as you go down!
You can also strap yourself into the Big Shot catapult ride, dangle from the side of the 900-foot-tall STRAT building with the Insanity ride, or propel 27 feet over the edge with the X-Scream coaster that lurches to a stop in mid-air.
All four thrill rides are open from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. from Monday – Thursday and noon to midnight, Friday – Sunday.
Address: 2000 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas
Cost: $139 for SkyJump; $39 for each of the other thrill rides
2. Lounge, Float, And Relax At The Most Epic Pool In Vegas
When we say “most epic,” we mean it! The pool at Mandalay Bay spans 11 acres and includes a lazy river, a sandy beach, and a 1.6-million-gallon wave pool where you can float on gentle tides. It also contains a lagoon, beach bar, and even its own boutique. This amazing pool experience is a hit among kids and adults alike.
Mandalay Bay also has two more pools: Daylight Beach Club, which is known for its pool parties, and Moorea Beach Club, a “toptional” pool for adults only. Although these pools are fun, only the main, awesome Mandalay Bay Beach has the wave pool, lazy river, and all the other features. It’s easily one of the top things to do on the Strip.
Address: 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas
Cost: Free for guests; $18.00 for non-guest adults; $12 for children 12 years old and younger $12.00; free for children four and younger
1. See a Birdseye View of Vegas on the High Roller At The LINQ
After you’ve spent a day exploring the famous Strip, why not see it from a different angle? The High Roller Ferris wheel slowly rotates to give riders in every cabin an amazing view of the Strip from 550 feet up! The Ferris wheel ride takes 30 minutes and goes slowly and steadily to snap photos and videos of the sights below.
The High Roller contains 28 cabins, but you and your party will probably share each spacious cabin with other riders. The High Roller is a fun activity any time of day, but we recommend it, especially at night, so you can see the city light up beneath you! It’s especially impressive at sunset!
This attraction is suitable for all ages, but adults can purchase a package that also includes an open bar so you can toast your friends to the Vegas views below you. The High Roller is undoubtedly one of the top things to do on the Strip in Las Vegas.
Address: 3535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
Cost: $23.50 – $34.75 for adults; $8.50 – $17.50 for kids; $60.00 for open bar
Not ready to book a tour? Read more in our Las Vegas Guide.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
Discover some of the most iconic and best places to stay in Las Vegas to make this trip the most memorable of all your trips to the Strip.
