Las Vegas at a glance
Whether you love a big night out or prefer to keep things low-key, Las Vegas is worth seeing at least once. It is hard to overstate the sheer scale of this neon city where the American dream gets cranked all the way up. Ready for a trip to Las Vegas?
An unforgettable run down the Strip
Nevada's largest city pulls in around forty million visitors every year. That massive number tells you everything about its pull, drawing night owls chasing wild parties right alongside couples getting hitched for a night at the Graceland Chapel. Sin City took off in the 1930s thanks to wide-open rules on gambling and vice, growing into what is known as the entertainment capital of the world. Your first look down Las Vegas Boulevard, known as "The Strip", hits hard. Neon signs and flashing lights battle for your attention at every turn. Casinos line the avenue from end to end, starting with the Flamingo, the first luxury resort built here by Benjamin Siegel back in 1946. Plenty of bank accounts live and die on the slot machines and poker tables.
An open-air theme park
Las Vegas is pure spectacle above all else. The choreographed water ballet at the Bellagio fountains creates the illusion of a full-scale lake right in the middle of the Nevada desert. Over at the Venetian, gondoliers push tourists along indoor canals in a full-blown, unapologetic replica of Venice. The Luxor pyramid and its giant sphinx shoot a beam of light straight up into the night sky, the STRAT Tower, formerly the Stratosphere, still stands as the tallest freestanding observation tower in the country, and the Sphere, the LED globe that opened in 2023, has become the new landmark of the Strip. The Mirage volcano has gone quiet for good: the hotel closed in 2024 and is being rebuilt as a Hard Rock. Entertainment options run deep: the legendary Cirque du Soleil, the High Roller observation wheel at the LINQ, which is the old Imperial Palace, Caesars Palace seating 4,000 in its Colosseum, and the arena concerts inside the Sphere. Boredom is not an option here. Even if staying at these properties is not in the cards, walking through the lobbies of these mega-resorts is mandatory, complete with their own indoor beaches, nightclubs, and aquariums.
For a dose of the older, retro side of town, head to Downtown around Fremont Street, which trades neon for street art and a vintage neon graveyard vibe. And when the flashing lights and crowds wear you down, the national parks of the American Southwest sit just a drive away.
When to go
Las Vegas is a year-round destination. If you have flexibility, aim for spring or fall. Summer brings brutal heat waves from July through August, while winter from December through February gets genuinely cold.
How to get there
Harry Reid International sits a few minutes from the Strip and is served nonstop from just about every major American city: under an hour from Los Angeles, four hours from Chicago, five and a half from New York. Round-trip fares run from $790 to $1,020* depending on the season.
A city that leaves no one indifferent, eccentric, without limits, a unique atmosphere. You either love it or you don't, but one thing is certain, it is a destination you have to visit at least once. And contrary to popular belief, it is suitable for everyone, not just party animals. Families will also find plenty to have a great time, there is a bit of everything and everyone has fun. I think that is the charm of Vegas!