Las Vegas GuideStrip districts, off-Strip neighborhoods, and day trips
Search
Las Vegas city visitor guide

Las Vegas Guide

Compare the Strip and Downtown, plan your evening transport, and decide whether a desert day trip fits your stay.

Arrival and getting aroundSearch the guide
Regions
11
Planning guides
4
Checked places
19

Image: Las Vegas Strip skyline | Photo by King of Hearts on Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0

Las Vegas in pictures

The barrel-vaulted LED canopy over the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall in downtown Las VegasFremont Street
Photo by Mikerussell on Wikimedia CommonsSourceCC BY-SA 3.0
Sandstone cliffs and desert scrub at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las VegasRed Rock
Photo by Sixflashphoto on Wikimedia CommonsSourceCC BY-SA 4.0
Fountains of Bellagio spraying water with the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower behind on the Center StripThe Strip
Photo by Tomás Del Coro on Wikimedia CommonsSourceCC BY-SA 2.0

Start with the decision

Center Strip, Downtown or a day out

Las Vegas planning gets easier when the Strip base, downtown question, off-Strip dining lane, and day-trip constraints are clear before individual hotels and restaurants.

Center StripChoose a first-visit Strip base

Match Strip position or Downtown to the trip rather than choosing on room rate alone.

DowntownCompare Downtown with the Strip

Compare scale, walking, nightlife, price structure, and first-timer convenience.

Beyond the cityCompare Las Vegas day trips

Choose the outing before settling transport and the return plan.

Visitor map

Read the Las Vegas map before choosing a base

Loading the visitor map…You can also choose an area from the list below.

Las Vegas areas
1North StripWynn, Encore, Resorts World, Fontainebleau, the STRAT, convention access, and longer north-end walks.2Center StripBellagio, Caesars Palace, the Venetian, Cosmopolitan, Aria, and Paris — the densest first-visit base.3South StripMandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand, T-Mobile Arena, and Allegiant Stadium. Sphere visits require a separate trip to Sands Avenue.4Fremont / DowntownFremont Street Experience, downtown hotels, the Mob Museum, and vintage-Vegas nightlife.5Arts District 18bBreweries, galleries, antique row, and First Friday, kept separate from casino-resort routes.6ChinatownThe off-Strip Asian-dining authority lane along Spring Mountain Road west of the resorts.7SummerlinWest-side suburban base near Downtown Summerlin and Red Rock Resort with hiking access.8HendersonSuburban Henderson, the Water Street district, and Lake Las Vegas access southeast of the Strip.9Red Rock CanyonBLM scenic drive, timed entry, heat, and hiking-access checks — a land-manager-led day trip.10Hoover DamHoover Dam, Boulder City, and Lake Mead — a must-do day trip where timing and access rules matter.11Mt. CharlestonSpring Mountains weather, snow, trailhead, and seasonal-access decisions above the desert floor.
Las Vegas areas mapNumbered pins mark Las Vegas areas; smaller dots show places to explore nearby.

Planning guides

Start with the trip constraint

The barrel-vaulted LED canopy over the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall in downtown Las VegasChoosing your baseStrip vs Downtown: Which Las Vegas Base Fits Your TripChoose the Center Strip when most of your booked activities are there. Choose Downtown for evenings around Fremont Street.Fountains of Bellagio spraying water with the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower behind on the Center StripWhere to stay, first visitWhere to Stay in Las Vegas for a First VisitChoose the Center Strip for a trip built around its resort cluster.Aerial night view of the Las Vegas Strip with the Wynn and Encore towers in the foregroundFirst night planYour First Night in Las Vegas: Show, Dinner, and the Strip WalkBase the first night at one center-Strip resort between Flamingo Road and the Cosmopolitan, build a single sequence around one booked dinner and the…Sandstone cliffs and desert scrub at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las VegasDay trips comparedDay Trips from Las Vegas: Red Rock vs Hoover Dam vs Mount CharlestonRed Rock Canyon is the closest half-day for desert scenery and a 13-mile scenic drive; Hoover Dam trades raw scenery for a built landmark…

Checked visitor places

Places worth considering

The barrel-vaulted LED canopy over the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall in downtown Las VegasExperiencesFremont Street ExperienceThe five-block pedestrian entertainment district over Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, with The Canopy overhead light display, free live concerts, the SlotZilla zipline…Hoover Dam, its intake towers, and Lake Mead seen from the visitor approach on the Nevada-Arizona borderExperiencesHoover DamThe 1930s Colorado River dam in Black Canyon southeast of the city, with a visitor center, powerplant and dam tours, and views over Lake…Sentinel Island and desert mountain ranges across the blue water of Lake MeadExperiencesLake Mead National Recreation AreaThe National Park Service recreation area around Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, with the Lake Mead Visitor Center, shoreline activities, boating and desert scenery…Skiers, lodge buildings, and snowy slopes at Lee Canyon in the Spring MountainsExperiencesLee CanyonA Spring Mountains ski and snowboard resort northwest of Las Vegas, with winter lifts and seasonal scenic chairlift rides, hiking and mountain biking.Sandstone cliffs and desert scrub at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las VegasExperiencesRed Rock Canyon National Conservation AreaA BLM-managed conservation area west of the city, centered on a 13-mile one-way Scenic Drive past red Aztec sandstone cliffs, with hiking, a visitor…Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway building against rocky desert slopesExperiencesSpring Mountains Visitor GatewayThe Forest Service gateway to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in Kyle Canyon, with a visitor center, exhibits, amphitheaters, and trailheads framing views…

Search above for the remaining checked places.

Regions

Choose a Las Vegas area for your trip

Colorful Love Las Vegas mural on a building in the 18b Las Vegas Arts DistrictRegionArts District 18bArts District 18b covers the downtown Arts District, Main Street antique row, breweries, galleries, and First Friday.RegionChinatown and Spring Mountain RoadChinatown and Spring Mountain Road are the off-Strip food district, with miles of Asian restaurants, bakeries, and plazas.The barrel-vaulted LED canopy over the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall in downtown Las VegasRegionFremont Street and DowntownFremont Street and Downtown are old-Vegas territory: the Fremont Street Experience canopy, Container Park, the Plaza, the Golden Nugget, and downtown-first stays.Aerial view of Lake Las Vegas and surrounding resort development in the desert at Henderson, NevadaCityHenderson and Water StreetHenderson and Water Street cover off-Strip suburban stays, Water Street dining, family logistics, and Lake Las Vegas access.Hoover Dam, its intake towers, and Lake Mead seen from the visitor approach on the Nevada-Arizona borderRegionHoover Dam and Boulder City Day TripThe Hoover Dam and Boulder City day trip covers the dam visit, tour timing, security and parking, Lake Mead views, and lunch stops in…Pine-forested slopes and cabins below the peak of Mount Charleston in the Spring Mountains near Las VegasRegionMt. Charleston Day TripThe Mt. Charleston day trip covers the Spring Mountains, cooler alpine air, trail access, and snow-season road planning from Las Vegas.
Show 5 more
Sandstone cliffs and desert scrub at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las VegasRegionRed Rock Canyon Day TripThe Red Rock Canyon day trip covers the 13-mile BLM scenic drive, hiking, timed entry, and the heat and car planning a visit needs.Sandstone cliffs and desert scrub at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las VegasRegionSummerlin and Red Rock ResortSummerlin and Red Rock Resort cover the suburban west base, Red Rock Canyon access edge, shopping, dining, and car-first trip planning.Fountains of Bellagio spraying water with the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower behind on the Center StripRegionThe Strip CenterCenter Strip covers Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Aria, Vdara, Park MGM, and Paris.Bronze Wynn and Encore resort towers against a blue sky on the North Las Vegas StripRegionThe Strip NorthNorth Strip covers Wynn, Encore, Resorts World, Fontainebleau, Sahara, Circus Circus, and convention-adjacent stays.Black glass Luxor pyramid and palm trees under a clear sky on the South Las Vegas StripRegionThe Strip SouthSouth Strip covers Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand, T-Mobile Arena, Allegiant Stadium edge, and The Sphere trip spillover.