Welcome to the dazzling city of fabulous Las Vegas, where the reality surpasses even your wildest dreams! Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning enthusiast, this vibrant city offers a multitude of unforgettable experiences. From world-renowned casinos, the iconic Strip, and impressive hotels, we loved every single thing! Explore the best of Sin City in this ultimate Las Vegas travel guide.
🇺🇸 Language: English
💰 Currency: US Dollar
⏳ Best time to visit: March to May or September to November
The best things to do in Las Vegas
Stroll through the Strip
No visit to Las Vegas would be complete without taking a stroll along the infamous Strip. This vibrant, bustling area feels like a grand amusement park! You’ll see surreal sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Colosseum, and even a roller coaster. Nothing is too crazy when strolling through the Strip! Take in the mesmerizing sights, absorb the energy of the crowds, and enjoy some people-watching as you explore the Strip. And when we say people-watching, we mean it: street performers, Marvel figures or Cabaret Ladies… They’re all there (and they all want you to take a picture with them)! It is a must-do experience that represents the spirit of Las Vegas, offering a sensory overload that truly immerses you in the city’s extraordinary atmosphere.
Marvel at the impressive hotels
As you wander along the Strip, you’ll find yourself surrounded by iconic hotels, each boasting their own unique theme and attractions. From the majestic fountains of the Bellagio to the charming gondolas at The Venetian, and the replica of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, there’s something wonderful at every corner. You’ll find replicas of almost every major landmark here, and we’re all for it (and so should you)! Don’t forget to walk into some hotels to admire the interiors as well. Especially the interior of the Bellagio hotel is worth admiring!
Curious about the best hotels on the Strip? Discover our top 5 favorite hotels here.
Admire the Bellagio fountain show
You can admire the famous Bellagio fountain show in front of the Bellagio hotel. This renowned spectacle is a harmonious symphony of water, music, and lights. As the fountains soar high into the sky, illuminated by vibrant lights, you can’t help but feel enchanted by the beauty and elegance of the performance. We recommend visiting it when the sun is (going) down, it makes it even more spectacular! And don’t worry if you just missed it, there will be another one in 15 minutes. The show lasts about 2 minutes, but it’ll feel shorter because it’s so immersive!
Spend some money in one of the many casinos
You probably visited a lot of hotels by now, so it should come as no surprise that you can find casinos at almost every hotel. Las Vegas is known for its impressive casinos, visiting at least one of its renowned casinos is a must! Even if you don’t usually gamble, the chance of a miracle happening to you is simply irresistible! We can’t really explain it, but once we pulled that lever we were hooked. 😂 Too bad we didn’t win anything. We recommend gambling at the casino of your own hotel, although the casino at Paris Las Vegas might be one of our favorites as you can see the base of the Eiffel Tower coming through the roof!
Take a picture at the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign
If you haven’t seen the world-famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, have you really been to Vegas? It’s one of the best photo spots in town and and therefore could not be missing from our Las Vegas travel guide.
During the day, it gets quite crowded here. You have two options, either wait your turn to take pictures in front of the sign, or you can take some pictures from the left or right side of the sign! We were happy to wait to be right in front of the famous sign, but if you’re in a hurry or hate waiting we recommend taking some pictures from the left or right side of the sign. There’s usually no-one waiting, there won’t be anyone in your photo, and you’re gone in less than 5 minutes! We waited for half an hour to be right in front of it. There were several stalls selling juices, so the wait was not so bad.
There were also two photographers on site that offer their services “free of charge”. If you would like to have a photo shoot, you can ask one of the photographers to take some pictures! Especially handy when you’re traveling in a large group.
Explore the Neon Museum by night
If you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Vegas, make sure to visit the Neon Museum! This museum showcases a collection of iconic neon signs that once lit up the city’s bustling streets, offering a glimpse into its rich past. In our opinion, it is a must see “hidden gem” in Las Vegas.
For the most magical experience, we recommend visiting the Neon Museum after sunset! As night falls, the Neon Museum comes alive as some of the neon lights lit up. This glow adds an extra layer of magic to the surroundings. As you stroll through the outdoor gallery under the starry sky, let the neon signs’ nostalgic charm transport you to a bygone era, which creates an unforgettable ambiance.
We booked the guided tour and were pleasantly surprised. The guided tour we booked consisted of 2 phases, one of the “general” Neon Museum and then a “Double the Glow”-experience. The first phase was like a regular guided tour where you learn a lot about some of the signs that were on display. This was real fun, but the “Double the Glow”-experience was what took the cake. We can’t really tell a lot about this as this would ruin the surprise, but what we can say is that the lights will come to live. 😳
Day trip to Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire is not located in Las Vegas itself, but is definitely worth a day trip if you’re looking for some adventure! This state park is about an hour’s drive from Las Vegas and is one of Nevada’s finest state parks. From scenic drives and amazing hikes to stunning red rock formations, it is the perfect outdoor destination and could not be missing from this Las Vegas travel guide!
One of our favorite hikes was the Fire Wave. This 2,4 km round trip hike leads you to some stunning waves, known as the Fire Wave. The unique patterns and colors of the rocks create a visual spectacle that is incredible to see. Such a magical hike! Although this is an “easy hike”, when we did it in the glaring sun it was quite the effort. Make sure to bring water with you and wear hats! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also go for a combination trail called the Seven Wonders Loop. This trail adds about 800 meters (0,5 mi) to the Fire Wave trail, and adds some spectacular views to your hike like the Thunderstorm Arch and the Fire Cave.
If you’re looking for incredible views, make sure to stop at Mouse’s Tank road. Along the road you will find all kinds of rocks, for the best views we recommend climbing one of them. There are countless rocks available for climbing, ranging from easy to hard climbs. You’ll be amazed by this breathtaking view and the photos you can take!
Nearby you also have the Mouse’s Tank trail (1 km/0,6 mi), but we found this one quite underwhelming. Along the way you spot some rock art (petroglpyhs) which was really fun, but the “end” of the trail was just not worth it to us. The end is, as the name suggests, Mouse’s Tank. When we visited, the tank was almost empty with little water in it. That being said, we’re not quite sure if the hike would have been better if the tank were full. It was just a big tank to us, nothing more. The signs on the rocks along the way were cool, though!
We only spent half a day here, but would have liked to explore so much more! Valley of Fire State Park is a true gem, offering an escape into nature’s wonders and breathtaking landscapes. The entrance fee is € 14 per vehicle, or € 9 if you are a Nevada resident.
Where to eat in Las Vegas
Delicious breakfast at Eggslut
Each hotel in Las Vegas has its own restaurants, but we recommend checking out the breakfast options of other hotels as well! That’s how we stumbled upon Eggslut in the middle of The Cosmopolitan hotel. This trendy breakfast destination is heaven for egg lovers. They offer different mouthwatering sandwiches where eggs take center stage – because what better ingredient is there? 😉 Make sure to try the Fairfax sandwich, this was our absolute favorite. A warm brioche bun filled with soft scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and sriracha mayo, such a flavorful combination!
We also tried the sausage, egg & cheese sandwich. While this one was also very delicious, it is not as special as the Fairfax. Their signature dish, appropriately called “slut”, was also super yummy but the portion was too small for the price. If you’re wondering what a “slut” is, it is a coddled egg on top of a smooth potato purée in a glass jar. Really delicious, but so tiny! Order multiple if you’re really hungry because one will not suffice.
It can get pretty crowded here, but we assure you that the wait will be well worth it! The kitchen works at breakneck speed, so the wait will be over before you know it. Their sandwiches freshly baked to perfection are the perfect way to start your day.
The best burgers at Gordon Ramsay Burger
Kelvin has been a fan of Gordon Ramsay for years. From Kitchen Nightmares to Hell’s Kitchen, he has followed all of his shows closely. He is even subscribed to Gordon Ramsey’s YouTube channel and often tries to recreate some of his recipes! 😉 When we were planning our trip, it was already a certainty that we were going to visit one of his restaurants in Las Vegas.
First of all, we noticed that Gordon Ramsay has many restaurants in Las Vegas! In almost every hotel we walked into, we found one of his restaurants. From steaks to burgers and fish & chips, you can really find everything. We chose the most accessible (and price-friendly) restaurant: Gordon Ramsay Burger.
The restaurant is located in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. It is a spacious restaurant where you can dine intimately, as well as have lunch with a large group. We really wanted to sit close to the “burning wall”, but unfortunately every seat was taken there. The interior is absolutely stunning!
We both ordered the pear & apple white sangria, this was a such a tasty cocktail! It was the perfect start and we had high hopes for the rest of our dinner. This cocktail is one that Kelvin is planning on recreating, too, by the way. 😉
For our main course, we ordered the blue cheeseburger for Thysia, the truffle burger for Kelvin, and truffle parmesan fries. Since Thysia is vegetarian, she ordered her blue cheeseburger with a vegetarian plant-based patty. Right off the bat, we can honestly say these are the best burgers we have ever eaten! The flavor combinations are delicious and Kelvin’s burger was cooked to perfection. He often thinks back about that burger and wishes he knew how to recreate it! The only downside was that Thysia’s vegetarian burger tasted quite meaty as she doesn’t like the taste of grounded beef. This wasn’t really a problem, as this resulted in Kelvin eating much of her burger (which he did not mind at all 😉).
If you’re looking for an affordable Gordon Ramsay experience, make sure to stop by Gordon Ramsay Burger! Your taste buds will thank you. 😉 Also, we didn’t hear any shouting so Gordon must’ve not been in the house…
Italian cuisine at BRERA osteria
If you’re looking for delicious Italian cuisine, look no further than BRERA osteria! This charming Italian restaurant is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of The Venetian hotel. They offer delicious homemade pastas and pizzas in a beautiful setting. BRERA osteria really captured our hearts with delicious and affordable food. And talk about the ceiling. 😍
Since our last visit to Rome we both are addicted to cacio e pepe, a straightforward pasta dish that consists of cheese (cacio) and pepper (pepe). It doesn’t get much simpler than that! We find cheese and pepper soooo yummy, so that’s what we ordered at BRERA osteria. Simply put, our pasta’s were truly delicious! So creamy, with the right amount of cheese and pepper… That’s how we like it.
We complimented the chef and staff multiple times, it really felt like we were back in Rome. We also really loved the warm atmosphere here, and as said before the staff was super friendly. But one thing (apart from the food) stood out for us: the magnificent ceiling. We mentioned it before, but we had never seen such an amazing, lifelike ceiling before! It really made us feel like we were in Italy, with a big, blue sky and perfect weather. How did they do it? We really don’t know but it’s amazing!
Las Vegas can be really expensive, so an amazing, affordable restaurant like BRERA osteria is truly one of a kind. The food was great, the staff was amazing, and the final bill was manageable. What more could you want?
Where to stay in Las Vegas
Since Thysia is French and we both share a profound love for Paris and its iconic Iron Lady, it was clear we were going to stay at the Paris Las Vegas hotel. We booked a room that offered an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower, with the captivating Fountains of the Bellagio in the background. This was truly breathtaking! Our room was spacious and elegant with a luxurious bathroom and large shower. We could really feel the “French-vibe” here!
The hotel itself was everything we ever dreamed of. Being catapulted back to our time in Paris, with an amazing casino and great cocktails on top of it. We had everything we wanted and more! On top of all that, the hotel has a pool at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. 😍 Here you can sunbathe all day and enjoy some cocktails with music playing in the background. This is something we did for hours during our last day in Las Vegas.
On the ground floor you will find the lobby, a casino and several restaurants. You don’t even have to leave your hotel for lunch or dinner! We paid € 240 per night for our room with Eiffel Tower view. We were very pleased with our stay at Paris Las Vegas Hotel and would return immediately, if only for the stunning room and incredible view!
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