Las Vegas in 7 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Casinos, gambling, limousines, luxury... In Las Vegas there is always something to do or see, so I know your must-see list is long. Don't worry, because seven days are more than enough to get into all the hotels and resorts of the city, live its hustle and bustle and also escape to the surrounding nature.

Las Vegas is a city of contrasts, where in the same hotel you can find the best shows and artists in the world and at the same time an amusement park. Don't you want to miss anything? Read my tips, write them down and enjoy Las Vegas!

Your first day in Las Vegas will feature one of the main areas: the Strip. Here you will find some of the most important and fascinating resorts in the city. Ready to get to know them?

Travel to New York via the New York-New York Hotel

Start your day at the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas, one of the most impressive.

Located between Tropicana Avenue and the Las Vegas Freeway, it's a great place to start your trip. I encourage you to tour this resort and discover a little New York there.

Have you always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty? Or maybe the Brooklyn Bridge? You don't have to go all the way to New York to see them, at this Las Vegas resort you can see a reconstruction of the great landmarks of the city that never sleeps.

Ride the Big Apple Coaster and admire New York-New York from above

If there's one famous thing to do at the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas, it's ride its roller coaster: the Big Apple Coaster. It's the only resort with one; it costs about $20 to ride and is quite an experience.

Although the speed doesn't always allow you to see the sights below your feet, the Big Apple Coaster passes over the hotel's casino and the entire infrastructure that recreates New York City.

Have a picnic in the shade of The Park

Next to the New York-New York Hotel is The Park, a green area that was designed as a resting place between buildings and outdoors. In addition, there are several tables and benches in the shade where you can sit and eat something.

If you want, you can bring your own food or buy something in the locals around (they sell burgers, sandwiches ...). I encourage you, after lunch, to take a walk in the park and discover its fountains and greenery.

Continue your day at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel

From New York in just 15 minutes walk you can reach Paris, specifically the resort Paris Las Vegas Hotel. This is where you can climb the famous Eiffel Tower of Las Vegas, a little lower than the previous one but with stunning views of The Strip.

When you get off the Eiffel Tower, you can access the hotel's casino and have a drink in the French restaurants inside. I also recommend you check out their party room, where the atmosphere never lets up.

Finish the day by watching the Bellagio Fountains show

After an afternoon in Paris and at the casino, I propose you to participate in one of the most typical Las Vegas plans and also one of the only free ones: see the Bellagio Fountains show. They are located outside the Hotel Paris Las Vegas.

This show takes place every day since 1998. It consists of the "dance" of more than 1000 water jets during the duration of a song.

A total of 30 songs are played every day (one every half hour from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and every 15 minutes from 8:30 pm to midnight).

Las Vegas is a place where anything can happen, from the eruption of a volcano to a concert of the greatest artists of the moment. If you don't believe me, wait until you read the itinerary for your second day.

Spend the morning among dolphins at The Mirage Dolphins

To start the day, how about a visit to the dolphins at The Mirage hotel? This place is located on The Strip and its full name is Siegfried and Roy and Dolphin Habitat. The price (approximately $25) includes a tour of an artificial safari.

The Mirage's Dolphin Habitat is an opportunity to see wild animals such as panthers, white lions and, of course, dolphins up close.

Take a gondola ride at the Venetian Hotel

Across the street from the Mirage (just a 5-minute walk) is the Venetian Hotel, your next stop. The name already gives you a clue: you've just entered Venice. My advice is to take a gondola ride along the Grand Canal (the price is about 25 euros if shared and more than 100 euros if private).

Perhaps the most famous thing about the Venetian Hotel is its artificial sky. What do I mean? A large screen is installed on the roof so that the sky is always sunny, without a cloud, even at night.

Take a lunch break at Linq Promenade and ride the Ferris wheel

When you leave the Venetian Hotel head to Linq Promenade, about a 10-minute walk away. It is a busy street where you will find many stores but also good restaurants to eat.

When you finish eating, I recommend you to go on the High Roller Ferris wheel. The price is about 25€, but I promise you that the views are incredible at more than 150 meters high.

Play at Caesars Casino as if you were in Ancient Rome.

Across the street, less than 5 minutes away, is the well-known Caesars Palace Casino. Gambling here is a bit pricey, I warn you, but you can't miss the experience of entering.

It is decorated like Ancient Rome and even has a Colosseum, where artists like Celine Dion or Elthon John perform at night.

Although going to a concert at Caesars can be expensive (about 150€), it is not a bad idea to go inside and take a walk around the place, where great movies have been filmed.

See the eruption of a volcano up close

If you've ever wanted to know what it would be like to see a volcano erupting, you're in the right place. Exit Ceasars Palace and walk about 10 minutes down Las Vegas Boulevard, back to The Mirage.

Around 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., The Volcano show, which is free and totally safe, gets underway.

With sounds recorded from real volcanoes, lights and fireballs, you'll watch with your mouth wide open as lava erupts from a volcano. It lasts about 10 minutes in total.

On the third day I propose you to go a little further south of Las Vegas. From there you will start an upward journey that will take you from the mythical sign that welcomes you to the city to the Excalibur hotel.

Start the day by taking pictures of yourself at the mythical Las Vegas sign

Get your camera and your best smile ready to take a few selfies in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. It's best to go early in the morning because as you might guess, there are many other tourists looking for the same souvenir.

Access is free, so you don't have to worry about that. If you are looking for something more special, there are always photographers with professional cameras willing to help you for a few dollars.

Walk among sharks at Shark Reef Aquarium

Leave the famous sign behind and walk about 15 minutes to the Shark Reef Aquarium, which is inside the Mandalay Bay hotel. Tickets are approximately $25 and you'll get a close-up look at more than 2,000 marine species.

If you're traveling to Las Vegas with kids, they'll love this plan, as you'll be able to walk through tunnels of transparent walls to see aquatic creatures.

Go to Mandalay Bay beach and have lunch

Apart from the aquarium, Mandalay Bay is the only hotel in Las Vegas that has a beach. Of course, it's man-made, but it's still a great place for a little picnic or lunch at a beach bar.

Even if you're in the desert, you've been in Las Vegas for a few days, so you shouldn't be surprised to see people surfing at Mandalay Bay Beach.

Learn about the human body at the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor Hotel

Leave Mandalay Beach and walk about 15 minutes to the hotel next door: the Luxor Hotel. You can't miss it, as a huge pyramid and a sphinx will let you know you've arrived at this Egyptian-themed resort.

It has several shows and exhibits. I highly recommend going to the Bodies show, where you will learn how the human body works thanks to real samples (approximately 30€).

End the day with dinner and a medieval show

To end this third day, how about attending one of the best shows in Las Vegas?

I'm talking about the medieval dinner and tournament at the Excalibur Hotel, which is a 5-minute walk from the Luxor. It costs about 40€ and includes a very complete menu and the event itself.

Horses, swords, armor, battles... The Excalibur recreates every night a tournament of the Middle Ages, based on the legend of King Arthur.

Las Vegas may seem to be only casinos, but it also has a very interesting and, above all, artistic city center. Do you dare to discover it?

Let the lights dazzle you at the Neon Museum

I suggest you start your day at the Neon Museum. To the north, on Las Vegas Boulevard, you will find this very special open-air museum.

Here you can see the posters and old signs of the casinos in the city. The entrance fee is approximately 22€ and, for about 5€ more, you can take a guided tour.

In The Neon Museum not only keep and expose these signs, but also take care of restoring them so that, even without being in any facade, continue to illuminate and tell a story.

Discover the history of the Las Vegas mob at the Mob Museum

From The Neon go to another of the best museums in Las Vegas: the Mob Museum. It's just a 10-minute walk down the boulevard.

Also known as the Mob, in this large exhibit hall you can learn all about the mob's influence on the gambling city. It costs about $25 to enter.

The Mob Museum Las Vegas is housed in a historic building: the old Las Vegas courthouse. Inside you can see weapons, personal items and even images of mob groups and their attacks. You can also play a crime-solving game in an interactive forensic room.

Take a food and art tour of the Las Vegas Art District

Downtown Las Vegas is very artistic, and to get a taste of it, there's nothing like going to the Art District.

You can get there in about 20 minutes by walking down Casino Center Boulevard until you reach the intersection with Charleston or by taking the free Downtown Loop bus from the museum and getting off at the Art District stop. Once there, take a stroll through the streets to discover the murals.

If you want to make the most of your visit to the Art District even more, I recommend taking a food tour of Las Vegas. This less "touristy" area is where you will find the most local restaurants (and the best food).

Experience the gambling experience at the cheap casinos on Fremont Street

When you're done taking in the street art of the Art District, I recommend taking the Downtown Loop, Las Vegas' free bus, back to Fremont Street, another stop.

Fremont Street was home to the city's first casinos and many of them are still standing. The best part? The stakes are lower here, so take advantage of the fact that you're here to cross off your list to play poker at one of the best casinos in Las Vegas.

End the Day at the Fremont Street Experience

In addition to its history, Fremont Street has one last thing to show you: a sound and light show that takes place every day at 8 p.m. for free.

Specifically, it takes place in the vault at the beginning of the street, where you can see some of the city's legendary neon lights.

The Fremont Street Experience 's 12 million LED bulbs light up in a beautiful dance accompanied by various songs. When it's over, you can return to the casinos or attend one of the free live concerts along the street.

For your fifth day in Las Vegas get ready to let your adrenaline run wild, because there are plenty of attractions waiting for you and you'll want to try them all!

Climb to the top of the Stratosphere Tower observation deck

Start your day with an incredible panoramic view fromthe observation deck of the Stratosphere Tower. This 100+ story tower is located south of the city, near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

For about 25€ you can go up to its 108th floor and admire one of the best views of Las Vegas.

This observation deck is located on a circular floor with a large window that allows you to see the city in 360º. It is well worth it!

Ride the roller coasters at the Stratosphere Tower

While you're at the Stratosphere Tower, why not take a ride on its attractions? There are several and you can buy tickets individually (about $15 each) or purchase a pack that allows you to ride each one once and also go to the observation deck on the 108th floor (about $50).

Stratosphere's rides will test your fear of heights. For example, one of them, the X-Scream, consists of a shuttle car with which you will have the sensation of hanging above the void.

Eat at one of the restaurants on Las Vegas Blvd

After five days in the city you have surely realized that the main street is Las Vegas Boulevard. From there you can get to most of the tourist attractions.

As you walk down it to your next stop (the Circus Circus hotel) I suggest you stop at one of its many restaurants for a bite to eat.

There are options for all tastes and budgets, from the gourmet experience at the restaurant of the famous chef Jose Andres to several Mexican taco places at a good price.

Continue enjoying Las Vegas attractions at the Circus Circus Hotel

Keep the adrenaline pumping! For that, nothing like going to the Circus Circus Hotel, a 20-minute walk down Las Vegas Boulevard from the Stratosphere Tower.

This hotel is one of the most emblematic and family-friendly hotels in the city. It has a hotel, a casino and a theme park, the Adventuredome.

The most special thing is that most of its attractions are typical of fairs and circuses, so you will feel like you are going back to your childhood. The good thing is that the tickets are individual, so you only pay for the ones you want to go on according to the time and desire you have.

Have a good time with a free circus show

As you can guess from its name and decor, the Circus Circus hotel is the place to go to enjoy a circus show, whatever age you are. The good news is that these events are free.

Clowns, acrobatics, juggling... Every day from 1:30 pm (or 11:30 am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) you can enjoy various events that will keep you entertained for a while before returning to the fair and the arcade games in the casino.

You can't miss the opportunity to take an excursion from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

My advice is to book an organized tour (approximately 90€) that includes all the visits. Otherwise, you will have to rent a car (about 45€) to move around all day, which can be more complicated.

Start the day at the Hoover Dam

In addition to the Colorado Canyon, you can take a trip to the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas, one of the largest and most important engineering works in the world. Admission is about $14.

In addition to seeing the entire infrastructure, especially the turbine hall of the Hoover Dam, the highlights are the observation decks over Lake Mead and the Colorado River.

Stop at Arizona's Joshua Tree forest

Leaving Hoover Dam for the Grand Canyon I recommend a stop at Arizona's Joshua Tree Forest, a forest of yucca trees. It is not the famous national park of the U2 album, but it is equally beautiful.

If you have the opportunity, I advise you to go down for a while and take some pictures. Just be aware that the road is dusty and bumpy.

Arrive at the Grand Canyon and eat in the surroundings

After about 3 hours, including stops, you will arrive at the Grand Canyon, specifically at the West Rim, the area closest to the city. Before entering, my advice is to take the opportunity to eat something at the restaurants on the West Rim.

There are several restaurants with typical American food (burgers, pizza...) and also some food trucks. You can also bring your own food (maybe you have it included in the tour) and sit down for an impromptu picnic.

Take a tour of the Grand Canyon of Colorado

Now finally, spend the whole afternoon (or at least most of it) exploring the Grand Canyon of Colorado. The entrance fee is about 60€, and includes access to the Skywalk, the famous glass bridge/viewpoint over a 1300 meters deep cliff.

This entire western area is owned by the Hualapai tribe and is characterized precisely by these cliffs and deep stone gorges. If you have time, I recommend you to visit the Indian village and learn about their history and culture in a respectful way.

Say good-bye to the Grand Canyon with a helicopter tour

Before returning to Las Vegas, how about saying goodbye with a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon? You can book this experience for approximately $200 more. The good thing is that it allows you to see more and from the heights.

Apart from flying over the Grand Canyon, many helicopter tours land for a few minutes near the Colorado River, so you can also see it up close.

The trip comes to an end, and my suggestion is to return to The Strip, the most famous area of Las Vegas and visit those themed places that are still on your list. You will feel like you are in a movie!

Embark on a visit to the Titanic Museum

To start your day, head to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. It's located on the south end of The Strip near Tropicana Avenue. This exhibition, which costs about 30 euros to enter, recreates the famous cruise ship in an incredible way.

When you enter you will be assigned the passport of one of the people who were on the Titanic and, with your new identity and through many real objects recovered from the sinking, you will chronologically go through everything that happened.

Continue the day at the MGM Grand Hotel, one of the largest in the world

One of the hotels you have yet to see in Las Vegas is the MGM Grand Hotel, just a 15-minute walk from the Titanic Exhibition.

It is known because until 2006 it was the largest in the world and, although it has been stripped of its title, it is still quite impressive.

The most popular features are its pools and water park, where those over 21 can have a few drinks while listening to live music. Although these are supposed to be for hotel guests only, there are usually some PR people giving out wristbands for free entry.

Fill your stomach at Planet Hollywood

Just a 15-minute walk from the MGM Grand Hotel is Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, a luxury resort closely linked to the world of movies, both for its décor and for being a favorite destination for American celebrities.

Although staying there is a bit pricey (around 100€ a night), you can sit down to eat at one of its restaurants. Then you can take a stroll and discover the best shows at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas.

Enter the Las Vegas oasis at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Another free activity you can do in Las Vegas before you leave is to visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, which is located at the Flamingo Hotel, a 10-minute walk from Planet Hollywood Resort. Here you can see beautiful flamingos up close.

The best thing about this flamingo garden is the tranquility, even though it is in the middle of Las Vegas.

Finish the trip with a limousine ride in Las Vegas

It could be said that this is a city where luxury is lived without qualms, so I propose you to say goodbye with a limousine tour of Las Vegas. The price is approximately 350€ and consists of a complete tour of the most important points.

In addition to the ride, often there is also included some extra service that makes the experience even more special, such as a professional photographer, a bottle of champagne or dinner.

If you follow the itinerary I have suggested each day, you will not need to take the car as you can walk from one place to another. However, you may need some kind of transportation to get to some places depending on where you are staying. In that case you have several options.

You can rent a car (about 60€/day) but I only recommend it if you are going to do some excursions, since during the rest of the days you may need it only for a couple of trips.

You can also take the Downtown Loop, which goes to almost all the important places. If you need to get away from downtown, you can take a cab or a VTC (average price of 20€).

The last option is to use the Las Vegas tour buses, a great alternative if you are looking to go to central and very touristic places, as they make stops in most of them. They cost about 20€ a day.