How to spend a weekend in Las Vegas

Tiegan Johnston • Oct 5, 2023

Mayuri is the founder of ToSomePlaceNew, which covers European destinations and cultural travel. A history graduate and an MBA by qualification, she found her true calling in digging a city’s past and discovering their unique nuances. She is based in Canada, and travels with her husband. 

Heading to the Sin City? This efficient, jam-packed 72 hours in Las Vegas itinerary is guaranteed to make your vacation memorable.

Las Vegas is located in the state of Nevada. Known for larger than life architecture, live concerts, fine dining, casinos and stunning landscapes, avid travelers must visit Vegas at least once in their lifetimes.

Here is our suggested itinerary for spending 72 hours in Las Vegas.

Day 1

Morning/Arrival

Arrive in Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport. From the airport, make your way to the Strip (for accommodation). You can book a shuttle at the airport, or have it arranged through your hotel. 

Staying at the Strip will allow you to experience the best of Las Vegas, and with so many amazing resorts and hotels to choose from, you can’t go wrong here. Our favorite picks: Caesar’s Palace, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand.

After checking in to your hotel, venture outside and take a walk through the Vegas Strip, admiring the various resorts and their architecture. With so many iconic sites, you will be busy snapping Instagram photos at every corner - from the Brooklyn Bridge in New York to Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

Afternoon/Early Evening

Stop by for food and drink, or sip frozen Margaritas on the go. Fancy something sweet? Head to M&Ms!

Vegas opens up so many free attractions for you to enjoy. There are street performers, fountains at the Bellagio Hotel, or even a walk inside the casinos is so entertaining.

You can end your Strip wandering at the Venetian, and hop on a Gondola Ride, and go shopping.

Evening

In the evening, opt for a 3-hour sightseeing tour on an open bus. We took this tour, and it was an awesome way to see the Strip covered in a blanket of illuminating lights. The route also covers the Fremont Street Experience, which is essentially the downtown area of Las Vegas. So you get to visit both - the Strip and the City Center in one tour. We highly recommend this.  

Pro tip: Need an all-inclusive pass for Vegas, don’t forget to grab this for access to some of the city’s best attractions.

Day 2

Morning

For the next 24 hours, experience some of the iconic and quirkiest things in Las Vegas. Let’s start with the iconic Las Vegas Sign. When in Vegas, you have to capture a photograph here. 

Head there in the morning to beat the crowds, and snap a memorable shot.

Visit the Neon Museum next. This museum in Vegas features signs from old casinos and other businesses. The cool thing about this museum is that they are all displayed outdoors on 2.62 acres of land. Tickets for entry start at $19. 

We recommend visiting the museum at around 11 a.m. to make the most of your time. The museum closes at about 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon

After the museum, break for lunch, and then go-karting at the fabulous Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Yes, you can race around the fastest racetrack in Vegas. This track is over 2,100 feet long, coming with fast sweepers and 90 degree corners. 

You have access to a high end facility to go-karting, with 50+ supercars (from the likes of Ferrari to Lamborhini). Grab your tickets here, valid for a day.

This track is located just 15 minutes north of The Strip. 

If go-karting is not your thing, then opt for indoor skydiving. This is a unique experience, where you learn skydiving with an expert instructor, and spend a fun-filled afternoon. The location is inside a vertical wind tunnel moving at 120 miles per hour in a safe environment.

For those who prefer a less adventurous activity, head to the Shark Reef Aquarium at the Mandalay Bay. This is an attraction that is enjoyed by children and adults alike. 

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a public aquarium located inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The main tank is said to be one of the largest in North America at 1,300,000 US gallons. 

Evening

Finish the night by embarking on a helicopter ride over Sin City. A 15 minute heli ride plus signature dishes prepared for you by a chef? You can’t go wrong. Enjoy the city of lights with mesmerizing views of the Bellagio fountains, the laser beam from the Luxor hotel and soak in the dazzling lights along the Strip. 

Don’t want a chopper ride? Then ride the high roller at the LinQ for stunning views of the Vegas Strip. This observation wheel stands at over 550 feet tall, and offers an open bar for those over 21 years.

Day 3

Full-day excursion

For your final day in Las Vegas, venture outside the city, and into nature. There are a ton of day tour options available from Las Vegas. They range from a short 4 hour trip to a long day of 12 - 14 hours. We have taken the longer ones to the Grand Canyon South rim, and the sightseeing attractions make it worth it (oh..and Mexican buffet for lunch, what’s not to like?). 

These tours are great if you are not renting a car, and mostly using public transportation. Using the tours make it easy to cover more ground in a short amount of time and budget.

For shorter day trips, we highly recommend Red Rock Canyon and/or the Seven Magic Mountains. The Red Rock Canyon is located only 25 miles away from Vegas, and the state park is known for the scenic drive, desert cliffs, and unique rock formations. Since there are no public transportation options available to the state park, book this day tour to reach there in style.

If you wish to cover more than the state park, then add the Seven Magic Mountains tour to your Vegas itinerary. This day tour is for 5 hours, and includes a trip to both the Red Rock and Seven Magic Mountains. 

Or want to experience a few hours at the majestic Grand Canyon National Park (plus Hoover Dam, and learn about the history of Native Americans and the Route 66), opt for this excursion to the canyons! The trip although long is worth it for the attractions covered. By embarking on this route, you are checking off a natural wonder and also entering into another US state of Arizona.