Everything in Las Vegas. One of the most famous clubs. What to see and where to go in Las Vegas

Landmarks of Las Vegas- these are sometimes the most vivid impressions of the entire trip to the States. Memorable and attractive, like an oasis in the desert, they leave a long memory. The main thing is to figure out what is really worthwhile thing in this chaos of excitement, and what is just a fake that will not stand the test of time. I bring to your attention an overview of the best and most popular attractions that every tourist who comes to Nevada must see. We are talking about the famous casino hotels, and natural attractions near Vegas, and the many entertainments and shows of the City of Sins. Traveling with this list, you will definitely get a taste of the most gambling city in the USA and will know for sure what everyone saw in Las Vegas.

First of all, of course, it is worth saying that in Las Vegas it is simply necessary to play casino in blackjack, place a bet on roulette, or at least once go to one of the slot machines (they are also called one-armed bandits in the old fashioned way) that meet travelers right at the airport and are located on every corner of the city, as well as on the border with other states in border towns. Initially, after all, Las Vegas at the beginning of the 20th century was created as the gambling capital of the United States. However, today it has undergone great changes, and from small scattered casinos has grown into a rich collection of themed hotels and entertainment complexes for literally every taste, where not only bets are placed, but also go to concerts of famous singers, shows of popular artists and circus performers.

So, if the spirit of excitement is not alien to you, then maybe it’s worth playing a little. But be careful, because luck is a tricky lady!

What else is there in Las Vegas? What to see for those who do not like gambling, but the atmosphere of Vegas still temptingly attracts. I’ll say right away: go to the main entertainment street of Vegas - Strip- this is one huge attraction 6.5 km long!

Here's what to do in Las Vegas:

As you can see, Las Vegas is full of the most interesting entertainment, events, shows and tours. To visit just a part of them, it will take more than one day. If you are traveling around the USA on your own, then I advise you to stay in Sin City for a few days in one of the good hotels, and leisurely see the most interesting sights of Las Vegas for you. Well, for those who came on the tour, I recommend that you carefully listen to everything during the tour and then spend free time with maximum benefit.

Useful article:

Now let's talk about all the most popular attractions in Las Vegas more.

And let's start with the most famous attraction in Las Vegas - this is Bellagio fountains, which are located right in front of the entrance to the Bellagio hotel. The whole complex is a copy of amazing villas Northern Italy, where you can walk through art galleries and feel like visiting Lake Como, one of the main sources of inspiration for Italian art.

The Bellagio fountains are located right on the surface of this lake. Beautiful geysers (1200 in number) shoot water into the air every half an hour during the daytime, and in the evening (until midnight) every fifteen minutes, and dance to various music, from Gene Kelly to Michael Jackson. See the Bellagio fountains There are two ways to get to Las Vegas:

• While walking along the lake located in the middle of the Strip;
• From the window of a hotel or restaurant** located next to the Bellagio fountains.

** Reservations for tables in restaurants near the Bellagio fountains must be made in advance.

Best places to see dancing fountains in Las Vegas, are in restaurants The Eifel Tower(Hotel Paris) and Giada(Hotel Cromwell).

Related article:

2. Extreme sky jumps from the Stratosphere tower ()

Who's afraid high altitude, so it's better not to climb Stratosphere Tower, towering 350 meters above Las Vegas so that it can be seen from almost any part of the city. But those who dare and want to get an adrenaline rush and experience extreme emotions can try to soar up with a rocket on unusual attraction big shot is a giant jump 49 meters up to the stratosphere! This is not just a test, but also an opportunity to feel the moment of weightlessness at the peak of the jump.

But that's not all, because the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas has other interesting attractions for those who like to test themselves and tickle their nerves. X Scream will spin you over the city on giant hand, A Insanity will begin to randomly release above the ground and lift back at various angles with coups.

You can also jump from the Stratosphere tower from the largest bungee in the world. Skydiving skyjump is a 253-meter head-down jump that is very popular in Vegas.

If you want to experience these unforgettable sensations, then I recommend staying in a hotel.

Here is the cost of tickets for attractions in the Stratosphere:

• Entrance to the Stratosphere Tower for adults costs $20, children from 3 to 12 years old get a ticket for $12. For those who live in a room at the Stratosphere Hotel, discount coupons are provided, and the entrance ticket costs only $5;
• An all-day pass (includes entrance to the Tower) costs $39.95;
• Three rides on Big Shot, X Scream, and Insanity are $35, two rides are $30, and you can try just one for $25;
• Sky Jump will cost from $100 to $119 per person.

3. Gondola ride in Venice (Hotel The Venetian)

One of the most popular places in Las Vegas is a hotel-casino Venice, which recreates the atmosphere and architecture of the northern Italian city, standing on the water. There is Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge and, of course, gondola rides along the canals.

What do tourists usually do in Venice, Italy? Of course they ride in gondola with a gondolier, colorfully dressed in a costume from the times of the Republic of Venice. Exactly the same in American Venice in the middle of Las Vegas, you can ride a gondola along the canals along the houses and listen to Italian serenade songs.

Gondolas in Las Vegas depart from St. Mark's Square. The cost of the trip starts from $21.

Hotel Venice (The Venetian) 5 stars in Las Vegas

4. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum (Madame Tussauds Las Vegas)

First Wax Museum Madame Tussauds in the USA has hundreds of statues of stars, which are exact copies of celebrities. It is located in the building of the shopping center Grand Canal (Grand Canal Shoppes) next to the hotel The Venetian. Basically, here you can see American celebrities from different times. Contemporaries are represented here in the form of wax figures: Nikki Minaj, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Ricky Martin, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga and many others.

Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas is open from 10:00 to 21:00, on Friday and Saturday - until 22:00, and on Thursday - a short day, closes at 16:00. Occasionally it hosts special events and opening hours may vary. Entrance fee: $29.95 for adults, and tickets for children (4-12 years old) - $19.95. A family ticket for two parents and two children will cost $80.

5. Go to one of the shows of the Circus of the Sun (Cirque du Soleil)

Performances of the world famous circus Cirque du Soleil take place in Las Vegas in several halls at once. Therefore, you can purchase tickets and visit several unique shows on different days. It is best to stay at the MGM Grand Hotel or Bellagio.

If you want to watch certain performances, it is better to book tickets in advance, because all shows are designed for the interests of different visitors, and even despite the high price, they end quickly.

Will be delighted with water acrobats and clowns in the show O and Ka Cirque du Soleil, and adults will appreciate the magic of the Mystere show. Beatles fans will of course choose Love and Michael Jackson fans will buy tickets to the One show.

Here is a list of all Cirque du Soleil shows you can watch in Las Vegas:

• Mystère at Treasure Island Hotel
• 'O' in Bellagio
• Zumanity in New York-New York
• KA at the MGM Grand
• Love in the Mirage
• Criss Angel Believe in Luxor
• Zarkana in Aria

What to do in Las Vegas: what to go and what to see

Now I will tell you in detail about what else you can do in Las Vegas, as well as where to go and what will be interesting to see near Las Vegas.

1. Go to conquer the Martian rocks near Vegas in Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire

Near Las Vegas are two amazing parks with curious sandstone formations - this Red Rock Canyon And Valley of Fire. If you arrive in the morning, you can see how the rocks are painted in such a bright red or red color, as if on fire. Driving along the main sights and trekking to curious and hidden geological formations can take half a day or all daylight hours.

Entrance to Red Rock Canyon - $7, ticket to the Valley of Fire - $10.

Related article:

2. Take a tour of the Grand Canyon

- This is the most famous natural attraction in the United States, which is located in the state of Arizona, not very far from Las Vegas. Officially, the Grand Canyon is called the Grand Canyon for a reason. He really is just huge! From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, you can go to different viewing platforms. And on the way, make a stop at Lake Mead and look at the Hoover Dam.

• The closest thing to go to the so-called Western Rome Grand Canyon, where the Skywalk observation platform with a transparent floor is located, which is located on the territory. Travel time from Las Vegas will take about 2 hours one way.
  How to get to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas? You can buy a bus (from $ 120 per person, it is profitable to go alone), fly over it in a helicopter (about $ 500 per person) or rent a car to go on your own (it will be cheaper for two than by bus). I recommend looking at prices and booking a car.
• The most visited part of the Grand Canyon National Park is this. By car, it’s worth going there for two days, so as not to regret that you didn’t manage to fully enjoy the beauty. You must first book a hotel near the Grand Canyon or settle in a lodge or campsite right in the park. Read all the details.
• And the most distant, but also the most beautiful Grand Canyon it is best to visit along with other attractions nearby - national parks and, for example, or go further into the city to see the famous.

Read detailed articles from practical information About the trip to the Grand Canyon:

3. Relax in an upscale hotel spa or soak by the pool

Tourists may break most of the commandments when they come to Las Vegas, Nevada, which is why they call this place “sin city”, but no one can deny that it impresses both with its beauty and offers for an unforgettable vacation. Every traveler will find entertainment to their liking here, although most of them come here to go all out and have fun spending their money.

State of Nevada

Perhaps this is the most contrasting state in America. Las Vegas, with its famous hotels and casinos, is not its only attraction. Everything is unique here: climate, nature, cities and people.

Once Spanish colony, became part of the USA during the period civil war between North and South. His motto is "battle-born", and as a sign of the valor of the soldiers who died in those battles, several of America's warships today proudly bear his name.

Although tourism and gambling profits make a big contribution to the state treasury, agriculture also thrives in it. This is a rare case when land is used by 90%. The state with the city of Las Vegas is no less rich in minerals. For example, gold mining here is 9% of the world's reserves.

But Las Vegas, the world leader in the gambling industry, brought the greatest fame to these places. This city is quite young, but in a short time it was able to turn from an ordinary railway station in an oasis in the middle of the desert into a metropolis, which people go to for thrills from all over the world.

City `s history

Although located in the Las Vegas desert, the state in which it is located means "snowy" in Spanish. This is not surprising, since most of Nevada is located in the intermountain plateaus, while famous city, founded in 1905, in its southern part. The beautiful oasis was found by accident in 1829, when a lost caravan circled in search of water.

The discovered source was called Las Vegas (the state was much smaller at that time) and became a mandatory stopover for trade caravans on the way from Texas to Los Angeles (California).

When construction boomed in the United States railways, it became natural to build one of them along the path of the caravan. Thus was formed a large railway junction Las Vegas. The city itself began to be built up only at the beginning of the 20th century and almost immediately gained a reputation as an immoral place. This is due to the free morals that were inherent in him from the very beginning. Quick weddings and fights without rules for money attracted many swindlers and thrill-seekers to the city.

The first Arizona club was opened for railroad workers so that workers could relax in it, drink and rent women of easy virtue, but apparently, the craving for breaking the commandments was already strong in Las Vegas, so soon instead of the barrack where it was located, a beautiful stone building appeared, in the premises of which the first roulettes were placed.

This is how the city of gambling was born, and it remains so today.

Fighting the "sins" of Las Vegas

The authorities, who tried to return the dissolute city to the path of holiness, banned gambling in 1919, forcing the existing casinos to go underground. The owners of gambling establishments became even richer, and Las Vegas (Nevada too) lost huge profits that were previously deducted to the treasury in the form of taxes from each casino. Only by 1931, having assessed all the damage to the budget and realizing that those who wish to gamble will still find where to do it, they decided to legalize gambling. The document confirming this took 6 pages, and today it contains several tens of thousands of acts.

But it was not this that accelerated the development of the city, but the dam built just 40 km from it, which not only supplied electricity to the entire region, but also formed the beautiful Lake Mead, which attracted nature lovers to its shores.

Gambling establishments of the city

Casinos were built one after another. Among their owners there were people of completely different strata, from the former police chief to the leaders of the mafia. The greatest boom in the construction and development of the gambling and recreation industry occurred at the end of the 40s and 50s. The most legendary Flamingo Casino was built in 1946 by Billy Wilkerson, who was considered a visionary by many in the business community of the time. His institution became the first place where customers were offered not only gambling halls, but also entertainment and resort-level recreation.

Compared to gambling establishments built before 1960 and modern casinos, Las Vegas (Nevada), in 100 years of development, not only did not fall into decay, as predicted, but became the capital of world-class entertainment. As travelers note in their reviews, they come here not so much for the game, but for spectacles. The best shows, musicals, circus performances, SPA, musical fountains and themed casinos - this is the whole of Vegas.

Where to stay in the city

Only inexperienced tourist can confuse which state Las Vegas is in. A city in the middle of the desert in a region famous for its harsh winters, when the temperature drops to -46 degrees, this is rather an exception. That is why people who do not know the geography of the United States “transfer” the sultry Las Vegas, where the heat rises to +50 in summer, to California, which is nearby.

This city impresses not only with its casinos, but also with the most unusual hotels.

Interesting to know: there are 25 major hotels in the world, 15 of which are in Las Vegas. Which state will give up its reputation as the most gambling, hospitable and most visited in the US? He created a name for himself thanks to the title of "sin city", not without reason for the 600,000 people living here, there are more than 50 million people who come here every year.

As tourists note, some hotels in the city are like mini-towns, which have everything for a quality vacation: casinos, SPAs, cafes, boutiques, sports grounds and swimming pools, bars and restaurants and chapels for instant weddings. What pleasantly pleases visitors is housing prices. Here, for $30-50 per day, you can rent a comfortable room, and a suite will cost $100. As a rule, this is due to the fact that customers leave as much cash as possible at slot machines and in stores.

Famous and popular Las Vegas hotels

Among the most original hotels cities:

These are far from all the hotels in the city, but vacationers note that Las Vegas (Nevada) is a place where there is its own Paris, Egypt and even the sea. Each of them was created with the aim of surprising, captivating with comfort and luxury, so that people come here again and again to spend their money.

sports arenas

It is hard to imagine that sports competitions were not held in such a gambling place. Arenas, as stadiums are called here, are constantly in demand. Some of them are built exclusively for baseball, others meet fans of American football, volleyball or basketball.

Americans are a very athletic nation, so there is nothing surprising in the fact that you need to buy tickets for the final games six months in advance.

Some hotels own their own golf courses where international tournaments are held, no less famous than the legendary world poker championships, which have been held for 47 years in a row at Binion's Gambling Hall, a casino also famous for displaying 1 million dollars.

The Las Vegas Show

"Bread and circuses" people always crave. In this sense, they are not much different from the ancient Romans, but the level of entertainment since that time has changed qualitatively in better side. The shows that take place in every casino and hotel in the city are of such a high level and so diverse in subject matter that, as tourists note, even the longest stay does not allow you to get acquainted with them all.

If Nevada, the state around Las Vegas, offers its guests an encounter with pristine nature, beautiful mountains, and even the opportunity to feel like a gold digger, then the city provides a completely different experience.

The most famous shows in Las Vegas:

Las Vegas (Las Vegas) is worldwide famous city in the USA and world capital entertainment and excitement, a fairly young and popular city among tourists, located in the south of Nevada, right in the middle of the Mojave Desert, which, like a mirage, attracts travelers from all over the Earth. First of all, Vegas is known for the fact that people come here to play casinos from all over the world. Interestingly, Las Vegas is also called the Sin City, because it is in this place in the USA that everyone is allowed what is generally prohibited by law in other states (even in) - test yourself by playing roulette and slot machines, go to unique and interesting shows, get married in just a couple of hours and see all the wonders of the world - copies of the main attractions, collected on one street - the magnificent and vibrant Strip. It is in Las Vegas that you should come to try your luck and try to catch your luck, as well as for the sake of noisy parties, unbridled fun and a complete break from reality.

What this article about Las Vegas is about - my mini guide to Sin City in the USA

After my trip to Sin City, I wrote a mini city guide in which I tell you where and how to get to Las Vegas by car, bus or plane from Los Angeles on the coast of California or other cities on my own, where it is better to settle and how choose good hotel with casinos, fountains, concerts and the best shows, what to do and what attractions to visit in one or more days, as well as what the weather is like here and what you can see near Las Vegas. I will also share important information about whether it is possible Russian citizens get married, having played a wedding in Las Vegas, and what to do in Sin City with children.

What is Las Vegas, almost every inhabitant of the Earth knows, because everyone at least once heard something about him somewhere: in songs, movies or on television, as well as from friends and acquaintances, or maybe even read detailed information on the Internet or books. So, Las Vegas- This Big City in the Mojave Desert, which is located in the state of Nevada in the southwestern United States. This is the capital of entertainment, and one of the few places in the US where all kinds of gambling are allowed and all kinds of human vices are encouraged.

On main street Las Vegas, which is called the Strip (this is a boulevard passing through central part Las Vegas), there are huge entertainment complexes- hotels, casinos and attractions that amaze all tourists. One of the most popular is the Venice Hotel with real canals and gondoliers.

More than 40 million tourists come to Las Vegas every year to spend money and have fun like nowhere else in the world. Many literally lose their heads here, but then they still do not regret what happened. There is even a well-known saying “What was in Vegas stays in Vegas”, which sounds like this in English: “ What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

The strip in Las Vegas is the main street with the best hotels

Basic information:

Perhaps it is Vegas that glows brightest in the United States, if you look at the image of the Earth from space at night. After all, at night most of the cities fall asleep, and Las Vegas lives its own special nightlife. Here, voiced coins jingle, slot machines methodically announce the jackpot, and smartly dressed women accompany rich and successful men to casinos, restaurants and numerous clubs.

Las Vegas hotels and casinos host a variety of shows every day. The world-famous circus Cirque du Soleil invites you to its performances, vintage cabaret shows present their next program, and every day there are concerts of world music and dance stars such as Britney Spears and Ricky Martin. Famous illusionists and magicians also entertain visitors, and comedians will make you laugh, talking about the long-familiar from an unexpected angle.

The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas is located in the heart of the Strip

Twilight Las Vegas - life in the city is just beginning!

Useful articles:

Everyone has heard about the most famous and amazing casino hotels in Las Vegas, which have built entire mini-cities on their territory. Arriving in Las Vegas, you can visit several cities at once in one or a couple of days: Paris, New York, Venice.

• You can plunge into the atmosphere of northern Italy in Bellagio;
• See Egypt in Luxor;
• Visit Ancient Rome - in Caesar Palace;
• visit medieval castle— in Excalibur.

Where is the first place to go for a person who has arrived in Las Vegas? Where to find the focus of the excitement of Sin City?

So the main Las Vegas casino located:

• in downtown on the street Fremont (Fremont street).
• on Las Vegas Boulevard, 6.5 km from the high tower of the Stratosphere Hotel to the suburb of Paradise is called Strip (The Strip).

There are several ways to get to Las Vegas:

1. By plane. Perhaps this is the most convenient way, because international Airport McCarran in Las Vegas is located almost next to the entertainment center. Air travel is best for those who travel around the US just for Vegas or visit different cities on two coasts, for example, or. There is no direct flight from Moscow to Las Vegas, you will have to fly with a transfer. Travel time will be only 1 hour from Los Angeles, 5.5 hours from New York and a minimum of 16 hours from Moscow.

• See cheap flights to Las Vegas.

2. By car. This way to get to Las Vegas will be convenient when traveling through California and the states located next to it in the Southwest of the United States. you can arrive by car on the 15th interstate in about 5 hours, this highway passes through the city. The most convenient way to rent a car for traveling around the United States is right at Los Angeles Airport. You can easily rent a car in Las Vegas. To do this, you will need your national driver's license and a credit card.

• You can see the current prices for car rental in the USA on the website rentalcars.com .
• Read about our experience in renting a car in the USA.

3. By bus. I recommend this option for budget tourists traveling alone in the cities of the southwestern United States, or when it is not possible to rent a car. Greyhound and Megabus buses make regular flights on schedule from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (journey time - 6 hours, ticket price $ 10-25), as well as from San Francisco (15 hours, $ 45-80), (8 hours, $ 25-30 ) and from others major cities USA. The Greyhound Bus Station is located in Downtown Las Vegas at 200 S Main St.

4. By train. Another interesting way that will suit travelers who are not in a hurry, but who appreciate comfort is a combined route to Las Vegas by train and bus. Keep in mind that there is no train station in Las Vegas. And the nearest city where the train will bring southwest chief Amtrak is Kingman. From there, you will have to drive another 180 km to the north to Vegas on the Thruway Motorcoach or on the Greyhound bus.

• More about all methods →

Read also:

Las Vegas hotels and casinos

It is believed that Las Vegas hotels is its own attraction. It is worth choosing a good hotel in Las Vegas in accordance with your vacation wishes.

Hotels on the Strip

If you want to be in the center of entertainment, then your best bet is to book a room at one of the casino hotels on the Strip. It is more expensive here, but more pompous and more fun. It will be more interesting to settle in the hotel, the theme of which you like the most. For example, watching dancing fountains from the window of your room in a five-star hotel Bellagio(from $200 for luxury room) or choose another famous hotel (prices from $60 per room on weekdays) located next to famous tower Vegas.

Hotels on Fremont Street

On Fremont Street, hotels in Las Vegas are cheaper. But at the same time, you should remember that you will need to get to the Strip on your own by bus, or take a shuttle from your hotel.

The best hotels in Las Vegas with a casino

The choice of hotels in Vegas is simply huge. You can see them all yourself (link) or read about the best ones in our review - 5 stars, famous and inexpensive.

Useful article:

Map of the Strip in Las Vegas with hotels-casinos (clickable!) and monorail scheme

Transportation in Las Vegas

Transportation in Las Vegas every tourist needs. Since the Strip is a 6.5 km long section of Las Vegas Boulevard, it is not easy to go around it all back and forth in one or two evenings. To facilitate the movement of people around Las Vegas, the city launched buses and shuttles that run along the Strip around the clock or at certain hours of the time. There is also a convenient monorail running along the main hotels and casinos.

• Buses go to almost all parts of the city. Deuce buses, which travel around Vegas around the clock, are most suitable for tourists. The fare for them is $6. But if you buy a ticket that is valid for 24 hours, then give back only $8. bus route passes near Fremont Street and throughout the Strip. The buses themselves stop at stops that are located near the largest hotels and major casinos. Deuce is open 24/7. The interval of movement is every 5-8 minutes. Time of movement of ordinary public transport: from 6:00 to 23:00 (0:00).
• Monorail drives around Las Vegas from the Sahara casino to the MGM Grand past all the malls on the Strip. Opening hours: from 7:00 to 2:00 (Mon-Thurs); and from 7:00 to 3:00 (Fri-Sun). The fare is $5, and the all-day pass costs $12.

Pretty hot as it is in the desert. The climate of Las Vegas is subtropical-desert. It rains quite infrequently, and in winter it falls more precipitation than in summer, and sometimes there are frosts.

Seasons in Las Vegas:

• In summer in Las Vegas it can be so dry and hot that even in the shade the air temperature rises above +40 ° C. Temperatures hover around 20 degrees at night. The average temperature in Vegas is +25°C. Monsoons are common in the desert from July to September, bringing rain. The features of the monsoons in Las Vegas are that they bring rain quite rarely, but if it starts to rain, then for a long time.
• in winter Vegas is much cooler. The average daily temperature is +15 - 17 °C. At night, the thermometer often drops to +4 degrees. Snow in Las Vegas happens, but it is extremely rare. However, he is in in large numbers available on the nearby mountains and slopes, where you can go skiing and snowboarding.
• Spring and autumn in Las Vegas there is pleasant sunny weather without much precipitation, the air temperature averages from +15 to +25 degrees.

I’ll note right away that summer in the USA is a period of school holidays and mass vacations for Americans, and at this time Las Vegas is especially crowded. Then there is the hottest period, and it is not comfortable to walk down the street for a long time. However, if you walk around the city in the evening, then it's okay, it will be quite comfortable.

Nevertheless, most best time go to Las Vegas in terms of weather, these are autumn and spring, or rather March, April, May, October and November. It's not so hot, and the sights around Vegas are convenient to watch, without the risk of suddenly getting a sunstroke.

Good to know:

• There is one more nuance for visiting Las Vegas: if you want to save money on living in the city, then you should avoid weekends and Fridays, and come on weekdays when hotels are cheaper. Americans like to come to Las Vegas en masse for the weekend to hang out and have fun for a couple of days. On weekdays, they go to work, and hotel rooms remain unoccupied. For this reason, even the most famous hotels in Sin City offer big discounts on accommodation (up to 70%) on weekdays.
• The only downside to going to Las Vegas during the week is that you won't get to see the best weekly shows on the weekends. But for significant savings in the travel budget, leisurely exploration of the city and sightseeing of the most interesting sights outside of it weekdays are the perfect time to visit Las Vegas.

Defined by Pacific Time Zone and refers to the Pacific time zone:

• in winter UTC -8 (11 hours behind Moscow)
• summer UTC -7 (the difference with Moscow time is 10 hours)

From late spring to early fall, when most tourists travel to Las Vegas, Nevada operates Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), or summer time, which is 1 hour ahead of the winter one.

In addition to the magnificently designed and legendary hotels and casinos of Las Vegas, which can be visited as excursions to different eras and cardinal points, the city also has various exhibitions and museums.

I will bring list of hotels and casinos in las vegas must-sees while walking along the Strip:

Interesting exhibitions and shows that take place in Las Vegas:

• Body Exhibition (BODIES… the Exhibition) at the Luxor Hotel;
• The Auto Collections car collection at the hotel The LINQ Hotel & Casino;
• Dancing Fountains, Botanical Garden and Art Gallery in Bellagio;
• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum;
• Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition in Luxor;
• Show Cirque du Soleil (takes place in seven hotels: Mystère at the Treasure Island Hotel, ‘O’ in Bellagio, Zumanity in New York-New York, KÀ in MGM Grand, Love in Mirage, Criss Angel Believe in Luxor and Zarkana in Aria);
• Shows of magicians: from the famous David Copperfield, who performs at the MGM Grand, to the show The Mentalist by Jerry McCambridge at Planet Hollywood.

Related article:

Vegas nightlife consists not only of casinos and slot machines. Do not forget that this is where the best stag parties from all over America come to. So, what to do here for young people and cheerful companies to make it very, very interesting?

Best las vegas adult show:

1. Burlesque show Zombie Burlesque at the Planet Hollywood Casino Hotel.
2. topless show Crazy Horse Paris at MGM Grand.
3. Male dancers are famous Chippendales at Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino or Thunder from Down Under in Excalibur.

More interesting activities in Las Vegas:

Bright and unforgettable Las Vegas would not be so good if there were no real natural wonders next to it. , famous throughout the world for its harsh climate, is located just three hours from Vegas. And very close to the city you can see the Red Rock Canyon. Yes, and quite simply, because it is not very far away. Intrigued?

Here's where you can go from Las Vegas for half a day, a full day, or even a few days.

The city of Las Vegas is the epitome of vanity and American megalomania in pure form. Everything is “the best” here: the largest, most expensive, highest, deepest .. The largest bottle of Coca-Cola, the largest gold bar, the largest singing fountains. This is a city that dazzles with gold dust and flaunts it. Everything here is aimed at setting you on the “right wave” as quickly and efficiently as possible: so that you start and do not stop spending your hard-earned money in numerous casinos for as long as possible and at the same time not be distracted by trifles - so that hunger does not interfere with you, the waitresses will carefully bring food and drinks, the croupiers will rejoice like family for every dollar you win ...

There are no windows and no clocks in Las Vegas casinos - so that, God forbid, you don’t remember how many hours / days / weeks you have been trying to catch your luck by the tail. Some really succeed, but for the majority, the memory of the “fun” city of Las Vegas is left with devastated bank accounts and vague memories.

But all this applies to the players - and besides them, there are ordinary travelers in Vegas. These are those who do not play or play "for show" and for whom Las Vegas is not the center of the universe, but just a bright spot on the map of Nevada. It is for travelers who are interested in "what to see in Las Vegas", and not "where to play in the smoke" and this short story about the city of Las Vegas and its attractions. So..

Once an oasis in the Nevada desert (the very name of the city of Las Vegas means "floodplain meadows"), the first birth of the future gambling capital of the United States took place in 1829, when a lost caravan stopped at this place. Rebirth - when the tiny town was made a refueling point for steam locomotives coming from Salt Lake City V Los Angeles. But for some reason, the official date of birth of the city of Las Vegas is May 15, 1905, although by this time it was already full of gambling halls and saloons. Historians insist on 1864 as the date of the emergence of Las Vegas - it was then that the question arose of legalizing gambling in the state of Nevada. Mormon influence was quite strong in the then USA - and in neighboring Utah, the "stronghold" of the Mormons, gambling was prohibited, and remains illegal to this day. But there were not so many moralists in Nevada, and already in 1869 gambling was legalized - which predetermined the direction of development of the city of Las Vegas, and not only it. As usual, the authorities have repeatedly changed their position in relation to gambling - for example, in 1909 the cup of patience ran out and the government launched a powerful attack on the "dens", where gambling was often accompanied by criminal showdowns. However, already in 1911, the pendulum swung back and serious indulgences were introduced - for example, games were again allowed without "entry fees" and whose participants, according to the rules, had to mix the deck. From that moment on, Las Vegas became the center of attraction for professional gamblers - there was not a single saloon in the city where they would not play poker.

In 1915, poker was supplemented with several more legalized games, and the first slot machines appeared in some advanced establishments. However, until the middle of the 20th century, Las Vegas did not stand out among others like it, until one day a wheel burst at a certain Thomas Hull on the outskirts of the city. While the damage was being repaired, Hull toiled with idleness - and the idea came to him that a hotel located right on the road would not hurt to have its own casino - and then many sufferers would not have to drag themselves to downtown Las Vegas, where until that moment everyone was crowded entertainment establishments. According to legend, from this moment begins the history of the main attraction of Las Vegas (consisting of a mass of smaller sights) - the world famous "Las Vegas Boulevard" or, in short, the Strip. In 1941, Hull opened the first casino hotel, El Rancho. Then Benjamin Siegel (aka "Handsome Bugsy", whose story is told in the movie "Casino" with De Niro and Sharon Stone) purchased El Cortez, and in 1946 built the chic Flamingo Hotel and Casino.

Las Vegas Attractions: Flamingo Hotel

Now, against the backdrop of the brightest Venetian or Mandalay Bay, hotel Flamingo(Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3555) does not make much impression, but, in fact, the current city of Las Vegas began with it. Flamingo was the lifelong dream of its creator - Siegel himself developed scenarios for luxurious shows designed to make a stunning impression on the audience, he himself designed the appearance of the future hotel, insisted on creating a grove in front of the hotel, for which the necessary amount of fertile soil was brought to Las Vegas; in addition, ponds have been dug in front of the hotel for graceful flamingos. In the end, the passion for the hotel quarreled its creator with mafia companions, which, however, did not prevent the Flamingo from opening on Christmas Day 1946. Local stars were invited to the opening of the hotel from Hollywood - who were recruited on a couple of planes, but even such advertising did not provide the hotel with instant success - for post-war America the institution was too chic and those who could afford to play in such places preferred to do it in Monaco and Monte Carlo. It should also be borne in mind that Las Vegas itself was at that time nothing more than a dusty hole somewhere in the Far West - and only the imagination and perseverance of people like Siegel made possible the appearance of modern Las Vegas in this place, one of the most striking sights of the United States. and the whole world. However, Siegel's services to the city of Las Vegas did not save him from the long arms of Lucky Luciano, along with Al Capone, one of the most famous mafiosi in the United States. According to Luciano's biography, he became interested in the outflow of funds from Flamingo and in December 1946, Siegel's fate was sealed: he was shot through the window of his house in Los Angeles. None of the Hollywood stars honored Benjamin's funeral with their presence - this could spoil the reputation, but Siegel's death had a beneficial effect on the fate of the hotel: Flamingo became known throughout the country and many wanted to visit the Las Vegas landmark that cost its creator his life.

Not far from Flamingo is the famous hotel-casino "Sahara", once the highest on the Strip and initiating the fashion for African interiors. Aside from them, Sahara is known for being the highlight of its entertainment program in 1964 twice with the Beatles. Of no small importance in turning the Sahara into one of the most popular casinos in Las Vegas was the lifting of the ban on visiting it by blacks - it was the first to open its doors to "colored" players.

It is on the Strip that 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the world are located; on my first visit to Las Vegas, I stayed in one of these, hotel-casino "Luxor"(Luxor, Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3900, www.luxor.com) - the dimensions are truly amazing.

The Luxor of Las Vegas is a life-size replica of an ancient Egyptian pyramid, and inside there is an exact copy of Tutankhamun's tomb.

The only difference is that the Egyptians used the pyramid to rest the dead, while the practical Americans used it to entertain the living. And besides, from the top of the pyramid, a most powerful ray of light goes vertically upwards; it can be seen even from space, according to the booklet at the hotel reception.

In addition to the above-mentioned goodies, the Luxor Hotel is known for its IMAX cinema.

Attractions of Las Vegas: hotel-casino "Stratosphere"

The main attraction hotel-casino "Stratosphere"(Stratosphere, www.stratospherehotel.com) in Las Vegas is its observation deck at an altitude of 350 meters:

In addition to it, at the top of the tower there is a revolving restaurant and attractions for the most desperate thrill-seekers:

Attraction Insanity the Ride It is set at a height of 274 meters and is a carousel in the form of claws located in a star with chairs under them. After landing and fixing the tourists in the chairs, the mechanism takes the carousel out of the tower, where it begins to rotate in a circle at a speed of about 65 km / h - those who dare to ride this attraction can observe the city of Las Vegas from a height of about 300 meters (if they don't screw up).

Attraction X-Scream is located at an altitude of 264 m. It is an open trailer, driving off to the side of the tower, swinging and braking sharply - which, presumably, greatly entertains the thrill hunters sitting in it.

big shot- entertainment at a height of 329 meters, is considered the highest attraction in the world.

skyjump- a jump from a height of 261 meters, those who want to experience it for themselves in flight overcome 108 floors of the Stratosphere Tower.

Las Vegas Attractions: Roller Coaster

Between copies of the famous New York skyscrapers, standing close to each other and forming the "island of New York", winding furious " roller coaster"(in America they are called" Russians ") - another brightest attraction of the city of Las Vegas.

An interesting effect: if you happen to be in this mini-New York at night, then you may not immediately notice the slides themselves - they are laid at a height of several floors. But sooner or later you will definitely hear them: first, heart-rending screams and squeals will be heard from the darkness, and then, raising your head, you will be able to distinguish wagons with desperate passengers flying at breakneck speed. After watching them (cars make dead loops, rotate around their axis, and all this is at the height of an average skyscraper), I personally did not dare to ride - it was too extreme for me.

After weighing all the pros and cons, instead of such a flight, I went to skip a shot at a nearby Coyote Ugly Bar, a cult and iconic place - you can find out where the cult came from from the film of the same name.

Attractions of Las Vegas: hotels-casinos "Paris" and "Bellagio"

Having been in mini-New York, you can get to "Paris"("Paris", Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3655) - at least the main symbols of the European "city of light" in the face of eiffel tower And Arc de Triomphe there are - and even look very good upon closer inspection.

The entrance to the copy of the Eiffel Tower is inside the hotel - climbing up, you can admire the views of the city of Las Vegas from a height of 140 meters (tickets are sold inside the hotel in the Eiffel store). From this observation deck it is also very convenient to watch the show of dancing fountains near the Bellagio Hotel, located next door.

Bellagio Hotel-Casino(Bellagio) - in addition to one of the best dancing fountain shows in the world, it houses two of the three the best restaurants Las Vegas: Le Cirque And Picasso(both recipients of the prestigious US AAA Five Diamond Award). Returning to the dancing fountains: water extravaganzas from more than a thousand fountains, accompanied by classical and modern compositions, take place every fifteen minutes - I recommend watching them from two different angles: from the side of the pool with fountains and from the height of the observation deck of "Paris" - both times will be the most different and eminently worthy impressions.

In addition to the fountain show and the best restaurants, Bellagio is famous for its art museum (by the way, this is one of the few places in Las Vegas where they charge $ 12 for admission), there are masterpieces of such masters as Goya, Picasso, Degas and others. According to information from the electronic guide to the museum, the exposition costs about the same as the hotel itself - $ 1.7 billion.

Not far from "Paris" and "Bellagio" there is another attraction of Las Vegas, which is a must-see - hotel-casino "Caesar's Palace"(Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Strip, 3570). The first floor and the park in front of the hotel are so skillfully lined with copies of ancient Roman sculptures that it is quite possible to mix up the eras for a while. On top of that, Caesar's Palace hosts a massive (you can apply the word to pretty much everything in Las Vegas) Creation of Earth show, complete with flames, roar and laser special effects.

Another attraction of Las Vegas is the out-of-stellar Mirage Hotel:

Inside "Mirage"(Mirage, Las Vegas Blvd Strip, www.mirage.com) white tigers roam and can also be found a tropical forest, a lagoon, waterfalls, a pool with dolphins and an artificial volcano that erupts every half an hour (from 19:00 to midnight).

Attractions of Las Vegas: hotel "Venetian"

Venetian(www.venetian.com) - here real gondolas float along artificial channels; in them - almost real gondoliers sing very similar to real Venetian barcarolles; tourists, usually Asians, are delighted.

After meeting with another overseas Venice (the previous one was in Los Angeles – Venice City) I went to treasure island, the road to which from there is only a couple of minutes. In general, the city of Las Vegas is very reminiscent of a giant theme park entertainment, where from "New York" you get to "Venice", then to "Paris" - and so on.

Entertainment complex "Treasure Island"(Treasure Island, Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3300, www.treasureisland.com) is famous for its evening show Sirens' of Treasure Island, which takes place in a specially built "seaside village" with a canal dug around it. The performance is full of pirate romance, dancing beauties and fights on the masts - at the end of it, an entire English frigate goes under water.

South of the Venetian is located Imperial Palace Hotel, notable for its huge concert hall, where Elvis Presley once performed, and the museum of vintage cars, among the exhibits of which you can find the Rolls-Roys of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, Hitler's Mercedes and the Packard of the Emperor of Japan Hirohito. The museum is located on the fifth floor of the Imperial Palace Hotel, (Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3535, www.autocollections.com).

Excalibur Hotel-Casino, built in the form of a fairy-tale castle - inside this impression is greatly enhanced:

Las Vegas Attractions: Mandalay Bay Casino Hotel

Mandalay Bay Casino Hotel (www.mandalaybay.com) is the "pearl" of my personal list of "what to see in Las Vegas" - at least from those Las Vegas city casino hotels that were available for "people from the street", it seemed to me the most interesting and stylish.

This hotel is famous for its topless pool (admission fee for men) and glass underwater tunnel, where you can admire sharks, "golden" crocodiles, stonefish - one of the most poisonous fish on Earth, and other aquatic fauna.

Transportation in Las Vegas

There are two types of buses: SDX express and DEUCE regular buses, bus tickets are valid for both SDX express and DEUCE - DEUCE buses have more stops and they travel noticeably slower than SDX, since almost every stop in the central part of the Strip includes and there are crowds of tourists. A ticket for an unlimited number of trips for 2 hours costs $ 6, they are sold only in vending machines, the vending machine does not give change. Large bills can be exchanged in special change machines in any of the surrounding casinos, of which there are many. The city also has a 6 km monorail along the Strip. Trains run at a height of about eight meters, so that, in addition to a purely transport function, the monorail can also successfully perform a sightseeing function.

Stops are located near the main large casino hotels of the Strip, such as Flamingo-Caesars, Bally's-Paris, MGM Grand, Luxor and the like. Opening hours - from 8:00 to 24:00.

How to get to the complex where all Las Vegas airport rental cars are located

First, you need to take the DEUCE bus to southern bus station, then from there take the bus 117 two stops, the address of the complex: 7135 Gilespie street.

The return of a rented car in rental cars located at the Las Vegas airport is organized very simply: you drive into the parking lot and then follow the signs with the name of your rental company (all rental cars operating at Las Vegas McCarran Airport are located in this complex). Having driven by the signs to the Hertz parking lot, I waited for an employee who marked the fuel level in the tank and something else in the documents. After that, leaving the keys in the car, I went to the office for an invoice, which indicated the final cost of renting a car. I was once again told that I did not have to pay anything for my adventure with an engine crankcase pierced in Monument Valley and insurance covered it.

Rent-a-car is not located at the airport itself, but not far from it and runs between it and the Las Vegas airport terminals free bus, travel time is about 5 minutes.

How to get to Las Vegas from Moscow

There are currently no direct flights between Russian cities and Las Vegas, so you will have to fly with at least one transfer - in New York or in one of the European hubs; the minimum price for round-trip tickets is $600

To search for flights to Las Vegas, you can use this search form:

How to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

You can come to the fun city of Las Vegas in different ways - by planes, buses, rented or private cars. Personally, I remember most of all my second visit there: when in half a day I drove a car for almost 500 miles across the territory of the three states and in the dead of night bright lights appeared on the horizon in a lowland in the middle of the desert - for me at that moment Las Vegas was the same a welcome oasis, as it was for those first pilgrims from the lost caravan. For car travelers, the city of Las Vegas is very convenient and comfortable: no problems with parking near casino hotels or other attractions, plus the opportunity to visit amazingly interesting National parks located within reach: Grand Canyon, Death Valley, monument valley and others.

If there is no car and there is no desire to rent it, then get to Las Vegas from the cities of the American West Coast, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, the most convenient way is by bus. First you need to get to the local terminal of the Greyhound bus carrier and take their express bus to Las Vegas (for example, from Los Angeles to Las Vegas can be reached in four hours) - that's exactly what I drove. In order not to step over the homeless citizens sleeping on the sidewalks great country and Mexican illegals, I decided before the mentioned bus terminal Los Angeles is not to go on foot (although it was quite possible, the weather is good, the walk would have been about an hour), I got there by bus. From downtown Los Angeles, the bus terminal can be reached by bus routes 60 (longer) and 760 (faster). On the bus on the way to Las Vegas, I met an Armenian who has been living in the US for 25 years, works as a glassblower and, due to the lack of work in his specialty in Los Angeles, goes to Las Vegas to earn money. He, in the joy of meeting with a former compatriot, gave me homemade pies with cabbage, cheese and potatoes - objections and refusals were not accepted.

Life hack: how I save on hotels and insurance

In addition to traditional and well-known tools such as Booking or Hotellook, Lately new online services have appeared that greatly facilitate the life of the traveler and pleasantly protect the thickness of his wallet. One of them - roomguru I use it all the time and recommend it to all my friends and family. This service compares prices for an object in 30 booking systems at once, and offers you the most interesting options. In addition, it tracks discounts and special offers.

As for a good working travel insurance, it was not easy to find it before, but now it has become even more difficult due to the constant fluctuations of the ruble against world currencies. For the past few years, I have taken out insurance for my travels through an online service.

P.S. Don't forget to join the groups Facebook www.facebook.com/site , Google+ www.google.com/site And In contact with vk.com/site , as well as subscribe to site updates by mail to follow the release of new articles about independent travel Worldwide.

I wish you bright impressions and photos from the “gambling capital” of the USA, the city of Las Vegas!
Your Roman Mironenko