THE 10 Must-See Landmarks in Las Vegas for Your First Trip

The best landmarks in Las Vegas include dancing fountains, a giant glowing ball, canals inside a hotel, and a pyramid with a beam of light shooting out of the top. There’s absolutely TONS going on here before you even get to the casinos.

I’m from California, so I’ve been coming to Vegas since I was a kid, from soccer tournaments and seeing Christmas lights with my parents to party trips when I got a little older… which I may or may not have actually been 21 for, haha 😛 No matter what your trip ends up looking like, there are a few Vegas landmarks I think you should see at least once. I’ve included the classic sights on the Strip, a couple of downtown favorites, and two nearby landmarks worth leaving the city for.

Must-See Landmarks on the Las Vegas Strip

1. Walk the Las Vegas Strip Itself

Walking the Strip is an attraction in itself. You pass an Eiffel Tower, enormous fountains, singing gondoliers, and people carrying frozen cocktails in plastic cups almost as tall as they are. There really isn’t another place on Earth where a casual walk looks quite like this.

Start around Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Paris, and the LINQ for a good central stretch. Just don’t expect to cross one hotel frontage in two minutes. You’ll get shuffled up pedestrian bridges, along walkways, and occasionally through a hotel, only to emerge wondering how you’re STILL next to the same building.

Some people head to the casino floors to try classic games such as slots, roulette and blackjack, the same games many players now enjoy online. Others come purely for the architecture, entertainment and atmosphere.

I also think it’s worth sitting at a bar somewhere along the Strip for a while with a giant blended piña colada or daiquiri and watching everyone go past. There are street performers, people dressed in all sorts of costumes posing for paid photos, and people handing out little strip-club cards. You might end up with a very questionable souvenir collection or find one of the stripper cards in your drawer years later 😛

Famous Hotel Landmarks to Look for on the Strip

You don’t need to stay in these hotels to appreciate their completely over-the-top exteriors… many (if not most) are practically attractions before you’ve walked through the door!

The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas: You get a smaller Parisian skyline rising over the middle of the Strip, complete with an Eiffel Tower you can actually go up. The viewing deck looks across toward Bellagio, so you can combine the tower with a view of the fountain show. Inside, the Parisian storefronts and ceiling painted blue with fluffy clouds make it feel like you’re wandering through a little European street, even though you’re very much still in a casino.

The Venetian Canals: Gondolas float past Italian-style facades, bridges, and shops, with canals both inside and outside the resort. Indoors, the painted sky makes it feel like a permanently pleasant afternoon. You can pay for a gondola ride or simply wander along the water watching the gondoliers.

New York-New York’s Skyline and Roller Coaster: The Statue of Liberty, a miniature Manhattan skyline, and a roller coaster weaving around the hotel make this pretty hard to miss. And yes, you can book a ride on the Big Apple Coaster and go flying around that skyline yourself.

The Luxor Pyramid and Sphinx: A huge dark pyramid and an Egyptian-style Sphinx beside a busy American road are quite a sight. After dark, the beam rising from the pyramid makes Luxor even easier to pick out among all the lights.

Excalibur Castle: The colorful turrets give this hotel a storybook-castle exterior. It’s especially fun to see beside Luxor and New York-New York, when you realize how many completely unrelated worlds Vegas has managed to squeeze onto a few neighboring properties.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a princess when I grew up… so my parents booked Excalibur for one of our Vegas trips and told me I was a princess and this was my castle! Natually, I had absolutely no reason to question this arrangement.

Caesars Palace: Roman-style columns, statues, and fountains make Caesars another classic hotel landmark. Have a wander through the Forum Shops if you want to keep exploring the theme indoors, where shopping comes with a generous helping of ancient-Rome-inspired scenery.

I’ve covered these in more detail in my guide to Las Vegas themed hotels if you’d like to choose somewhere suitably ridiculous to stay, too.

2. Watch the Bellagio Fountains

The Bellagio fountains are absolutely a MUST-SEE! The water moves to music across the enormous lake in front of the hotel, with jets shooting high into the air and lights illuminating the whole thing after dark. It’s free to watch from the sidewalk, and it really is cool to see in person.

I have a particularly funny college memory attached to this spot… UCLA Greek life would head to Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, and we’d meet at the Bellagio fountains to do an Eight-Clap, our UCLA cheer. We had a large gathering of college students yelling in front of a choreographed fountain show… very Vegas.

Another amazing way to see them is from a fountain-view hotel room at Bellagio or one of the surrounding properties with the right view. Looking down on the patterns from high above is a completely different perspective. Inside Bellagio, the seasonal Conservatory displays are worth a look as well. Look up in the lobby for Fiori di Como, the ceiling covered in colorful blown-glass flowers by artist Dale Chihuly.

3. Experience the Sphere

The Sphere is absolutely worth the hype. Outside, the enormous ball changes between animations, patterns, and images that’ll have you staring as you walk by. Inside, the screen stretches beyond your field of view in pretty much every direction, so you feel completely enveloped in whatever is happening around you.

I saw Darren Aronofsky’s film ‘Postcard from Earth’ there, and it was incredible. The landscapes fill so much of your vision that you feel surrounded by them. Before the film, we also explored the atrium, with humanoid robots and all sorts of interesting tech experiences. I could have spent quite a while just playing around in there.

Seeing an electronic music production here is still on my bucket list. Anyma and Illenium have both staged shows at the Sphere, and those huge visuals with music like that sound pretty incredible.

One thing that surprised me, though: the seating is STEEP. Looking down those stairs is an experience of its own, especially higher up. Maybe save the particularly enthusiastic drinking for after you’ve found your seat, haha.

4. Ride the High Roller at the LINQ Promenade

The High Roller is the giant observation wheel behind the LINQ Promenade. It rises 550 feet above the city, and a full rotation takes around 30 minutes, with enclosed cabins giving you views across the hotels, mountains, and desert beyond.

What I like about this compared with a hotel-room view is being able to look in every direction. A room might have one amazing outlook, but here you can move around the cabin and watch the perspective change as you rise above the surrounding buildings.

The LINQ Promenade itself is also a fun place to spend some time, with bars, restaurants, shops, and lots happening along the pedestrian walkway. A late-afternoon ride works well if you want to watch the light change; I’ve included it in my guide to where to watch sunset in Las Vegas, along with rooftops and desert viewpoints.

5. Stop at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is probably the most recognizable photo stop in the city. You’ve probably seen that red starburst, diamond shape, and old-school lettering in hundreds of photos already, so getting your own makes it feel real that you’re in Vegas.

It sits at the southern end of the resort Strip, away from the central stretch where most of these hotels are. This really needs to be a separate stop, and I like the idea of going on your way into Vegas to get a little excited for the trip. It’s free to visit, but people do line up for a photo with this iconic sign, unsurprisingly. Early morning is a good option for fewer people and less heat.

6. Head Up the STRAT Tower

The STRAT is the tall tower you can spot above much of the skyline, farther north than the main cluster of Strip hotels. Its indoor and outdoor observation decks look across the city toward the mountains, and the Top of the World restaurant slowly revolves while you eat.

If the height alone isn’t enough for you, Big Shot shoots riders up the mast above the observation decks, while SkyJump lets you make a controlled bunjee jump descent down the outside of the tower. I think dinner with a view is also a perfectly reasonable choice here. 😛

Extra: See a Las Vegas Show

Yes, this is an experience rather than a building, but I wouldn’t leave it off a first-trip list as shows are such an integral part of Vegas. The theaters here have water-filled stages, huge moving sets, and performers flying above the audience. They really go all-out here.

Cirque du Soleil is the classic choice. O at Bellagio uses a water-filled stage with divers, swimmers, and aerial performers, while KÀ at MGM Grand has a huge moving stage and an action-heavy story. Mystère at Treasure Island is another option for acrobatics, live music, and elaborate costumes.

Blue Man Group at Luxor is also very Vegas. They’ve been doing this show for decades where they are completely nonverbal and fully painted blue, mixing percussion, comedy, and some very strange things happening onstage. I went during a soccer tournament when I was about 12, and it’s still such a vivid memory. There really isn’t much else quite like it.

Big-name artists also come to Vegas for concert residencies. Britney Spears and Céline Dion both had hugely famous runs here, and you might find that an artist you love is playing several nights during your trip.

If you’re planning a trip with your partner, I’ve included more show ideas, dinners, and slightly less conventional dates in my guide to things to do in Las Vegas for couples.

Downtown Las Vegas Landmarks You Shouldn’t Miss

7. Spend an Evening on Fremont Street

Fremont Street is simply a must. It’s essentially a busy pedestrian street beneath an enormous LED canopy, with music and moving light displays stretching overhead while bands play and people zipline above the crowds. There’s a lot to look at, and much of it is happening over your head.

I remember coming here when I was younger, then returning a few years ago and thinking the visuals were SO much better. That wasn’t just my memory: the Viva Vision screen had a major upgrade unveiled at the end of 2019, with much brighter, sharper displays.

Downtown has always felt a little more old-school Vegas to me. Maybe it’s the neon signs and all those little light bulbs around the casino entrances, but the whole area has a different atmosphere from the enormous resorts along the Strip. You can see the Golden Nugget, watch the free canopy shows, and wander toward Fremont East for bars and street art. It’s loud and busy, but that’s part of why I love the area.

8. Explore the Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is the one on this list I haven’t made it to yet, but a collection of rescued vintage Vegas signs is very much my kind of photo spot. Its outdoor Neon Boneyard is filled with lettering, stars, arrows, and huge signs from old hotels and businesses, including recognizable names such as Stardust and Riviera.

Some signs have been restored and light up, while others are preserved in their weathered, slightly tastefully rusted condition. You can see the collection by day or visit after dark for the illuminated signs, with guided tours explaining where the pieces came from and the places they once advertised.

It’s a unique way to learn a little about the city while seeing objects you’d probably never get close to (or think twice about) otherwise. The Neon Museum’s visitor information explains the different admission and photography options.

Famous Landmarks Near Las Vegas

9. Get Out into Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon feels like you’ve traveled to a different planet from the Strip, despite being roughly half an hour away by car. Suddenly you’re surrounded by rust-red sandstone, pale cliffs, desert plants, and huge open views instead of bright lights and casino floors.

If you have time, it’s worth driving out just to experience that opposite energy. The 13-mile Scenic Drive has viewpoints where you can stop without committing to a long hike, while the trails let you get closer to the rock formations if you want more time outside.

One practical thing worth knowing: the Scenic Drive requires timed-entry reservations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from October through May. The official Red Rock Canyon information has the reservation details. You can also see some scenery from roadside viewpoints outside the paid Scenic Drive area.

If you’d prefer to leave the driving to someone else, this Red Rock Canyon half-day tour with hotel pickup takes you around the canyon with a guide and stops along the Scenic Drive.

10. Look Over the Edge of Hoover Dam

I wouldn’t have expected visiting a dam to be particularly fascinating, but Hoover Dam is worth seeing. It’s much bigger in person than I had pictured, and looking over the edge feels almost like looking down from a skyscraper. The curved wall dropping into the canyon is impressive enough before you think about the water behind it.

The dam holds back the Colorado River to form Lake Mead and generates hydroelectric power. Being there makes the scale of that job much easier to appreciate: you can see the reservoir on one side and the enormous drop toward the river on the other.

I’ve only seen it from outside, but there are guided tours into the powerplant and parts of the dam if you want to see how it works. You can also walk onto the nearby Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for a view back toward the dam. Allow roughly 45 minutes to an hour to drive out from the Strip, depending on traffic.

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Well, I’d say these are the main landmarks in Las Vegas that you absolutely cannot miss! Which ones will you visit first?