Practical information : Sightseeing Las Vegas
Timetable
Whatever the season, Las Vegas is always packed with tourists and convention-goers. By Thursday evening, it's the party people who take over the city! As for the rest, Las Vegas is one of those cities that almost never sleeps. On the Strip, however, restaurants and bars have changed their hours since the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, with staff recruitment difficulties, many establishments have reduced their opening hours, closing between 11pm and midnight. The same applies to many bars. After that, you'll have to head for the nightclubs to extend the night. At restaurants, services between noon and 2pm and between 6pm and 8pm are often taken over by tourists. Museum opening times vary from day to day, but often close between 4pm and 5pm. Visit the relevant websites for details (precise opening times, closing days, etc.).
To be booked
In Las Vegas, reservations are often required to enjoy the city's attractions. It's a good idea to check out the Internet sites. This may also be the case for certain national parks. Such measures were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to limit the number of visitors.
For museums such as the Neon Museum and attractions such as the SlotZilla Zip Line on Fremont Street, it is compulsory to reserve a schedule. For Red Rock Canyon, an access ticket (in addition to park admission) is required between October1 and May 31.
This is obvious, but it's worth remembering that reservations are 100% mandatory for shows. Simply visit the website to reserve and purchase tickets. Note that most casinos have a kiosk where you can buy your tickets directly.
Budget & Tips
At certain times of the year, it's possible to take advantage of discounted ticket prices for Las Vegas attractions. In any case, it's a good idea to check the price conditions on the websites before visiting any of the attractions. You can also take advantage of reduced rates, especially for students and people over 55. However, most companies offer discounts from the age of 65, or even 62 in some cases. We also advise you to check whether these discounts apply to non-residents.
There are kiosks on the Strip, near the Fashion Show Mall for example, offering discounts on shows. Some of these may be worthwhile, while others are clearly not, as they concern minor shows that don't attract the crowds.
The Las Vegas Review Journal or Las Vegas Weekly (you'll find this free magazine just about everywhere in stores and supermarkets) offer coupons or give away good deals. These are often just a few dollars off, but they're always worth it.
Main events
We can't stress this enough. Las Vegas is a cosmopolitan city where all nationalities are represented. In fact, the year is punctuated by major national holidays and special events.
January. Always held in early January, the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) is an internationally renowned trade show dedicated to technological innovation, open to both professionals and the general public. In 2020, the show welcomed nearly 2,300 exhibitors.
February. Las Vegas also has its own Chinatown (located along Spring Mountain Road), home to grocery stores, restaurants, laundries, etc. The Chinatown Plaza is the site of the annual New Year's Eve celebration. Many casinos also take part in this annual celebration, offering Chinese-themed games.
March. For the Rock'n'Roll Las Vegas half-marathon, runners from all over the world put on their best strides on the Strip, which is exceptionally closed to traffic, for a night-time race. In March, Las Vegas also celebrates St. Patrick's Day, the Irish national holiday. Visit the Fremont Street district or the Brooklyn Bridge at the New York-New York casino.
April. If you're close to the Valley of Fire, head to the Clark County Fair & Rodeo (April 12-16) to enjoy American culture with the whole family.
May. Not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the anniversary of the victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Parades, mariachi and culinary specialties such as tacos and burritos are the order of the day.
June. The World Series of Poker (WOSP) is the world poker championship. Held in Las Vegas since 1970, the event's popularity and the number of registrants have grown steadily, reaching nearly 9,000 participants and more than $80 million in winnings redistributed in 2022.
July. This month is marked by the festivities of Independence Day, the United States' national holiday (July 4). Several casinos stage giant fireworks displays.
August. Every year, Burning Man attracts thousands of participants, some from all over the world. It celebrates artistic creation and free expression through temporary installations, sculptures, floats, concerts, parties, performances and creative workshops, each more original and psychedelic than the last.
September. Life is Beautiful Festival is an event that defines as "a way to cross the world". Founded in 2013, it was created during the transformation of Downtown, a previously underserved neighborhood. For three days, it puts music, arts and culture in the spotlight with prestigious guests.
October. Organized by the Southern Nevada Association of Pride, the Las Vegas Pride Parade begins in Downtown in the late afternoon. Participants march up4th Street, converging a few blocks south on the Fremont Street Experience. The same month sees the Las Vegas Renaissance Festival, an event celebrating the Middle Ages.
November. This is a month when not much happens in terms of festivities (apart from Thanksgiving, of course). However, this time of year is ideal for visiting the city, with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees.
December. For 10 days, Las Vegas lives to the rhythm of rodeo with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Considered the world's most prestigious rodeo, it's the highlight of the season, during which the 15 highest-ranked competitors go head-to-head.
Guided tours
There are many companies offering guided tours of Las Vegas. Whether on foot or by bus, many offer all-inclusive packages. It's also possible to find outings outside Las Vegas to visit other nearby sites such as Hoover Dam or Grand Canyon West. Most operators offer a pick-up service from the Strip's major hotels.
Several local companies offer walking tours of Las Vegas. Tours take place on the Strip as well as in the Downtown and Arts District.
As in most capitals, you can also take advantage of the imperial buses to learn more about the Strip, with the option of doing so at night.
Some companies offer an unexpected experience for the adventurous: discover the desert by quad bike with a guide.
Smokers
As elsewhere in the United States, smoking is prohibited in all establishments, with the exception of casino gaming areas. But under the impetus of the MGM group, more and more establishments are reversing this policy, and some of them (the Park MGM, for example) have become entirely non-smoking. Otherwise, smoking is not forbidden in the street. It is sometimes forbidden to smoke in an area around private or administrative buildings. In such cases, a smoking area is often set aside outside. As one of the states that have legalized the use of recreational cannabis, Nevada absolutely prohibits smoking anywhere other than in the private sphere. Alas, many tourists and locals alike ignore this ban, and it's not uncommon to smell cannabis on the Strip.
What's very local
In Las Vegas, you can dress as you like. No one will tell you anything, especially on the Strip. On the other hand, if you go to certain establishments (restaurants, bars, nightclubs), a dress code may be mandatory. Be sure to check the websites, as this will always be stipulated. In most cases, except for large restaurants,casual wear is recommended.
