Spending 3 days in Vegas is the perfect amount of time to see this epic city. With 3 days, you can have all the quintessential experiences that Sin City is famous for – from Vegas shows to art installations.
Vegas is known for being an adult playground in which you can indulge in all of your vices, including the ones you didn’t know you had: Gambling, pool parties, all-night clubs, strip clubs, limousines, buffets, and extravagant shows.
With its risque reputation, Vegas is the kind of city where smoking inside and burlesque girls posing on the streets is not a surprise. In Vegas, you can visit the Eiffel Tower, Venetian canals, and Egyptian pyramids all in a day.
But behind this excess is a regular, American city that has a fascinating history. Off-strip you will find typical city neighbourhoods: Chinatown, the place for Asian groceries, sushi, dim-sum and ramen shops.
The Arts District is home to vintage and thrift shops, as well as quirky bars and restaurants. Other parts of the city are totally suburban, with schools, parks and local Walmarts.
Vegas’s outward facade of excess but underbelly of normalcy is what makes the city so interesting, and it also means, there’s truly something for everyone in Vegas.
- Is 3 Days in Vegas Enough?
- Where to Stay in Las Vegas
- How to Get Around Las Vegas
- Your 3 Day Vegas Itinerary
- Where to Eat in Las Vegas
- Final Thoughts: Spending 3 Days in Las Vegas
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Is 3 Days in Vegas Enough?
With 3 days in Vegas you’ll be able to have a solid taste of what the city has to offer. On a 3-day trip you’ll be able to experience casinos, Vegas brunches, a Vegas show, neon lights, and a few of Vegas’s highlights like the famous Las Vegas sign.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
There are two key areas of the city where tourists tend to stay for the classic Vegas experience: The Strip, and Fremont Street.
Staying on The Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas strip is an iconic part of the city. It’s here that you’ll find Vegas’s most famous hotels, casinos, pools, and restaurants.
Here are three recommended hotels to stay in on The Strip:
Harrah’s Las Vegas is perfectly located right on the Vegas Strip. This is one of the more budget-friendly Strip hotels, so the rooms aren’t anything fancy. But you won’t be spending much time in your room, anyways!
The Venetian Las Vegas is a popular hotel and casino on The Strip because it has shops, shows, and more attractions, all modeled after monuments found in Venice, Italy. Inside this massive hotel complex, there’s a convention center, shopping hall, nightclub, and of course, a casino.
If you’re looking for luxury, head to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. This hotel resort is well located, has beautiful rooms, and tons of amenities. The resort’s main attraction is the Fountains of Bellagio.
Every evening, the fountains do synchronized shows to music. The fountains are part of an 8.5-acre man-made lake, in front of the resort. Other attractions at the Bellagio include the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and a conservatory and botanical gardens.
Staying on Fremont Street
Fremont Street is in the north of Las Vegas. It’s an off-strip area that has its own hotel corridor and vibrant casino culture.
Because this area is off-strip, the hotels in Fremont are often cheaper than on the Strip. I would argue that this area is better to stay in, especially if you are visiting Vegas on a budget, because from the hotels in Fremont many shops, bars, and casinos are within walking distance.
Here are three recommended hotels to stay in near Fremont Street:
This hotel is a great budget option near Fremont Street. Just note that this hotel is adults only (21+). El Cortez is well known in Vegas because it’s the longest continuously running casino in the city.
It was also the first Hotel & Casino to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, because this casino has never changed its exterior facade. It’s had some of the same signage and Spanish ranch themed architecture for over 80 years.
The Golden Nugget is well located, in the heart of Fremont Street. This hotel has a casino, bars, and a large pool area complete with kid’s pools, a slide, and a shark tank. You’ll also find dining options like Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Claim Jumper, and Saltgrass Steakhouse.
Circa has a claim to fame! This Fremont Street hotel has the longest outdoor bar on the Fremont Street Experience, and the state’s longest indoor bar, known as the “Mega Bar.” Circa is also home to an outdoor pool where you can watch the game on a massive 40 ft+ screen (more on that later in this guide!).
How to Get Around Las Vegas
Las Vegas is bigger than you expect it to be. I went to Vegas with the impression that it’s reasonable to walk the entire Vegas Strip. Well, it’s not.
Las Vegas is a sprawling city, and all of its strip hotels are at least a 10 – 25 minute walk from each other. While you could probably walk the entire strip, I wouldn’t recommend it, particularly if you’re there during hot weather.
So, getting around Las Vegas will definitely require wheels – and public transport will be your best budget option:
The Monorail in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Monorail is a great transport option if you choose to stay on the strip. The trains come often, are fast, and they stop at 7 key places along the strip. It’s not the cheapest option for getting around Vegas, though – it’s $5 per ride. Day passes are also available.
Public buses in Las Vegas
The public bus system in Las Vegas is known as “The Deuce.” Buses will take you all over the city, and are cost effective at $8 for a day pass or $20 for a three day pass. Busses also run to and from the airport, making them the most cost effective way to arrive and depart from Las Vegas.
Taxis and Uber in Las Vegas
Traditional taxis, Uber, and Lyft are all available in Las Vegas. Although taxis and ride-shares aren’t the budget-friendliest way of getting around Las Vegas, they’re definitely the most comfortable way to get around, particularly if it’s a hot day.
Getting around by car
Need a car rental for your Vegas adventures? Discover Cars compares the prices for a vehicle from a variety of suppliers to ensure you get the cheapest rate, and you can reserve your car rental in advance. Reserve a car rental here!
Your 3 Day Vegas Itinerary
Ready to spend 3 days in Vegas? Here’s an itinerary for your trip, day by day. I’ve tested this itinerary myself, so you can be sure it will flow well!
Vegas Day 1: Explore the Vegas Strip & See a Vegas Show
The best way to kick off your 3 days in Vegas is by getting to know one of Vegas’s biggest attractions: The hotel casinos!
Go casino hopping in Vegas
Each hotel and casino has a theme. Head to the Venetian for a slice of Italy. You can go on a gondola ride, or do some shopping at the Grand Canal Shoppes.
If you’re interested in seeing interesting exhibits, be sure to drop by the Luxor. It’s home to the “Bodies” exhibition, and “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.”
The Bodies Exhibit at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas is an educational and immersive display where you can look at preserved human specimens that showcase the intricacies of the human body, including organs, muscles, and circulatory systems.
The Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition presents artifacts recovered from the shipwreck, along with detailed recreations of the Titanic’s interior, giving you a look into the lives of the infamous ship’s passengers and the tragic voyage. This exhibit has an actual piece of the ship on display.
Circus Circus of course has a casino, but you can also visit this hotel to go to the Adventuredome, which is an indoor theme park, or to see one of their daily shows. And at the STRAT hotel, you can go up to the SkyPod, a viewing deck where you’ll have panoramic views of the Las Vegas valley.
After visiting a couple hotels, you’ll be ready to relax – so head to a pool!
Most hotels in Las Vegas include free entry to their pool, but you also have the option to buy a day pass for pools at other hotels.
The pools at Vegas hotels offer varying amenities. Some are more family-oriented with kid’s areas and slides. Other’s are adult only, including lounging areas and bars.
Stadium Swim at Circa Resort & Casino
Stadium Swim has 6 pools, cabanas, lounging areas, swim-up bars, and a 40-foot HD screen. Reserve your spot in advance to head to this pool for game day.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Pool
This pool has oversized daybeds, loungers, cabanas, and an open-air entertainment stage. This pool offers pool-side dining from Kassi Beach House, an Italian seaside-style restaurant. This pool, with its modern desert aesthetic, is laid-back compared to other Vegas pools.
4 Seasons Las Vegas Pool Deck
This pool is one of Las Vegas’s quietest. It’s tucked inside Mandalay Bay, part of a non-gaming property. The pool has its own entrance, away from the crowds. There’s just one pool with eight cabanas, and so this pool doesn’t get packed like others in Vegas. With your entrance, you get complimentary hourly amenities.
The Beach at Mandalay Bay (Good for Kids!)
The Beach at Mandalay Bay is your family friendly pool! It’s an 11-acre aquatic playground where you can lay out in the sun, swim, splash around and ride tides in the wave pool. The Beach even has a lazy river you can float down. When you’re ready for shade, there’s plenty of cabanas, as well as a restaurant to keep you from going hungry.
See a Vegas show
After a day of casino-hopping and lounging at the pool, it’s time to see a Vegas show! Shows are on rotation, so it’s always best to research what shows are currently on during the time you’ll be in Vegas.
If you’re not sure what show to see, or simply want a deal on tickets, book same-day tickets. These often save you up to 50% off. To book same-day tickets, look for booths on the Strip that are called “Tix4Tonight.”
These booths sell discounted tickets for that evening. You won’t have as much choice when it comes to which show you see, but this is a great hack for having the Vegas show experience without the hefty price tag.
Vegas Day 2: White Chapels and Fremont Street
Day 2 in Vegas is all about heading to the northern part of the city, an area called Fremont Street. On the way up to Fremont Street, make one essential stop: At Vegas’s Little White Chapel!
Vegas is the city of late night marriages, and this chapel is where the magic happens. It’s a great pit stop to make as you head up to Fremont Street, for a fun photo opp.
From the Little White Chapel, continue north to Fremont Street. This street has historical significance in the city because it was Las Vegas’s first paved road.
The street is home to the Fremont Experience, a pedestrian mall that features a canopy of lights and hosts street performances and free concerts regularly.
During the day, you can do some casino hopping in the area. Be sure to pop into the Main Street casino to see their small antique collection.
Fremont Street is also known for its zipline! When you ride the SlotZilla zip line, you go soaring over the pedestrian mall street.
For a quirky Vegas experience, have your photo taken with a millions dollars in cash. Binion’s Gambling Hall in Fremont Street offers guests a free photo of a million dollars in cash.
Fremont Street also has a microbrewery! Banger Brewing offers free tours of its facilities. You’ll find Banger Brewing near the base of the SlotZilla zip line take-off tower.
At night, Fremont Street becomes bustling with live music and street bars. You can grab a drink from a street vendor and wander up and down watching live entertainment, dancing, and popping into the casinos.
If you want to go out in Vegas to a lesser-known spot, head to Oddfellows. Oddfellows is a video night club just off of Fremont Street. This small club has different themes every night.
Vegas Day 3: See an Art Installation and a Vegas Museum
On your third day in Vegas, you’ll kick off the day by visiting Seven Magic Mountains. It’s a public art installation, about a 15 minute drive south of Las Vegas.
The installation is by Ugo Rondinone, a New York-based, Swiss-born mixed-media artist who is known for his contemporary paintings and sculptures.
This desert art installation features seven painted boulder totems which are up to 35 ft. high. The colorful installation is striking to see out in the flat desert.
After seeing 7 Magic Mountains, head back into the city to do some museum hopping. Below are a couple fantastic Vegas museums to choose from.
Visit the famous Neon Museum
The Neon Museum is an open-air museum and a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, history, arts and cultural enrichment.
You can visit the museum with the option for guided tours or exploring at your own leisure. Entry prices vary, starting at $15.00, based on whether you have a guide, come during the day or at night.
We visited during the day (cheaper!), but night-time visits mean you will get to see the iconic signs lit up! From Fremont we were able to walk to the museum, otherwise it is a short bus or car ride away.
Pop into Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Museum
Madame Tussauds is known for being the best wax museum in the world, and for good reason. When you visit the Las Vegas Madame Tussauds, you’ll go on a journey of meeting wax figures of your favorite celebrities, sports legends, historical icons, and political heavyweights.
There are no ropes or poles in this museum, so you can get up close and personal, and take fun pictures with the wax figures!
The Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas
The Mob Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the history of organized crime, and the impact it’s had on American society.
The museum is inside a restored 1933 former courthouse and post office. There, you’ll learn about crime in vintage Las Vegas, as well as other American cities through stories of actual Mob history, and interactive exhibits.
Check out the Burlesque Hall of Fame
For a lesser-known Vegas museum, head to the Burlesque Hall of Fame. This small, off-strip museum is a registered educational non-profit that houses an incredible collection of donated items which relate to the history of exotic dance in Las Vegas.
The museum seeks to teach visitors about the history of, and social impact of, the art of teasing. You’ll learn the living legacy of burlesque as an artform and cultural phenomenon.
Entry is approx $15 USD, ($10 USD for students, seniors, children) and the museum’s guides are knowledgeable, warm and friendly.
Don’t Enjoy Museums? Head to the Hoover Dam Instead
Hoover Dam is just a 30 minute drive from Vegas. This dam is known for being one of the world’s most incredible engineering marvels.
When you visit, you can walk across the dam itself for spectacular views, before heading inside to learn more about the history, construction, and operation of the dam.
You can drive to the Hoover Dam in your own rental car, or join a tour group. Most tours are about 3 hours long, which means you’ll have plenty of time to hit up a Vegas pool afterwards.
Where to Eat in Las Vegas
You won’t struggle to find great places to eat while spending 3 days in Las Vegas! The city has plenty of options to choose from on The Strip, in Fremont, and off-strip. Below are a couple choices to get you started.
$ Monta Noodle House is a tiny, and well-reviewed ramen noodle restaurant. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait a couple minutes before getting a seat.
$ Tacos El Gordo is a delicious counter service taco shop. The shop is a simple, no frills kind of place but serves yummy Mexican for a couple bucks. It’s actually on the Vegas Strip, so a great option as far as restaurants in Vegas on a budget go.
$ AmeriBrunch – This little brunch cafe is a short walk from Fremont Street and serves delicious, inexpensive breakfasts and coffee. We loved this place so much that we went there for breakfast every single day. The owners are a lovely young couple, and we enjoyed chatting with them about our adventures around the city.
$$ Evel Pie is walking distance from the core of Fremont Street, so if you’re staying in that area it’s super convenient. This pizza restaurant has a rock n’ roll vibe that makes it tons of fun. Friendly staff and affordable but delicious pizza!
$$$ Sparrow + Wolf is right off the Vegas strip. Here you’ll find a rotating menu of complex dishes created using locally sourced ingredients.
$$$ Momofuku is where David Chang brings his inventive takes on Asian fare to Vegas. The menu in Las Vegas draws influence from all over the world, including the United States, Korea and Japan. You’ll find steamed buns, noodles, and meat and seafood all meant for sharing.
Final Thoughts: Spending 3 Days in Las Vegas
With 3 days in Vegas you’ll have time to do all the quintessential Vegas things, like casino-hopping, hanging at the pool, wandering Fremont Street, and visiting Vegas museums. And, you’ll be able to fit in plenty of relaxing as well as lesser-visited attractions like the Burlesque Hall of Fame.
Thinking of spending longer in Las Vegas? Read 5 Days in Vegas Itinerary: Things to Do + Day Trips.
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Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here.
