Las Vegas — travel, stays & events guide

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Las Vegas, USA

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Las Vegas city overview

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FactSeeVisitNearbyEventsBig in Las Vegas

City facts

Airport baseLas Vegas Harry Reid (LAS)

Known forLas Vegas Strip, Fremont Street Experience, Bellagio Fountains, Red Rock Canyon

RegionUSAUSA

Time zoneAmerica/Los_Angeleslocal time

Founded550historical origin

City history

Early settlementNomadic Paleo-Indians traveled to the Las Vegas area 10,000 years ago, leaving behind petroglyphs.

550This canopied five-block area features 12.5 million LED lights and 550,000 watts of sound from dusk until midnight during shows held at the top of each hour.

1829A young Mexican scout named Rafael Rivera is credited as the first non-Native American to encounter the valley, in 1829.

1905Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when 110 acres (45 ha) of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area.

1950Renamed Nellis Air Force Base in 1950, it is now home to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team.

1951In 1951, nuclear weapons testing began at the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Las Vegas.

1955In 1955, the Moulin Rouge Hotel opened and became the first racially integrated casino-hotel in Las Vegas.

1963Residents and visitors were able to witness the mushroom clouds (and were exposed to the fallout) until 1963 when the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty required that nuclear tests be moved underground.

1995In 1995, the Fremont Street Experience opened in Las Vegas's downtown area.

2012Due to the realization of many revitalization efforts, 2012 was dubbed "The Year of Downtown".

Regional roleEleven years later, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose Las Vegas as the site to build a fort along the Mormon Road, which ran between Salt Lake City and.

Regional roleThe remainder of this Old Mormon Fort can still be seen at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue.

Regional roleFollowing World War II, lavishly decorated hotels, gambling casinos, and big-name entertainment became synonymous with Las Vegas.

Regional roleProjects worth hundreds of millions of dollars made their debut at this time, including the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Discovery Children's Museum, the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, a new City.

Event planning

The Weeknd Las Vegas

5 Sept 2026 - Las Vegas, United States

Scorpions Las Vegas Night 1

17 Sept 2026 - Las Vegas, United States

See all events

Worth seeing

Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Strip is a named stop in Las Vegas worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.

Fremont Street Experience

Fremont Street Experience is a named stop in Las Vegas worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.

Bellagio Fountains

Bellagio Fountains is a named stop in Las Vegas worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon gives Las Vegas a greener or more scenic stop, useful when the route needs views, shade, walking space or a slower hour.

The Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is a key Las Vegas culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.

Sphere Las Vegas

Sphere Las Vegas is a named stop in Las Vegas worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.

Stay overview

Start with City centre for the easiest first Las Vegas stay, then compare Old Town and Waterfront when price, nightlife, quieter evenings or transfer timing matter more than being beside every major sight.

Hotels & areas

Las Vegas hotel choice is mostly about repeat journeys: use City centre for sightseeing, Old Town for a different local base, and Waterfront or Airport area when views, parking, airport timing or longer stays matter.

City centre

City centre is the most practical first base in Las Vegas, keeping main sights, restaurants and short local transfers close.

Best for: first visits, sightseeing, restaurantsCompare stays

Old Town

Old Town is the most practical first base in Las Vegas, keeping main sights, restaurants and short local transfers close.

Best for: first visits, sightseeing, restaurantsCompare stays

Waterfront

Waterfront suits travellers who want views, evening walks and a calmer base while still keeping central Las Vegas reachable.

Best for: views, quieter evenings, walksCompare stays

Airport area

Airport area works mainly for early departures, late arrivals or car pickup, not for a first Las Vegas sightseeing base.

Best for: early flights, late arrivals, car pickupCompare stays

Compare stays in Las Vegas, USA

Flights & airports

Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS) arrival plan

Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS)Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS), Las Vegas, USA
Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS) is the main air gateway for Las Vegas; compare transfer time with your hotel base before locking the first night.

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