Las Vegas
3 hostels · dorms from $10
The neon city in the desert and the gateway to the Southwest parks.
Points of interest
- The Strip
- Fremont Street
- Neon Museum
- Red Rock Canyon
- Hoover Dam
State guide
Things to do in Nevada
Las Vegas, the neon city in the desert, and the base for the great Southwest road trip, plus red rock canyons, the Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe's eastern shore and the empty Great Basin.
3
Hostels across its 2 main cities
7.7
Average, from 11,056 reviews
2–3
Days in Las Vegas
Far more than Las Vegas
Nevada is mostly desert and mountains, one of the emptiest states in the country, with almost all of its people in Las Vegas and Reno. Most travellers fly into Las Vegas, and for good reason: it is a spectacle like nowhere else, and it is the cheapest gateway to the national parks of the Southwest.
The Las Vegas Strip is a 6 km line of themed casino resorts, with fountains, replicas of Paris and Venice, big shows and pool parties. Downtown, on Fremont Street, is the older, cheaper Vegas. Just outside the city, Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire have bright red sandstone and hiking, and the Hoover Dam holds back the Colorado River. Zion, the Grand Canyon and Death Valley are all within a day's drive.
In the north, Reno is a smaller casino city near Lake Tahoe, and the vast Great Basin has ghost towns, hot springs and Great Basin National Park. Give Las Vegas two or three days, then hire a car for the parks. Spring and autumn are best: summer temperatures in the desert are dangerous.
Where to base yourself
Las Vegas for the south and the parks, and Reno for Lake Tahoe.
Reno
A smaller casino city near Lake Tahoe.
Points of interest
- Lake Tahoe
- Riverwalk
- National Automobile Museum
Regions of Nevada
Las Vegas in the south, Reno and Lake Tahoe in the north-west, and empty desert and mountains in between.
Las Vegas and the south
Casinos, shows, nightlifeThe Strip, downtown and the canyons nearby.
Lake Tahoe and Reno
Lake, skiing, casinosReno and the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.
Great Basin
Empty desert, dark skiesMountain ranges, ghost towns and Great Basin National Park.
Death Valley border
Desert, extremesThe Nevada edge of Death Valley and the town of Beatty.
Things to do
Things to do in Nevada
On the Las Vegas Strip, walk between the resorts at night, watch the Bellagio fountains, see a show, and take in the view from the High Roller observation wheel or a tower. Visit the Sphere, the giant spherical venue with its glowing exterior, and Fremont Street downtown, with its canopy light show and old casinos. The Neon Museum preserves classic Vegas signs.
Drive or take a tour to Red Rock Canyon, around 30 minutes west, for hiking and climbing, the Valley of Fire, with its red rock formations, and the Hoover Dam. Las Vegas is the classic starting point for road trips to Zion, Bryce, the Grand Canyon and Death Valley.
In the north, Reno is the base for Lake Tahoe, with beaches and hiking in summer and skiing in winter. Great Basin National Park has ancient bristlecone pines, caves and some of the darkest skies in the country.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking the Strip and looking inside the casino resorts is free, and so are the Bellagio fountains, the Bellagio conservatory and the Fremont Street light show.
The 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign is free to visit. Lake Tahoe's beaches and many trails are free.
Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire charge entry per vehicle.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Las Vegas has every kind of food, from celebrity chef restaurants to all-you-can-eat buffets, a Vegas tradition. Away from the Strip, Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road has excellent, good-value Asian food.
Strip restaurants are expensive, and resort fees and taxes add up. Downtown and off-Strip places are much cheaper.
In Reno and northern Nevada, try Basque food, from the Basque shepherds who settled here, served at long shared tables.
Nightlife
Going out
Las Vegas never closes. Bars and casinos are open 24 hours, the big nightclubs host international DJs, and pool parties run in summer. You can drink on the street on the Strip, in non-glass containers.
Fremont Street and the Arts District downtown have cheaper bars and a more local crowd. Shows range from Cirque du Soleil to comedy and concerts.
Club entry and drinks are expensive, and tipping applies. Reno has a smaller casino and bar scene.
Getting around
Getting around
Harry Reid International Airport is very close to the Strip. The Deuce bus runs along the Strip 24 hours, and the Las Vegas Monorail links resorts on the east side. Rideshares are easy.
To reach Red Rock, the Valley of Fire and the national parks, hire a car or book a tour. Distances in Nevada are huge and fuel stops can be far apart.
Reno has its own airport, and Amtrak's California Zephyr stops there on the way between Chicago and San Francisco.
Costs
What Nevada costs
Las Vegas can be cheap or very expensive. Hostels and downtown hotels are cheap, especially midweek, but Strip resorts add nightly resort fees, and food, drinks and shows add up fast. Weekend and event prices are much higher.
Sales tax in Las Vegas is around 8.4 per cent. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants and bars, and tip dealers and housekeeping.
National parks charge entry, plus $100 per international visitor at Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon from 2026.
Safety
Safety and scams
The Strip is busy and generally safe, but pickpockets and distraction thefts target crowds. Watch for people handing out 'free' items or offering photos and then demanding money, and never leave drinks unattended.
The desert is dangerous in summer, when temperatures pass 40°C. On hikes and drives, carry plenty of water, start early and tell someone your plans.
Gambling is easy to overspend on: set a limit. Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Shows, concerts, boxing and festivals all year.
Staff pick
7 Aug – 4 Dec
First Fridays
Las Vegas
Every first Friday of the month, the Las Vegas Arts District transforms into a free evening festival packed with live music, food trucks, art…
Staff pick
2 Oct – 29 Nov
Dragon Lights Reno
Reno
Dragon Lights Reno transforms the Wilbur D. May Arboretum into a glowing landscape of illuminated art, with this year's Many Worlds Aglow theme guiding…
Staff pick
14–17 October
New Kids On the Block
Las Vegas
New Kids on the Block is an American boy band formed in Boston in 1984, credited with pioneering modern pop fandom. With hits like…
Staff pick
23 October
Banda El Recodo
Reno
Banda El Recodo is a Mexican music ensemble formed in 1938. It consists of vocalists and musicians who play a number of traditional instruments…
Staff pick
30–31 October
Ricky Martin
Las Vegas
After taking home the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance in 1998, Ricky Martin has gone on to become an international sensation. His undeniable…
Staff pick
6–8 November
Holiday Craft and Gift Festival
Las Vegas
LV Craft Shows organizes this three-day event that brings together hundreds of artisan booths showcasing handmade ornaments, seasonal home décor, candles, jewelry, specialty foods,…
Staff pick
6 November
SEMA Fest
Las Vegas
Cars and live music collide at this high-energy gathering during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. You'll find custom builds and roaring engines alongside…
Staff pick
20–22 November
Jurassic Quest
Las Vegas
Jurassic Quest is the largest and most realistic interactive dinosaur event in North America where lifesize moving museum-quality dinosaurs are exhibited. Guests can walk…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Nevada's main cities, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
March to May and September to November are the best months, warm and sunny. Summer is extremely hot in Las Vegas and the desert. Winter is mild in the south and cold and snowy in the north.
Jan
Mild, cool nights
Feb
Mild
Mar
Pleasant, busy
Apr
Ideal for hiking
May
Warm
Jun
Very hot
Jul
Extreme heat
Aug
Extreme heat
Sep
Hot, easing
Oct
Ideal
Nov
Mild
Dec
Festive, New Year's Eve
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Las Vegas, rounded.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Las Vegas prices.
Treat these as a guide. Shows, clubs and park fees cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Nevada questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Las Vegas?
Two or three, then hire a car for the national parks.
Can I visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas?
Yes. The West Rim is around two and a half hours away, and the South Rim around four and a half.
What are resort fees?
Daily fees added to most Strip hotel rates, not always shown in the headline price.
Can you drink on the street in Las Vegas?
Yes, on the Strip and Fremont Street, in non-glass containers.
When is the best time to visit Nevada?
March to May and September to November. Summer is extremely hot.
Do I need a car in Las Vegas?
Not on the Strip. For Red Rock, the Hoover Dam and the parks, yes.
Is Las Vegas expensive?
It can be cheap midweek downtown, but the Strip, shows and resort fees add up fast.
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