5-Day Las Vegas Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Kick off your trip with a classic photo at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, usually with a short line of equally excited newcomers.

Stroll through the Bellagio Conservatory, where over-the-top seasonal floral displays make you forget you are in the middle of a desert casino.

Watch the Bellagio fountains dance to music from the Strip sidewalk or the lakefront rail, a free show that feels surprisingly cinematic.

Ride the High Roller at The LINQ for a slow 30-minute loop in a glass pod with sweeping Strip and desert views, especially pretty around sunset.

End the night with a Cirque du Soleil show such as "O" at Bellagio or "Mystère" at Treasure Island, a big-production Vegas classic for first timers.

Glide along the indoor or outdoor canals of The Venetian on a short gondola ride complete with singing gondolier and endless photo ops.

Window-shop your way through the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, checking out the faux-Roman fountains, luxury stores and slightly kitschy talking statues.

Ride the elevator up to the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck at Paris Las Vegas for an open-air look at the Strip and bird’s-eye views of the Bellagio fountains.

Head toward The Mirage in the early evening to catch the outdoor Volcano show, with fireballs, drums and heat you can feel from the sidewalk.

Head downtown to the Fremont Street Experience for the LED canopy light show, classic casinos like Golden Nugget, street performers and live music.

Ride the elevator up the STRAT Skypod for one of the best panoramic views of Las Vegas, stretching from downtown lights to the Strip skyline.

If you like adrenaline, add one of the STRAT Skypod thrill rides, hanging and spinning over the edge of the tower high above the city lights.

Walk through the Neon Museum's outdoor Boneyard, where classic Vegas signs are retired, restored and quietly glowing with old-school glamour.

Cap your final Vegas Strip night at a major nightclub or stylish lounge, with DJ sets, strong drinks and the full neon-soaked nightlife scene.

Meet your guide in the hotel pickup area for an early departure toward Arizona on a full-day guided Grand Canyon South Rim bus or small-group tour.

Break up the drive with a quick coffee and snack stop in a Route 66 town such as Seligman or Williams, with old diners, neon and road-trip kitsch.

Arrive at Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim, stretch your legs and walk to your first overlook where the canyon suddenly opens beneath you.

Join your guide for an easy, mostly flat walk along the rim between Mather Point and Yavapai Point, stopping for photos and canyon geology stories.

Continue along Desert View Drive by vehicle, stopping at overlooks like Grandview Point and Desert View Watchtower for changing angles of the canyon.

If you have the budget, add a short helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon for a dramatic aerial perspective of the cliffs and Colorado River.

Join a guided half-day tour to Hoover Dam with pickup in Las Vegas, enjoying commentary on the desert, Lake Mead and the dam’s history on the drive.

Start at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center, then head inside for the guided power plant tour to see the massive generators and tunnels.

Walk across the top of Hoover Dam from Nevada to Arizona, stop at viewpoints and look straight down to the Colorado River far below.

Climb up to the pedestrian walkway on the memorial bridge for a lofty, wide-angle view back over Hoover Dam and the Colorado River gorge.

Walk a final short stretch of the Strip, grab souvenirs and take a few last photos of the marquees you now recognize.