48 hours in Las Vegas

There’s a lot of fun things to see and do in Las Vegas, Nevada, but you’d be surprised how much you can pack into a couple of days, if you plan it right. Need some insider tips? We’ve got the lowdown on the top things to do, from famous attractions and Vegas landmarks to cool restaurants and shows. Here’s how to spend 48 hours in Sin City.

Day one

Morning

When it comes to what to do in Las Vegas, exploring the Strip tops the list. Start nice and early. It’s long, it gets busy and the later in the day you do it, the hotter it’ll be. Start at the iconic Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas sign for a selfie. Then wander your way up the Strip – past pyramid, castle and palace-themed hotels. Budget a good few hours, as it’s best to take your time.

Everywhere you turn, there’s something iconic to look at – from the dancing fountains of the Bellagio and the ‘Eiffel Tower’, to the rollercoasters of New York-New York and the Luxor’s giant sphinx. You’ll want to set time aside to pop into a few hotels, too. Loads of the famous attractions in Las Vegas are free. Inside Flamingo Las Vegas, you’ll find a four-acre tropical garden with waterfalls, flamingos and turtles. And Circus Circus puts on free performances throughout the week, from jugglers, trapeze artists and clowns.

Midday

After a busy morning, it’s time to fuel up. Check out the Cosmopolitan’s Block 16 Urban Food Hall for something quick and casual. Portland-based Lardo serves up legendary sandwiches – think Korean pork shoulder with kimchi. Or there’s the Italian-inspired food court, Eataly, inside Park MGM. If you fancy a sit-down meal, Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan does a four-course lunch special for under 50 bucks.

Afternoon

As easy as it is, you don’t want to spend all your time on the Las Vegas Strip. Before the Strip, there was Fremont Street. And this is iconic Las Vegas at its old school best. It’s less than 10 minutes’ drive to the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Vegas, but prices are lower and there’s still a load of stuff to do. You can ride the SlotZilla zipline, catch free shows and grab cheap eats. There’s also a free light show, from the world’s biggest LED canopy screen, from 6pm to 2am, every single night.

Evening

Some of the coolest restaurants in Las Vegas are off strip. Más Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila is case in point. This casual taco joint, in the heart of Chinatown, does some of the best tacos in town. After dinner, ask the cashier about ‘tonight’s delight’ and they’ll take you through a secret tunnel to their speakeasy parlor, where you can continue your night with cocktails.

Another dinner option is Bramàre, where homemade pastas, swordfish Milanese and beef cheek pizzas fill the menu. It’s open until 3am, too, which means you just have to try one of their nitro-infused affogatos.

Day two

Morning

Get out bright and early for a day trip to the Hoover Dam. It’s only half an hour’s drive out of Las Vegas, but a totally different experience altogether. The 726-foot tall concrete dam is a certified jaw dropper. If you’re staying longer than 48 hours in Las Vegas, we’d recommend a trip out to the Grand Canyon, too. It’s the perfect antidote to the manmade glitz and glam that Las Vegas is known for. And the Grand Canyon’s popular West Rim is only two hours’ drive from Sin City.

Midday

Depending on how long you spend at Hoover Dam, you should be back in Vegas by lunchtime. Now, this is the city of bright lights and even bigger buffets. If you’re only here a short time, we’d recommend checking out the spreads at either Bacchanal at Caesars Palace, or the Buffet at Wynn for lunch. They’re the crème de la crème of the Vegas buffet scene. Bacchanal’s carvery station serves filet mignon and prime rib, while the Buffet at Wynn boasts a caviar bar – need we say anymore…

Afternoon

Spend the afternoon having a flutter in Vegas’ famous casinos, or browsing its boutiques – whatever floats your boat. Loads of the hotels have their own shopping malls. The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes is home to Burberry and Jimmy Choo. Plus, it’s fun watching the gondolas glide along the canal. Meanwhile, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood feature more high street names. But, if you’re after a real bargain, head to one of the Las Vegas Premium Outlets for designer names without the designer price tag.

Or you can whip out your wallet at one of the casinos, which are Las Vegas attractions in their own right. The gambling spots at the Wynn Las Vegas, The Venetian, The Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan come highly recommended. We’re talking gargantuan in size, slot machines in the thousands, 24-table poker rooms and uber-cool bars.

Evening

Book tickets to the High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ for sunset. Then you can take in the desert sunset from 550 feet above the Strip, in an air-conditioned pod, may we add!

After, it’s time to head for some food. If you’re at, or near, the Wynn Las Vegas, it’s worth staying put. It’s home to Wing Lei – the first Chinese eatery in the U.S. to earn a Michelin star. Or, at the Venetian, you’ve got another award-winning number in the CUT by Wolfgang Puck steakhouse.

You can’t leave Las Vegas without catching a show. Entertainment is the city’s forte, so you’ve got a heap to choose from. Maybe you’re a Blue Man Group or Cirque du Soleil fan, or you’d rather belt out the ballads of Celine Dion and John Legend. You’ll find something to keep you wide-eyed all evening in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Browse the best deals on Vegas hotels right here – whether you’re after a cheap crash pad, or want to splash out on a luxury stay.