Think you already know Sin City? Try doing it a different way to get a new take on an old favorite.

Las Vegas is always reinventing itself, which means whether you were there two years ago or 10 years ago, it can feel like an old friend or a whole new destination, depending on how you approach it. Here are our tips for a classic or modern Vegas getaway, whether with your besties for a bachelorette/bachelor trip or with your beloved for a honeymoon.

Take in the lights.

Classic Take: Lighting up the town is what Vegas is all about. The Fremont Experience downtown has been the go-to since the late 1990s when the city’s original hotel strip was renovated and turned into a walking arcade spectacle with a magnificent light show — the largest LED light display in the country at the time, as a matter of fact! It’s still worth a visit, especially when combined with frozen cocktails from Circa Bar at the adults-only Circa Resort & Casino.
Modern Twist: When the Sphere debuted in 2023, it took over the number one spot for the record amount of LED displays, spanning a whopping 580,000 square feet. Enjoy it from the outside for free, or on a nighttime tour of Las Vegas with Pink Adventures. Alternatively, buy tickets to their indoor light show, offered whenever there isn’t a concert residency in town. And if you can see it alongside a concert, that’s how it was designed to be experienced.

Photos courtesy of The Neon Museum

See a show.

Classic Take: What started with the Rat Pack and Elvis continues today with marquee names like Adele and Garth Brooks. Plan ahead to see what residencies are taking place when you visit, and book in advance; they sell out quickly, and you don’t want to have to pay crazy resale prices.
Modern Twist: Las Vegas museums are cool and interactive, offering insight into Sin City’s roots in a unique way. At The Mob Museum, strolling docents bring exhibits to life, ex-mobsters and law enforcement officers give impromptu talks, sharing their experiences, and you can add on experiential extras like distillery tastings. At The Neon Museum, you can wander on your own or take a guided tour, where an expert leads you through restored neon signs that shed light on the city’s past.

Photos courtesy of The Mob Museum

Get a sky-high view.

Classic Take: There’s nothing like a helicopter tour to get a bird’s-eye view of the sprawling city that blooms out of miles of surrounding desert. Book a day tour for optimum views of the desert, with a stop on the edge of the Grand Canyon. A night flight is all about the neon, offering a spectacle aiming to rival the heavens.
Modern Twist: The largest observation wheel in the U.S., the Las Vegas High Roller Wheel, takes you 550 feet above the Strip for epic views. Book a seat in one of their transparent pods to enjoy the 30-minute trip, or amp it up with happy hour, complete with an open bar during the ride. You can also reserve a private capsule for your group (up to 40 people per pod) or a special occasion, like a proposal. And yes, they even do wedding ceremonies!

Where to Stay:
The three or so miles of Las Vegas Boulevard we know so well have been the epicenter of Vegas hotels since The Flamingo debuted here in 1946. If you want something different, start with a stay off The Strip. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is just two blocks west of Las Vegas Boulevard, but it feels like a different world, in a really good way. With 1,500 rooms, it’s a fraction of the size of most of the well-known names on the Strip. You’ll notice the difference with a speedier, more personal check-in, and the proximity of your cushy room to onsite perks like the 1950s-style cabaret theater, 24 Oxford, or restaurants like luxury One Steakhouse, a partnership between Morton’s The Steakhouse scions David and Michael Morton. The pool scene is hip but mellow at the adults-only Kassi Beach Club, especially if you book a poolside cabana complete with misters, fridge, and wait service.