Las Vegas Itinerary: 2 Days in Sin City

Sharing is caring!

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:track:0zewUY3RSh8yaV7q66Okem?si=b73a0a59bd1c4e39″]

When I first decided to write this Las Vegas Itinerary for 2 days, I thought this will be so easy. I’ve been to Vegas more times than I can count. But, here’s the pickle. There are a couple different types of travelers in Las Vegas. I, myself, am a casual traveler. I like exploring the unique exhibits, find the free hidden gems, and indulging in all the amazing food!

But of course, Sin City welcomes other travelers…those who want to party hard, spend lots of money, or stay up until the sun comes out. That’s not me. So that’s not what you’ll find here. I would feel ridiculous trying to recommend the best clubs, swanky hotel suites, and high-roller casinos, because I haven’t done Vegas that way. I’m not going to recommend something I haven’t done or couldn’t see myself doing. Period.

That said, I hope you enjoy this itinerary. I truly love Las Vegas. I think the city has so much to offer beyond its reputation as a Sin City.

Is 2 days enough time in Vegas?

Yes! In fact, I’d say 2 days is the perfect amount of time. Most people visit Las Vegas as a weekend getaway and for good reason. You can absolutely see the highlights of Las Vegas in 2 days!

What are the best hotels on the Strip?

The reason I’m jumping straight to the Strip is because that’s where most of the action is. I’m not saying there isn’t a whole broader travel experience outside of the Strip (there definitely is), but with two days, you want to be in the action and easily get around.

Here are my favorite hotels on the Las Vegas Strip that are cost-friendly and in good locations, meaning not too far South or North that you can’t get around.

The Luxor covers the South end of the Strip nicely with rooms costing only $28 on the low end per night! They are home to numerous activities on this itinerary including the Blue Man Group and a couple amazing exhibits.

Next, I recommend Harrah’s due to its stellar location on the Strip and low cost at only $70 per night. It has its own fun dueling piano bar, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for a fancy meal with great views, and free parking for hotel guests (unlike MGM hotels).

Other popular hotels on the Strip from cheapest to most expensive are Excalibur, Paris, New York New York, Cosmopolitan, and the Bellagio

How much does 2 days in Las Vegas cost?

Here’s an approximate price breakdown for a weekend in Las Vegas (2 nights, 3 days where the days on each end are really half days).

*Note this price would be cheaper if splitting hotel costs and using my tips for saving money in Las Vegas!

** Another note. Be aware that holiday weekends and big events can raise this price dramatically. Avoid those to save even more.

2 Day Las Vegas Itinerary Map

Day 1

Fuel up with breakfast at Proper Eats

You know I love a food hall and Proper Eats is the latest from Aria with some great breakfast options. My favorite is Wexler’s Deli with their bagels and lox, because yes, I am always an LA girl at heart.

For an off-strip pick, visit Egg & I for a huge breakfast menu! Typically off-strip options will be cheaper than those on the Strip. However, check menus before you rely on that trend blindly!

Explore a Museum of your choice

While Las Vegas is known for its vibrant night life, there is still lots to do in the day time. Today, take your pick at one of the many museums and exhibits in Las Vegas. Here are some of my favorites that I’ve been to or really want to visit (looking at you Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.).

1. Titanic Artifact Exhibition, located in the Luxor, takes you through recreations of the rooms of the Titanic and gives you a look at over 250 authentic artifacts! Plus, you get assigned an actual passenger that was aboard the ship and at the end of the exhibit, you can see if you survived or not! It costs $32 per person.

2. Bodies, the Exhibition is also located in the Luxor. You’ll learn all about the human body by seeing body specimens and organs. It might sound morbid, but it’s a carefully curated exhibit to learn about anatomy. This exhibit also costs $32 per person, but you can get a combo ticket with the Titanic Exhibit for $42.
3. Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is an exhibit dedicated to all things Marvel. Learn about the history, science, engineering, genetics, and technology of your favorite Avengers. This is an interactive exhibit where you assemble case files to become a member of S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Of course there are lots of equipment used in the films, such as Captain America’s shield and more! It costs $42 per person and is located inside Treasure Island.

4. The Hunger Games: The Exhibition is another interactive exhibit created by the same company that created the Avengers one. Located in MGM Grand, see costumes, props, and sets inspired by the films. Tickets cost $45, but there is a combo ticket with the Avengers Exhibit to save a bit.
5. The Neon Museum has lots and lots of old signs from Las Vegas casinos and businesses. The area is packed with them! You can take a tour or do a self-guided tour. If you arrive from 2-4 pm, it costs $20. At night some of the signs do light up and prices range from $23-28. I do recommend purchasing these tickets in advance as they can fill up.

6. Zak Bagan’s The Haunted Museum is full of paranormal artifacts and relics housed in 30 spooky rooms that make up a 1938 “haunted” mansion. If you’re new here (Hi! Welcome to my corner of the Internet!!), Halloween is one of the main reasons my family traveled. It’s in my blood. All things spooky make me happy so this is high on my to-do list next time I’m in Vegas! It costs $48 per person.
7. The Mob Museum is my new favorite! You can spend a couple hours here easily. Learn about mob families and the law enforcement that try to capture them! You’ll learn so much about how mobs operate, what kind of craziness has gone down, and you can even visit the Speakeasy in the basement…just grab the password from their website the week you visit. It costs $35 per person.

Quick lunch before a desert adventure!

Whew! So many choices. I bet you’re hungry for lunch. Along the Strip, I recommend Secret Pizza, an inexpensive pizza joint hidden on the 3^rd floor of the Cosmopolitan or alternatively Hattie B’s Hot Chicken on the 2^nd floor.

For off-Strip lunch options, Lefty-J’s Island Favorites has delicious Hawaiian food or 888 Korean BBQ!

Said desert adventure

This afternoon, head to Red Rock Canyon to explore a bit of the Nevada Desert. This national conservation area has a 13 mile scenic drive, and numerous hikes, including Calico Hills, Moenkopi Loop, Petroglyph Wall, and more! It’s a beautiful area to spend the afternoon. But, beware of the summer heat!

If visiting in the summer, start with the scenic drive rather than powering straight to hiking. Make sure you stay hydrated, wear sunblock, and replenish your salt and electrolytes!

At this point, if you haven’t already, check into your hotel. Relax a bit, hit up the casino, wander the shopping options, and get ready for your evening!

Happy Hour and Fremont Street Experience

One of my favorite ways to save money in Vegas is by getting Groupons for restaurants or hitting up happy hours.

I loved the happy hour at Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar inside the Golden Nugget at Fremont Street Experience. Cadillac Mexican Kitchen had not only drinks for their happy hour, but also food! So you could get tacos, a quesadilla, etc for reduced prices!

Next explore Fremont Street Experience, which was the original downtown of Las Vegas, before the Strip was around. Now, it’s an entertainment hub with casinos, street performers, a zipline, and a stunning televised ceiling that covers a multiple block stretch of pedestrian only traffic (although cars still travel in the cross direction).

Catch the hourly light show on the ceiling featuring your favorite bands and artists like Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers, Shakira, and more!

Walk around, find a bar with a patio to sit at and enjoy the show!

If you want a night activity, I highly recommend the Neon Museum at night! I really do think it is better experienced when you can see the signs lit up. Take a guided tour or watch the new show Brilliant!, which brings no-longer-working signs back to life via projection mapping technology.

Day 2

Epic breakfast No. 2

No travel day will pass without an epic breakfast, especially in Vegas. Not on my watch. I’d honestly go back to the Cosmopolitan. There are two amazing spots to try. The first is Eggslut with popular breakfast sandwiches. They serve their iconic breakfast creations all day long, so no need to worry about making it on time for a buffet or something. Relax. Sleep in.
Another great choice in the Cosmo is District: Donuts. Slides. Brew. (yes, that’s the whole name). They have more than 100 rotating flavors of hand-crafted donuts and they’re a second location of the beloved New Orleans eatery! In my opinion, if it came from New Orleans, you can’t go wrong. They also have Vietnamese iced coffee, nitro cold brew, and lots of biscuit sandwiches for a more hearty meal (stacks of donuts are fine by me too!).

Relax at the Pool

Spend your late morning at the pool. No trip to Vegas is complete without relaxing at their over-the-top pools. Every hotel on the Strip has a pretty nice pool, even the budget hotels like Excalibur and Luxor. Typically at those, you’ll just find more families.

Grab a Fat Tuesday alcoholic slushee and a good book, and set up camp for a bit (just make sure you’re allowed to bring outside drinks to your hotel’s pool).

If you’re visiting during winter, Circa Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas has a heated winter pool, so check that out!

Seven magic Mountains

If you have more time, I suggest visiting an exhibit you missed from the list above. You can also take a 20 minute drive to visit Seven Magic Mountains. This is a cool, free art exhibition in the middle of the desert with large colorful rocks. It’s an easy stop on the way into or out of Vegas, but now’s a good time too! It’s a fun place to take pictures!

Sample more local eats

Depending on your timing, you might be itching for lunch soon. Try Tacos El Gordo, an inexpensive street taco joint that originated in San Diego. It’s highly recommended by San Diego locals, so you can’t go wrong with their Vegas location!

Another great option is this wild, over-the-top Evel Knievel themed pizza restaurant, appropriately named Evel Pie. You can get pizza by the slice making this another inexpensive option.

I also highly recommend Eataly, an Italian marketplace where you can get fresh pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and so much more! They even have fish and butcher vendors where you can choose your meat selection and they’ll cook it for you in the back immediately!

Capitalize on Free things to do in Vegas

Bellagio Conservatory and Gardens

For the second half of your day, head to the Bellagio to see the Conservatory. This extravagant indoor garden rotates themes each season. I’ve seen it in spring where at the time it was a Japanese themed garden and during winter for a holiday theme. It was beautiful each time and the best part, it’s free!

Fountain Show

Depending on the time of day and the day of the week, when you’re done head outside to catch the Water Show by the iconic Bellagio fountains. There are more than 1000 fountains that can reach higher than 400 feet in the air! It really is a spectacle and it’s also free, so no excuses to miss it (other than timing, I suppose).

At this point, I would go back to your hotel, freshen up a bit. Take a nap if necessary and get ready for the evening. We’ll be doing dinner and a show!

Dinner before a show!

For dinner, head to Lotus of Siam for the best Thai food in Las Vegas! It’s seriously so delicious. I personally think dining in makes it that much better, but you can get takeout if preferred. It is off the Strip, so you will need a car or ride share to get there.

Looking for a restaurant on the Strip? I’d recommend Hexx Kitchen + Bar outside of the Paris hotel. They frequently have Groupons too, so financially, that’s a plus! They also have a 3-course dinner for $30 from 3-6pm, which is a great deal, especially on the Strip!

Another option outside of the Paris hotel is Beer Park! They have a fun ambiance, with a rooftop bar, lots of TVs to watch sports, and even games like pool, foosball, and giant jenga!

Witness something amazing at an iconic Vegas show

Did you really go to Vegas if you didn’t see a show?

I think not. While it might seem like a big expense, Las Vegas shows are totally worth the price and believe it or not there are some affordable options! Here are my favorite shows and a price breakdown.

1. Mac King Comedy Show ($35+) – This was one of my favorites when I was a kid visiting Vegas. It’s a magic comedy show with jokes for kids and adults. I guarantee you will laugh and be impressed with the magic acts.
2. Blue Man Group ($72+) – This is the most whacky, fun show! If you’ve never seen them, I highly recommend. It’s just indescribable, but to try…there’s drumming, pyrotechnics, paint, and bananas!
3. Kà Cirque de Soleil ($106+) – I absolutely LOVE this show! It’s truly beautiful. The acrobatics, the story, the music. You can’t go wrong.
4. Penn & Teller ($150+) – The iconic duo has their own magic show in Vegas! I’ve seen it and it’s incredible! This show is at the Rio, off the Strip, so keep that in mind.

A high altitude night cap to end your day

A final to-do is the High Roller ferris wheel at the LINQ. The wheel completes one rotation in 30 minutes so you can sit back and enjoy the views of Vegas! Tickets cost $35 for adults or during Happy Half Hour, it’s $60 and includes an open bar and bartender for the 30 minute rotation.

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

Save to Pinterest

Sharing is caring!