Las Vegas, USA 7 Day Itinerary

A full week in Vegas means you can actually pace yourself, hit both major day trips, and still have downtime by the pool. Here’s how I’d structure it without burning out by day four.

Day 1: Arrival and Center Strip

You’ll land at Harry Reid International, not McCarran, that name’s been retired since 2021. Rideshare pickup happens inside the parking garage, not curbside, and there’s a flat $4.50 surcharge added to every Uber and Lyft fare, budget $20-35 plus that fee to reach mid-Strip.

Bellagio and MGM Grand are both solid Center Strip bases, this stretch is the densest and most walkable part of the boulevard. Factor the resort fee into your budget now, it’s mandatory, roughly $45-60 a night before tax, and it’s the surprise that catches nearly every first-timer at checkout.

Spend the afternoon walking the core of the Strip and catching the Bellagio fountains, free, every 15-30 minutes afternoons and evenings. Skip the trophy celebrity-chef dinner tonight, a mid-range restaurant at $30-60 a head is the smarter early-trip call over seven days.

Day 2: Downtown and Fremont Street

Downtown gives you more real Vegas than the Strip does these days, the Strip’s grown increasingly corporate, and the gambling odds downtown are genuinely better. Walk Fremont Street, catch the free canopy light show, skip the SlotZilla zip line unless you specifically want it, it’s a paid add-on. The Golden Nugget area has a more local, casual vibe than anything on the Strip.

Day 3: Hoover Dam

Rent a car. Hoover Dam is the shortest day trip out of the city at roughly 45 minutes, and it’s worth combining with a stop at Lake Mead while you’re out there. Bring water and sunscreen, and wear shoes you can actually walk in, the dam involves more walking than people expect.

Day 4: Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon runs 20-30 minutes west of the Strip, expect about $20 a vehicle plus a $2 timed-entry reservation required February through November. The scenic loop road is the easy option if you don’t want to hike; rent a bike or walk a trail if you do. Watch for wildlife, bighorn sheep and desert tortoises both turn up here.

Day 5: Shows and nightlife

Book a Cirque du Soleil show, “O” at Bellagio is the classic pick, ahead of time, the good ones sell out. Skip bottle service if a club’s calling your name, it’s a $50-100 cover plus a $500+ bottle minimum, a tourist tax dressed as glamour more than a night out. If you want to dance, book a club’s guest list through its own site rather than a sidewalk promoter’s “free entry” card, those come with commission-inflated covers.

Day 6: Shopping and a spa afternoon

The Forum Shops at Caesars and Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian cover the high-end shopping itch. If buffets appeal, know the landscape’s changed: Wynn’s buffet is still running, but plenty of old names have closed, MGM Grand’s shut in May 2026, Luxor’s back in 2025. A spa afternoon is a legitimately good use of a mid-trip rest day when you’ve already covered the major sights.

Day 7: Farewell

Use the morning for anything you missed, the High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ is worth checking current pricing on if you haven’t done it yet, historically around $25-35. Head to Harry Reid International with buffer time, and if a cab driver suggests the I-215 tunnel route, decline it, that’s a known long-haul scam; ask for Swenson Street or Paradise Road instead.

Practical notes: the Monorail only covers the east side of the Strip, MGM Grand to SAHARA, it won’t reach Bellagio, Caesars, or Wynn. Parking isn’t free at most Strip resorts anymore, expect $15-25 self-park or $40-50 valet daily, though MGM properties often waive the self-park fee for hotel guests. Summer heat from June through August tops 110F, pace your outdoor days accordingly.