3-Day Itinerary for Las Vegas in the Winter
Are you headed to Las Vegas in the winter for a getaway? Our three-day itinerary and guide will help you plan a great trip by sharing where to stay, places to eat, and fun things to do.
I’ve been to Vegas four times, and here are my favorite resorts, restaurants, and things to do.
Reasons To Go in the Winter
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Visiting Las Vegas during the winter is a treat. On our most recent trip, we visited at the beginning of December. FlyOver Las Vegas invited me for a hosted stay, and naturally, I said yes. Some of the things I did are included in this guide.
The weather was spectacular in December— as in light sweater weather. Though we didn’t spend the afternoon basking around any pools and sipping margaritas, we did enjoy comfortable sunny days, fewer crowds, and magical holiday decorations.
Would we go back to Vegas in the winter? The answer is yes.
Where To Stay
There are over 150,000 hotel rooms in Vegas.
The Aria is elegant, has comfortable rooms, a great indoor gym, and several outstanding restaurants. I loved eating at Lemongrass and Din Tai Fung. To this day, I still think about the curry dish I had at Lemongrass a few years ago. The Aria also connects to a mall with luxury designer brands.
Mandalay Bay and New York New York are also good choices. Since all of these are on The Strip, they are in a location that makes walking and exploring easy. Pablo loved grabbing a slice of pizza quickly at night when we stayed at the New York New York.
Arriving in Vegas
Fly into Harry Reid International Airport. You can catch an Uber that will take you straight to your hotel. You don’t need to rent a car in Vegas. It’s more of a pain to find parking and deal with the traffic than paying for a ride.
Keep in mind that Uber prices can be all over the board. On our trip in December 2023, we paid around $50 for a ride to the hotel. But on the way back, it was around $15 (including the tip).
Day 1 – Afternoon
We kicked off our Vegas getaway with dinner at Superfrico in the Cosmopolitan. The vibe here is psychedelic, meaning it’s dark, there are lights, they play loud music, and the servers dance around.
I didn’t know what to think when I first walked in — it was whimsical and trippy inside. But rest assured, the dinner show was fun, and the Caesar salad was excellent.
After dinner, we peeked inside the Ski Lodge next door. It’s a bar with a mountain brewpub ambiance that feels warm and welcoming. How appropriate for a December trip?
We also love The Chandelier bar in the Cosmopolitan. It’s pretty to see all the crystals hanging.
We like to gamble a little after dinner and set small limits – like $20-$50 bucks. We don’t go crazy gambling, and if we aren’t feeling it, we walk away. Don’t worry if this isn’t your scene; there are plenty of fun things to do that skip the slot machines.
Day 2 – Morning
Start the day at my favorite brunch spot: Sadelle’s Café in the Bellagio. If you’re here during the holiday season, the Bellagio Conservatory (their botanical garden) is beautifully decorated. You walk through the Conservatory to access Sadelle’s, which you can see from the restaurant. It is magical. Be sure to try the grapefruit brûlée and a Vegas Omelet — they are so good.
Next, head to FlyOver Las Vegas for an iRide. I wasn’t sure what to expect since it was my first iRide, but I was blown away. Visitors can choose from a few different rides to destinations such as Iceland, the Canadian Rockies, Chicago, the American West, and Las Vegas.
When the ride starts, you’re escorted to a room to watch a few introductory videos. Then, you’re taken to be seated and buckled in. Once the ride begins, you literally feel like you’re flying over the world. There is wind, mist, music, and more. It’s so fun, and I highly recommend it.
Day 2 – Afternoon
If you’re hungry after, I recommend grabbing food at Lemongrass or Din Tai Fung in the Aria for a late lunch or early dinner. Both places are not a far walk from FlyOver and have the best Thai and Taiwanese food.
Then, spend time walking around The Strip, checking out the stores, and visiting the Casinos to see the holiday decorations.
You could plan to see a show or walk over to the Venetian to check out the Sphere.
I’d always heard about the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, but until recently, I had never taken the time to visit it. I went to see if I could get a glimpse of Santa Claus scuba diving with the sharks. I didn’t see him, but you can check their holiday schedule if you go around Christmas so you don’t miss it.
Day 3 – Morning
Sleep in and start the day with lunch at Eataly in the Park MGM. According to the Park MGM’s website, it is home to the largest Italian marketplace in the world. Spend time wandering around, then find a place to eat.
I ate at Pizza e la Pasta – they have gluten-free pizza crust, so I got a pizza. It was awesome.
Day 3 – Afternoon
After lunch, hail an Uber and head to Fremont Street to go to the Mob Museum. It was interesting to learn more about the history of Mobs in America and their role in organized crime across the U.S., including Las Vegas. There is a speakeasy underneath the museum with cocktails named the same as in the Prohibition Era – I got the “giggle water.”
After exploring the Mob Museum, catch another Uber and visit the Neon Museum. Be sure to get tickets for the Neon Museum beforehand because it tends to sell out. You’ll want to do a tour when it’s dark so you can see all the neon signs. It has one of the largest repositories of vintage Las Vegas artifacts. It’s a cool tour.
After the tour, order another Uber and have them drop you off on Fremont Street. Since you’re already in this part of town, you might enjoy exploring this area, which has a more laid-back vibe than The Strip.
We grabbed dinner at 8East inside of the Circa casino. Get the chicken fried rice.
