Las Vegas is known for its desert heat, but winter is an equally good time to visit the Strip.
Don’t forget to bundle up! Despite its southwest location, Vegas gets cold this time of year. So bring a jacket and get ready to see some of the best attractions in Sin City. New Year’s Eve draws the biggest crowds, yet there is plenty of fun to experience throughout the season.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is a free attraction in the Bellagio lobby that changes with the season at least five times a year. The winter exhibit takes on a joyous holiday theme with a 42-foot-tall white fir Christmas tree, cozy gingerbread cottage, polar bears and other displays hand-crafted from more than 10,000 plants and flowers. If you only pick one spot to snap a selfie this winter, make it the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. For the first time, sweet holiday treats are being sold this year.
Tournament of Kings: “‘Twas the Knight”
Illuminarium
Illuminarium, located just outside the main AREA15 building, is a fascinating space where unique environments come to life in a 4D experience. Visitors are surrounded by high-definition video and computer-generated images embellished with sounds, scents and vibrations in the floor. Illuminarium is running “Space: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond” (where you can even leave your own “footprints” in virtual moon dust) and Wild (based on an African safari) throughout the winter.
iLuminate
Discovering King Tut’s Tomb
The Luxor • Tickets begin at $30 for adults, $20 for kids
Discovering King Tut’s Tomb is both education and entertainment, arriving in Las Vegas just in time to mark 100 years since the resting place of the Egyptian boy pharaoh was found by renowned archaeologist Howard Carter. The exhibit includes a simulation of the tomb, art displays and multimedia presentations that dig into Egyptian history and culture, the legacy of the Valley of Kings and the short life of King Tut himself.
Fantasy Lab
Fashion Show Las Vegas • General admission begins at $35
Fantasy Lab is an immersive, interactive experience that began in Mexico City and is now operating a second location at the Fashion Show shopping mall in Las Vegas. Guests will visit seven rooms, each designed to represent a dream-like journey through time and space. Be ready to snap some eye-catching photos for your Instagram feed. Enjoy food and drink from the Time to Dream Kitchen during your visit.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
This year marks 110 years since the Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean. To mark the tragedy, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition has welcomed more than 30 additional items recovered from the doomed cruise ship, ranging from playing cards and currency to a corkscrew and bathroom items. They join more than 300 other artifacts already on display with an exhibit hall that includes a 15-ton piece of the hull and recreations of the Titanic’s staircase, cabins and promenade deck.
Enchant
AREA15
AREA15 is one of the most compelling destinations in Las Vegas. Located just west of the Strip near Chinatown, the mixed-use entertainment space won’t break the bank. Admission for the venue’s marquee attraction, Omega Mart (an expansive art installation that resembles a grocery store) is $49, with discounts for kids, seniors and military. Tickets for Birdly — a flight simulator that sends users soaring over cityscapes — begin at $10.25 for kids and $13.50 for adults. Haley’s Comet is a hang-gliding-style motorized zipline ride that begins at $12 for kids and $18 for adults. Anyone 21 and over can also order a drink at Oddwood, a bar with a 24-foot LED tree at the center. Specialty cocktails are $12.
FlyOver Las Vegas
FlyOver Las Vegas is similar to Soarin’ Around the World at Disneyland but even better. The same people designed both rides. Take “flight” in a simulated hang-glide ride while beautiful destinations emerge on an ultra-high-definition screen that spans more than 52 feet. The experience is enhanced with surround sound, gusts of wind and even a few smells. Choose between Wonders of the American West, Iceland, or the new Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies, featuring snowy lands north of the border – a perfect environment for the winter season.
Rarely Seen: Photos of the Extraordinary
Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Experience
For a high-rise escape from the hustle and bustle of the Strip, take a trip to the top of Paris Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower for an unforgettable romantic getaway. A half-scale replica of the real thing, the Vegas version of the Eiffel Tower has an observation deck with stunning 360-degree views. You won’t want to miss the Bellagio Fountains from this angle! To add to the magic, book a dinner reservation at the elegant Eiffel Tower Restaurant.
High Roller
Eager to take your Vegas vacation to new heights? Board the High Roller and enjoy an incredible 360-degree view of the Las Vegas Valley. Located at the east end of the The LINQ Promenade, the world’s tallest observation wheel even provides an in-cabin open bar (with personal bartender) for an extra fee. The entire ride usually takes about 30 minutes and peaks at around 550 feet in the air.
Skypod Viewing Deck
Standing at 1,149 feet, The Strat is one of the tallest freestanding structures in the United States. Ride the elevator to the Skypod observation deck on the 108th floor, where you can walk around the perimeter for full views of the surrounding area (and grab a cocktail at 108 Drinks). An outdoor viewing area is on the 109th floor, where you can enjoy the rush of thrill rides that dangle over the edge.
Bodies…The Exhibition
For an intriguing, educational experience, visit Bodies…The Exhibition. The attraction features real, dissected human bodies, allowing you to see organs, bone, muscles and other parts usually hidden beneath the skin. Compare damaged tissue to undamaged tissue and gain a better understanding of the human body’s different systems. In a topical twist, a new exhibit is dedicated to the science and health effects of the coronavirus.
