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From late-night eats to off-Strip after-hours spots to festival details, read on for a fellow raver’s guide to enjoying the local EDM scene.
Las Vegas wasn’t dubbed the “Entertainment Capital of the World” for no reason. From 24/7 parties, pools, and dining options to unparalleled adventures, Sin City is one of the best cities for EDM fans to visit.
In more ways than one, the electronic dance music scene has put its stamp on the whole operation. Las Vegas is home to massive music festivals, iconic nightclubs, and unforgettable dayclubs — and not only on the Las Vegas Strip.
Some of the best authentic food can be found just west of the Strip in Spring Mountain. Visitors who prefer not to stay in an expensive hotel can opt for an Airbnb in North Las Vegas or experience the “old Las Vegas” feel of Downtown Las Vegas. And surprise! One of the best after-hours is not even on the Strip.
The below guide covers all you need to know to get down and get around. By the end, you’ll know where to stay, where not to stay, and most importantly, how to make the most of your experience in Sin City.
Your Guide to Las Vegas
Photo Credit: Insomniac EventsTransportation Tips
The good thing about coming to Las Vegas is you’re going to end up right on the Strip no matter your mode of transportation.
The main airport in Las Vegas is Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). It’s often busiest Thursday through Monday, which is also when flights are more expensive. Either way, once you land, expect to walk a bit to get to pickup areas. It’s a major airport, after all.
Once you finally exit, you’ll find a row of taxis. Taxis are readily available throughout the city, much like New York ‚ but unlike New York, they’re quite expensive. There are also the new Zoox robotaxis, but nowadays, rideshare is the preferred option.
But as with everything in Las Vegas, pay attention to how much you’re actually getting charged. Standard rides from the airport to the Strip generally range from $15 to $30. But surge pricing during peak hours can get expensive — especially during a festival, big event, or club hopping — so plan ahead.
Most of your activities, dining options, and events will be located on the Las Vegas Strip, Arts District, or Downtown Las Vegas. Rideshare and taxis are again readily available, but for the most part, walking is the best option for getting to everything efficiently and cost-effectively.
Las Vegas also offers extensive public transportation. The 24/7 Deuce Double-Decker bus runs along Las Vegas Blvd., stopping at most resorts and downtown. It runs every 10-15 minutes during the day, and every 20 minutes at night. It will cost you $6 for a two-hour pass, $8 for a 24-hour pass, and $20 for a three-day pass.
The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip, from the MGM Grand to SAHARA Las Vegas with seven stops. The rapid SDX line is an express service connecting the Strip to downtown, but it has fewer stops. Both cost the same price as the Deuce.
The Downtown Loop is free and runs throughout the downtown area with stops at the Mob Museum and Circa. Hotels Aria and Treasure Island also each have their own free trams with a few stops. Another free tram connects the Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay hotels and casinos.
If you’re driving into Las Vegas, the I-15 is the primary freeway into the city, serving as the main artery from Southern California and Utah. The freeway runs directly through the center of the Las Vegas Valley. You’ll also use the I-15 to get around the city, as it passes through the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas.
Other critical freeways include US-95, near downtown, and the I-215 Beltway, which circles parts of the valley, and where you can connect to cities like Henderson and Summerlin for Airbnbs.
Pro tip: If you’re staying on the Strip, you’re bound to do a whole lot of walking. Bring a pair of foldable flats, slip-on sneakers, or backup shoes to make the trip easier.
Photo Credit: Insomniac Events and VibeeLodging Tips
Lodging in the Greater Las Vegas region comes with many options, ranging from frugal to luxurious. It all comes down to budget and what type of trip you want to have.
For first-time visitors, the Las Vegas Strip is often the go-to option. Many of the hotels and casinos have everything you need to make the most of your time: pools, clubs, food, gambling, and 24/7 access to it all.
Resorts World Las Vegas and Fontainebleau are two of the newest venues to hit the Strip and are already huge favorites amongst EDM lovers and groups. Resorts World is home to Hotel EDC during the week of EDC Las Vegas, and to Zouk Nightclub.
Rooms at Resorts World range from roughly $150-300+ per night, depending on the season and day of the week. Rooms at Fontainebleu tend to be on the pricier side, but rightfully so. The hotel, whose flagship location is in Miami, features the nightclub LIV, known for billing acts like John Summit and Dom Dolla.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, MGM Grand, and Wynn Las Vegas remain classic big draws for dance music fans. While room rates can reach beyond the $300 range per night at any given time of the year, both offer modern rooms and 24/7 excitement with EDM-centered nightclubs and dayclubs.
ARIA Resort & Casino and Planet Hollywood are the most sleek options for those who want to stay classy amid the chaos. But their luxurious excess comes at a higher room cost. Both hotels offer a mix of retail and dining options. JEWEL Nightclub is the main nightclub located inside the ARIA. While the club does host EDM DJs, it is also considered to be one of the last hip-hop clubs on the Strip.
Don’t want to spend Strip prices but want to get in on the Las Vegas Strip action? There are a few options.
A little east of the Strip, on Harmon Street, you’ll find three lodging alternatives that’ll provide the classic Las Vegas experience without breaking the bank. Hilton’s Polo Towers offers simple yet modern rooms and even has a rooftop pool. The MGM Signature has suites that you can share with groups and is a 5-10 minute walk from the Strip.
Club Wyndham Grand Desert is a timeshare resort located one mile from the Strip. Club Wyndham, not to be confused with Days Inn by Wyndham, is near the F1 experience and Las Vegas staple Ellis Island Resort & Casino, which also happens to be a great place for karaoke.
For those who want to save a little money or avoid the Strip altogether, Downtown Las Vegas is a great option. Circa Resort & Casino and the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino are good spots to check out, as they both will keep you close to the pulse of dance music. Circa boasts Stadium Swim, and Downtown Grand has an extensive roster of events. The Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and Neonopolis, where Substance nightclub is, are also close by.
The Plaza Hotel & Casino, Main Street Station Casino & Hotel, Golden Nugget, and Fremont Hotel & Casino continue to pay homage to old Las Vegas with affordable room pricing and dining options. All three hotels sit on Fremont Street among a variety of classic hotels and casinos that are more on the economical side of lodging.
But, accommodation choices for visiting Sin City stretch far beyond the Las Vegas Strip and the Downtown Las Vegas areas.
Airbnb or Vrbo are two viable options. As mentioned, the 215 and 95 freeways are your go-to methods of getting to cities like Henderson and Summerlin, where you’re sure to find spacious vacation rentals. Henderson is just on the other side of the airport and the Strip, whereas you pass through Downtown to get to Summerlin. Both areas offer big homes, townhomes, and apartments for rent.
North Las Vegas is another “home away from home” option. The area is continuing to build and has many new homes for rent. North Las Vegas is also a lot closer to the Strip, Downtown Las Vegas, and the Arts District than Summerlin and Henderson are.
Either way, be prepared to do a 10-30 minute drive or rideshare ride from rentals in these areas. Book early as prices will go up and availability will dwindle, especially around events like EDC Las Vegas.
Pro tip: Look for hotels around the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas that don’t have a casino or resort in them. No resort equals no resort fee.
Photo Credit: Mike KirschbaumTop Nightlife Destinations, Festivals, and Promoters
One of Las Vegas’ main magnets attracting electronic music lovers is Insomniac‘s Electric Daisy Carnival. The three-day gathering makes its return to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway every May. As mentioned, Resorts World will host Hotel EDC during EDC week.
Beyond EDC, two Las Vegas music festivals heavily feature EDM acts: Life is Beautiful and iHeartRadio Music Festival. Both usually fall on the same weekend in September. But Life is Beautiful usually takes up the streets of Downtown Las Vegas and the Arts District, whereas iHeartRadio runs its event out of T-Mobile Arena.
The Sphere is an out-of-this-world experience that you do not want to miss. The venue provides immersive shows, concerts, and events with a nearly 360-degree view. In 2025, Sphere teamed up with Insomniac and Tomorrowland on an immersive experience called UNITY that featured Kaskade, DJ Snake, SLANDER, Subtronics, and more. A wide variety of other EDM acts perform there throughout any given year.
Of course, Las Vegas has much more to offer EDM lovers besides festivals. Significant lures include Marquee Nightclub at the Cosmopolitan, Hakkasan at the MGM Grand, and OMNIA at Caesars Palace.
Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World, Liquid Pool at ARIA, Swim & Social Pool at The STRAT Hotel and Casino, and The Pool Club at Virgin Hotels also host EDM acts. Though slightly smaller in size, each pool comes with mega energy. We highly suggest trying to find guest list.
Besides the Strip’s nightclub and dayclub offerings, you’ll find a slew of bars with dancefloors in the Downtown area at the end of Fremont Street. Stretching out along Las Vegas Blvd. near the intersection of 6th and Fremont Street sit We All Scream, Lucky Day, Cheapshot, Commonwealth, and Discopussy.
Entry can range from $10-20 bucks for men, and free to $10 for women. Discopussy has been known to feature big names such as Gareth Emery, Kill the Noise, and many others. The booming Downtown venue is known for house, techno, and bass.
Not far from there is the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, which holds many massive events. Though the center is getting turned into a parking lot, in its heyday, DLVEC featured everyone from Alison Wonderland to Troyboi. There’s no word just yet on when the space will be converted into a parking lot.
In the middle of Fremont Street sits the Neonopolis, which houses a Denny’s, a karaoke venue dubbed the Cat’s Meow, and SUBSTANCE, among a host of other activities and dining options.
SUBSTANCE hosts a wide array of events, including upcoming performances from Audien and Wonkywilla. RVLTN (pronouned rave-alation) puts on many events there and elsewhere throughout the Valley. Follow this entertainment group if you’re not already.
Also in the Downtown area are Bauhaus and Area15. The latter offers a “multiverse of attractions and events.” Beyond its immersive experiences, shopping, and bars, the venue also hosts EDM mini-festivals and concerts. Past headliners include CloZee, deadmau5, Zeds Dead, and Lane 8. Bauhaus is a fairly new destination for house, techno, and tech-house. Upcoming EDM acts include Guz and Haylee Wood. The club also serves as an after-hours spot.
While Las Vegas is indeed a 24-hour city, clubs do close. But don’t fret, there are after-hours spaces on and near the strip.
Club Ego is a fave for its size, proximity to the Strip, and chill vibes. Though it’s not a Las Vegas Strip destination, it’s well worth the quick, 10-15-minute drive from the Strip. The venue is not large but is packed with energy. Somehow, though, it’s also a calming environment to take it all in and just groove with the music, with enough seating to relax and a dancefloor to get down when you want to.
Drais After Hours remains the ultimate end-of-night destination in Las Vegas. Though Drais Nightclub and Dayclub — one of the few venues on the strip to offer hip-hop — recently closed up shop, the team behind the brand returned to its true underground roots by keeping the after-hours alive and well. Drais After Hours typically offers a mix of hip-hop and EDM, but it generally highlights local EDM DJs, like up-and-coming artist Ashlee Lynzee.
Regardless of what you decide to do, you’re bound to have a great time, especially if you plan properly. Apps like Bandsintown and Radiate can help you stay in the loop and even find a crew to roll with.
Pro tip: There are loads of guestlist websites to gain free access to all of these clubs. Two examples are No Cover Nightclubs and LasVegasNightclubs.com Find them and sign up the week before at the latest. Once you get acclimated to Sin City, find a good promoter. You never know what access you can get with this contact on hand.
With Love, Always at Durango Resort & Casino. Photo Credit: KGABars and Restaurants
Besides world-class entertainment, Las Vegas is known for its amazing dining options and bars. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can experience a classy brunch on the Strip, an affordable open-air lunch in Downtown Las Vegas, or authentic eats throughout the Valley.
From fast-casual to Michelin-rated fine dining, it’s all on the Strip. The nearly five-mile stretch of road has everything from upscale brunch spots, iconic Las Vegas staples, hearty buffets, quick eats, and much more. When thinking about what to eat, consider your wallet, scheduling, and what you qualify as a must-try.
Golden Steer Steakhouse is one of the oldest eateries in town and is known for its classic atmosphere; it was even once a Rat Pack favorite. Be ready to spend a pretty penny for the delicious meal, and make reservations well before you intend to come because they fill up quickly.
While a little more on the casual side, Peppermill and Fireside Lounge is also a must-try. The iconic, 24/7 diner known for its neon-lit decor cooks up and dishes out huge portions of comfort food. It’s a go-to spot for late-night meals.
For a classy brunch or dinner, try Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas, famed for its patio overlooking the Bellagio Fountains and serving classic steak frites. Upstairs is Chateau, a great brunch spot for birthdays and bachelor(ette) parties that also turns into a nightclub on the weekends.
Wing Lei is the first Chinese restaurant in the US to receive a Michelin star, and it’s really good. The high-end Wynn eatery serves a variety of Chinese dishes, including its acclaimed Imperial Peking Duck.
For more casual dining on the Strip, you have to try Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan and Tacos El Gordo. A hidden gem tucked away in the Boulevard Tower of the Strip Hotel, Secret Pizza is a New York-style pizzeria with a simple but yummy menu. Beware, this place always has a line!
But so does Tacos El Gordo, which sits at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and Convention Center Dr., across the street from Resorts World. This Valley institution is an authentic, Tijuana-style taqueria. Offering a multitude of tacos, multas, and more, the brand is quickly growing its footprint with locations throughout the Valley. It is certainly a must-try, but the wait can run 20-30 minutes at the Strip location. Here’s an insider tip: go to the new one by the Allegiant Stadium. Less wait, same great quality of yummy food.
Las Vegas has always been known for its affordable buffets, ranging from anywhere to $25 per person to $75 per person. Due to the pandemic, those prices, offerings, and the whole experience have changed to a certain degree.
The A.Y.C.E. Buffet at the Palms is popular for its seafood offerings, especially the Wednesday and Thursday all-you-can-eat lobster nights. Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan has one of the best buffet brunches, taking a small-plate approach for a not-so-small price.
But there are also loads of off-Strip options that range in price but are often a little more pennywise. The Oyster Bar at Palace Station is one of my favorite off-Strip dining destinations. Famous for its gumbo and pan roasts, the restaurant also offers oysters at affordable prices.
Herbs & Rye is well-known for its high-quality steaks and happy hour deals. The spot comes with a rich history and a great atmosphere. Herbs & Rye is only a short, 10-15-minute drive from the Strip.
Also, not far from the Strip is one of my favorite neighborhoods to enjoy authentic good eats: Spring Mountain. Home to AYCE Sushi, bottomless Korean BBQ, pho, and hot pot galore, you’re sure to find something to not only soothe your hunger but revive you after a long night of partying there. My favorite suggestion is Monta Ramen. The list can really go on forever, so go check out the area yourself. It’s also only a 10-15 minute drive from the Strip.
Here you’ll also find The Golden Tiki, a widely celebrated eatery. The exotic, tiki-bar themed restaurant features a long bar and intimate seating. The Golden Tiki usually has a DJ and provides an extensive menu that also offers a long list of tropical cocktails.
Downtown Las Vegas is also another hotbed of great dining options. From Fremont Street to the Arts District, you’re sure to find something affordable and satisfying to eat. Downtown Container Park is a great place to start!
Located on Fremont Street, the open-air shopping center features retail stores, nightlife, and restaurants like one of my brunch faves: Downtown Terrace. With a comfortable patio, outdoor, and table-top seating, the eatery offers a simple and practical menu packed with flavor. Menu item favorites include the chicken and waffle sliders featured on the all-day breakfast menu, and the shrimp and salmon ceviche that comes with blue corn chips.
There are plenty of brunch spots in the Downtown Las Vegas area, but another must-try is 7th & Carson. Parking can be tough, but the food and drink menu make it worth it.
For dinner and lunch, Hash House A Go Go at The Plaza and Makers & Finders are good options when perusing the streets of Downtown Las Vegas.
Away from the Strip, Downtown, and Spring Mountain, finding the best food options can get a bit tricky, especially if you’re not mobile. On the outskirts of Las Vegas are the Durango Hotel & Casino and Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa. Sin City isn’t lacking in places to catch a quick bite or sit down and eat, but there are many options and venues, like Area15, that often also offer food to grab on the go or chow down in the moment.
Other Things to Do While Staying in Las Vegas
While Vegas may be all about the party, there are other things to do in the Silver State besides tearing it up on the dancefloor.
The Mob Museum doesn’t just pay homage to the city’s crime-ridden beginnings; it also houses a speakeasy and distillery. Many of the museums, activities, and happenings in Las Vegas have some type of bar, so if you want to keep the partying going, you can.
There are family-friendly options like the Shark Reef Aquarium and the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. Speed Las Vegas and the F1 Arcade are your venues if you’re in need of speed and excitement.
To take your vacation to new heights, stop by the High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ, the Fly LINQ Zipline, or the Slot Zilla Zipline on Fremont Street. For the wilder thrillseekers, there’s a variety of gravity-defying experiences off the side of The STRAT. Prices range anywhere from $25-$200 for these experiences.
Las Vegas is surrounded by beautiful nature. Sin City is, after all, in the middle of the desert. For those seeking an adventure in nature, make a day trip to the Grand Canyon to check out the Hoover Dam. It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Las Vegas to the West Rim or Grand Canyon West. The Skywalk may be worth paying for ahead of time, but really, you can take the drive and have a look without paying for expensive travel packages to the Valley destination.
Lake Las Vegas is an awesome trip planning addition. Besides the extensive amount of watersports you can get in on, it’s also a great place to enjoy a Sunday boat ride with friends. Lake Las Vegas is a short, 30-minute ride from the center of Las Vegas.
In the winter, Lee Canyon and Mount Charleston are two great pit stops. Both offer ski and other snow activities, as well as nearby lodging. Lee Canyon is less than an hour from Las Vegas. Mount Charleston is a 45-minute drive up I-11 and West Kyle Canyon Road.
Photo Credit: Insomniac EventsFinal Las Vegas Pro-Tips
Once again: Guest lists and finding a good promoter will help you save a lot of money while partying in Las Vegas. Don’t forget the backup shoes on the Strip, because you’re sure to do a lot of walking.
Getting to clubs on time can be the difference between you making the guestlist and/or your table and missing out on both, so plan for walking time, parking, and traffic delays as there’s always a lot of construction going on throughout the city. Main Street Casino has affordable parking, and you can find metered street parking, but stay safe.
Parking at hotels can cost anywhere from $20-50 per night and venue. That means that if you move your car from the Cosmo to Paris, you’re going to pay a different price. Keep track of how long your car is parked as rates usually go up after three hours. Make sure you take a picture of where you parked your car; no one wants to get lost finding the whip at the end of the night.
But the best tip I can give you about parking is to ride with a Nevada resident. Up to three-hour parking is free at many of the hotels and casinos for locals.
The Downtown area has a lot of unhoused individuals. Make sure to lock your vehicles, keep an eye on your belongings, and stay in well-lit places. As a pedestrian, stay wary of your surroundings. While many streets appear to be a free-for-all, with folks walking well beyond signals that beg them to halt, accidents do happen. Don’t just go walking out in the street all willy-nilly; you will get hit.
Most importantly, have fun. You’re in the Entertainment Capital of The World. If you want to spend a lot of money, do you — but if you do your research, you don’t have to.
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