13 Things to Do in Las Vegas in December

Las Vegas has always been known as the city of sin, but also as an unmissable spot if you are looking for fun. Located in the State of Nevada, in December its festive spirit lights up the West Coast climate and prepares to welcome Christmas and New Year with options for all audiences.

In addition to the city's characteristic hotels and casinos and the rest of the things to see in Las Vegas, there are sports shows, ice rinks and Christmas shows full of lights and decorations that will make your trip an unforgettable experience.

It is true that The Strip is the heart of Las Vegas, the spinal cord of this city built in the middle of the desert that is dedicated to attract attention for its opulence, but at Christmas time it is Fremont Street that snatches that right and gets all the looks.

The seasonal lights, giant Christmas trees, neon signs and spotlights to the sky dazzle even the most distracted. Fremont Street offers traveling shows, restaurants, hotels and casinos. It's a must-see to get into the Christmas spirit.

There you can also experience the Fremont Street Experience, a tourist attraction in the city where you can find free concerts, the famous Neon Museum and the New Year's fireworks show, which is determined to overshadow the night sky, all while you feel like you're in a U2 music video, a Cameron Diaz movie or the video game Grand Theft Auto.

If the excitement of the city is still not enough for you, you can still go to the state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena to see the Vegas Golden Knights, the Las Vegas ice hockey team that you will be able to see play at home in one of the regular season games, which starts every year during the first half of October.

Of course, I recommend you to book your tickets to see the Vegas Golden Knights play in advance because tickets literally fly and, in addition, they can go up in price as the date of the game approaches.

In fact, and because the team is not doing badly, if you book a hotel in the city during the months in which the NHL is playing you may be offered to pay more to have tickets for their games.

One of the characteristics of tourism in the United States is to offer aerial tours of their cities in helicopters. It is a widespread attraction in New York, Chicago and California, but also in Las Vegas.

Helicopter rides in Las Vegas are available all year round, but at Christmas time the offers multiply, so the prices become more affordable and also offer night tours in which you can see the image of a city steeped in Christmas spirit.

Another attraction of booking a helicopter tour in Las Vegas is the possibility of observing from the heights the true magnitude of Las Vegas, which, however vast it may seem due to the amount of options it offers from the sky, appears as a city of lights in the middle of the desert.

The Stratosphere Tower houses a 2,000-room hotel and a casino, but it is also the highest point from which you can observe the city of Las Vegas:

• From its two observatories at 350 meters high it is possible to access a clear view of the city, The Strip and all the incandescent luminosity that emerges from this icon of the American West.

• Also, always in advance, you can reserve a table to welcome the New Year from the revolving restaurant at the top, which offers a Christmas and festive atmosphere during the month of December.

• If you are one of those who are not afraid of anything, you can try the Big Shot, which at 329 meters high is the highest attraction in the world and allows you to free fall until you are hanging pointing to the void.

• In addition, the X-Scream is a roller coaster that will definitely put your vertigo to the test.

If you want to get an adrenaline rush from the Big Shot or the X-Scream just choose the option when you book your tickets for the Stratosphere observation deck.

Outside the main lights of The Strip and Fremont Street, you can also find a fantasy world on Linq Promenade, which is another of the scenes that dresses up exclusively for Christmas.

Emerged as a modern commercial project to rebound some less attractive streets of the city, this pedestrian promenade crowded with stores and bars is crowned with High Roller, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world inspired by the London Eye, which has affordable prices and also some luxurious services such as open bar drinks, if you choose the option when booking your tickets for the High Roller.

In addition, as in Las Vegas everything is possible, during the nighttime days of Christmas Eve an artificial but hyper-realistic snow usually showers the tourists strolling along Linq Promenade.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel has set up an ice skating rink in the Boulevard Pool area from which you can see not only part of the city, since it is located on a fourth floor terrace, but also offers an interesting gastronomic experience.

The Ice Rink is a unique attraction that in December dresses up with Christmas motifs, decorations and carols and a menu of winter food and drinks that stand out for their sophistication. If you haven't been able to take a food tour of Las Vegas, this may be a great opportunity to sample their food.

There are also skating instructors for the kids and hot chocolate for everyone. The only recommendation is to book in advance to avoid waiting in line.

If you're spending Christmas in Las Vegas, you might want to celebrate in an unusual way, such as visiting Planet Hollywood's Saxe Theater to experience Vegas! The Show.

Considered the biggest production of the last decades, this show tells the story of the city and artists such as Elvis Presley, Rar Pack or many others who made Las Vegas what it is today, the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Whether it's Christmas Eve or any other day, I advise you to book your tickets for Vegas! The Show in advance, to make sure you choose the place you like best.

If you are a fan of U2 or Bruno Mars and you travel to Las Vegas in the month of December you are in luck, because both artists offer concerts in Sin City some days during that month.

Bruno Mars performs his concerts at the Park Theater and U2 at the MSG Sphere, a sphere that emits colors and images and generates a totally immersive experience.

Tickets are not particularly cheap, but you should think that if you are really fascinated by these artists, attending a concert in Las Vegas will surely be a once in a lifetime experience. That is why they sell out very quickly, so I recommend you buy tickets to see Bruno Mars well in advance.

A free show in Las Vegas are the fountains of the Bellagio, one of the best casinos in Las Vegas. But this year-round show changes exclusively at Christmas so that the fountain's 1,200 jets of water dance to the rhythm of Christmas carols, accompanied by red and green lights.

Since its opening in 1998, the Bellagio fountains have become a mesmerizing Las Vegas spectacle that has become increasingly popular, especially at Christmas.

However, the hotel also has to offer:

• A casino.
• A botanical garden that is open around the clock.
• An art gallery.
• A permanent Cirque du Soleil show, tickets for which can be found in this article.
• A shopping mall with exclusive brands and some of its stores are open all night long!

If you prefer physical activity, you'll also be in luck in December in Las Vegas, as the Rock n' Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon, an event that was first held in 1967, runs along The Strip and the most distinctive points of the city in a night race that contributes to the promotion of tourism.

Las Vegas Rock n' Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon is a race highly valued by runners because it features a straight route and no curves in several modes:

• Marathon.
• Half marathon.
• Five and ten kilometer races.
• Exclusive events for marathoners in the days before and after the main event.

Just outside the Las Vegas urban area you can find dams, canyons, mountains and other natural wonders, including Charleston Peak, a mountain peak to climb to find panoramic views and which in December also offers ski areas.

While due to the city's pleasant climate Charleston Peak is accessible year-round, in December with less warm temperatures the hiking becomes more enjoyable.

The only negative aspect is that the cloud cover can make it a little difficult to get an open view of Las Vegas, but in exchange it offers the best time to ski, mainly from Lee Canyon. Are you up for a descent from its three thousand meters of altitude?

Inside the MGM hotel and casino there is a nature reserve where more than thirty lions currently live, one of which is a direct descendant of the original Metro Goldwyn Mayer movie logo.

The animals in captivity there do not serve as entertainment for visitors, apart from the fact that they can be observed, but are mainly trained to appear in the company's movies.

On special occasions, which usually coincide with the holidays, the MGM hotel organizes events in which its lions are part of the show. Outside of these opportunities, tourists must be content to sleep peacefully in a room next to the cages of the reserve from which you can hear the roar of the lions.

Las Vegas offers unique options at Christmas but perhaps the most unique of these is The Magical Forest, which is a local favorite and only open during the holiday season.

This attraction is a Christmas Disneyland that presents itself as a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, thrill rides and great food. It also serves a social function, as all proceeds are donated to charities.

If you visit Las Vegas and not only are you attracted to Christmas, but also want to feel like a local, you can't miss The Magical Forest.

November, December and January are considered high season months in Las Vegas, so prices can be a bit higher than in February and March.

However, as it is often considered a luxury tourism due to the quality of the hotels and there is a growing offer of services during the months from November to January, reservations in first class accommodations can be cheaper than in other cities where there is a greater variety of categories.

Likewise, there is also a greater offer of services and therefore more competition, so even buying on the date it is possible to get affordable prices. However, it is advisable to book the attractions in advance to have a better forecast of prices and expenses.

The weather in Las Vegas is fairly predictable. In December temperatures rarely drop below ten degrees Celsius and the high does not usually exceed twenty degrees Celsius.

However, towards the end of the year and early January temperatures tend to drop a bit more. It is advisable to bring warm clothing for these times, especially when outdoors, as shops and hotels are usually heated.

Early December can also bring cloudy weather, with sporadic showers that can cut down the view at high points in the city but favor the ski season with snowfall on the outskirts of the city center.