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 when it comes to entertainment. 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 everyone.

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 attracting attention for its opulence, but at Christmas time it is Fremont Street that snatches that right and gets all the attention.

The seasonal lights, the giant Christmas trees, the neon signs and the spotlights in the sky dazzle even the most distracted. Fremont Street offers travelling shows, restaurants, hotels and casinos. It's the place to be to get in the Christmas mood.

You can also experience the Fremont Street Experience, a city attraction featuring free concerts, the famous Neon Museum and the New Year's Eve fireworks show that strives to dull the night sky, all while you sit in a U2 music video, a Cameron Diaz movie or the video game Grand Theft Auto.

If the excitement of the city isn't enough, you can still head to the state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena to watch the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas' home ice hockey team, play one of their regular season games, which starts every year in the first half of October.

However, I recommend you book your Vegas Golden Knights tickets well in advance because tickets literally fly and they can go up in price as the date of the game approaches.

In fact, because the team is doing so well, if you book a hotel in the city during the months when the NHL is playing, you may be offered to pay more to get tickets to 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 popular 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 they also offer night tours where you can contemplate the image of a city steeped in Christmas spirit.

Another attraction of booking a Las Vegas helicopter tour is the chance to see the true magnitude of Las Vegas from above, which, as vast as it may seem from the sky, appears as a city of lights in the middle of the desert.

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

• From its two observatories at 350 metres 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 festive Christmas atmosphere during the month of December.

• If you're not afraid of anything, try the Big Shot, which at 329 metres high is the world's highest attraction and allows you to free fall until you're dangling into 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 on the Big Shot or the X-Scream just choose the option when you book your tickets for the Stratosphere observation deck.

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

Emerging as a modern commercial project to lift some of the city's less attractive streets, this pedestrianised promenade lined with shops and bars is crowned with the High Roller, the world's tallest Ferris wheel inspired by the London Eye, which has affordable prices and also some luxurious amenities such as an open bar, should you choose the option when booking your High Roller tickets.

And because anything is possible in Las Vegas, during the evening hours of Christmas Eve, a hyper-realistic artificial snowfall often showers tourists strolling along the Linq Promenade.

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

The Ice Rink is a unique attraction that in December is decked out with Christmas decorations, carols and carolers, and a winter food and drink menu that stands out for its sophistication. If you haven't been able to take a food tour of Las Vegas, this may be a great opportunity to sample the 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 and 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're a fan of U2 or Bruno Mars and you're travelling to Las Vegas in December, you're in luck, because both artists perform concerts in Sin City on certain days during the month.

Bruno Mars performs at the Park Theater and U2 at the MSG Sphere, a sphere that emits colours and images and creates a totally immersive experience.

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

A free Las Vegas spectacle is the Bellagio Fountains, 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 opening in 1998, the Bellagio fountains have become a mesmerising Las Vegas spectacle that has become increasingly popular, especially at Christmas.

However, the hotel also has something 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 centre with exclusive brands and some of its shops are open all night!

If you're the kind of person who prefers physical activity, you'll also be in luck in December in Las Vegas, as the Rock n' Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon, an event first held in 1967, takes place on Christmas Eve, running along The Strip and the city's most distinctive landmarks 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 with no curves in various modes:

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

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

While the city's pleasant climate makes Charleston Peak accessible year-round, December's cooler temperatures make hiking more enjoyable.

The only downside is that cloud cover can make it a little difficult to get an open view of Las Vegas, but it is the best time to ski, mainly from Lee Canyon. Are you up for a descent from 10,000 feet?

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 film logo.

The captive animals there are not for the entertainment of visitors, apart from the fact that they can be observed, but are mainly trained to appear in the company's films.

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

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

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

If you're visiting Las Vegas and you're not only 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 little higher than in February and March.

However, as Las Vegas is often considered a luxury tourist destination due to the quality of the hotels and there is a growing supply of services during the months from November to January, bookings at the top level accommodation can be cheaper than in other cities where there is a greater variety of categories.

Likewise, there is also a greater supply of services and therefore more competition, so even if you buy on time it is possible to get affordable prices. However, it is advisable to book attractions in advance in order to have a better prediction of prices and expenses.

The weather in Las Vegas is fairly predictable. In December temperatures rarely drop below ten degrees Celsius and highs rarely exceed twenty degrees Celsius.

However, towards the end of the year and early January temperatures tend to drop a little more. Warm clothing is advisable, especially when outdoors, as shops and hotels are often heated.

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