13 Things to Do in Las Vegas in December

Las Vegas has always been known as Sin City, but it's also a must-see destination when it comes to entertainment. Located in the state of Nevada, in December its festive spirit lights up the West Coast and prepares to welcome Christmas and New Year's Eve with options for all audiences.

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

It's true that The Strip is the heart of Las Vegas, the backbone of this city built in the middle of the desert that is dedicated to attracting attention with its opulence, but during the Christmas season, it is Fremont Street that steals the show and captures everyone's attention.

The seasonal lights, giant Christmas trees, neon signs and spotlights shining up into the sky dazzle even the most distracted. Fremont Street offers travelling shows, restaurants, hotels and casinos. It is a must-see for getting 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 Eve fireworks show, which lights up the night sky, all while feeling like you're in a U2 music video, a Cameron Diaz film or the video game Grand Theft Auto.

If the excitement offered by the city still isn't enough for you, you can always head to the ultra-modern T-Mobile Arena to see the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas' ice hockey team, play one of their regular season home games, which begin each year during the first half of October.

However, I recommend booking tickets to see the Vegas Golden Knights play in advance because tickets literally fly off the shelves and can also increase in price as the match date approaches.

In fact, because the team is doing so well, if you book a hotel in the city during the NHL season, you may be offered the chance to pay more for tickets to their matches.

One of the features of tourism in the United States is offering aerial tours of its cities by helicopter. This is a very popular attraction in New York, Chicago and California, but also in Las Vegas.

Helicopter rides over Las Vegas are available all year round, but during the Christmas season there are many more offers, which means that prices become more affordable and night tours are also available, allowing you to admire the city bathed in Christmas spirit.

Another attraction of booking a helicopter tour of Las Vegas is the chance to see the true magnitude of Las Vegas from above. As vast as it may seem due to the number of options it offers from the sky, it presents itself as a city of lights in the middle of the desert.

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

• From its two observatories at a height of 350 metres, you can enjoy a clear view of the city, The Strip and all the incandescent lights that emerge from this icon of the American West.

You can also book a table in advance to celebrate New Year's Eve at the revolving restaurant at the top, which offers a festive Christmas atmosphere throughout December.

• If you're not afraid of anything, you can try the Big Shot, which at 329 metres is the highest attraction in the world and allows you to free fall until you're hanging in mid-air.

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

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

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

Created as a modern commercial project to revitalise some of the city's less attractive streets, this pedestrian promenade lined with shops and bars is crowned by the High Roller, the world's tallest Ferris wheel inspired by the London Eye, which offers affordable prices and some luxury services such as an open bar, if you choose this option when booking your tickets for the High Roller.

Furthermore, as anything is possible in Las Vegas, during the Christmas Eve night-time festivities, artificial but hyper-realistic snow often showers the tourists strolling along the Linq Promenade.

The Cosmopolitan hotel has set up an ice rink in the Boulevard Pool area, which not only offers views of part of the city, as it is located on the terrace of a fourth-floor room, but also provides an interesting gastronomic experience.

The Ice Rink is a unique attraction that is decked out in Christmas decorations and carols in December, with a sophisticated winter food and drink menu. If you haven't been able to take a gastronomic tour of Las Vegas, this could be a great opportunity to try its cuisine.

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

If you're spending Christmas in Las Vegas, perhaps it's because you want to celebrate in an unusual way, such as by visiting Planet Hollywood's Saxe Theatre to enjoy the Vegas! The Show.

Considered the biggest production of recent 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 for Christmas Eve or any other day, I recommend booking your tickets for Vegas! The Show in advance to ensure you get the seats you want.

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 are performing in Sin City on several days during that month.

Bruno Mars is performing at the Park Theatre 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 if you really love these artists, attending a concert in Las Vegas is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's no surprise that they sell out quickly, so I recommend buying tickets to see Bruno Mars well in advance.

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

Since its opening in 1998, the Bellagio fountains have become a mesmerising Las Vegas spectacle that has gained fame, especially at Christmas.

However, the hotel also has other attractions to offer:

• A casino.
• A botanical garden that is open 24 hours a day.
• An art gallery.
• A permanent Cirque du Soleil show, for which you can find ticket information in this article.
• An exclusive brand shopping centre , some of whose shops are open all night!

If you're someone who prefers physical activity, you're also in luck in December in Las Vegas, as the Rock n' Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon takes place on Christmas Eve. This event was first held in 1967 and runs along The Strip and the city's most distinctive landmarks in a night-time race that helps to promote tourism.

The Las Vegas Rock n' Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon is highly regarded by runners because it features a straight, curve-free route in several categories:

• Marathon.
• Half marathon.
• Five and ten kilometre races.
• Exclusive events for marathon runners in the days leading up to and following the main event.

On the outskirts of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, you can find dams, canyons, mountains and other natural wonders, including Charleston Peak, a mountain peak to climb for panoramic views, which also offers skiing in December.

Although Charleston Peak is accessible all year round due to the city's pleasant climate, hiking is more enjoyable in December when temperatures are cooler.

The only downside is that cloud cover can make it a little difficult to see Las Vegas, but in return it offers the best time for skiing, mainly from Lee Canyon. Are you up for a descent from its three thousand metres?

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

The animals in captivity there are not there to entertain visitors, apart from being observed, but are mainly trained to appear in the company's films.

On special occasions, which usually coincide with festive seasons, the MGM hotel often organises events in which its lions are part of the show.
Outside of these occasions, tourists must content themselves with sleeping peacefully in a room adjacent to the reserve's cages, from which they can hear the lions roar.

Las Vegas offers unique options at Christmas, but perhaps the most exclusive of these is The Magical Forest, which is one of the locals' favourite activities and is only open during the festive season.

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

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

November, December and January are considered peak season months in Las Vegas, so prices may be slightly higher than in February and March.

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

There is also a greater range of services on offer and therefore more competition, which means that even if you buy at the last minute, it is possible to find affordable prices. However, it is advisable to book attractions in advance so that you have a better idea of prices and costs.

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

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

The first days of December can also be cloudy, with sporadic rain that can reduce visibility in the higher parts of the city but favour the ski season with snowfall on the outskirts of the urban area.