What to Do in Vegas If You’re Here for Business (2026) | WIRED

In Transit Portland Chicago Seattle San Francisco Twin Cities Dumbo Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Las Vegas is a Rorschach test, a depiction of the inner self turned outward by forces great, gaudy, and frankly ridiculous. It is a spectacle, a sham, a show, and a topic upon which no one is opinionless. Vegas divides and conquers, it captivates and disgusts, compels and repels us with equal and opposite centrifugal force. The way you feel about Vegas right now, in your mind’s eye, is a window into your very soul. I spent my entire adult life ignoring Vegas, perhaps even lightly hating Vegas, until a couple of years ago when my older brothers—lifelong Deadheads and jam-band enthusiasts—induced me to attend a weekend of noodle dancing at the Sphere. To my own shock and delight, I had a good time—no, a great time, if I’m honest, between the food and the music and the fun and the almighty brain-scrambling out-of-body nonsense bacchanalia of the place itself. Now I keep going back for events, on vacation, for work, to play. Invite me to Vegas, and I’ll say yes. Something about the whole thing has just clicked : the permissiveness, the hospitality, the unrivaled surfeit of options and choices and places to eat and play and be entertained. It is one of America’s greatest food cities, and a truly remarkable place to spend a few days attending a conference or professional commitment. Vegas has a long history of attracting travelers from the worlds of tech and science, and the city itself is something of a technological marvel. I’m not so sure this extends to the rather dated Convention Center; many of the hotels themselves offer comparatively upscale conference and hosting facilities. The Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES , is here each January, as is Enterprise Connect, the DEF CON hacker conference, and countless more. This long crossover association has helped establish Vegas as a tech town. The most important thing about Vegas is that you have to give in. Don’t fight it. Go with the neon flow. In the guide below, I’ve outlined a tip sheet of my favorite places to stay, eat, play, and get caught up in the all-abiding Vegasness of it all, but it’s important that you let yourself stumble into doing 25 other things that aren’t recommended in the following paragraphs. Las Vegas is above all else a 24-hour discovery engine par excellence, the sort of place that makes you put your phone down in sheer overstimulation. There’s truly nowhere else like it on earth. Jump to Section AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Where to Stay Where to Work Where to Eat Where to Drink Where to Gamble Museums and Galleries The Sphere Where to Stay On The Strip Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - November 28, 2013: Sunrise view of the popular upscale Wynn Casino Resort on the Las Vegas strip. Photograph: Trekandshoot/Getty Images The Wynn 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 770-7000 Book Now If you need or want to stay on “The Strip”—the famed stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard upon which some 30 hotel casino complexes are located—this is the best place to do it. The Wynn emanates class and calmness from the moment you walk through the door, which is extraordinary, given the surrounding milieu. From check-in to room service to restaurants and bars, it’s a self-contained oasis of class and dignity in a city not necessarily known for either. You can party here too, of course, and go to bars and nightclubs, and eat tremendously well—see our restaurant recommendations below. The Wynn’s multiple shopping concourses put luxury brands to the fore, which makes for great window shopping, or celebrating if things went really well at the conference. Modern, sleek, spotlessly clean, safe, but still above all else human—like the real person taking your omelette order at 3 am—in a town with endless hotel options, the Wynn is something special. Photograph: Chris McGrath/Getty Images The Venetian 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 414-1000 Book Now I go to The Venetian every visit to Vegas, even if I’m not staying there—this hotel has split the atom in terms of energy, excitement, popularity, and modern amenities, and simply being there is a tremendous amount of fun. Rooms are clean and spacious, often with expansive views, and no hotel in Vegas boasts more dining and shopping options. The Venetian’s whimsical, deeply kitsch Grand Canal Shoppes—complete with Venice-style gondola boats and a painted blue fresco sky—channels something absurd and entertaining that gets to the Vegas soul. If budget allows, look into springing for one of the Venetian’s club-level rooms, which gives you access to a lounge that’s stocked with snacks and drinks, and makes for a great place to huddle with coworkers or teammates before heading out to conduct business for the day. The Fontainebleau 2777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 678-7777 Book Now If you’re spending most of your time in Vegas inside the convention center, this is the clos