After partying my 20s away in Vegas, I’m proud to say I know a thing or two about how to celebrate a birthday in Las Vegas!
In fact, I didn’t just spend my 21st birthday in Las Vegas. I’m pretty sure I’ve also celebrated my 22nd, 23rd, 24th, etc. birthdays in Sin City. Who could blame me, I was totally obsessed with how fun and entertaining the city was.
And the cool thing was that no birthday trip was ever the same. Sure, I made it a point to party at XS Nightclub and gorge on crab legs at Bacchanal Buffet every single birthday weekend, but I also mixed in new restaurants and daytime activities to keep things fresh!
Las Vegas has hundreds if not thousands of attractions, bars, restaurants, shows, museums, and themed hotels to explore, so you will never ever run out of things to do here.
If you’re planning your very own 21st birthday celebration in Vegas, you are in for a treat! I hope you have multiple days to spare for this birthday trip because there’s A LOT to do here.
To get you started, here are a few must-do’s to jot down on your list:
- Get on the guestlist for a couple of clubs you want to go to (either for pool parties or nightclubs)
- Make reservations at one or two hip restaurants perfect for groups celebrating a special event (Nobu, Mon Ami Gabi, Bacchanal Buffet, Jardin)
- Browse through all the premium shows Las Vegas offers and choose the one that you’re most interested in — the shows are so worth the money. This can be your gift to yourself!
- Choose a few additional activities from our list below to complete that perfect 21st birthday trip for you!
Go to a dayclub (during pool party season)
If your idea of an awesome birthday includes lounging around the pools under the desert sun, dancing to live music played by top DJs, drinking summer cocktails, and gorging on delicious poolside chicken tenders, then you’ll probably want to plan to hit up a day club for your birthday!
Pool party season at the day clubs runs from April to the end of October. Encore Beach Club at Encore Las Vegas, Daylight at Mandalay Bay, and WET Republic at MGM Grand are some of the most lit pool parties across the Strip.
So how do you pick which club to go to? It all depends on what DJs and special performances you want to catch! We personally like using this site to check who’s playing at what club all across Las Vegas.
After you’ve found the perfect day club for your epic day, reach out to a promoter who works at the club of your choice to get on the guestlist (for free entry or discounted admission). They may even be able to hook you up with a specially-priced day club cabana / table at the nightclub for bottle service.
Go clubbing at night
Clubbing is probably the #1 thing 21-to-be’s do in Las Vegas! After all, you’re legally able to drink and get into 21+ nightclubs. That’s a huge deal!
But first, you’ll want to schedule a birthday dinner to celebrate and fuel up so that you’re ready for some proper drinking and dancing.
Then, it’s time to hit the clubs on the Strip! Round out your 21st with a night of dancing and music at Las Vegas clubs like XS at Encore, Zouk at Resorts World, OMNIA at Caesars Palace, or Marquee at The Cosmopolitan.
If it’s 4 am and you find the clubs closing but you’re not yet ready to turn down, head to Drai’s After Hours at The Cromwell for even more partying.
Drive exotic cars on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Ever wanted to feel what it feels like to put the pedal to the metal in a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, or Corvette race car? Several companies in Las Vegas let you turn your videogame dreams into reality by offering supercar driving experiences.
Yes, you can actually hop inside racecars and other high-end vehicles and race them around the track!
Exotics Racing and Dream Racing are both well-known companies that provide unbeatable supercar driving experiences. The experiences include classroom instruction, practice laps, and the opportunity to push the limits on the track.
Enjoy a buffet with bottomless mimosas
No 21st birthday is complete without at least ONE buffet on the Las Vegas Strip!
Treat yourself to a birthday feast full of unlimited crab legs and bottomless mimosas at one of Vegas’s famous buffets like Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas, or Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan.
Check out this article for a list of our favorite seafood buffets in Las Vegas.
Have a birthday dinner at The Mayfair Supper Club
The Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio is a unique and theatrical dining experience inspired by top supper clubs around the world, promising a return to the glamorous eras of Las Vegas and old New York.
Located against the backdrop of the iconic Fountains of Bellagio, this hip yet nostalgically-themed restaurant offers a feast for the senses with impeccable food presentations, drink selections, and endless entertainment complete with a live band, dancers, and vocalists.
The themed-dinner menu, ranging from The Opening Act to The Grand Finale, features exquisite dishes like Wagyu handrolls, Mishima Farms Wagyu prime rib, lobster thermidor, and a show-stopping edible chocolate and hazelnut cigar.
If you’re here during Fridays and Saturdays, the Mayfair After Dark experience (from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM) is a must. Sundays are when they have their swanky jazz dinner!
Have drinks at an ice bar
Beat the heat at minus5 Ice Bar, a winter wonderland of 100 tons of custom-carved ice, complete with drinking glasses, walls, seats, and sculptures made of ice. This is the one place where your beer actually gets colder as you drink it!
Ice Bar is a ton of fun when it comes to photos because they give you fur coats to stay warm while you’re in the bar. These fur coats are going to be perfect for your selfies and your commemorative birthday IG post.
There are locations at The LINQ, The Venetian, and Mandalay Bay.
Be an Instagram-BF or GF at the Museum of Selfies
The Museum of Selfies in Las Vegas is an interactive paradise for selfie lovers and social media mavens. This is a place where the term “do it for the ‘gram” actually means something.
The Museum of Selfies originally made its mark in Southern California — it now brings its style to the Las Vegas Strip!
Dive into a shimmering gold bathtub, make waves in an emoji-filled pool, jet-set in a private plane, or flip the world upside down in a gravity-defying room. Definitely bring a camera!
Watch one of the many shows in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has a world-class theater scene. From burlesque to magic, Cirque de Soleil to comedy, there is a show for every type of person and every sort of budget. And the best part is, there’s a show happening every single night in Vegas.
A few shows that we think are perfect for a 21st birthday celebration include:
Awakening – The Wynn’s brand-new spectacular production features fantastical creatures, dazzling visuals, a compelling narrative, and a touch of lighthearted comedy.
“O” at Bellagio: Another mesmerizing Cirque du Soleil show, “O” combines water, acrobatics, and theatrical performances to create a unique and romantic experience.
And if you want to get crazy, there are some pretty hilarious and wild tease shows like MAGIC MIKE LIVE, The Chippendales, X Burlesque, and FANTASY. One that’s great for both guys and gals is Absinthe! All are perfect for celebrating with a large group of friends.
You can browse the whole selection of Las Vegas shows here.
Take a ride on the High Roller
Make your birthday extra memorable by soaking in the sky-high views of the Las Vegas Strip with your friends. One of the best spots to get sky-high viewpoints of the Las Vegas Strip is on the High Roller.
The High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ, one of the world’s tallest wheels, provides unforgettable 360-degree views of the city. They offer an open bar package that allows you to enjoy unlimited drinks for the full 30-minute ride.
Soak in views with a side of adrenaline
If incorporating views into your birthday itinerary is not enough excitement for you, another great option is to head to the observation tower at The STRAT. The SkyPod here is what makes it so much fun. You can ride some really crazy, adrenaline-pumping rides while getting those epic Las Vegas views!
Big Shot shoots you 160 feet into the air at 45 mph, while X-Scream teeter-totters you over the Tower’s edge from a dizzying height of 866 feet.
Be amazed by The Sphere show
If you’ve driven on the highways of Las Vegas (or have been on social media at all), chances are you’ve seen The Sphere. The Sphere Experience is a two-part multi-sensory experience lasting approximately two hours. In all honesty, it’s two hours of immersive amazement.
First, you’ll get to explore The Atrium. There’s a 360-degree avatar capture, a mesmerizing 50-foot holographic installation, and a few other cool tech features.
Then, brace yourself for an immersive cinematic experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen with Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Postcard from Earth.’ This specially commissioned film is a sci-fi portrait of our planet, leveraging Sphere’s cutting-edge technologies to transport you to new worlds without ever leaving your seat.
Go to Omega Mart at AREA15
AREA15 has got to be one of the coolest additions to Las Vegas, like ever.
This 200,000 square foot immersive art collective is buzzing with all things creative and imaginative. Throw an ax or two, play games at Emporium arcade bar, wander through a ‘supermarket’ that makes you question reality, take in high-tech / colorful art installations, or explore one of the many virtual reality experiences.
If you find yourself experiencing sensory overload like we did and are having trouble choosing what to do, we recommend you start with Omega Mart by Meow Wolf. You can expect to spend 3 to 5 hours inside this attraction alone!
You’ll be entering a glitchy, interdimensional grocery store filled with mind-bending products, mysterious portals, and trippy landscapes that come together to make up a really cool interactive art installation.
LIFTOFF at AREA15
If Strip views from behind a glass window are simply not enough for you, we want to invite you to hop on LIFTOFF at AREA15.
LIFTOFF is a panoramic ride and aerial adventure inspired by aeronauts. Toast to your 21st birthday with specialty libations at the LIFTOFF Lounge before ascending 130 feet high in an open-air balloon ride! You best believe that you’re going to get 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Strip and beyond.
You can even drink on the ride! Don’t worry, your drinks won’t fly all over the place — this is a slow-moving observation tower-type ride. The whole journey takes about seven minutes.
Play unlimited arcade games at Game Nest
Whenever Papu and I are in town, we always make time to spend a few hours at Game Nest Arcade. Game Nest is a pay-by-the-hour arcade. You pay one fixed price and get hours of unlimited gameplay at top arcade games!
If you love overpriced arcade games (like Dance Dance Revolution, Time Crisis, Mario Kart, Air Hockey, Jurassic Park, etc.), then head here to play until you just can’t play anymore. Everything is on free play, so once you’re in, you can play whatever you like.
They also have an area where you can plan Xbox One, PS5, and Nintendo Switch (all of which are also included in the hourly price).
See a comedy show
For a darn good time with your friends/family, we’d recommend going to a comedy show while you’re in Vegas. Three of the best comedy club venues in Vegas are The Comedy Cellar at Rio, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand, and LA Comedy Club at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod.
These comedy clubs have featured some of the biggest names in comedy (like Aziz Ansari and Tiffany Haddish), so you may very well come across a special guest that you’ve seen on TV performing at these clubs!
Visit the ARTE MUSEUM
Experience nature and technology coming together at ARTE MUSEUM. This awesome digital art exhibition, called ‘ETERNAL NATURE’, uses different types of digital magic to take you on an immersive journey. That’s a bunch of mumbo jumbo to describe how cool this museum is!
Even though nature and digital art might seem different, they actually have something in common: they both last forever. In this exhibition, you’ll see flowers that keep blooming thanks to special art technology, and you’ll feel the timeless beauty of nature through cool designs.
ARTE MUSEUM doesn’t stop at just visuals. You’ll be using your nose there too. Yup, there are actually scents tailored to each artwork that you get to experience while you’re here!
After exploring the museum for a few hours, you can head to the TEA BAR to enjoy sweet, tea-based mocktails.
Visit Topgolf
If golfing with your guys (or gals) is your idea of a perfect afternoon out in Vegas, then Topgolf can be a great place to celebrate a 21st birthday in Vegas.
Topgolf features a high-tech driving range with interactive games that cater to all skill levels. It provides a fun and engaging way to enjoy golf, even for those who may not be avid golfers.
Beyond golfing, Topgolf often has live entertainment, music, and other activities perfect for lounging around or for socializing. There’s a sports bar and a restaurant here too, so you can spend hours on end here without needing to leave to find food or drinks.
This Topgolf has private event spaces that can be reserved for special occasions, allowing you to throw a more personalized and private celebration.
Hotels We Recommend For Your Birthday Trip
If you haven’t yet booked a hotel for your 21st birthday shenanigans, we’d like to recommend three of our favorite hotels on the Las Vegas Strip to ya:
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas: The Venetian is one of our go-to 5-star hotels when it comes to resorts that can house larger groups. Just one 2-Queen Suite is big enough to host a small party of 6. They also offer adjoining rooms, meaning if you get 2 rooms and ask for them to be next to each other, you’ll be able to fit up to 12 people total.
Pro Tip
The Venetian Resort has a Celebrations team that works hard to help guests plan customized itineraries so you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics. With your own dedicated celebrations specialist, they can build the perfect itinerary to hit all of your favorite spots to eat the best food, relax at the spa, and play on the property.
They can make your big day at the resort more memorable with their special limo service, room upgrades, and special in-suite amenities like chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne, balloons, and flowers — from them to you!
The Palazzo at The Venetian: The Palazzo and The Venetian are sister hotels, so this one might seem like it’s cheating, but it’s because we LOVE staying at The Palazzo / The Venetian because of their massive suites! Yes, they are pricier than many other hotels on the Strip, but since the rooms can easily fit up to 6, you can split the overall cost among 6 people.
Park MGM: Whenever we travel to Vegas with a smaller group or as a couple, you’ll most likely find us booking a room at Park MGM. It’s hip, modern, affordable, centrally located on the Strip, and is home to Eataly (for all our Italian food cravings)!
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