Mandalay Bay

A sense of the place

Mandalay Bay Las Vegas opened on March 2, 1999, on the site of the old Hacienda, and it is still the last big resort at the south end of the Strip. The gold 43-story main tower has about 3,200 rooms, and the campus also takes in two separate hotels, the Four Seasons and W Las Vegas, plus one of the largest convention centers in the country.

It stands at 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, on the west side of the boulevard. Luxor is next door to the north, linked by the shops and skybridge of Mandalay Place and by a tram that continues to Excalibur. MGM Resorts runs the resort, and VICI Properties owns the real estate.

Mandalay Bay suits people who want a resort to spend the day in: the beach and pools, an aquarium, a big arena and good restaurants, with fewer crowds on the doorstep than the center Strip. The trade-off is distance. The middle of the Strip is a ride away, so plan on rideshare or a taxi for most sightseeing. Our Strip walking distances guide shows how far things really are.

What to look for

• Mandalay Bay Beach: an 11-acre pool area with about 2,700 tons of real sand, a 1.6-million-gallon wave pool and a lazy river. It's free for hotel guests. You must be 48 inches tall to go in the wave pool.

• Shark Reef Aquarium: Shark Reef opened in 2000 and has more than 2,000 animals, including sharks, giant rays and endangered green sea turtles, in about 1.6 million gallons of water. Admission is paid; check current prices.

• Pool clubs: Tailgate Beach Club, a sports-viewing dayclub with three heated pools and about 125 feet of LED screens, replaced Daylight in 2026. Moorea Beach Club is a separate adults-only (21+) pool.

• Michael Jackson ONE: the Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson ONE has played here since 2013 and is on sale into 2027, Thursday to Monday.

• Arena and music: the 12,000-seat Michelob ULTRA Arena hosts concerts and sports, and the House of Blues holds about 1,800 for concerts.

• Dining and fun: newer arrivals include Michael Mina's Orla, Wolfgang Puck's Italian restaurant Caramá and Swingers, a crazy golf venue with four nine-hole courses.

• Mandalay Place: The Shoppes at Mandalay Place is a small mall on the skybridge to Luxor, handy for a walk between the two resorts.

For more pools, shows and late nights, see our Las Vegas shows and nightlife guide and our best restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip guide.

Before you go

• Ride the tram. The Mandalay Bay Tram links Mandalay Bay with Luxor and Excalibur. From Excalibur it's a short walk to the Tropicana Avenue corner and MGM Grand.

• Beach access for non-guests: the beach is for hotel guests. Visitors should check day passes, daybeds and cabanas, which change in price by date. The pools are seasonal, so check opening days before you go in fall and winter.

• Shark Reef tickets: buy ahead online and check current prices. Yoga with Sharks classes ($49 including aquarium entry, ages 13 and up) run on set dates, including November 14 and December 12, 2026.

• Resort fee: about $50 per night plus tax (around $57). W Las Vegas lists the same amount. Check the total when you book.

• Parking: self-parking is paid, about $20 Monday to Thursday and $25 Friday to Sunday for visitors, and about $20 a day for hotel guests. Valet is about $40. Nevada residents get three hours free, and MGM Rewards Pearl members and above park free. Check current rates.

• From the airport: Mandalay Bay is in taxi Zone 1, a flat fare of $21.25 plus fees in 2026. It's one of the closest Strip resorts to the airport. See our airport to the Strip guide.

• Shops and venues inside: open Mandalay Bay on the map and tap "More at this location" to see its restaurants, bars and shops.