Nothing really prepares you for seeing the Las Vegas Strip for the first time. Sure, you might have seen images of The Strip in movies like Ocean’s 11 or The Hangover, but it’s so different seeing it up close. Above all, though, it’s the sheer size and scale of the resorts that confounds the senses. It might you a few minutes to walk the perimeter of the Royal National Hotel – the largest hotel in London and the UK – but you could take hours wandering through the grounds of Caesars Palace and still discover new places.

But which of these grand edifices are the most stunning? We have to admit that some of the buildings can look a bit tacky, but others can only be described as astounding feats of architecture. Below we pick our five favourites:

Bellagio

Starting with the Vegas hotel most synonymous with style and class, the Bellagio is most noted for its huge artificial lake at the front of its property. The idea behind the architecture and interior is to display a sense of Old World grandeur to guests. It pulls this off by being a bit more scaled back than the Venetian or Paris Hotels, which can come off a little gaudy. While the fountain show is among the highlights of the Bellagio, our favourite attraction is the stunning Museum of Fine Art inside the hotel.

The Wynn

One of the few hotels on The Strip that doesn’t have a gimmick, The Wynn, and its sister property, The Wynn Encore, are slim and sleekly designed, jutting out like two golden beacons on the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard. What’s really striking, though, is the Wynn’s gorgeous lobby, which leads into the main casino floor. It’s indicative of the zen-like approach used by hotel designers these days. Instead of bedazzling visitors with the playground-like sights and sounds of the casino, the aim is to fill them with a sense of wonderous serenity through fabulous interiors. The Wynn’s lobby is one of the best examples of this.

The Four Seasons

These days, Vegas is becoming less and less associated with casinos. After all, it is easy to find those options on the internet, and you can even find exclusive offers for the online casino in the UK before you travel. And, that’s one of the attractions about the Four Seasons – it does not have a casino. It’s a small enclave as part of the Mandalay Bay resort, and guests tend to like it as it offers an oasis away from the hurly-burly of the gaming tables. It’s a beautifully designed little slice of luxury on the edge of The Strip, and it’s one of Vegas’ best-kept secrets.

Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace is not the biggest hotel in Las Vegas – that title goes to The Venetian/Palazzo. However, there is something truly remarkable about the scale and design of the property. Perhaps it’s the famous Forum Shops, which clocks in at over a half-million square feet. Or maybe it’s the multi-storied Omnia Nightclub. Whatever it is, you can’t help but look at Caesars without thinking it’s one of the most ambitious resorts ever designed. Probably the most eye-catching property in Las Vegas – and that’s saying something.

Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan is one of the newer breed of hotels in Las Vegas that encapsulates the city’s desire to bring in young revellers instead of seasoned gamblers. Sure, you will still find a huge casino floor inside, but the real attraction is the stunning outside pool area designed for the infamous day nightclubs, aka pool parties. If the sight of millennials flouncing around the pools in bikinis and shorts isn’t your thing, then you can find respite in some of the ultra-chic bars and lounges dotted around the inside of the hotel.