Travel Planned Around the Curtain Call
Broadway, the West End, Las Vegas, Branson and touring shows: trips built around the performance you want to see.
Plan a Show TripTravel Where the Curtain Rises
Some of the best trips are built around a single moment: the lights going down before a show you have waited years to see. Tour the Shows is a guide to travel planned around live entertainment, from Broadway and London’s West End to the production shows of Las Vegas, the music theaters of Branson and the touring productions that come to cities near you.
A show trip has its own rhythm. Your evening is fixed, so everything else, from flights and hotel check-in to dinner reservations, has to fit around curtain time. Get it right and you walk out of the theater into a city still buzzing, with a late supper a few blocks away and your hotel a short stroll beyond that.
Broadway in New York
The Theater District, how Broadway tickets work, and how to plan a New York show trip.
Las Vegas Shows
Production shows, residencies, magic and comedy, and how to plan around them on the Strip.
Branson Shows
Music, comedy and family theater in the Ozarks, with lakes and theme parks between shows.
London’s West End
Theaterland, the South Bank and how Londoners buy tickets.
Touring Broadway
Big shows on national tour, and when to travel to see one in another city.
Buying Tickets Safely
Official box offices, TKTS, TodayTix, lotteries and how to spot a scam.
Choosing Your Show Destination
| Destination | Known for | Ideal trip |
|---|---|---|
| New York (Broadway) | Musicals and plays in historic theaters around Times Square | 3 to 5 nights, two or three shows |
| London (West End) | Musicals, new plays, classics and the South Bank theaters | 4 to 6 nights, often combined with Europe |
| Las Vegas | Production shows, acrobatic spectacles, residencies, magic and comedy | 3 to 4 nights |
| Branson, Missouri | Country and gospel music, variety, comedy and family shows | 3 to 5 nights, several shows a day possible |
| Touring cities | Broadway touring productions at local performing arts centers | A weekend getaway |
Choosing is mostly about style. Broadway and the West End offer the widest choice of musicals and serious drama. Las Vegas is about spectacle in resort showrooms. Branson is relaxed, family-friendly and built for seeing more than one show a day. If there is one particular production you want to see, check whether it is on tour; it may be playing closer to home, or in a city you have wanted to visit anyway.
The Show Trip Checklist
- Pick the show first, then the dates. Popular shows sell out on weekends and holidays.
- Buy tickets from an official source or the box office. See buying tickets safely.
- Book a hotel within walking distance of the theater; compare options on Rooms Cheap.
- Arrive the day before an evening show if you are flying; delays happen. Compare flights on Airfares for Less.
- Reserve a pre-theater dinner that understands curtain times, or a late supper after.
- Protect prepaid plans: Cruise & Travel Insurance explains what travel insurance does and does not cover.
Going to a show in your own region? Our Best Of guides, such as Best of Palm Beach, Best of Broward and Best of the USA, highlight restaurants and things to do near local theaters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to plan a trip around shows?
New York’s Broadway and London’s West End have the largest concentration of theaters. Las Vegas specializes in big production shows and star residencies, and Branson, Missouri, is known for music, comedy and variety shows. Touring Broadway productions also visit cities across the country.
How far ahead should I buy show tickets?
For the most popular shows and holiday weeks, as soon as your dates are firm. For many other shows, same-day discount booths, rush tickets and lotteries can work well if you are flexible.
How do I avoid fake tickets?
Buy from the show’s official ticketing source or the theater box office, or from established discount programs such as TKTS. Avoid sellers on the street and websites that imitate official ones. Our ticket safety page explains how to check.
Can you plan the hotel and dinner around the show?
Yes. A travel specialist can book a hotel within walking distance of the theater, time your arrival around the curtain and suggest where to eat before or after.
More From Our Travel Network
Who Plans These Trips
Tour the Shows is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a show-trip quote through the Official Travel Directory, a travel specialist plans the hotel, flights and timing around your tickets with you personally — not a call center. Meet Mister Cruise →
Plan Your Show Trip
Tell us which show or city you have in mind and your dates. A specialist will plan the hotel, flights and timing around curtain up.
Get Free Show Trip Quotes