What are the best things to do in Salt Lake City?
Top picks in Salt Lake City include Temple Square, Utah State Capitol, Natural History Museum of Utah, Great Salt Lake. See the full list and itinerary on this Salt Lake City travel guide.
🇺🇸 United States travel guide
North America · North America
Salt Lake City Travel Guide
Salt Lake City, United States
Photo: Invictus323 · CC BY 4.0
Why visit Salt Lake City
Travel guide for Salt Lake City, United States — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
Salt Lake City is a stop in United States, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Temple Square, Utah State Capitol, Natural History Museum of Utah instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 120–280 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures
Weather
Diverse — temperate to subtropical
Experiences
Things to do in Salt Lake City
1
Temple Square
2
Utah State Capitol
3
Natural History Museum of Utah
4
Great Salt Lake
5
Red Butte Garden
6
City Creek Center
7
Park City day trip
8
This Is the Place Heritage Park
Budget travel
Free things to do in Salt Lake City
Temple Square
Great Salt Lake
Red Butte Garden
Park City day trip
This Is the Place Heritage Park
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Salt Lake City itinerary (3 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Salt Lake City and County Building
- Visit Salt Lake City Main Library
- Visit Hogle Zoo
- Eat at Hires Big H
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Natural History Museum of Utah
- Visit Utah Museum of Fine Arts
- Visit Rose Park Golf Course
- Eat at The Pie Pizzeria
- 3
Day 3
Markets, parks & hidden corners
- Visit Real Salt Lake
- Eat at The Red Iguana
Budget
Salt Lake City trip cost
Budget
USD 55–90
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 120–280
per person / day
Luxury
USD 320–530+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Salt Lake City, United States. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Salt Lake City
Estimated total (USD)
$3,300
≈ $1,650 per person · $471 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $200/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Salt Lake City mid-range ground costs (budget 55–90 · mid 120–280 · luxury 320–530+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
Hires Big H
The Pie Pizzeria
The Red Iguana
Ruth's Diner
Squatter's
City Cakes & Cafe
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
Anniversary Inn
DoubleTree Suites
Grand America Hotel
Hilton Salt Lake City Center
Hotel Monaco
Shopping
- Diabolical Records
- Fountain Records
- Graywhale Entertainment
- The Heavy Metal Shop
- Randy's Record Shop
- Raunch Records
Nightlife
- Beans & Brews
- Beer Bar
- The Rose Establishment
- The People's Coffee
- The Bayou
- The Locker Room
Museums & culture
- Natural History Museum of Utah
- Utah Museum of Fine Arts
In pictures
Salt Lake City gallery
Photos: Invictus323, Various, http://www.geographicus.com/mm5/cartographers/harpers.txt, Journalist 1st Class Preston Keres, Farragutful, Carleton Watkins — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Salt Lake City travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Salt Lake City?
Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures.
How many days do I need in Salt Lake City?
Plan at least 3 days in Salt Lake City for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Salt Lake City?
Popular stays in Salt Lake City include Anniversary Inn, DoubleTree Suites, Grand America Hotel. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Salt Lake City cost?
On the ground in Salt Lake City (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 55–90 per person per day, mid-range about 120–280, and luxury about 320–530+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Salt Lake City, United States. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
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