Travel guide · United States
Salt Lake City travel guide
Temple Square, mountain canyons and powder skiing 40 minutes from downtown
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Invictus323, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Latter-day Saint pioneers led by Brigham Young, and its very wide streets are laid out on a numbered grid radiating from Temple Square. Today it is a compact, outdoorsy capital at the foot of the Wasatch Range: four ski resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons are about 40 minutes from downtown, Park City is under an hour away, and the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island lie to the north-west. Light rail links the airport, downtown and the university, and the city is a common starting point for road trips to Utah's national parks. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are January–March, June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- January–March, June and September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SLC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$330 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Temple Square, Powder skiing, Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountains
Why visit Salt Lake City
- Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude in the Cottonwood Canyons are within about 40–50 minutes of downtown, with famously light, dry snow.
- Temple Square, the Tabernacle and the Family History Library make the city the world centre of Latter-day Saint history and genealogy research.
- The Natural History Museum of Utah's dinosaur halls and the Red Butte Garden sit on the foothills with views over the valley.
- Antelope Island's bison and the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake are an easy day trip.
- The airport is about 15 minutes from downtown, making the city a convenient gateway to Park City and southern Utah's national parks.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Religious site · Downtown
Temple Square
The 4-hectare headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the granite Salt Lake Temple, completed in 1893, the domed Tabernacle with its famous organ, visitors' exhibits and gardens.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Experience · Downtown
Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
The 360-member choir, founded in the 19th century, performs a weekly broadcast on Sunday mornings in the Tabernacle or the 21,000-seat Conference Center, and its rehearsals are usually open to the public.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Nature · Cottonwood Canyons
Little Cottonwood Canyon: Snowbird and Alta
A glacier-carved canyon about 40 minutes from downtown with two of the country's best-known ski areas: Snowbird, whose aerial tram climbs to Hidden Peak at about 3,350 metres, and Alta, open to skiers only.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
Museum · Downtown
FamilySearch Library
Next to Temple Square, the world's largest genealogy library has billions of digitised records and volunteers who help visitors trace their ancestry for free.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Architecture · Capitol Hill and Marmalade
Utah State Capitol
Completed in 1916, the domed Capitol sits on a hill above downtown with views down State Street and across the valley.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · University and East Bench
Natural History Museum of Utah
In the copper-clad Rio Tinto Center on the foothills, the museum's Past Worlds hall displays one of the world's largest collections of horned dinosaur skulls alongside other Utah fossils.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Where to stay
Downtown is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and nightlife
Downtown
Temple Square, convention hotels and City Creek Center on a wide-street grid
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
The Avenues
Victorian houses climbing the foothills north-east of downtown
$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and couples
Capitol Hill and Marmalade
Pioneer-era cottages around the domed State Capitol
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
Sugar House
Walkable district of local shops, breweries and a big park
What to eat
Full Salt Lake City food guide.
- Fry sauce — A pink mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, sometimes with pickle juice or spices, served with fries at nearly every burger stand in Utah.
- Pastrami burger — A cheeseburger piled with shaved pastrami, a local favourite made famous by Greek-American burger chains in Salt Lake City.
- Utah scones — Not the British kind: pillows of fried bread dough served hot with honey butter, more like fry bread than a baked scone.
- Funeral potatoes — A cheesy potato casserole topped with cornflakes or crisps, traditionally brought to church gatherings and funerals; it now appears on some restaurant menus.
- Dirty soda — Fountain soft drinks customised with syrups, coconut cream and fresh lime, sold from drive-through soda shops that are a Utah phenomenon.
- Jell-O salads — Utah has a long-running love of gelatin desserts, especially lime Jell-O with fruit or carrots; the state once declared it the official snack.
When to go
Salt Lake City has two peak seasons: December to March for skiing in the Cottonwood Canyons and Park City, and June to September for hiking, festivals and road trips to the national parks. May and late September to October are pleasant, quieter shoulder months. Winter valley inversions can bring poor air quality, but the mountains are usually above it.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–March | Powder skiing within 40 minutes of the city; cold, sometimes smoggy valley days and busy holiday weeks. |
| Spring | April–May | Late-season skiing above, blossom and gardens below; weather changes quickly between snow and sun. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, dry and sunny, with festivals, mountain wildflowers and long hiking days. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September days, golden aspens in the canyons in early October and a quiet November before ski season. |
Getting there and around
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is about 8 km west of downtown. The TRAX Green Line reaches downtown in about 20–25 minutes; a taxi or ride-hail takes about 15 minutes. Park City is about 45–60 minutes by car or shuttle, and the Cottonwood Canyon resorts about 45 minutes.
Downtown and the university are linked by TRAX light rail, which also runs to the airport. City blocks are very long and streets wide, so walking takes longer than expected. For the canyons, Antelope Island or national parks, a car or ski bus is needed.
Plan your days
Two days covers Temple Square, the Capitol, the Natural History Museum and a foothill hike. A third day adds Antelope Island or Park City; in winter, add as many ski days as you like. Many travellers combine a short stay with a road trip to Zion, Arches or Bryce Canyon.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; the dry, high-altitude air makes it important to drink plenty.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars to ski valets and hotel staff.
Salt Lake City is generally comfortable for visitors; use normal precautions around Pioneer Park and parts of downtown at night. The bigger risks are environmental: altitude and dry heat in summer, winter driving and avalanche danger in the canyons, and periodic poor air quality during winter inversions or summer wildfire smoke.
Flights to Salt Lake City
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Salt Lake City?
Two days covers Temple Square, the Capitol, the Natural History Museum and a foothill hike. A third day adds Antelope Island or Park City; in winter, add as many ski days as you like. Many travellers combine a short stay with a road trip to Zion, Arches or Bryce Canyon. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City has two peak seasons: December to March for skiing in the Cottonwood Canyons and Park City, and June to September for hiking, festivals and road trips to the national parks. May and late September to October are pleasant, quieter shoulder months. Winter valley inversions can bring poor air quality, but the mountains are usually above it.
+What is Salt Lake City known for?
Temple Square, Powder skiing, Great Salt Lake, Wasatch Mountains, Tabernacle Choir, Genealogy research and Gateway to Utah's national parks. Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude in the Cottonwood Canyons are within about 40–50 minutes of downtown, with famously light, dry snow.
+Is Salt Lake City expensive?
Salt Lake City is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$330 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Salt Lake City?
Not for downtown and the university, which TRAX links to the airport. Hire one for Antelope Island, Park City in summer and any trip to the national parks; in winter, ski buses and shuttles can replace a car for skiers.