2 days in Salt Lake City

Day by day

1. Day 1: Temple Square and Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

   Temple Square, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, FamilySearch Library and Cathedral of the Madeleine, then Downtown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Temple Square

      The temple itself is open only to church members; the grounds and other buildings are free to visit, though parts of the square have been affected by a long-running temple renovation.

   2. Late morning

      Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

      Both are free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fry sauce

      Local burger drive-ins across the valley; ask for it if it does not arrive automatically.

   4. Afternoon

      FamilySearch Library

      Interactive discovery exhibits on the main floor suit casual visitors in under an hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      Cathedral of the Madeleine

      It is a working cathedral that also hosts choral concerts.

   6. Evening

      Downtown

      Cocktail bars, music venues and theatres around Main Street, Pierpont Avenue and the Eccles Theater.

2. Day 2: Little Cottonwood Canyon: Snowbird and Alta and Utah State Capitol

   Little Cottonwood Canyon: Snowbird and Alta, Utah State Capitol, Natural History Museum of Utah and Red Butte Garden, then Granary District in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Little Cottonwood Canyon: Snowbird and Alta

      In summer the tram, hiking trails and Albion Basin's wildflowers take over.

   2. Late morning

      Utah State Capitol

      Inside, murals depict Utah history, and the building has been retrofitted to sit on base isolators that protect it in earthquakes. Free guided tours are offered on weekdays.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pastrami burger

      Long-running burger chains and diners across the valley.

   4. Afternoon

      Natural History Museum of Utah

      Other galleries cover the Great Salt Lake, Native peoples and gems, and the terraces overlook the whole valley.

   5. Late afternoon

      Red Butte Garden

      Spring tulips and summer roses are highlights, and an outdoor amphitheatre hosts a summer concert series.

   6. Evening

      Granary District

      Breweries, distillery tasting rooms and food trucks in converted warehouses south-west of downtown.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Beehive House (Downtown): It is one block east of Temple Square on South Temple; combine it with the Eagle Gate arch across the street.
• Swap in Utah Museum of Fine Arts (University and East Bench): Check for free-admission days and evening events before you go.
• Swap in Clark Planetarium (Downtown): The exhibit floors are free; pay only if you want a dome or IMAX show.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Tram. UTA's TRAX light rail has three lines: the Green Line to the airport, the Red Line to the University of Utah and the Blue Line south through the valley.

More or fewer days

• One day in Salt Lake City
• 3 days in Salt Lake City

Questions travellers ask