Rainy day · Salt Lake City · United States
8 things to do in Salt Lake City when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tricia Simpson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, FamilySearch Library and Utah State Capitol. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 8–13 hours across 3 areas; 5 are free. January is usually the wettest month, with about 9 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 8–13 hours
- Areas
- Downtown, Capitol Hill and Marmalade and University and East Bench
Salt Lake City on a rainy day
Experience · Downtown
1.Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Arrive early for the Sunday broadcast; doors close before it begins and do not reopen until it ends.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
2.FamilySearch Library
Create a free FamilySearch account and enter what you know about your grandparents before you go to save time.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Architecture · Capitol Hill and Marmalade
3.Utah State Capitol
Walk up through Memory Grove Park and City Creek, then continue to Ensign Peak for the best view.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · University and East Bench
4.Natural History Museum of Utah
Combine it with Red Butte Garden next door; both have hillside views.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Religious site · Downtown
5.Cathedral of the Madeleine
Visit on a sunny afternoon for the windows, and check the cathedral's choir schedule for free concerts.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Art
Historic site · Downtown
6.Beehive House
It is one block east of Temple Square on South Temple; combine it with the Eagle Gate arch across the street.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · University and East Bench
7.Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Check for free-admission days and evening events before you go.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
8.Clark Planetarium
The exhibit floors are free; pay only if you want a dome or IMAX show.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, FamilySearch Library, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Beehive House and Clark Planetarium | 1–1.5 hours + 1–3 hours + 30 minutes + 45 minutes + 1–2 hours |
| Capitol Hill and Marmalade | Utah State Capitol | 1 hour |
| University and East Bench | Natural History Museum of Utah and Utah Museum of Fine Arts | 2–3 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is FamilySearch Library; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Downtown): Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square → FamilySearch Library → Cathedral of the Madeleine → Beehive House, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Downtown and Capitol Hill and Marmalade): Clark Planetarium → Utah State Capitol, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (University and East Bench): Natural History Museum of Utah → Utah Museum of Fine Arts, at least 3 hours.
The wettest months
- January: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Cold, with prime ski conditions in the canyons; valley inversions can trap smog for days, while the mountains above are sunny.
- February: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Deep snow in the mountains and some of the best powder skiing; the valley warms gradually.
- March: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Spring skiing with longer, sunnier days; valley weather swings between snow and mild sun.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown — Temple Square, convention hotels and City Creek Center on a wide-street grid
- The Avenues — Victorian houses climbing the foothills north-east of downtown
- Capitol Hill and Marmalade — Pioneer-era cottages around the domed State Capitol
- University and East Bench — University of Utah campus and foothill museums with valley views
More of Salt Lake City
All things to do in Salt Lake City · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Salt Lake City?
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.
+Which of these are free in Salt Lake City?
Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, FamilySearch Library, Utah State Capitol, Cathedral of the Madeleine and Beehive House.