Salt Lake City sits in a valley with the Wasatch Range on one side and the Great Salt Lake on the other, and most of its sights are within a few miles of downtown. This guide ranks fifteen picks, from Temple Square and the Utah State Capitol to Red Butte Garden and Antelope Island State Park, with what each one costs and when it is open.
The top 15, ranked
Ranked from official sources: the Utah State Capitol, Utah State Parks, Salt Lake City Parks Division, Salt Lake County and each venue's own admission page. Prices and opening shapes were read from the operator's own site.
- Top pick
1Best for history · #1 of 15
Temple Square
Historic SiteDowntownvisitors center and grounds open daily, roughly morning to eveningFreeTemple Square is the ten acre block at the center of the city and the reason its street grid is numbered the way it is. A new visitors center opened on the square in May 2026, and the grounds and gardens are open to walk through at no charge.
Local tipThe Salt Lake Temple itself is still under renovation and is not open for general entry, so plan around the visitors center and the grounds.
- Top pick
#2Best for history · #2 of 15Utah State Capitol
Civic LandmarkCapitol Hillopen daily with extended weekday evening hoursFreeThe Capitol stands on the hill directly above downtown, which makes its grounds one of the best free viewpoints over the valley. Self guided, guided and virtual tours are all offered, and the Museum of Utah inside states free admission.
Local tipDownload the Capitol's own self guided tour brochure if you would rather work through the building without waiting for a guided slot.
- Top pick
3Best for families · #3 of 15
Natural History Museum of Utah
MuseumUniversity and Foothillopen daily with one late evening midweek$10 to $25The museum occupies the Rio Tinto Center at 301 Wakara Way, built into the foothills above the university with a terrace looking back over the valley. Its dinosaur collection is the headline draw and the building itself is worth the trip.
Local tipWednesdays run extended evening hours, which is the quietest time to see the paleontology halls.
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4Best for wildlife · #4 of 15
Antelope Island State Park
State ParkGreat Salt Lakeday use park, causeway access, conditions vary with lake levels$10 to $25The largest island in the Great Salt Lake is reached by a causeway about an hour north of the city and carries a free ranging bison herd. Entry is charged per vehicle rather than per person, so it is cheapest with a full car.
Local tipThe park's own conditions notice says the main boat ramp is closed because of low water, so confirm marina and water access before counting on it.
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5Best for families · #5 of 15
Utah's Hogle Zoo
ZooFoothill and East Benchopen daily, hours shift by season$25 to $50The zoo sits at the mouth of Emigration Canyon on the east edge of the city, an easy pairing with Red Butte Garden on the same side of town. It runs two pricing seasons, with the higher rate through the summer months.
Local tipBuy online rather than at the gate, which the zoo states saves two dollars a ticket, and note that admission drops from October through April.
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6Best for gardens · #6 of 15
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Botanical GardenUniversity and Foothillopen daily with seasonal hours and longer summer evenings, closed Thanksgiving and late December into New Year$10 to $25The University of Utah's botanical garden climbs the foothills above campus with water wise displays and hiking trails at its upper end. Summer brings extended evening hours, when the garden is at its best.
Local tipAdult admission is half price from December through February, which is the cheapest time to see the garden's winter structure.
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7Best for families · #7 of 15
Tracy Aviary
Wildlife CenterCentral Cityopen daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with extended summer evenings$10 to $25One of only a few free standing aviaries in the country sits inside Liberty Park, a short drive south of downtown. It opens every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with longer evening hours in summer.
Local tipLast admission is sold an hour before closing, so aim to arrive by early afternoon.
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8Best for families · #8 of 15
Clark Planetarium
Science CenterDowntownopen daily with later closing at weekendsFree with paid optionsSalt Lake County runs this planetarium inside The Gateway district downtown, and its exhibit floor costs nothing to walk through. Dome and large format theater shows are ticketed on top of that.
Local tipThe exhibit hall is free, so budget separately only if you want to add a dome or large format show.
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9Best for picnics · #9 of 15
Liberty Park
City ParkCentral Cityopen daily from early morning to late eveningFree with paid optionsThe city's largest and oldest park holds Tracy Aviary and the Chase Home Museum inside its grounds, alongside playgrounds, tennis courts, a pool and sand volleyball. Entry to the park itself costs nothing.
Local tipSeveral venues inside the park are ticketed separately, so treat the aviary and pool as additions rather than part of the park visit.
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10Best for art · #10 of 15
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Art MuseumUniversity and Foothillopen Tuesday through Sunday with one late evening, closed Mondays$10 to $25The state's fine art museum sits on the University of Utah campus, close enough to the natural history museum and Red Butte Garden to make one east side afternoon. Its collection spans global art rather than regional work alone.
Local tipWednesday evening hours run later than the rest of the week, which suits an after work visit.
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11Best for young children · #11 of 15
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
Children's MuseumDowntownopen most days, closed one weekday$10 to $25The city's hands on children's museum sits in The Gateway downtown, next door to Clark Planetarium, so the two combine into one indoor day. Weekday and weekend admission are priced differently.
Local tipWeekday admission costs less than weekend admission, and the museum is closed one weekday, so check before travelling.
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12Best for families · #12 of 15
This Is The Place Heritage Park
Living History ParkFoothill and East Benchopen Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays, with separate winter and summer seasonsVariesA living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon recreates a nineteenth century Utah settlement with costumed interpreters and working trades. It marks the point where the first Mormon pioneers entered the valley.
Local tipThe village runs separate winter and summer pricing seasons and is closed on Sundays year round, so confirm the current rate and day before going.
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13Best for art · #13 of 15
Gilgal Sculpture Garden
Sculpture GardenCentral Cityopen daily during seasonal daylight hoursFreeHidden behind houses in a residential block, this is the only visionary art environment recognized in Utah, holding twelve original sculptures and more than seventy engraved stones. It is small, strange and takes half an hour.
Local tipLook for the sphinx carved with the face of Joseph Smith, which is the garden's best known piece.
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14Best for architecture · #14 of 15
Salt Lake City Public Library, Main Library
ArchitectureCentral Cityopen daily with shorter weekend hoursFreeThe main library is a working library and an architectural landmark, built around a curving glazed wall with a rooftop terrace open to the public. It is one of the better free viewpoints downtown.
Local tipGo up to the roof terrace for the view across to the Wasatch Range before leaving.
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15Best for food · #15 of 15
Downtown Farmers Market
MarketDowntownSaturdays only, within a seasonal date range, with separate summer and winter locationsFreeThe Saturday market fills Pioneer Park downtown through the growing season and moves indoors to a different address for a shorter winter run. It is the easiest way to eat well downtown on a weekend morning.
Local tipThe market changes address between its summer and winter seasons, so check the current location before setting out.
Where things cluster
Salt Lake City runs on a numbered grid centered on Temple Square, with downtown on the valley floor, Capitol Hill rising to the north and the university and garden district climbing the foothills to the east.
- DowntownThe dense core around Temple Square and The Gateway, holding the planetarium, the children's museum, the farmers market and most of the city's restaurants and bars.
- Capitol Hill and the AvenuesThe hill directly above downtown, with the Utah State Capitol and its grounds at the top and a historic residential grid of narrow streets below it.
- Central CityJust south and east of downtown, mixing historic landmarks with independent shops, and holding Liberty Park, Tracy Aviary and the Gilgal Sculpture Garden.
- University and FoothillThe east side against the mountains, where the University of Utah campus, the natural history museum, the fine arts museum, Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo all sit within a few minutes of each other.
Make it a day
Square, Capitol, then the east side
Start at Temple Square while the grounds are quiet, then walk or take the short ride up to the Utah State Capitol for the view back over the valley. Spend the middle of the day on the east side at the Natural History Museum of Utah, with Red Butte Garden next door if the weather is good. Come back down to Central City in the late afternoon for Liberty Park and Tracy Aviary, or stay downtown for the Clark Planetarium exhibit floor.
City on day one, the lake on day two
Give the first day to downtown and the foothills, covering Temple Square, the Capitol, the main library and the university museums. On the second day drive north to Antelope Island State Park for the bison herd and the causeway views across the Great Salt Lake, which needs half a day on its own. If the second day is a Saturday, start at the Downtown Farmers Market in Pioneer Park before heading out of town.
Map
Best time to visit
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Late spring and early fall give the most comfortable conditions for Antelope Island, Red Butte Garden and the foothills, avoiding both the summer heat on the valley floor and the winter inversions. Summer is when Red Butte Garden and Tracy Aviary run their extended evening hours and the Saturday market is at Pioneer Park. Winter is the cheapest time for Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo, and it is the season the canyons above the city fill with skiers.
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Salt Lake City things to do FAQ
Cost, timing, transport and access answers for a smoother visit.
What is Salt Lake City known for?
Salt Lake City is known for Temple Square at the center of its numbered street grid, for the Utah State Capitol on the hill above downtown, and for sitting between the Wasatch Range and the Great Salt Lake. That setting puts mountain canyons and Antelope Island within an hour of the city center.
How many days do you need in Salt Lake City?
One full day covers Temple Square, the Capitol, downtown and the university museums on the east side. Add a second day if you want Antelope Island State Park or the canyons, since either needs half a day of driving and walking on its own.
What are the best free things to do in Salt Lake City?
Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol and its grounds, the Gilgal Sculpture Garden, the main library and its roof terrace, and the Downtown Farmers Market all cost nothing. Liberty Park and the Clark Planetarium exhibit floor are also free, though venues inside them are ticketed separately.
Is Salt Lake City easy to get around without a car?
The downtown grid is walkable and light rail links it to the university and the airport, which covers Temple Square, the Capitol, the library and the planetarium. Antelope Island, Hogle Zoo and Red Butte Garden are much easier with a car.
What is there to do in Salt Lake City with kids?
Discovery Gateway and Clark Planetarium sit next to each other in The Gateway downtown and work well together on one indoor day. Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park and the Natural History Museum of Utah are the strongest options on the east side.
Is Temple Square open to visitors?
The square's grounds and its new visitors center, which opened in May 2026, are open to the public at no charge. The Salt Lake Temple itself remains under renovation and is not open for general entry, so plan around the grounds and the visitors center.
Keep planning
Use these nearby guides to extend a Salt Lake City trip with a different pace and a clear next stop.
Image credits. Hero: Andrew Smith / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. 2 Utah State Capitol: Andrew Smith / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.