10 Amazing Places to Visit in Salt Lake City, Utah (2024)
Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah is one of the popular destinations to visit as it houses some of the best museums, religious sites, parks, historical attractions and more. Salt Lake City is an extraordinary place to visit due to the unique blend of scenery, landscapes, and history. When you step into Salt Lake City with unique culture, a plethora of sources of entertainment and places to explore, it can be really difficult to choose what you exactly want to see.
10 Amazing Places to Visit in Salt Lake City, Utah
That is why we have picked some best places to visit in Salt Lake City that will blow your mind away.
1. Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the biggest natural lake in Utah, and there are many things you can do when you visit the lake. You can go swimming, boating, fishing, or even enjoy a picnic with your family/friends there. The view of the sunset over the Great Salt Lake can mesmerize anyone. The white sand beaches attract lots of swimmers as well as sunbathers. You can give yourself the luxury of enjoying a breathtaking view of the Great Salt Lake from Ensign Peak, Interstate 80, and the bench areas in Centerville, Bountiful, and Farmington.
For those who are in absolute love with adventure, you can also enjoy hiking and wildlife near the Great Salt Lake.
2. Red Butte Garden
The Red Butte Garden is located at the University of Utah and attracts many visitors throughout the year. The Red Butte Garden boasts beautiful themed gardens, plant collections, an extraordinary outdoor concert series, and various educational programs. People love visiting this place to view Salt Lake City, explore flora and fauna and enjoy cultural programs.
You can have active participation in gardening, cultural programs, and educational programs if you visit the garden.
You can visit Red Butte Garden any day between 9 am – 5 pm.
3. Liberty Park
If you love enjoying the outdoors, then one of the best places to visit in Salt Lake City is Liberty Park. Covered in 80 acres of land, it makes a great place for sightseeing. It is the perfect spot for families, as there are many activities for kids to enjoy in the park. There are rides, playgrounds, tennis courts, volleyball courts, picnic areas, and rides in the park that makes way for great enjoyment on a trip. If you want to enjoy solitude, you can surely do it in the park as it is also a greenhouse. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape, play basketball, hike, go swimming, or bike when you get to the park. You can also visit the Isaac Chase Mill, as it is the oldest commercial building in Utah. You can also visit Tracey Aviary to explore different varieties of rare bird species.
4. Temple Square
Temple Square is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Salt Lake City, Utah, owing to its magnificent architecture. You can also learn about Mormon history and many other interesting facts about religion while you are there. You can even visit museums, Mormon sites, and many more famous spots when you visit Temple Square. You can visit Temple Square any day between 9 am to 9 pm.
5. Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a popular hiking spot for tourists. It is near the Great Salt Lake, and you must see it if you are in Utah. It is famously known for its two ski resorts, namely, Solitude and Brighton, and both of these resorts provide full-service. There are also many hiking trails at Brighton that you can enjoy. You can enjoy the greenery and scenery of the Big Cottonwood Canyon and engage in activities like hiking and biking. You can also make your trip ten times more enjoyable by indulging in water activities, outdoor sports, and winter sports (if you come during the winter season) at Big Cottonwood Canyon.
6. Hogle Zoo
If you love exploring wildlife, you must visit Hogle Zoo as it is one of the best places to visit in Salt Lake City, Utah. It spreads around 42 acres and is known for being one of the top tourist destinations in Utah. One can find various types of local, exotic as well as rare animals at the Hogle Zoo.
It is also home to an African elephant named Zuri, who was born at the zoo in the year 2009. Visitors love to feed the giraffes, gorillas, and rhinos at the zoo. You can also enjoy a ride in the zoo’s Safari express and visit other attractions, including a splash pad and a carousel.
Hogle Zoo is open all days of the week between 10 am – 5 pm.
7. Ensign Peak
If you want to be around nature, then you must visit Ensign Peak. You can enjoy a hike up to the Peak and enjoy the breathtaking view of Salt Lake City. Many people visit the place to view the mesmerizing sunset. So, do keep this place on your bucket list to visit when you visit Salt Lake City in Utah.
8. Salt Lake City Public Library
If you are a bibliophile, then visiting Salt Lake City Public Library is a must for you. It is home to five lakh books, and the library offers many areas where you can relax and read the book of your choice. Moreover, the Salt Lake City Public Library also has a world-class architecture that makes everyone drop their jaw. You can also enjoy mouth-watering snacks and coffee at the cafe indoors or a view of the great Wasatch Mountain from the rooftop garden when you visit the library.
You can visit the library any day between 10 am – 9 pm.
9. Utah Olympic Park
Built for the Winter Olympic Games of 2002, the Utah Olympic Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Salt Lake City. Earlier, the park was a host for many events such as bobsleigh, nordic ski jumping, and many more. Now you can enjoy all the activities that take place there, although most of them are seasonal. So, if you visit the Olympic Park in the summer season, you can enjoy activities like freestyle ski jumping, Xtreme Zipline, the Quicksilver Alpine Slide, and so on.
Similarly, you can do fun activities such as the Rocket Skeleton, Nordic ski jumping, terrain park, the Comet Bobsled, and more during the winters.
You can visit the Utah Olympic Park any day between 9 am – 6 pm.
10. Gilgal Sculpture Garden
This garden was built by Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. and is home to many wonderful sculptures. When you take a walk through the garden, all you will see is magnificent art. There are stones scattered through the garden, which are engraved beautifully and very creatively with Mormon literature. There are also 12 original sculptures and a statue of Thomas Battersby Child himself. If you are a fan of art and history, do visit Gilgal Sculpture Garden in Salt Lake City.
You can visit the Garden any day between 8 am – 8 pm.
There are many things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah, which are both fun and relaxing. You can hike, ride, bike, explore wildlife, museums, and take a tour of a library while you are here. Do visit the places mentioned above in the list of top places to visit in Salt Lake City because they are worth visiting.