Get the app

Utah, United States

Salt Lake City

Two nights for Temple Square's lights and a Nutcracker. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 3 activities and 1 place to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Salt Lake City with friendsBrowse 7 places
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Places
7

2 See · 3 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Salt Lake City & Park City

Best season
Late Nov – Jan

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

34°C / 93°F avg high

Coolest month
January

3°C / 37°F avg high

Wettest month
April

about 66 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Salt Lake City

7 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Salt Lake City across Downtown and The Avenues. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Temple Square in Salt Lake CityPhoto: Andrey Zharkikh · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Temple Square

    The 10-acre Latter-day Saint headquarters, strung with lights and nativity scenes from late November through December.

    Tip The Salt Lake Temple itself is under renovation; the lights fill the surrounding gardens and plazas.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • After dark
  • Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake CityPhoto: Adrian Comollo · Public domain
    See

    Cathedral of the Madeleine

    Salt Lake's 1909 Catholic cathedral, with painted interiors and Christmas concerts by its choir school in December.

    • The Avenues
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Evening

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Salt Lake City across Downtown and Emigration Canyon.

  • Ballet West's Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake CityPhoto: Beneathtimp · CC0
    Do

    Ballet West's Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre

    Ballet West dances Willam Christensen's Nutcracker, descended from the first full-length American staging, in a 1913 theater.

    Tip Book early for weekend matinees in the week before Christmas.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Do

    Gallivan Center Ice Rink

    Outdoor rink in the downtown Gallivan Center plaza, open through the winter with skate rental.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening
  • Do

    Hogle Zoo

    Salt Lake's zoo at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, which runs its ZooLights evenings through December.

    Tip ZooLights uses timed tickets; go early in the evening with kids.

    • Emigration Canyon
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • After dark

Eat

1 place to eat in Fairpark, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Red Iguana

    Family-run Mexican restaurant on North Temple, known for its moles and a line out the door.

    Tip Red Iguana 2, a few blocks away on South Temple, usually has a shorter wait.

    • Fairpark
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Lunch

Stay

Places to stay in Salt Lake City in Downtown.

  • The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake CityPhoto: Hänsel und Gretel · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Stay

    The Grand America Hotel

    Salt Lake's largest luxury hotel, built for the 2002 Olympics, known for its holiday decorations and window displays.

    Tip Even if you stay elsewhere, the lobby and holiday windows are worth a walk-through.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 60 min

How to fit Salt Lake City into a trip

Salt Lake City is stop 1 of 2 on our Salt Lake City & Park City route. Follow it as-is or lift Salt Lake City into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Salt Lake City month by month

Average daily highs run from 3°C / 37°F in January to 34°C / 93°F in July. April is the wettest month, with about 66 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Salt Lake City weather and the best time to visit →

Near Salt Lake City

8 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Salt Lake City questions, answered

How many days do you need in Salt Lake City?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Salt Lake City. On our Salt Lake City & Park City route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 7 places add up to roughly 8 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Salt Lake City best known for?

Two nights for Temple Square's lights and a Nutcracker. Standouts on our list: Temple Square (The 10-acre Latter-day Saint headquarters, strung with lights and nativity scenes from late November through December); Cathedral of the Madeleine (Salt Lake's 1909 Catholic cathedral, with painted interiors and Christmas concerts by its choir school in December); Ballet West's Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre (Ballet West dances Willam Christensen's Nutcracker, descended from the first full-length American staging, in a 1913 theater).

When is the best time to visit Salt Lake City?

Our Salt Lake City & Park City route is best Late Nov – Jan. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (34°C / 93°F), the coolest in January (3°C / 37°F) and the most rain in April (about 66 mm).

What are the best things to do in Salt Lake City?

Start with Temple Square, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Ballet West's Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre, Gallivan Center Ice Rink and Hogle Zoo. Our guide lists 7 places in all, from 2 sights, 3 activities, 1 place to eat and 1 place to stay.

What is near Salt Lake City?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Salt Lake City (about 1 km / 1 mi), Big Cottonwood Canyon (about 30 km / 19 mi) and Park City (about 35 km / 22 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Salt Lake City with your crew

Open the Salt Lake City & Park City route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 7 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Salt Lake City

More in Utah

More in United States

Plan it together

Plan Salt Lake City