Salt Lake City Sightseeing Attractions
Discover the top sightseeing attractions in Salt Lake City—the must-see places that truly showcase the unique charm and history of Utah’s capital. While personal tastes may vary, we’ve curated a list of Salt Lake City’s best attractions that belong at the top of any visitor’s itinerary. From iconic landmarks to cultural gems, these sights are guaranteed to make your visit unforgettable.
Want to skip the stress of planning? Let the local experts show you around! A guided sightseeing tour is the perfect way to experience the best attractions in Salt Lake City while enjoying entertaining stories and insider tips. It’s the “best first thing to do” when exploring SLC!
TEMPLE SQUARE
No visit to Salt Lake City is complete without experiencing Temple Square, the city’s most famous and beloved attraction. This 35-acre historic site in the heart of downtown features stunning architecture, beautifully manicured gardens, and rich history that draws millions of visitors each year. Highlights include the world-renowned Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle—home to the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir—and the interactive visitor centers where you can learn about the area’s cultural and religious significance. Whether you’re exploring its peaceful grounds, attending a live musical performance, or simply soaking in the beauty of this iconic landmark, Temple Square is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake Temple
It’s the heart of Temple Square and one of Salt Lake City’s most famous landmarks. Built over 40 years and finished in 1893, its towering granite spires and intricate details are truly a sight to behold. While the inside of the temple isn’t open to visitors, you can still explore the beautifully landscaped grounds, snap photos of its stunning exterior, and visit nearby exhibits to learn about its fascinating history. Whether you’re here for the architecture, the history, or just to soak in the peaceful atmosphere, the Salt Lake Temple is a must-see stop for anyone visiting Salt Lake City.
Tabernacle:
This 150 year-old auditorium has one of the largest pipe organs in the world. Daily recitals, performed by professional organists of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) are offered Monday through Saturday at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Sundays.
Joseph Smith Memorial Building:
Formerly a luxury hotel built in 1911 as the Hotel Utah. Today it offers views of Temple Square from the top floor, as well as two restaurants on that level. The building has been extensively remodeled and is no longer a hotel, but rather an office building with reception space. However, the lobby from Hotel Utah has been fairly well preserved, so as you enter the front doors you find a spectacular and opulent scene of chandeliers, stained glass ceiling, intricate wood carvings -- it is well worth a quick visit just for the lobby and the top floor viewing windows, though other attractions are found inside (Legacy Theater and Family Search Center, to name a few). Open Monday through Saturday until 9:00 PM.
Beehive House:
The home of Brigham Young, the one he actually lived in, is attached to his office building and offers a 25-minute guided tour to see original furnishings and interesting decor. The tour is free, though it is offered not by professional guides but by young missionaries of the Mormon church, and as such, their historical knowledge is quite limited and the tours will include a heavy amount of proselyting and sharing of religious beliefs. The "sister missionaries," as they are known, are not Utah natives but rather they are brought in from all over the world so as to give Temple Square the capability to give tours in a variety of languages. They are very friendly, but again, their knowledge of history and of Salt Lake City is very limited. Most visitors are accepting of this, though some express disappointment, as reflected in the mixed reviews found online for the Beehive House.
Utah State Capitol
The Utah State Capitol is a tourist attraction, as strange as that may sound. In many states, a visitor would understandably have little interest in visiting the state capitol. Trust us, this is one state capitol you need to see! It was voted the 2nd most beautiful state capitol in America and has been used for Hollywood movies. The interior rotunda is made of stunning marble and is the site of weddings and high school prom. The views as seen from the front steps of the Utah State Capitol provide a spectacular vista of not just Salt Lake City, but the entire Salt Lake Valley and the surrounding Rocky Mountains. The Utah State Capitol building is open seven days a week, closing at 8:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 PM on weekends. Parking across the street is free and usually available all hours of the day.
This is the Place Park
This is the Place Park is the site of the arrival of Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers in 1847. It is located on the mountainside, offering terrific views, and includes several monuments, a visitor center, and a living history village with historical interpreters dressed in pioneer clothing from the 1800's. Monuments include the Pony Express National Monument, the Mormon Battalion Monument, and This is the Place Monument. The history village charges an admission fee is generally open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the spring/summer/fall. Parking is free and the village is open 7 days a week, though Sunday doesn't offer a full staff /activities.
