Scott and I lived in Salt Lake City for a summer. It was our first experience outside of the Midwest together and it will always have a special place in our hearts. However, it was so much more than just our first venture. It was the mountains, the rocks, the proximity to National Parks. Whether you’ve come to Salt Lake City to visit or are just flying into town to use it as a base, two days in Salt Lake City makes a perfect itinerary that will give you the highlights of the town.
History and Law in Salt Lake City
Modern Salt Lake City was founded by a group of Mormon settlers in 1847. And this history of Salt Lake City is steeped with the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). So when you’re spending your two days in Salt Lake City, you’ll probably see this Mormon history reflected in some of the things you do and see.
In addition to this religion being very present in the history of the state, you’ll also find traces of it affecting the drinking laws of the state. All liquor is sold in state run liquor stores, with very limited hours. Additionally, the beer that is available for purchase will generally be a lower percentage of alcohol than you would find in other states. Keep these restrictions in mind when packing for your Salt Lake City vacation as you may want to BYOB. It’s one of the biggest complaints we hear from friends visiting the state so we want you to be warned in advance.
Salt Lake City Itinerary
Day 1 – Salt Lake City Itinerary
Temple Square
Spend your morning exploring Temple Square. Temple Square is consistently on the top of the lists of things to do in Salt Lake City. Because it is so iconically Salt Lake. At Temple Square you can see some important pieces of the Mormon history and culture. And the best part – they’re all located in the same geographical SQUARE 😉
The Salt Lake Temple is the most beautiful of the buildings here. It is an important active church in the LDS faith. Only active members can enter, but us tourists can admire it from the outside.
The Salt Lake Tabernacle, home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is also located here. Additionally, you may take in a concert or practice at the Assembly Hall. Beehive House, the home of Brigham Young, is another building worth stopping at. If you’re really into genealogy, bring your unanswered questions and visit the Family History Library, the largest genealogy library in the country.
And while you definitely want to make sure you see some of the great historical buildings here, the best part about Temple Square is the grounds. They are beautiful year round.
After you’re done exploring Temple Square, grab lunch nearby.
Capitol Hill
Spend your afternoon in Salt Lake City at Utah’s Capitol building. The building is beautiful and they host free guided tours daily. This is a fun way to learn more about the history of the state.
Spend the later part of your afternoon exploring either the shopping center at Thanksgiving Point or biking around Liberty Park. Liberty Park also has plenty of stops within the park, including a great aviary, so you’ll have plenty of fun stops to keep yourself occupied.
Day 2 – Salt Lake City Itinerary
Natural History Museum of Utah
Spend your morning playing in the Natural History Museum of Utah. Utah really is a giant sandbox. And the Museum of National History has dug up that sandbox and presented the artifacts to you. From fossils and dinosaurs on display to the amazing history of the original inhabitants, you’ll find fun bits of history for you to interact with in this family oriented museum.
After exploring inside the Museum, explore the Red Butte Garden outside of the museum. This beautifully manicured garden is a great place to work up an appetite before lunch.
Grab lunch to fuel up before your afternoon outside.
Ensign Peak
In the afternoon, hike up to the top of Ensign Peak. The trail is close to the capital building. The trail is well groomed but it is generally busy and does have quite a bit of elevation gain. And there is no shade. So pack accordingly. But once you’re at the top, the views are totally worth it. You’ll get to see all of Salt Lake City spread out before you.
If you have extra time in your afternoon, consider visiting the Hogle Zoo or visiting one of the hip breweries in the city and learn about the drinking laws in Utah and creative ways the breweries have learned to still bring you a great beer.
Where to Stay
If you’re visiting Salt Lake City without a vehicle of your own, you’ll want to stay in the downtown area near all of the attractions in this Salt Lake City itinerary. Even though you’ll pay more for accommodations, you’ll be saving it in transportation costs. If you can stay within the free Trax route, that will even be better.
If you’re visiting with a vehicle, you really can stay anywhere in Salt Lake with ease. Traffic isn’t bad for a town this size and you shouldn’t have a problem finding parking near these attractions so the city is your oyster – so find that pearl of a home rental.
For this Salt Lake City itinerary, we recommend staying in a home rental. Home rentals in the city tend to be cheaper than hotels. By an average of $50/night. And there are some really cool ones out there that look pretty nice. We generally like to camp to keep the budget down. However, staying within the city is really beneficial for this Salt Lake City itinerary so we don’t recommend it in this case.
Want to Adjust the Itinerary
If you have less time. You probably can fit this entire Salt Lake City itinerary into one day. You’ll just have to make quick stops and you’ll be rushed but it shouldn’t be a problem to see everything.
If you have more time, you really should get out of the city and explore the rest of this state filled with natural beauty. Check out some of our favorite Utah adventures here! Psst – Arches National Park is our favorite.
Did I leave anything out of this Salt Lake City itinerary? Let me know what else you have to recommend in the comments section below. Or if you have any questions, you let us know and we’ll be happy to help.
Worth pointing out that the zoo closes at 5 pm most days (so afternoon may be better timing than the evening) and Temple square is partly closed/ does not look as nice as the temple is undergoing earthquake improvements.
Thanks for those pointers!
There’s a Whiskey & History experience that takes you on a2. 5 hour walking and testing tour of downtown salt lake City led by a local enthusiast this is over the Airbnb experience platform
Thanks! That sounds like a fun way to see downtown 🙂