Things to do in Salt Lake City: museums, parks, shows and nights out

Our top picks for Salt Lake City all year round: museums for every age, Temple Square and the Capitol, parks and gardens, the zoo and the aviary, theaters and music, and fun nights out. Everything happening in Salt Lake City is listed below.

Updated October 20, 2026

• Things to do in Salt Lake City
• Museums for every age
• Temple Square, Capitol Hill and downtown history
• Parks, gardens, the zoo and the aviary
• Theaters, concerts and film
• Fun nights out

Things to do in Salt Lake City

Looking for fun things to do in Salt Lake City? You have come to the right place! Utah's capital packs a lot into one city: great museums and a planetarium, the history of Temple Square and Capitol Hill, big parks and gardens at the foot of the Wasatch, a zoo and an aviary, and a full calendar of concerts, plays and nights out.

Go Do pulls thousands of events and activities from across the valley and checks them daily, so the list below this guide is always up to date. Every listing has the full details, a map, and even weather forecasts, restaurants and hotels nearby.

This guide is our top picks all year round, from museums and history to the outdoors, the arts and a night out. Here's a few of the top options to consider, so find your next great day or night out and get planning with your family and friends in our App too!

Museums for every age

Salt Lake City's museums are a great way to spend a cold or rainy day, and there's one for every member of the family, from toddlers to science buffs and art lovers. Several sit close together downtown at The Gateway and on the University of Utah campus, so you can easily pair two in one day.

Check each listing for the hours before you go, since some are closed one day a week, and buy tickets ahead for the busiest weekends.

Photo: Jim Nista · CC BY-SA 3.0

Natural History Museum Of Utah

Salt Lake City

The Natural History Museum of Utah, at 301 South Wakara Way, is a great day out for curious kids and grown-ups alike. Open the listing to review the hours, admission details and directions.

Photo: An Errant Knight · CC BY-SA 4.0

Clark Planetarium

Salt Lake City

Clark Planetarium offers free interactive exhibits, plus shows in the IMAX and dome theatres, all about science, planet Earth and the Solar System. It's at 110 South 400 West downtown and open into the evening, a great pick for a family night.

Photo: Scott Catron from Sandy, Utah, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

Salt Lake City

Discovery Gateway, formerly the Children's Museum of Utah, is an interactive, hands-on museum with over 60,000 square feet of exhibits for little ones, right at The Gateway. Pair it with Clark Planetarium for a full day out.

Photo: Tricia Simpson · CC BY-SA 3.0

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Salt Lake City

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus holds a permanent collection of nearly 20,000 art objects, with works shown on a rotating basis. A lovely afternoon for art lovers.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Church History Museum

Salt Lake City

The Church History Museum sits opposite the west gates of Temple Square, and its listing says admission is free. A great addition to a walk around downtown.

Temple Square, Capitol Hill and downtown history

Downtown Salt Lake City is full of history, and most of it is within a short walk. Temple Square, the Beehive House and the Family History Library are all close together, and the Utah State Capitol sits on Capitol Hill just above, overlooking downtown.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and plan an easy loop: start at Temple Square, walk up to the Capitol for the views (check its listing for the hours it's open), and finish with lunch or shopping at City Creek Center.

Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain

Temple Square

Salt Lake City

Temple Square is a 10-acre complex owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the center of Salt Lake City, a great place to start a visit downtown.

Photo: Jizzbug at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Beehive House

Salt Lake City

The Beehive House, built in 1854, was one of the residences of Brigham Young. Its name comes from the beehive sculpture on top, since early Latter-day Saints used honeybees to symbolize industry and cooperation.

Photo: Mangoman88 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Utah State Capitol Building

Salt Lake City

The Utah State Capitol is the house of government for the state, with the chambers of the Utah State Legislature and the governor's offices. It sits on Capitol Hill overlooking downtown, so the views alone are worth the walk up.

Photo: Ricardo630 · Public domain

Family History Library

Salt Lake City

The FamilySearch Library, formerly the Family History Library, is open to the public free of charge. A wonderful way to spend a few hours tracing your family's story, especially with grandparents along.

Photo: Mangoman88 · CC0

City Creek Center

Salt Lake City

City Creek Center has over 100 stores and restaurants in a casual, pedestrian-friendly setting in the heart of downtown, an easy place to grab lunch or shop after a morning of sightseeing.

Parks, gardens, the zoo and the aviary

When the weather's nice, Salt Lake City's parks are a great way to spend a day with the family. Liberty Park and Memory Grove are right in the city, and the east bench has This Is the Place Heritage Park and Hogle Zoo side by side at the mouth of Emigration Canyon.

Bring a picnic, comfortable shoes and layers, since the weather can change quickly near the mountains. The zoo and the aviary charge admission, so check their listings for hours and tickets.

Photo: Argyleist (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Liberty Park

Salt Lake City

Liberty Park is the city's second-largest public park, at 80 acres, with a pond with two islands, and it's home to Tracy Aviary. A great place for a picnic, a walk or a bike ride with the kids.

Photo: Tracy Aviary

Tracy Aviary

Salt Lake City

Tracy Aviary, in Liberty Park, is one of only two accredited standalone aviaries in the United States and Salt Lake City's home for the world of birds. Fun for all ages and an easy add-on to a day at the park.

Photo: Bobjgalindo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hogle Zoo

Salt Lake City

Hogle Zoo has hundreds of animals in areas like the African Savanna, Great Apes, Primate Forest, Rocky Shores, Asian Highlands and the Wild Utah exhibit. Watch for keeper chats and animal demonstrations, and plan on most of a day.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

This is the Place Heritage Park

Salt Lake City

This Is the Place Heritage Park is a Utah State Park at the foot of the Wasatch Range near the mouth of Emigration Canyon, right next door to the zoo. A great pairing for a full day on the east bench.

Photo: Intothewoods29 (talk) · Public domain

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

Salt Lake City

The Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a small public city park filled with unusual symbolic statuary, most notably a Sphinx with Joseph Smith's head, created by Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. in his spare time. One of the most unusual stops in the city.

Theaters, concerts and film

Salt Lake City has a full arts calendar all year, from the Utah Symphony and touring Broadway shows to dance, film at Broadway Centre Cinemas and the Tower Theatre, and Pioneer Theatre Company on the University of Utah campus. A show is a great way to make a night of it downtown with dinner beforehand.

Buy tickets ahead for popular shows, and check each venue's listing for what's coming up; the full list below has every show on Go Do.

Photo: Ricardo630 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Abravanel Hall

Salt Lake City

Abravanel Hall, built as the home of the Utah Symphony and named for its long-time conductor Maurice Abravanel, is an architectural and artistic icon in the heart of downtown.

Photo: EWS23 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Eccles Theater

Salt Lake City

The Eccles Theater, opened in 2016, has touring Broadway shows, concerts and other entertainment downtown in its main hall and smaller black box theater.

Photo: Paul2520 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center

Salt Lake City

The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center is a three-venue arts complex downtown and home to Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Plan-B Theatre Company and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation.

Photo: Salt Lake Film Society

Salt Lake Film Society

Salt Lake City

The Salt Lake Film Society shows films at Broadway Centre Cinemas and the historic Tower Theatre, a great pick for movie lovers.

Fun nights out

Salt Lake City is a fun place to spend an evening with friends, from dueling pianos downtown to a movie with a beer and pizza, or a night of arcade games. These are great picks for a birthday, a date night or a group outing.

Check each listing's hours, and plan your ride home if you plan to drink.

Uinta Brewing Company

Salt Lake City

Uinta Brewing Company has been a Salt Lake City craft brewer since 1993, with a brewery, pub, restaurant and bar on the city's Westside.

Common questions

What are some free things to do in Salt Lake City?

Clark Planetarium's interactive exhibits are free, the Church History Museum lists free admission, and the FamilySearch Library is open to the public free of charge.

What's fun to do in Salt Lake City with kids?

Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park, Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetarium and the Natural History Museum of Utah are all great picks for families.

What is there to do in downtown Salt Lake City?

Temple Square, the Beehive House, the Church History Museum and the FamilySearch Library are close together, with the Utah State Capitol just above on Capitol Hill, City Creek Center for shopping and dining, and shows at Abravanel Hall, the Eccles Theater and the Rose Wagner.

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