Salt Lake City has sure grown a lot since the 2002 Winter Olympics! In fact, it’s been said that it has some of the best free things to do in the Intermountain Region of the US. Read on to hear about a few of the fun (and free!) activities you can enjoy around the town. I also share many of the must-see places in Salt Lake City, Utah on my TikTok and Instagram (username @lauryncakes) if you want to see lesser known spots in the city.
Best Free Things to do in Salt Lake City That are Entertaining
Gilgal Gardens
Created by Thomas Battersby Child Jr., the garden contains twelve original sculptures. Many of the art works will surprise you! Gilgal Garden is open seven days a week, and it’s free to enter. It’s tucked into a neighborhood, so you might miss it on first glance. The curation of the garden began in 1945, and went on until the artist’s death in 1963. While the sculptor knew that many visitors would find the space strange, he hoped it would inspire curiosity. It’s full of many statues nodding at the Mormon (LDS) religion, including a Joseph Smith Sphinx!
Street Art & Murals
Despite being only a midsize city, Salt Lake has a flourishing street art scene! There are 80+ murals that you can explore while in the Downtown SLC area. If you’re looking for insta-worthy photos or to add some color to your life, check out this list of addresses where you can find the wall murals!
Main Street
Main Street in Downtown SLC is known for its restaurants and bars that are fitting for a pub crawl. In the winter, you can find the street decked out with holiday lights and decor. Walk around heading North and you’ll find yourself next to City Creek and Temple Square. More recently, Main Street has been closed down to only allow foot traffic on Thursdays in the summer called Open Streets. That means expanded patio service, street artists, rollerskating clubs, and more to enjoy on foot!
Museums
While SLC isn’t known for it’s museums, we do have a couple of of free admission ones you can visit! The Planetarium has quite a bit of cool interactive exhibits to entertain kids with. Plan about 2 hours for your visit there, with free parking at The Gateway garages. For a more mature audience, The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art also has free admission (although they do ask for a small donation). If you’re more adventurous and want to check out a stranger “museum”, Ralphael’s Christian School on State Street is calling your name!
The Gateway
Honestly, this is one of my favorite places in the city! I recommend The Gateway to everyone because of how vibrant it is; there is something for everybody. You can find food, bars, entertainment, and a few shops! There are often free activities (check EventBrite) such as fitness classes, movie nights, farmers markets, and gatherings. The Planetarium is a great family-with-kids outing with free activities. Plus, there are at least 12 murals to check out in this walkable space!
Best Free Things & Activities in SLC That are Leisurely
Utah State Capitol
The Utah State Capitol is a sight to behold, gleaming at the top of a hill in Downtown SLC. Tour the grounds in the spring and you’ll find rolling green hills, cherry blossom trees (in late April), and plenty of photo opportunities. Head inside to see a gorgeous marble staircases and vaulted ceilings, again, offering insta-worthy backdrops. The doors are open Monday- Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. While there’s not many activities to do at The Capitol, it sure does offer some pretty– and free– views.
Temple Grounds
Visiting the LDS (Mormon) temple grounds is usually on most travelers’ bucket lists when they come to SLC! The Salt Lake Temple has a well-kept garden, so you’ll find yourself surrounded by in-season blooms during the warmer months. Around late November through early January, the area is decked out with beautiful Christmas lights and religious light exhibits. Above all, you can see the towering white building. For a better view of the structure, I recommend getting reservations at The Roof restaurant.
City Creek
While you can spend some serious money at the City Creek Mall because of their designer stores, it’s actually a great free place to visit. The buildings were designed with an indoor/outdoor feel, with a creek running through the middle and retractable roofs that are closed during inclement weather, and open when the sun is out. After strolling through, hit up the fountain on the west side of the mall for a water show!
International Peace Gardens
Similarly, you should put the International Peace Gardens on your bucket list! It’s located on the west side of Jordan Park. You can see beautiful florals, architecture, and displays representing other countries. It’s free to enter and open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm year-round. This is the perfect place to have a picnic, take a walk around the Jordan River, or even bike and skate.
Best Free Things to do in SLC, Utah That are Adventurous
Hikes
In case you haven’t heard, The Wasatch Mountains have some of the best hikes around! You’ll find yourself constantly catching your breath– both from exercise and the beauty. Most hikes are free to access. We like to use AllTrails to find new places to explore and check the trail conditions before heading out. If you want to see gorgeous Utah fall foliage, I recommend hiking in mid September to early October in Millcreek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Provo Canyon, or Logan Canyon. Always, always, always bring plenty of water, good shoes, a phone, and let people know where you are going.
Waterfalls
Additionally, many of the Northern Utah hikes feature waterfalls! There are a variety of waterfalls you can see, ranging in difficulty. For an easy hike to falls, I recommend Lisa Falls. For a more strenuous (but still moderate) hike, I recommend heading up to Bell’s Canyon Falls. Be sure to wear a swimsuit to truly experience the falls in the summer. For all my curvy gals, here’s where to buy plus size swimsuits.
The Great Salt Lake
When it comes to locals, The Great Salt Lake gets a lot of flack because of its obvious odor. However, if you’ve never seen the GSL in person, it’s a once in a lifetime experience! Two of the spots that are easy to access are at The Saltair, and the GSL Marina. Since the lake is drying up, you may have to walk further out to reach the waters, and that means there are indeed dead brine shrimp putting off a slightly unpleasant scent. If you want to watch a fantastic sunset with a mountain range and sea-like lake in the foreground, you should definitely make a trip to the salty lake. You can also float in the waters, as most areas are safe to swim in. It’s always free and open, as well as the The Salt Flats (a dry lake bed with layers of white salt), which is west from the Great Salt Lake.
There are many free things to do Salt Lake; whether you’re into entertainment, leisure, or adventure! Follow along on my social media — @lauryncakes — for more fun ways to enjoy the city!
What do you think?