Salt Lake City is an underrated destination in Utah. This city has so much to offer in the snowy winter months, even though it does get cold. Keep reading to learn about the best things to do in Salt Lake City in winter.
Wander through downtown and enjoy a delicious dining scene, museums, and shopping. If you’re feeling adventurous, plan a hike in Salt Lake City for a fun day activity. Remember to dress warm!
Utah is a beautiful state to explore and Salt Lake is a great base. From Salt Lake City you can easily visit other places like the Utah national parks or Park City where you can find some of the best skiing in the country!
Plan a trip to Salt Lake City and see for yourself why this city is worth visiting.
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Best Things to Do in Salt Lake City in Winter
1. Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Enjoy a rotating display of cultural and visual arts at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. If you love art of any kind, you’ll definitely want to stop by for a visit to see what is currently on exhibit. While Salt Lake is small, its museums are a great wintertime activity.
Admire fantastic works of art and stay warm while visiting the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
2. Hike Ensign Peak
If you’re up for an outdoor winter adventure, you need to check out Ensign Peak for a breathtaking view of Salt Lake City. This is a 1-mile out-and-back trail with free parking at the base.
Even if you only hike a portion of it, you will see Salt Lake City nestled into the mountains below you. While it gets cold and snowy in winter in Salt Lake, I found hiking is still a great activity.
There are very few people on the trail, and as long as you wear warm clothes and boots, you’ll stay comfortable. PS. This trail is also dog-friendly!
READ NEXT: 10 Day Hiking Essentials
3. Snow Sledding at Sugar House Park
Get outside and put your snow pants on, it’s time to go sledding! One of the best things to do in Salt Lake City in winter is go sledding at Sugar House Park. There’s a big hill here where you can find many people enjoying the winter thrill of sledding.
Ask if your accommodation has snow sleds to use, or run to the store to buy one. It’s a small investment for a whole lot of fun you’ll have.
4. Day Trip to Park City
Skiing is one of the most popular activities in the Salt Lake City area. The best place to ski is Park City, about a 40-minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City. Get ready to hit the slopes and plan an epic ski trip to Park City!
If you’re planning a ski trip, Salt Lake City is a great place to stay. While it is 40 minutes from Park City Mountain, the drive isn’t bad and it’s often cheaper to stay in Salt Lake.
READ NEXT: How to Plan a Ski Trip
5. Enjoy Craft Beer at a Local Brewery
If you enjoy trying local craft beers, you will love these breweries in SLC! I found there to be a surprisingly great craft beer scene here, and if you’re a fan too, you won’t want to miss out on these breweries.
RoHa Brewing Project – live music and alternating local food trucks
Kiitos Brewing – large selection of beer and old-school pinball machines
Bewilder Brewing Co – delicious food menu and free darts to play
6. International Peace Gardens
If you are visiting Salt Lake City in the spring or summer, you should head to the International Peace Gardens to admire the beautiful array of wildlife.
With statues, monuments, and a wide variety of plants, this is a great place to stroll around and soak in the nice weather in spring and summer.
While spring and summer are great seasons to enjoy the International Peace Gardens, you can still go for a stroll through the park in winter. It’s a fun way to get outside and see more of the city.
7. Clark Planetarium
Another fun thing to do in Salt Lake City in winter is visit the Clark Planetarium. Because it’s indoors you’ll be out of the cold and you’ll get to learn all about space. Make sure you have time to catch one of their Imax films!
Have you ever been to a planetarium? They’re fascinating museums!
8. Shopping in Downtown
There are tons of shops and boutiques around downtown Salt Lake City. Head to Main Street to find lots of shopping options. This is the best area to start from as there is a nice outdoor shopping center on Main and Temple Street.
I recommend finding a good parking spot and walking around to explore more rather than driving everywhere.
READ NEXT: What to Wear in Salt Lake City
9. Stop by a Soda Bar
You can’t visit Salt Lake City without at least one visit to a soda bar. Start with your typical sodas like Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc., and then add yummy flavors like coconut and pineapple, or raspberry and cream. Get this delicious Utah treat from Thirst or FiiZ!
While I lived in Salt Lake City over the winter, I learned soda bars are a traditional treat here. So like the locals do, go buy yourself a yummy soda!
10. Visit the High School Musical School
If you grew up with Troy and Gabriella, you have to visit the filming location of High School Musical! East High School is the real school of this iconic 2006 movie. If you’re a fan of HSM, plan a little excursion to see the school for yourself.
Does anyone else have those songs and dances memorized? Live out your High School Musical Dreams while visiting Salt Lake City!
11. Get Cozy in a Coffee Shop
This one is especially fun to do in the winter. Salt Lake City has a surprisingly great coffee scene. From co-working spots and quirky vibes to local roasteries and amazing pastries, enjoy them all at the best coffee shops in Salt Lake City. Then tell me which is your favorite!
12. Utah State Capitol
If you’re a fan of architecture or history, the Utah State Capitol is a must-visit. You can schedule a free tour and learn from a knowledgeable guide, or you can take a self-guided tour to visit at your own pace.
There is a lot of history to learn about this monument, as well as architectural details to admire.
13. Get Your Boba On
If you’re a fellow milk tea or boba lover, check out the two best milk tea places in Salt Lake City. You can’t go wrong with a boba break while exploring the city. Check out Sunny Honey in North Salt Lake City, or head to Space Tea if you’re further south.
14. Stroll Around Liberty Park
Liberty Park is the second largest public park in Salt Lake City. It offers 80 acres to stroll around and explore, as well as a pond with two islands and the Tracy Aviary, which is also worth a visit. While in the city, get your nature fix at Liberty Park.
15. Natural History Museum of Utah
If you’re a museum fan, the Natural History Museum of Utah needs to be on your Salt Lake City itinerary. Here you can learn about the plants, animals, and people who shaped Utah and the surrounding area of the US.
You can also catch various traveling exhibits here and learn about different parts of the world such as the Pharaohs of Egypt or the wildlife of Southeast Asia.
READ NEXT: 10 Best Museums in Chicago
16. Go Thrifting at iconoCLAD
You might not think of high fashion when you think of Salt Lake City, but you will be pleasantly surprised. Stop by iconoCLAD thrift store and shop second-hand fashion items, from shoes to jackets and more. The options here are high quality, unique, and fairly priced.
17. Eat, Eat, and Eat!
While you’re exploring Salt Lake City, you will work up quite the appetite. Grab a bite to eat at the best restaurants in Salt Lake City. My top picks are below:
Red Iguana – Mexican
Takashi – Japanese
Jinya Ramen Bar – Ramen
Doki Doki – Dessert
Siegfried’s Delicatessen – German
Bricks Corner – Pizza
Chubby Baker – Dessert
Visiting Salt Lake City in Winter
Now that you know the best things to do in Salt Lake City in winter, start getting ready for your trip to this underrated city. Utah is a gorgeous state and Salt Lake is one of the best places to explore.
Plan a trip to Salt Lake City this winter and enjoy everything this US destination has to offer. Make the most of the delicious dining scene and cozy coffee shops, get adventurous and hike to find the best views of the city, or day trip to Park City for amazing skiing.
There’s something for everyone in Salt Lake City and winter is a great time to go so you can admire the snow capped mountains surrounding the city. Dress warm, wander the streets, and enjoy a cozy trip to Utah’s capital.
