Things to Do at Temple Square

Spanning 10 acres in downtown Salt Lake City, Temple Square serves as the global headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, featuring the iconic Salt Lake Temple with its six spires topped by the golden angel Moroni statue that has watched over the city since 1893. Free guided tours operate daily every 15 minutes in over 30 languages, while the Tabernacle's famous acoustics demonstrations occur hourly where visitors can hear a pin drop from the opposite end of the 250-foot oval building that houses the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The square's meticulously maintained gardens showcase over 250,000 flowers planted seasonally, while the visitor centers feature interactive exhibits about Mormon pioneer history and the construction of the temple that took 40 years to complete using granite blocks quarried 20 miles away and transported by ox-drawn wagons. Visit during December when over one million Christmas lights transform the square into a winter wonderland with themed displays, free concerts, and the scent of pine from massive Christmas trees, though summer offers comfortable evening temperatures for photography when the temple's illuminated spires reflect in the fountains' still water while crickets chirp in the heritage oak trees planted by early settlers.

Temple Square costs nothing to visit and sits right downtown where Main Street hits South Temple. The TRAX blue line runs straight from the airport to Temple Square for $2.50-much easier than driving. Downtown parking is tough, though there's a visitor garage on the square's north side. Most hotels are walking distance. The whole area works well for pedestrians, so you won't need a car once you're there.