Where to Stay in Salt Lake City, Utah – 4 BEST Areas

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Aerial view of a cityscape with a prominent domed building surrounded by smaller skyscrapers and greenery, mountains in the background.

Planning a trip to Salt Lake City, and trying to figure out all the details – from what to do to which hotel to book? Well, I guess it’s your lucky day because if you scroll down a bit, you’ll find a top-notch post about where to stay in Salt Lake City and all the attractions you shouldn’t miss here.

To help you out, I did my research and compared all the Salt Lake City neighborhoods! Based on this, I compiled a list of the 4 best areas to stay in Salt Lake City and handpicked the top hotels in each area and for every type of budget.

Downtown is the best area to stay in Salt Lake City, a place where you can explore many museums and art galleries, try some nice restaurants, and stay in some of the nicest hotels in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City (SLC for short) is a popular destination, so it’s very important to book your hotel in advance. All the good and fun hotels in Salt Lake City sell out fast, so you need to hurry up to secure your spot and get the best deals.

Come one. We’ve got lots to see!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

If you want to book right now, quickly browse the list below, featuring the best hotels in Downtown Salt Lake City:

budget hotel

BPOSHTELS SLC

Best affordable accommodation in the center

Here’s a map that will help you visualize the 4 Salt Lake City areas I will be talking about in this post:

1. Downtown – where to stay in Salt Lake City for the first time

A cityscape view of tall office buildings under a partly cloudy sky, with mountains visible in the background.

The capital city of Utah is waiting for you to start your fun adventure – and the best place to do it is Downtown Salt Lake City. The Downtown is a vibrant neighborhood filled with many attractions, including museums, restaurants, and art galleries, making it the perfect spot for first-time visitors.

SLC’s Downtown has a lot to offer, so you may be wondering where to start your explorations! Well, I suggest you kick things off with a visit to Temple Square (map), which houses the impressive Salt Lake Utah Temple (map), the largest Mormon temple in the world, and the Salt Lake City Tabernacle (map), home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

FUN FACT: Utah has the largest Mormon population in the world, and Mormons make up about 49% of the population in Salt Lake County.

From Temple Square, you can go on to visit some museums – I recommend the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art for all the art lovers out there. For families with kids, the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum and the Clark Planetarium are an absolute must!

Street view of an intersection with a sculpture featuring an eagle. Vehicles and pedestrians are present, and a multi-story building is visible in the background under a clear sky.

There’s plenty more to do in Downtown Salt Lake City, so if you want to do some shopping, the City Creek Center (map) and The Gateway (map) are amazing shopping centers that feature many stores and cool spots to eat.

If you want to eat delicious food or spend your nights partying, Downtown is the ultimate place to do it! The Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (map) is the best spot if you want to treat yourself to a fine dining experience, while The Complex (map) and the Metro Music Hall (map) are the top spots to party at a live music event.

When you feel like you need to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle, head to Pioneer Park (map) and take a relaxing walk; if you happen to be visiting during summer, the park hosts a farmers’ market every Saturday morning – be sure to check it out.

And if you want to get to know the true spirit of Salt Lake City, take some time to walk around the neighborhood and admire all the stunning murals. You’ll see rock legends and other cool images of different buildings downtown. You can find a map with all the locations here.

In case you want to explore other areas, know that Downtown Salt Lake City offers excellent public transport that includes buses, light rail, and commuter trains. Best of all, SLC has a Free Fare Zone, which allows you to ride for free on the buses and light rail (TRAX) that operate within the zone – see the map here!

Now, let’s discover all the nice hotels in Salt Lake City Downtown!

Luxury hotel

Kimpton Hotel Monaco

Relax with in-room spa services at a great hotel in a central location that gives you easy access to the attractions in the Downtown area. There’s also a fitness center on-site if you want to work out and a restaurant that serves delicious food!

Other accommodation options in Downtown

Mid-Range

AC Hotel By Marriott

Enjoy your stay in the Marriott Downtown, a modern hotel that has comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, and a fitness center

Budget

Bposhtels SLC

This hostel offers accommodation in dormitory rooms, luggage storage, and an on-site sauna, plus free parking

Airbnb

Historic, Urban Loft

This looks like such a cozy place! The loft offers free parking, a kitchen, and free Wi-Fi

Since Downtown Salt Lake City is the most popular and the best place to stay in Salt Lake City, hotels sell out super fast. If you don’t find availability for your dates in any of the hotels recommended above, here are 4 more hotels in different price categories, listed from most to least expensive:

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City ($$$) – a 5-star hotel that provides access to a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and 3 on-site restaurants. Other perks of staying here include room service and a delicious complimentary breakfast
Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites ($$) – at this hotel, you can use the indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna and enjoy the comfortable rooms with modern furnishings, en suite bathrooms, and cable TV
Hilton Garden Inn ($$) – all rooms at this 3-star property are air-conditioned, with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom stocked with free toiletries. The hotel also has an indoor pool, free parking and offers a free shuttle service
Hampton Inn ($) – a more affordable Downtown hotel, perfect if you’re staying in the city for one night. During your stay, you’ll enjoy daily complimentary breakfast, access to a hot tub and an indoor heated pool, and free Wi-Fi access

Reflection of a historic church with three spires in a pool, surrounded by trees and adjacent buildings, under a clear blue sky.

Things to do in Downtown

Admire the Salt Lake Utah Temple in Temple Square
Visit the Salt Lake City Tabernacle and see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Go on a guided bus tour of Salt Lake City
Explore the art collections at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
Visit the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum and the Clark Planetarium
Do some shopping at City Creek Center and The Gateway
Enjoy some steak and wine at the Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Attend a performance at the Eccles Theater
Party the night away at The Complex or at the Metro Music Hall
Spend a relaxing afternoon at Pioneer Park and walk around to discover the murals

2. Sugar House – trendiest place to stay in Salt Lake City

Park with a reflecting lake, surrounded by trees and mountains. Seagulls are floating on the water.

Sugar House is one of Salt Lake City’s oldest neighborhoods and it’s located 7 miles (11 km) Southwest of Downtown. The neighborhood is known as the city’s hipster area and it’s usually frequented by youngsters and tourists alike. So, if you’re looking for cool places to stay in Salt Lake City, this is definitely a great choice for you.

As you can only expect from a cool and trendy neighborhood, there are plenty of bars and breweries where you can have a drink and join the local social scene. The Wasatch Brew Pub (map) is an amazing spot to grab a beer and enjoy a delicious burger, and the Tap Room (map) is another great place to get a drink in a lively but laid-back atmosphere.

However, if you need a little break from all the bar-hopping, it’s best to spend a day in the park! Sugar House Park (map) is a large green space where you can sit by the cute little lake, go for a walk, or hop on a bicycle and ride along the park.

Other things you can do during the day include shopping at the Sugarhouse Shopping Center (map) and walking around the neighborhood to admire the street art and explore some cool shops.

Sugar House is well-connected to Downtown SLC by public transport, so you can easily reach other attractions in the city. But with the huge variety of pubs, cafes, and clubs, I’m sure you’ll want to hang around here for a while. However, if you want to explore the city more extensively and have complete freedom while doing it, I recommend renting a car. Even though public transport is good, a car is the better choice if you’re not staying Downtown or you just want to see more of the city.

Luxury hotel

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

Looking for a modern hotel for your stay in Salt Lake City? I highly recommend this one as it has an indoor swimming pool and a business center, so you can catch up on your work. Have breakfast and then head to the sun terrace for coffee or tea before you head out to explore around.

Other accommodation options in Sugar House

Mid-Range

Home2 Suites

Go for a swim in the pool or take advantage of the BBQ facilities at this 3-star hotel

Budget

Extended Stay America Suites

Although this hotel is a bit lower-rated, it’s very affordable and offers free Wi-Fi, parking, and laundry services

Airbnb

House on Sunset Hill

I like the design of this house! It’s pet-friendly and has 2 rooms, a kitchen, and a bathtub

Things to do in Sugar House

Try some of the beers at the Wasatch Brew Pub or get a drink at the Tap Room
Spend a relaxing day at Sugar House Park
Get a coffee and some dessert from Sugar House Coffee (map)
Do some shopping at the Sugarhouse Shopping Center
Walk around the neighborhood and admire the street art
Go out to the Parleys Historic Nature Park (map) and spend a day in nature

3. Central City – where to stay in SLC for foodies

A city street lined with tall buildings and trees under a clear blue sky. A light rail track runs down the center.

Central City is a large area that encompasses a good portion of Downtown SLC and stretches further East of Downtown. Compared to Downtown, Central City is more laid-back and artsy. It also features a few green spaces and many fabulous restaurants and eateries, making this the best area to stay in Salt Lake City, Utah, for food enthusiasts.

The first place you should visit during your stay in Central City is Liberty Park (map)! This lovely park boasts a lovely lake populated with ducks and is home to the Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park, where you can view and feed birds. Before your visit to the Aviary, grab some breakfast at The Park Café (map) – it will keep you energized for the rest of the day!

Other great foodie spots to check out in Central City are Banbury Cross Donuts (map) to try the most delicious donuts, Gourmandise (map) for coffee and dessert, and the Skillets Food Truck (map) for the tastiest street food.

NOTE: Food trucks are quite popular in Salt Lake City, and they offer some of the most authentic and delicious food in the city. Some of them can change locations, while some have varying operating hours. More info on the trucks’ exact locations and additional resources are available here.

A stone bridge spans a small creek surrounded by autumn trees in a city park. Skyscrapers are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

If you like to visit unique spots in every new city, then I’m sure you’ll love the Gilgal Sculpture Garden (map). This is a sprawling garden that features many original sculptures and Mormon stone inscriptions – it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Another cool spot to visit is The Leonardo, an art museum that features cool exhibitions and puts on various events. If you still find yourself looking for things to do, head out to the nearby University area (map) and do some more exploring.

Within the University area, you’ll find the Natural History Museum of Utah, a great spot to spend a day with the family, and Utah’s Hogle Zoo, yet another kid-friendly attraction. There’s also the This Is The Place Heritage Park (map) that offers train rides, a petting zoo, and even a Native American village, as well as the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.

Luxury hotel

Grand America Hotel

A top-rated hotel in an ideal location for exploring the attractions in the city center, featuring a full-service spa, a gym, and an indoor and outdoor pool. Some of the benefits of staying here include 24-hour room service, tour assistance, and on-site dining.

Other accommodation options in Central City

Mid-range

Anniversary Inn – 5th South

This adults-only accommodation has romantic themed rooms and provides a signature breakfast delivered to the room each morning

Budget

Lady Madonna Sage Flat

A comfortable and spacious apartment featuring 1 bedroom, a bathroom, and a fully equipped kitchen, plus complimentary wine or champagne

Things to do in Central City

Relax by the lake in Liberty Park and feed the birds at the Tracy Aviary
Grab some breakfast at The Park Café
Enjoy a sweet treat from Banbury Cross Donuts or Gourmandise
Check out the Gilgal Sculpture Garden
Admire the art at The Leonardo
Treat yourself to a delicious meal from the Skillets Food Truck
Visit the Natural History Museum of Utah and Utah’s Hogle Zoo

4. Avenues/Capitol Hill – for outdoor activities

Aerial view of a city with a prominent white dome building, surrounded by greenery and hills under a clear blue sky.

My final recommendation for the best area to stay in Salt Lake City, Utah, actually encompasses 2 different but adjacent neighborhoods – Capitol Hill and the Avenues. Just a 25-30 min ride from Downtown, these 2 areas have a quieter atmosphere and offer many opportunities for outdoor activities.

While exploring Capitol Hill, your first stop should be the Utah State Capitol (map) – admission is free, and you can walk around the building admiring the architecture and the art. Then, you can head on to the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum, featuring an extensive collection of, you guessed it – Land Cruisers.

If you like hiking, there are a couple of good trails here you should definitely check out – the Ensign Peak Trailhead (see trail map) and City Creek Canyon Trailhead (see trail map).

Capitol Hill, besides being considered the safest place to stay in Salt Lake City, is also close to the Salt Lake City International Airport (map) – it’s just an 8-min drive. So, if you need to be close to the airport, this is the ideal place to stay.

The Avenues neighborhood doesn’t feature that many attractions, so it’s a great place to relax and unwind. Here, you can spend a lot of time in nature, exploring the Tomahawk Natural Area (map), or if you’re looking to visit some cultural landmarks, stop by the Cathedral of the Madeleine (map).

Since there are not too many things to do around here, you can venture outside the neighborhood. I recommend visiting the Utah State Fairpark (map), a large events venue that also hosts the Utah State Fair – check the official website for more info.

Luxury hotel

Ellerbeck Bed & Breakfast

An upscale B&B with an on-site restaurant, a coffee shop, and a lounge, as well as free private parking, 24-hour front desk, and full-day security. The rooms are super comfortable, and some of them feature a balcony or a terrace overlooking the mountain. The B&B is in an ideal location for hiking and also offers ski storage.