Salt Lake City Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: explore at your own pace

See the city without a rental car or a fixed itinerary

A hop on hop off bus tour of Salt Lake City lets you ride a double-decker or open-top bus around the city's main landmarks—Temple Square, Utah State Capitol, Natural History Museum, Red Butte Garden, Hogle Zoo and more—and hop off at any stop to explore on your own time. A live English-speaking guide narrates the route; you control how long you stay at each site. Real-time bus tracking on an interactive map shows when the next bus arrives at your stop. Bottled water is included.

The Experience

You board at Salt Palace Convention Center and ride past or stop at a single downtown loop: Gateway Mall's open-air shops and galleries, Clark Planetarium and Discovery Gateway Children's Museum (both near the starting point), then Pioneer Park, the Salt Lake City Farmers Market, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Utah State Capitol, Temple Square with its FamilySearch Library and Church History Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Utah paired with Red Butte Garden. The bus runs all day, so you set the rhythm—stay twenty minutes at one stop or three hours at another.

The closed-top double-decker bus keeps you comfortable in any weather, or switch to the open-top single-deck if you want unobstructed views and photos. Either way, the guide provides live narration as you roll past each landmark, so you learn what you're seeing even when you don't get off. The interactive map on your phone or device tracks the bus in real time, which means you're never guessing how long until the next one arrives—useful when you're deciding whether to grab lunch or head back to your hotel.

This setup works for a first visit when you want to sample neighborhoods without committing to a full guided tour, or for a free afternoon when you'd rather not drive or hunt for parking. Children from age 5 ride comfortably; younger kids can bring a stroller. The route is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Hop on hop off access to all stops on the downtown route.
• live English-language guide narration.
• bottled water.
• real-time bus tracking via interactive map.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by SLC Bus Tours

Is this one for you?The live English guide means you hear context for what you're seeing even if you stay on the bus the whole loop, which works well for a first visit or a language preference. If you speak another language or prefer to explore silently with a map, this tour may not suit you—look for a self-guided ticket option instead.

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Top questions

Can I get off the bus at Temple Square and spend as much time as I want there?

Yes. Temple Square is a main stop on the route, and you can stay as long as you like—the FamilySearch Library and Church History Museum are both there. When you're ready to move on, check the real-time map for the next bus arrival and hop back on.

What's the difference between the double-decker and open-top buses?

The closed-top double-decker bus protects you from weather and keeps you warm or cool. The open-top single-deck bus gives you unobstructed views and better photos, but you're exposed to sun and wind. Both run the same route and stops.

How many attractions does the bus route actually visit?

The downtown loop includes nine main stops or stop clusters: Gateway Mall, Clark Planetarium and Discovery Gateway, Pioneer Park and the Farmers Market, Salt Lake City and County Building, Hogle Zoo, This Is The Place Heritage Park, the Natural History Museum and Red Butte Garden, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Utah State Capitol, and Temple Square. You choose which ones to explore.

Is there a guide on the bus, and what language does he or she speak?

A live guide provides narration throughout the route in English, explaining landmarks and neighborhoods as you pass them. The guide is there whether you hop off or stay on board.

What happens if I miss a bus at a stop—how long do I wait for the next one?

The real-time tracking map on your phone shows exactly when the next bus will arrive at your stop, so you know whether to wait five minutes or twenty. You're not left guessing.

Can I bring my young children on this tour?

Children from age 5 are welcome on the bus. Younger children can ride in a stroller or pram. The bus is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed.