Did you know that Salt Lake City has a double-decker bus driving around downtown giving tours? These include holiday lights tours, historical tours of downtown, and a night tour. Best of all, the SLC Bus tours stop and lead you through some of Utah’s best sites, as well as some little known secrets. Though we consider ourselves experts on Utah, we found a few things that we didn’t know existed, right in the center of SLC. We took the Christmas Lights Tour on Salt Lake City Bus tours, and had an amazing time. We also have a discount code for you to use! More details below.
Christmas Lights Tour
SLC Bus Tours actually runs 2 different kinds of tours. The first is a guided tour like the Christmas light tour we went on. This tour takes roughly an hour, and you hop on the bus and make a few fun stops. The bus is amazing, because it’s a double-decker, and we sat on top and listened to Moe’s narration (the driver) as he drove us around downtown. Along the way we enjoyed complimentary snacks and water, and learned a lot about the city’s history. We also enjoyed the Christmas lights around the city while we drove. The bus went past Temple Square, and the Delta Center, and other places that have beautiful lights on display.
We also stopped twice on this Salt Lake City bus tour. We stopped once to spend a few minutes at the Grand America Hotel. This included a walk through to enjoy the Holiday Window Stroll, which we love. The other stop was to see a visit a special part of Little Italy. I won’t spoil too much, but this stop did include free chocolate samples and discount chocolate prices. Both times it was easy to get on and off the bus without worrying about parking or heavy traffic. We just got to enjoy the tour.
Hop on Hop Off Tour
SLC Bus Tours also has a hop-on-hop-off tour that lasts all day (or even 2 days). This one seems perfect for visitors to SLC. Once you’ve purchased tickets, you take the loop around the city. The bus returns every 90 minutes on the same loop, so you can hop off an explore This is the Place Heritage Park for an hour and a half, and then take it to the next stop and jump off for lunch. Later, you can hope back on and continue to the next stop. You can continue doing this all day.
Speaking of lunch, Moe, the driver is an expert in downtown cuisine. He has arranged with several restaurants for sizable discounts if you stop at their restaurants. We picked up a 50% discount at a local steakhouse that he recommended on the tour. It was a short walk from the last stop, and we had a great meal and a good deal waiting for us.
Discount and More Details
SLC Bus Tours meets in front of the Salt Palace Convention Center on the west side just across from City Creek. You will need to find parking nearby. We recommend using the City Creek Parking structure since it easy and affordable.
Salt Lake City Bus Tours is also offering a discount for followers using our code. Click on this link and use the code UAF10 for 10% off. Enjoy the ride!
If you are looking for other Christmas activity ideas, you might one of these posts:
What a fantastic and stress-free idea for enjoying the holiday lights! As a parent, the thought of driving through crowded neighborhoods, dealing with parking, and listening to constant “Are we there yet?” from the backseat can really dim the holiday cheer. This bus tour solves all of that.
You’ve highlighted the perfect benefits: everyone gets to look out the window together, it’s warm and cozy, and the narrated aspect adds so much value by sharing the stories behind the displays and the city’s history. It turns a simple light-viewing trip into a real event and a family memory.
This is now at the top of our family’s December activity list. Thank you for the thorough details on booking, what to bring, and what to expect—it makes planning so easy. Here’s to a magical, hassle-free holiday outing!