The new Temple Square Visitors' Center opened on May 18, 2026, and it has quickly become the place to start any visit to downtown Salt Lake City's most famous block. With the Salt Lake Temple opening to the public in April 2027, millions of people are expected to pass through it over the next year. Here is what is inside, what it costs (nothing), and how to plan a visit from Utah Valley.
Facts here come from the Church's own announcements and from Church News and KSL coverage of the April 13 media preview; TempleSquare.org has current hours and reservations.
The Essentials
- Where: the south side of Temple Square, south of the Salt Lake Temple.
- Hours: open every day from 9 a.m., according to the Church. Check TempleSquare.org for closing times and holiday schedules.
- Cost: free.
- Reservations: not needed for most exhibits; available through TempleSquare.org or the Temple Square app for the guided Inside a Temple experience.
- Size: about 39,800 square feet over two wings and a lower level.
What Is Inside
The Christus. A replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's famous statue of Jesus Christ stands in the west wing, framed by large windows. For anyone who remembers it in the old North Visitors' Center, this is its new home.
The Salt Lake Temple model. Across from the Christus, the east wing holds a cutaway scale model of the Salt Lake Temple that opens its interior to view, room by room. With the real temple closed until 2027, it is the closest look most people have had inside.
Come Unto Me. Where the two wings meet on the lower level stands a new marble sculpture by Swiss artist Christian Bolt, showing the Savior extending an invitation of peace.
Inside a Temple. The lower level holds a guided experience through full-scale replicas of temple rooms: a welcome desk, a baptistry, an instruction room, a sealing room and a celestial room. The Church notes these are not copies of rooms in the Salt Lake Temple; they exist so anyone, member or not, can see what the inside of a temple is like. Church News has reported that tickets for this tour are released every other Monday on TempleSquare.org.
Temples of the world. A gallery of 11 built-to-scale miniature temples from around the world sits on the lower level, along with a globe showing where temples stand and a quilt representing families worldwide, according to KSL.
Outside
The grounds around the visitors' center have been landscaped with gardens and bronze statues depicting scenes from the Savior's ministry and moments from Church history. Two new statues, Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross and Jesus Christ in Gethsemane, stand outside the east and west wings.
How It Fits With the 2027 Open House
The visitors' center is a permanent attraction, open now, but it was built with the Salt Lake Temple open house in mind. During the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, April 5 through October 1, 2027, it will be the natural first stop before or after a tour of the temple itself, and its scale model and Inside a Temple rooms are a good way to prepare children for what they will see. If you cannot get a temple ticket for the day you want, a visit here still shows you a great deal.
Planning a Visit From Utah Valley
Take the train. FrontRunner from Provo runs to downtown Salt Lake City, where TRAX connects to Temple Square.
If you drive, KSL reported free parking at the Conference Center with validation, and Church News noted parking at City Creek Center, south of Temple Square, with the first two hours free.
Plan for an hour or two. The self-guided exhibits move at your pace, and the Inside a Temple tour is a separate, scheduled experience. Combine it with a walk around the rest of Temple Square and lunch downtown, and it makes an easy family day.
Bring questions. The visitors' center is designed for people of every faith, and our guide to visiting Utah Valley's temples covers what anyone can see at temples closer to home.
Related Guides
- Salt Lake Temple Open House 2027: Dates, Free Tickets and Planning the Trip From Utah Valley
- Visiting Utah Valley's Temples: A Guide for Everyone
- Utah Valley Temple Open Houses and Dedications: What's Coming
- FrontRunner from Provo: What to Know Before You Ride
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new Temple Square Visitors' Center open?
What are the Temple Square Visitors' Center hours?
Is the Temple Square Visitors' Center free?
What is the Inside a Temple experience?
Where is the Christus statue on Temple Square now?
Where do I park for the Temple Square Visitors' Center?
Is the visitors' center part of the Salt Lake Temple open house?
Can people who are not Latter-day Saints visit?
