Indianapolis Travel Guide
Best neighborhoods, things to do, and when to visit
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis centers on a compact downtown where the Central Canal and the Cultural Trail link museums, ballparks, and neighborhoods like Fountain Square. Racing history runs deep here, and the city pairs it with a large children's museum and an easy pace.
Airport
Indianapolis International Airport, just southwest of downtown
Language
English, with Spanish widely spoken
Currency
US dollar ($), cards accepted nearly everywhere
Ideal trip length
Three to four days, including day trips
Best time to visit Indianapolis
September – October
Average temperature
46-78°F (8-26°C), Mild, sunny afternoons with cool evenings and modest rainfall.
Crowd Level
Moderate
Reason To Visit
Early autumn brings afternoons near 78°F (26°C), cool evenings, and drier skies than spring. Canal walks, cycling on the Cultural Trail, and outdoor art fairs all feel easy in September and October.
Fall eventPenrod Arts Fair
Newfields
Things to do
Walk the Canal Walk, cycle the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, or browse the galleries at Newfields, then settle into a downtown basketball game once the leaves turn.
Popular events
Spring
Indianapolis 500, Indiana Artisan Marketplace, Saint Simon Festival
Summer
Indiana State Fair, Indy Pride Festival, Indiana Black Expo
Fall
Penrod Arts Fair, Harvest Nights at Newfields
Winter
Big Ten Football Championships, Straight No Chaser, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Where to stay in Indianapolis
Six Indianapolis neighborhoods, from the downtown grid to canal paths and racetrack streets.
Mile Square
Downtown's core, where sports venues, theaters and restaurants sit within a few blocks.
Known for
Theaters, arenas and dinner all within a short walk
Things to do nearby
Indiana Statehouse, Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Nearby neighborhoods
Fletcher Place, Old Northside, Downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis
The city center, with hotels, museums and the canal within easy reach on foot.
Known for
Central base for first-time visitors
Things to do nearby
Indiana World War Memorial, Indianapolis Public Library - Central Library, Lucas Oil Stadium
Nearby neighborhoods
Mile Square, Fletcher Place, Old Northside
Broad Ripple
A north-side district along the canal, with shops, bars and music venues.
Known for
Canal-side bars and late-night music
Things to do nearby
Indianapolis Arts Center, Broad Ripple Park
Nearby neighborhoods
Meridian Kessler, Butler-Tarkington, Nora
Fountain Square
A southeast-side neighborhood built around murals, galleries and small storefronts.
Known for
Murals, galleries and duckpin bowling
Things to do nearby
Fountain Square Theatre Building, The Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Garfield Park
Nearby neighborhoods
Fletcher Place, Bates - Hendricks, Holy Cross
Fletcher Place
A small historic pocket of brick homes just southeast of the downtown grid.
Known for
Restored homes a short walk from downtown
Things to do nearby
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum
Nearby neighborhoods
Fountain Square, Mile Square, Holy Cross
Speedway
A town wrapped around the racetrack, with a main street of shops and cafes.
Known for
Race weekends at the Speedway
Things to do nearby
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Eagle Creek Park
Nearby neighborhoods
Ben Davis, Clermont
Must see places in Indianapolis
Racing history, riverside museums, and 555 acres of green in Indiana's capital city
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The track behind the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400, with a motorsports museum on site.
Neighborhood
Speedway
Things to do nearby
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Time needed
2-3 hours
Childrens Museum
The world's largest children's museum, with dinosaur fossils and an outdoor sports area.
Neighborhood
Meridian Kessler
Things to do nearby
Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, Indianapolis Museum of Art
Time needed
3-4 hours
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
A monument to Indiana's veterans with a panoramic observatory and a Civil War museum below.
Neighborhood
Downtown Indianapolis
Things to do nearby
Indianapolis Canal Walk, Indiana State Museum
Time needed
1 hour
Indianapolis Zoo
Animal habitats, an aquarium, and a botanical garden share one riverside campus.
Things to do nearby
White River State Park, Eiteljorg Museum
Time needed
3-4 hours
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Galleries and gardens spread across a large campus, with art set outdoors as well as in.
Neighborhood
Crown Hill
Things to do nearby
Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, Holliday Park
Time needed
2-3 hours
Indianapolis Canal Walk
Three miles of paved loop along a downtown canal, with pedal boats and shaded benches.
Neighborhood
Downtown Indianapolis
Things to do nearby
Indiana State Museum, White River State Park
Time needed
1-2 hours
Indiana State Museum
Exhibits on Indiana history, science, and culture, plus an IMAX theater.
Neighborhood
Canal and White River State Park
Things to do nearby
Indianapolis Canal Walk, Eiteljorg Museum
Time needed
2 hours
Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery
A historic 555-acre landscape with a hilltop overlook of the downtown skyline.
Neighborhood
Crown Hill
Things to do nearby
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Holliday Park
Time needed
1-2 hours
Local recommendations by Airbnb hosts in Indianapolis
The spots Indianapolis hosts send guests to - and the tips they pass along
Lucas Oil Stadium
- Catch an Indianapolis Colts game and experience the stadium’s high-energy atmosphere on game day.
- Join a public tour on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 11 am, 1 pm, or 3 pm to explore the stadium.
- Check the event calendar for concerts, NCAA Final Four games, Monster Jam, Olympic trials, and other major events hosted here.
- Take time to appreciate the stadium’s massive red brick exterior, retractable roof, and window wall with downtown skyline views.
- Plan to enjoy nearby downtown restaurants, bars, and shops before or after your event at the stadium.
Turkey Run State Park
- Explore hiking trails ranging from easy paths to rough terrain with rock formations and small waterfalls.
- Tube, kayak, canoe, or rent a canoe to float down Sugar Creek through the park.
- Visit the Nature Center, then enjoy the outdoor pool, playgrounds, and picnic areas around the park.
- Plan time for horseback riding, then refuel with a meal at Turkey Run Inn’s restaurant.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track, then visit the museum to dive into racing history and rare winning cars.
- Join a guided “Kiss the Bricks” track tour to experience the famous yard of bricks like past champions.
- Check the Speedway’s event calendar, as races, tours, and other motorsport events are hosted throughout the year.
Childrens Museum
- Explore five floors of hands-on exhibits, from dinosaurs and space to sports and science activities.
- Let kids dig for dinosaur bones, climb the dinosaur wall, and try the space station simulator.
- Plan at least half a day, and possibly most of a day, to fully explore the museum.
- Arrive early, buy tickets online, wear comfy shoes, and bring water and snacks for the day.
Butler University
- Catch a basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, a college arena often ranked among the top nationally.
- Enjoy live performances and great music by attending events at Clowes Hall on campus.
- Attend a variety of Butler sporting events, including football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer games.
Eagle Creek Park
- Explore miles of hiking and biking trails through woods, wetlands, and along the reservoir.
- Rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, or paddle boats and enjoy the park’s lakes and reservoir.
- Visit the ornithology and wildlife discovery centers and look for some of the park’s many bird species.
- Try the Go Ape zip-line and ropes course for a more adventurous way to experience the park.
Places to eat and drink in Indianapolis
Empanadas, self-pour taps and skyline cocktails across Indy's neighborhoods
Indianapolis City Market
An 1886 market house downtown with stalls serving tacos, sandwiches, and coffee under a brick roof.
Highlights
Downtown market hub
Why do locals love it
Lunch counters sit beneath original iron trusses and clerestory windows.
Milktooth
Daytime cooking in a former garage in Fletcher Place, with Dutch baby pancakes and espresso.
Highlights
Dutch baby pancakes
Why do locals love it
The menu shifts with Indiana growing seasons, so pastries change week to week.
Shapiro's Delicatessen
A cafeteria-line deli open since 1905, slicing corned beef and stacking rye sandwiches.
Highlights
House-made corned beef
Why do locals love it
You watch the carver build your sandwich as the tray slides down the rail.
Bluebeard
Seasonal plates and house bread in a 1924 warehouse named for a Kurt Vonnegut novel.
Highlights
Amelia's bread
Why do locals love it
The adjoining bakery supplies loaves you can smell from the dining room.
Long's Bakery
A cash-only doughnut shop making glazed yeast rings and cinnamon rolls since 1955.
Highlights
Cash-only bakery
Why do locals love it
Doughnuts leave the glazing table warm enough to soften the box.
St. Elmo Steak House
A 1902 downtown steakhouse known for its horseradish-heavy shrimp cocktail and dry-aged beef.
Highlights
shrimp cocktail
Why do locals love it
The tableside shrimp cocktail arrives with a sinus-clearing horseradish sauce.
Bocca
Italian cooking that moves between classic and modern, with a speakeasy tucked inside.
Highlights
Classic Italian dishes, speakeasy
Why do locals love it
Dinner and a hidden bar under one roof
Livery
Latin-inspired cooking in a historic building, with seating up on the roof.
Highlights
Empanadas, rooftop seating
Why do locals love it
Paella and empanadas in an older building
Explore Indianapolis: The best travel itineraries
Two routes through Indianapolis, one built for a single day downtown and a longer loop that reaches parks, racing history and neighborhood tables.
Experienced Airbnb hosts in Indianapolis
2,340+
Places to stay in Indianapolis
4,270+
Verified guest reviews in Indianapolis
224,520+
Average rating in Indianapolis
4.8
1 Day trip
A downtown day that moves from museum galleries to the canal loop, ending with jazz a few blocks from Monument Circle.
Morning
Indiana stories under one roof
Check IMAX showtimes when you arrive so you can plan around a screening.
Afternoon
Canal loop and a market lunch
Pedal boats rent by the hour, and shaded benches line the paved path.
Evening
Live jazz in a downtown dive
Seating is limited, so arrive early for a spot near the band.
3 Day trip
Three days linking the downtown canal and monuments, the speedway and art campus, and the brewery blocks just south of the center.
Morning
Canal loop on foot
Pedal boats rent by the hour near the downtown stretch.
Afternoon
Museums in the park
The state museum shares the park with an IMAX screen.
Evening
Monument and live jazz
Climb to the observatory before dinner hour crowds.
Morning
The Brickyard
Track tours depend on the racing and event calendar.
Afternoon
Race cars up close
The museum sits inside the speedway grounds.
Evening
Art and gardens
Grounds stay open later than the galleries in summer.
Morning
Dutch baby for breakfast
Weekend waits run long, so arrive early.
Afternoon
Beer and live music
Dogs are welcome in the taproom area.
Evening
Cocktails and cabinets
Classic arcade games play for free.
5-7 Day trip
A five-day route through the city center, the Speedway, the museum district and the neighborhoods that circle downtown, with time for markets, breweries and jazz.
Morning
Climb the monument
The observatory has a stair option and an elevator; check hours before you go.
Afternoon
Market lunch, then the canal
Eat first at the market, then walk the shaded canal loop.
Evening
Steak house classic
Reservations help, especially on event nights.
Morning
Native American and Western art
Galleries are compact enough for a focused two-hour visit.
Afternoon
Indiana, floor by floor
Time your visit around an IMAX showing if the schedule suits.
Evening
Live jazz in a dive
Seating is tight, so arrive early for a spot near the band.
Morning
Race cars up close
Track tours sell out on race weekends; buy tickets ahead.
Afternoon
Doughnuts, then a hilltop view
Long's is cash only, so bring bills before you head to the cemetery.
Evening
Latin plates and a rooftop
Ask for rooftop seating when the weather cooperates.
Morning
Art and grounds
The gardens and outdoor works need comfortable shoes and an extra hour.
Afternoon
Trails and a nature center
Trail maps are posted at the nature center entrance.
Evening
Cocktails where the coffee is
Pastries run out late in the day; go for the evening drinks list.
Morning
Tropical plants in Garfield Park
Mornings are quietest inside the glasshouse.
Afternoon
Dinosaurs and hands-on floors
Five floors add up; pick two exhibits and take your time.
Evening
Bread and a long dinner
Bar seats often open up before tables do.
Family travel
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the White River State Park zoo, and a lap around the Motor Speedway museum fill a weekend.
Couple travel
Share a canal boat ride downtown, dinner in Broad Ripple, and a slow wander through the gardens at Newfields.
Solo travel
Walk the Cultural Trail from Mass Ave to Fountain Square, then spend a quiet afternoon in the Indianapolis Museum of Art galleries.
How to get around Indianapolis
Metro and train
Indianapolis has no local metro. Amtrak serves Union Station downtown for regional trips, so check the operator for current schedules before you plan.
Bus
IndyGo buses cover the city, with bus rapid transit lines running frequently along key corridors. Check the operator for routes, fares, and hours.
Rental car
Streets follow a clear grid, and interstates ring the city. Downtown parking is mostly metered or in garages, so allow time to find a spot.
Walking
The Cultural Trail links downtown neighborhoods on protected paths, and the Monon Trail heads north. Both are flat and easy on foot or by bike.
Generated with AI and may contain mistakes. Sources include third-party travel data and Airbnb data from listings, hosts, and host guidebooks. Updated September 2026.