Indianapolis, United States travel guide

Motor racing legend, a canal-lined downtown and one of America's most walkable Midwest cores.

Best time to visit: May-June, September-October
Average daily budget: $110 to $210 USD
Ideal trip length: 2 to 3 days

Indianapolis packs an unusual amount into a flat, walkable downtown: a canal walk, the world's largest children's museum, a war-memorial district modelled on European capitals, and a speedway that hosts the biggest single-day sporting event on earth. It's affordable, friendly and easy to navigate, with a food scene in Mass Ave and Fountain Square that punches above the city's reputation.

Indianapolis itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ride the famous oval, kiss the bricks and visit the museum home of the Indy 500.

Afternoon: Explore Downtown / Mile Square, Monument Circle, the canal, stadiums and most hotels, all walkable.

Evening: Walk the Canal and White River State Park. A calm downtown waterway lined with museums, paddle boats and memorials.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: Visit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The largest of its kind in the world, and genuinely worth it even without kids in tow.

Afternoon: Explore Mass Ave, The arts and dining strip: theatres, cocktail bars and independent shops.

Evening: Bike the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. An eight-mile protected urban path linking six cultural districts.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: See Newfields and the Lume. A major art museum with a 100-acre garden park and immersive digital exhibitions.

Afternoon: Explore Fountain Square, Vintage-cool with duckpin bowling, murals, dive bars and creative kitchens.

Evening: The Indiana War Memorial's upper shrine room, a quietly astonishing interior most visitors miss.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Best neighbourhoods

Downtown / Mile Square: Monument Circle, the canal, stadiums and most hotels, all walkable.
Mass Ave: The arts and dining strip: theatres, cocktail bars and independent shops.
Fountain Square: Vintage-cool with duckpin bowling, murals, dive bars and creative kitchens.
Broad Ripple: A leafy village north of downtown with nightlife and the Monon Trail.

Must-do experiences

Tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Ride the famous oval, kiss the bricks and visit the museum home of the Indy 500.
Walk the Canal and White River State Park: A calm downtown waterway lined with museums, paddle boats and memorials.
Visit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest of its kind in the world, and genuinely worth it even without kids in tow.
Bike the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: An eight-mile protected urban path linking six cultural districts.
See Newfields and the Lume: A major art museum with a 100-acre garden park and immersive digital exhibitions.

Hidden gems

The Indiana War Memorial's upper shrine room, a quietly astonishing interior most visitors miss.
Garfield Park Conservatory and its sunken gardens south of downtown.
Duckpin bowling in the basement of the Fountain Square Theatre Building.
Holliday Park's Ruins, salvaged neoclassical statuary set in a wooded park.

Daily budget

$110 to $210 USD per day.

What to eat

A breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, the state's signature overhang-the-bun classic
St Elmo's shrimp cocktail with its famously punishing horseradish
Tacos and pupusas along the International Marketplace on the west side
Craft beer at Sun King or Fountain Square Brewing

Getting around

Downtown is flat, gridded and genuinely walkable, and the Cultural Trail makes cycling easy with Pacers Bikeshare. The IndyGo Red Line bus rapid transit runs north-south for $1.75. A car is only needed for the Speedway, Newfields or suburbs. Indianapolis International Airport is 20 minutes southwest, about $30 by rideshare or $1.75 on the IndyGo Route 8 bus.

Safety

Downtown, Mass Ave, Fountain Square and Broad Ripple are fine to walk in the evening, particularly during events. As with most US cities, keep valuables out of parked cars and be more alert in quiet areas east and near-east of downtown late at night. Event nights bring crowds and heavy drinking around the stadiums, so plan your ride out early.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Indianapolis?

Two to three. One day covers downtown, the Canal Walk, Monument Circle and Mass Ave; a second is for the Motor Speedway and Newfields; a third adds the Children's Museum, Fountain Square and a ride along the Cultural Trail.

When is the best time to visit Indianapolis?

May to June and September to October for warm, mild days and the best event calendar. May brings the Indy 500 and its huge crowds and hotel prices. Summers are humid, and winters are cold and grey but cheap, with Colts and Pacers games to fill the days.

Is Indianapolis expensive?

One of the better-value big US cities: $110 to $210 a day. Downtown hotels usually run $110 to $190, a good dinner $20 to $40, and most museums $18 to $30. Race weekend and major convention dates are the exception, when hotel rates can easily triple.

Is Indianapolis walkable?

Yes, unusually so for the Midwest. The Mile Square downtown is flat and compact, and the eight-mile Cultural Trail connects downtown to Fountain Square and other districts on protected paths. You only need a car for the Speedway or suburbs.

Can you visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway year-round?

Yes. The museum and grounds are open most of the year, and track laps in a bus or a two-seater ride are available on non-event days. Access is restricted during race weekends and testing, so check the schedule before you go.

Is Indianapolis safe for tourists?

Yes in the areas visitors use: downtown, Mass Ave, Fountain Square, Broad Ripple and the museum district. Crime is concentrated in residential neighbourhoods away from the core. Standard precautions apply, especially not leaving valuables visible in parked cars.

What is Indianapolis known for?

The Indy 500 and motorsport above all, plus the Colts, the Pacers and a reputation as a major convention and sports-hosting city. It's also known for the Cultural Trail, the world's largest children's museum and famously affordable prices.

Tours and activities in Indianapolis | Indianapolis in 3 days | Indianapolis in 5 days | Indianapolis in 7 days