Indianapolis in 7 days

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.

Day 1, Land & wander

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

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.

Eat: A breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, the state's signature overhang-the-bun classic

Day 2, Iconic sights

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

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.

Eat: St Elmo's shrimp cocktail with its famously punishing horseradish

Day 3, Food & markets

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

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.

Eat: Tacos and pupusas along the International Marketplace on the west side

Day 4, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Broad Ripple, A leafy village north of downtown with nightlife and the Monon Trail.

Morning: Garfield Park Conservatory and its sunken gardens south of downtown.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Broad Ripple, A leafy village north of downtown with nightlife and the Monon Trail.

Evening: Duckpin bowling in the basement of the Fountain Square Theatre Building.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Craft beer at Sun King or Fountain Square Brewing

Day 5, Day trip

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

Morning: Holliday Park's Ruins, salvaged neoclassical statuary set in a wooded park.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

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

Evening: Dinner at A breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, the state's signature overhang-the-bun classic, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Downtown / Mile Square.

Eat: A breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, the state's signature overhang-the-bun classic

Day 6, Hidden gems

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

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Mass Ave, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

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

Evening: Dinner at St Elmo's shrimp cocktail with its famously punishing horseradish, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Mass Ave.

Eat: St Elmo's shrimp cocktail with its famously punishing horseradish

Day 7, Slow finish

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

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Fountain Square, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

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

Evening: Dinner at Tacos and pupusas along the International Marketplace on the west side, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Fountain Square.

Eat: Tacos and pupusas along the International Marketplace on the west side

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.

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.

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