Get the app

Indiana, United States

Indianapolis

Spend a day and a half: downtown monuments and the Cultural Trail, Newfields, and a morning at the Speedway. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 3 places to eat, plus how Indianapolis fits into a longer trip.

Plan Indianapolis with friendsBrowse 9 places
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Places
9

4 See · 1 Do · 3 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop

Best season
May – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

29°C / 84°F avg high

Coolest month
January

1°C / 35°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 134 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Indianapolis

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around across Downtown, White River State Park and Butler-Tarkington.

  • Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in IndianapolisPhoto: alexeatswhales · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument

    Monument Circle's 284-foot centerpiece; ride or climb to the observation deck.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 45 min
  • Eiteljorg Museum in IndianapolisPhoto: Lebu Ayiga · Google
    See

    Eiteljorg Museum

    Museum of Native American and Western art in White River State Park.

    • White River State Park
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
  • Newfields in IndianapolisPhoto: Stephen S. · Google
    See

    Newfields

    Indianapolis Museum of Art plus 100+ acres of gardens and the Lilly House.

    • Butler-Tarkington
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Morning
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in IndianapolisPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

    Race cars and Indy 500 history at the speedway; grounds tours often run.

    Tip Add the track tour or a lap on the speedway bus.

    • Speedway
    • $$
    • 2 hr

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Downtown.

  • Indianapolis Cultural Trail in IndianapolisPhoto: ComplexRational · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Indianapolis Cultural Trail

    8-mile protected bike and walking path linking downtown's cultural districts.

    Tip Rent a Pacers Bikeshare bike along the route.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Indianapolis across Downtown and Bottleworks.

  • Shapiro's Delicatessen in IndianapolisPhoto: Shapiro's Delicatessen · Google
    Eat

    Shapiro's Delicatessen

    Family-run deli since 1905; cafeteria line for corned beef and pastrami.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Lunch
  • St. Elmo Steak House in IndianapolisPhoto: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    St. Elmo Steak House

    Downtown steakhouse since 1902, famous for a fiery horseradish shrimp cocktail.

    Tip Book ahead, especially on event weekends.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Garage Food Hall in IndianapolisPhoto: The Garage Food Hall · Google
    Eat

    Garage Food Hall

    Food hall in Bottleworks' old Coca-Cola bottling garage with local vendors.

    • Bottleworks
    • $$
    • 60 min

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Indianapolis in Downtown.

  • Sun King Brewery in IndianapolisPhoto: Joel Kolander · Google
    Drink

    Sun King Brewery

    Downtown taproom of one of Indiana's best-known craft breweries.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening

How to fit Indianapolis into a trip

Indianapolis is stop 1 of 3 on our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route. Follow it as-is or lift Indianapolis into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Indianapolis month by month

Average daily highs run from 1°C / 35°F in January to 29°C / 84°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 134 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Indianapolis weather and the best time to visit →

Near Indianapolis

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Indianapolis questions, answered

How many days do you need in Indianapolis?

Our route notes suggest a morning in Indianapolis. On our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Indianapolis best known for?

Spend a day and a half: downtown monuments and the Cultural Trail, Newfields, and a morning at the Speedway. Standouts on our list: Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Monument Circle's 284-foot centerpiece; ride or climb to the observation deck); Eiteljorg Museum (Museum of Native American and Western art in White River State Park); Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art plus 100+ acres of gardens and the Lilly House).

When is the best time to visit Indianapolis?

Our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route is best May – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (29°C / 84°F), the coolest in January (1°C / 35°F) and the most rain in June (about 134 mm).

What are the best things to do in Indianapolis?

Start with Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Eiteljorg Museum, Newfields and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Indianapolis?

Our picks: Shapiro's Delicatessen (Downtown); St. Elmo Steak House (Downtown); Garage Food Hall (Bottleworks). Book ahead, especially on event weekends (St. Elmo Steak House).

What is near Indianapolis?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Indianapolis (about 0 km / 0 mi), Broad Ripple (about 11 km / 7 mi) and Downtown Cincinnati (about 159 km / 99 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Indianapolis with your crew

Open the Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Indianapolis

More in United States

Plan it together

Plan Indianapolis