Things to Do in Indianapolis: 20 Ideas for Every Kind of Trip

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Updated November 1, 2026

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Monument Circle — Photo: Zepfanman.com, CC BY 2.0

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Quick answer: Top things to do in Indianapolis include The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its museum, the downtown Canal Walk, White River State Park (with the Indianapolis Zoo and Eiteljorg Museum), Monument Circle, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and Newfields art museum.

Indianapolis packs a lot into a walkable downtown, with more to see a short drive away.

Big-ticket attractions

Attraction	Why go
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis	Huge family museum; it describes itself as the world's largest children's museum
Indianapolis Motor Speedway & Museum	Home of the Indianapolis 500; museum of race cars and history
Indianapolis Zoo	Inside White River State Park
Newfields	Art museum, gardens and grounds
Eiteljorg Museum	Native American and Western art

Free and low-cost

Idea	Notes
Canal Walk	Paved downtown canal loop for walking and biking
Monument Circle	The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at the city's center
Indianapolis Cultural Trail	Downtown biking and walking trail linking neighborhoods
Indiana State Capitol	Free tours are offered; check schedules
Garfield Park Conservatory	Gardens and conservatory

Sports

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) at Lucas Oil Stadium
Indiana Pacers (NBA) and Indiana Fever (WNBA) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis Indians (minor-league baseball) at Victory Field

Neighborhoods

Mass Ave: restaurants, theaters, shops
Fountain Square: arts district and nightlife
Broad Ripple: bars and the Monon Trail

Hours, prices and events change. Always check the attraction's official website before you go.

Ways to see Indianapolis compared

Option	Best for	Keep in mind	Link
Guided city or food tour	First visits, local stories	Check group size and walking distance	Book on Viator
Speedway museum and track tour	Racing fans	Track tours depend on the event schedule	Book on GetYourGuide
Self-guided Cultural Trail	Walking or biking at your own pace	Free; bike share is available downtown
Museum day	Families and rainy days	Buy timed tickets ahead

We are not currently paid by GetYourGuide, Viator. If we join their partner programs later, these links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. This table is our own summary to help you compare options. Nobody paid to be included.

Frequently asked questions

What is Indianapolis known for?

Most famously the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, plus amateur and pro sports, The Children's Museum and a compact downtown.

Is downtown Indianapolis walkable?

Yes. The Canal Walk, Monument Circle, White River State Park and the Cultural Trail are close together downtown.