27 Best Things to Do in Indianapolis (By a Local)

👉 Jump to: Best Things | Food & Drink | Outdoor Activities | Museums | Local Venues | Unique & Fun

I’m an Indianapolis local here to share the things you absolutely cannot miss on your trip to the city.

Indianapolis, or “Indy” as it’s known, is the capital city of Indiana and is a growing, changing city. It’s perhaps best known for being home to the world’s largest single-day sporting event – the Indy 500 – but it’s filled with some seriously cool things to do for all kinds of visitors.

And that’s where I come in. I’m here to hook you up with the very best things to do in Indianapolis – no matter your flavor. But before we get into it, bookmark my guide to where to stay in Indianapolis to read next.

Best Things to Do in Indianapolis

Canal Walk

Take a mini tour of downtown Indy along the scenic Canal Walk. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 233-2434 | Website

If you’re visiting Indy for the first time, one of the must-do activities is taking a stroll along the Canal Walk. 

This three-mile looped canal trail is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It’s tucked away from the busy roadways and passes by a variety of monuments, murals, and restaurants; perfect for photo opportunities! 

Completing the entire loop will take you from the White River State Park to 11th Street. 

👉 Fun fact: Every year, the city dyes the canal for different events, including pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and green for St. Patrick’s Day. 

Monument Circle

Visit the iconic monument that marks the center of the city. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 232-7615 | Website 

If you’ve watched a documentary or show where Indianapolis is featured, you’ve probably seen B-roll footage of Monument Circle. The landmark itself is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a 284-foot obelisk that’s surrounded by a roundabout.

Monument Circle is close to shops and restaurants, making it a convenient stop for visitors. The city always decorates the monument with strings of lights for the holidays, so if you’re in town during the winter, you should make a trip to see it. 

St. Elmo Steak House

Try some unforgettable beef at Indy’s most famous steak house. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 635-0636 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 10 pm Monday-Thursday, 4 pm – 11 pm Friday, 3 pm – 11 pm Saturday, 4 pm – 9 pm Sunday 

Better known as “St. Elmo’s” to the locals, this is Indianapolis’ most famous steak house. The restaurant has been open in the same downtown location since 1902 and the interior is delightfully nostalgic.

Besides its steaks, the restaurant is known for its delicious shrimp cocktail. You can even buy some of the sauce to take home as a souvenir. 

Just make sure you make a reservation! Even celebrities have been turned away from St. Elmo because the restaurant was completely booked.

Lucas Oil Stadium

Catch an Indianapolis Colts game or a concert at Lucas Oil. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 262-8600 | Website 

If you’re a football fan, seeing a Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium is a must. The 67,000-seat stadium has a retractable roof, so you don’t have to worry about inclement weather during the game.

If you’re like me and aren’t so much a football fan, the stadium has plenty of other great events, especially concerts. Over the years, I’ve seen The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Lady Gaga shows there. There’s something for everyone at Lucas Oil. 

Indy 500

Drink milk and kiss the bricks at the Indy 500. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 492-6700 | Website 

Every May, the sport of racing takes over Indianapolis. People put up checkered flags in their yards emblazoned with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) logo. Stores sell racing merch, and beer shortages run rampant across the city. That’s how you know it’s time for the Indy 500. 

The Indy 500 is an annual 500-mile car race held at the IMS. The track itself is located in Speedway, on the west side of Indy. If you’re staying downtown, it’s about a 20-minute drive, without traffic, to get there. Race day is absolutely insane, so make sure to plan accordingly. 

Indiana State Museum

Learn about Indiana’s history at the Indiana State Museum. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 232.1637 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday – Sunday, Closed Monday and Tuesday | Entrance: $19 adults, $13 under 13 

If you aren’t keen on the Children’s Museum, try the Indiana State Museum. This museum is a bit more mature than the Children’s Museum, but still offers activities for all ages. 

There are a variety of permanent exhibits, such as Ancient Seas (all about Indiana’s ancient underwater history) and Frozen Reign (the animals that lived in the state during the Ice Age). 

The museum also has some fun rotating exhibits. One of my favorites was “Power of Poison,” which showed different poisonous animals and how toxins can be used medically. 

Indianapolis Zoo

From orangutans to elephants, the zoo is a great way to spend a day. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 630-2001 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily | Entrance: $15-$34.75 adults, $15-$31.75 youth (2 – 12), $15-$32.75 seniors/military  

Going to the Indianapolis Zoo is always worth it. The zoo borders the White River State Park and is a non-profit dedicated to environmental awareness.

Grab an animal-themed cup and look at tigers, polar bears, and macaws. One of the more recent additions is the orangutan exhibit, which has a treetop course for the orangutans to explore. It’s wild to see them swinging overhead on the ropes. 

The zoo also decorates for the holidays each year, which makes for a festive event. 

Midland Arts & Antiques Market

Find some treasure at this multi-story antique shop geared toward hardcore antiquers. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 267-9005 | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Monday – Saturday, 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday 

The Midland Arts & Antiques Market is the perfect way to spend a rainy day. This antique market is filled to the brim with trinkets and other treasures. 

There are multiple levels of vendor stalls, stuffed with a variety of items. It’s a sensory overload and a maximalist paradise. 

It’s easy to spend hours here while browsing. If you’re looking for a store where you can get lost in aisles of treasure, Midland is the place for you. 

Indianapolis Food & Drink

Livery

Eat delicious empanadas at one of Mass Ave’s best restaurants. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 383-0330 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 10 pm Monday-Thursday, 4 pm – 11 pm Friday-Saturday, 4 pm – 9 pm Sunday 

I love Livery. This Latin American restaurant, located downtown just off of Massachusetts Ave, has absolutely delicious food. I’ve gone to Livery on many, many occasions, and every single time, I’ve enjoyed my meal and the restaurant’s lively atmosphere.  

They have empanadas, margaritas, and plenty of other tasty choices. One of my personal favorites is their cauliflower appetizer, which is a roasted cauliflower head covered with a mix of flavorful sauces. Highly recommend! 

This is another place that requires a reservation; otherwise, you’ll be in for a long wait. 

Vida

Perfect for a special occasion, Vida offers some of Indy’s best high-end eating. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 420-2323 | Website | Hours: 5 pm – 10 pm Tuesday – Saturday, Closed Sunday and Monday 

Vida is one of Indy’s highest-quality eating experiences. This upscale restaurant serves a delicious modern menu that varies by the season. It’s perfect for a special occasion. 

The entire meal is delicious, but the dessert is my favorite part. One year, for Valentine’s Day, Vida served a tropical Japanese cheesecake that, to this day, is the best dessert I’ve ever eaten. 

Just like Livery and St. Elmo, make a reservation for this one. 

BRICS

The best way to cool off after a long walk on the Monon Trail, BRICS has the most decadent ice cream in Broad Ripple. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 257-5757 | Website | Hours: 2 pm – 9 pm Monday-Friday, 12 pm – 9:30 pm Saturday, 12 pm – 9 pm Sunday 

Here’s a delicious spot where you definitely don’t need a reservation! BRICS, short for Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station, was one of my early favorites after moving to Indy. They have so many flavors of ice cream that you’ll never get tired of going back. I’ve tested this theory, trust me. 

You can sit inside or people-watch on the patio while enjoying your ice cream treat. If the weather is nice, you can even take your ice cream to go and walk down the Monon to enjoy it, since the shop is on the Monon Trail. 

BRICS also has a small parking lot with free parking, a Broad Ripple rarity. 

Nine Lives Cat Café

The best place to drink some coffee and pet some cats. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 602-5287 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 4 pm Monday – Tuesday and Thursday, 8 am – 7 pm Friday – Saturday, 8 am – 5 pm Sunday, Closed Wednesdays

If you love drinking caffeinated beverages alongside cats, then you should stop by the Nine Lives Cat Café in Fountain Square. This cat café has a diverse selection of coffees, teas, and baked goods.

After getting your drink, it’s time to start playing with the cats! They are located in a separate room from the food, and each one is adoptable. If you live close to Indy, you may be tempted to come home with a new friend. 

Before heading to Nine Lives Cat Café, make sure to reserve a cat interaction time. The store only allows so many folks inside their cat room at once, for the cats’ protection. 

Outdoor Activities in Indianapolis

Holliday Park

Come for the stoic monuments and stay for the picturesque nature. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 327-7180 | Website | Park Hours: Dawn – Dusk daily, Nature Center Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Saturday

Several large public parks dot Indy, and Holliday Park is the best. 

Located in Spring Mill Heights, what makes this park unique is the massive stone monuments set across the grounds. The “ruins,” as the park calls them, were updated in 2016. Ever since, they have been a massive draw. 

The park itself is 94 acres, giving you plenty of space to explore. There’s a nature center, a water table fountain (perfect for kids on a hot day), and tons of greenery to enjoy. 

Eagle Creek Park

Catch up on your birdwatching at this bird nerd’s paradise in west Indianapolis.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 327-7110 | Website | Hours: Dawn – Dusk daily | Entrance Fees: Biker or hiker: $1, Vehicle: $7 (non-resident), Vehicle: $6 (Marion county resident)

While Holliday Park is on the smaller side, Eagle Creek Park is the largest park in Indy. It has 1,400 acres of water and 3,900 acres of forest. It’s one of the best places in Indy to get away from the city and into the quiet of nature. 

According to Eagle Creek’s website, they offer 15 different activities, including hiking, swimming, biking, and photography, but one of the best reasons to visit the park is the bird life! 280 different bird species have been identified at Eagle Creek. Maybe you could find 281? An exciting prospect. 

The Monon Trail

Take a bike ride down the famous 20-mile bike path that winds through the city. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: Dawn – Dusk daily

Calling all bike lovers! If you’re in Indy, take a walk or bike ride down the Monon Trail. 

The long bike trail stretches through the city and is amazingly well-maintained. The pavement is smooth and perfect for biking, rollerblading, scootering, and pushing a stroller.

The Monon is always fun because you never know what you’ll see. For instance, there’s a man who often walks with his iguana on his shoulder and another who loves to take his parrot out with him. 

Besides the interesting people, there are plenty of murals and restaurants located along the trail.

Indianapolis Museums

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Perfect for kids and the young-at-heart, the world’s largest children’s museum is worth a visit.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 334-4000 | Website | Hours (by season): 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday – Sunday (Spring/Fall/Winter), 10 am – 5 pm daily (Summer) | Entrance (varies by day): $28-32 adults, $23-27 under 13, free for under 2

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis isn’t just one of the city’s best museums; it’s actually the world’s largest museum for children.

Outside, there are massive dinosaur sculptures that the staff decorates for the seasons. For the holidays, they normally wear Santa hats and long, white beards. 

Inside, the museum is filled with interesting exhibits and interactive activities for kids. They can watch dinosaur bones being cleaned, ride a carousel, and run around in the Riley Sports Experience. 

Before visiting the Children’s Museum, buy your tickets online – it’ll save you time!

Newfields

Trails, art, and history – this unique art museum and nature sanctuary is the perfect cultural reprieve from the busy city. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 923-1331 | Website | Hours (Art Museum only): 10 am – 5 pm Sunday and Tuesday – Wednesday, 10 am – 8 pm Thursday – Saturday, Closed Mondays | Entrance: $23 adults, $20 seniors, $15 youth 6 – 17, free under 5

Newfields is something that’s impossible to do in one day. There are several parts of this cultural attraction, but the two most popular are the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) and the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. 

The IMA is filled with a variety of art. They have everything from an original Rembrandt to a section dedicated to furniture design. If you’re traveling with kids, I’d recommend only taking your older ones.

There’s also the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. This sculpture garden is down the road from the IMA and is an easy-to-walk, art-filled trail. 

Indiana Medical History Museum

Get creeped out by medical history at the Indiana Medical History Museum.   

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 635-7329 | Website | Hours: Appointment only; tours start at 10 am | Entrance: $10 adults, $9 seniors, $7 college students, $5 kids under 18  

Here’s a museum perfect for adults and teens who love weird medical history: the Indiana Medical History Museum. The museum was opened in 1969 on the site of the Pathology Department, after it closed in 1960. 

The only way to visit this museum is by appointment. Before stepping into gross and interesting medical history, you’ll need to buy your tickets and book a tour slot on the museum’s website. 

Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library

If you read Slaughterhouse Five in high school and loved it, this one’s for you. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 423 – 0391 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Monday and Wednesday – Saturday, 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday, Closed Tuesday | Entrance: $12 adults, $10 seniors, educators, military, $8 students  

There are some interesting Indy natives, including Kurt Vonnegut. The sci-fi author was born in Indianapolis, and now, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is dedicated to honoring his international legacy.

At the museum, you can browse through the library and exhibits, attend a talk, or go to one of the museum’s many events. The museum has self-guided tours or a historian-led tour for an extra $5 per person. 

Local Venues in Indianapolis

Healer

Tucked away in a strip mall, Healer is Indy’s most unique concert venue. 

📍 Google Maps | Website 

Healer is one of Indy’s best hidden gems. It’s part concert venue, part art exhibit, and a completely unique place to watch a show.

The front of the venue is filled with art exhibits from a variety of artists. Each one is unique. Visitors are allowed to go inside many of the booths and interact with the art. 

If you live for posting interesting pictures after a vacation, get to Healer. You’ll make all of your followers jealous. 

Black Circle

This alternative bar is a great place to see everything from a drag show to a local metal band. 

📍 Google Maps | Website 

Black Circle is the concert hall and bar I’ve most frequented in Indy. They always have something vintage playing on the TVs from their wide selection of VHS tapes. 

Their drinks are tasty, and the live entertainment is even better. You can see everything from a local metal band to a Breaking Bad-themed drag show. 

The vibes are immaculate and it’s a very safe place for queer folks. There’s a restaurant, Loom, that’s connected to the bar, so you can load up on food while tipping your drag kings. 

White Rabbit Cabaret

Located on the south side of Indianapolis, the White Rabbit Cabaret has a variety of edgy entertainment. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 686-9550 | Website 

Fountain Square, just south of downtown Indy, is filled with some amazing destinations, including the White Rabbit Cabaret. 

You can watch a burlesque performance there, but if that isn’t your style, there are also plenty of other shows at the White Rabbit. The venue hosts drag shows, improv and comedy performances, and plenty of concerts. 

This is a great stop for anyone looking for an edgy way to fill their evening. 

Madam Walker Legacy Center

Celebrating the life of Madam Walker, the Legacy Center is an important city relic. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 236-2099 | Website  

One of Indianapolis’s most interesting residents was Madam C. J. Walker. 

She was the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S., earning her wealth through her extremely successful haircare line. She moved her business to Indy in 1910 and helped employ more than 20,000 women to sell her products. 

To celebrate her legacy, the Madam Walker Legacy Center was built in 1927. Now, the venue hosts jazz concerts, talks, and other events. 

Unique & Fun Things to Do in Indianapolis

Atomic Bowl Duckpin Bowling

Step back into the 50s at this retro bowling alley. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 686-6010 | Website | Hours: 1 pm – 9 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 pm – 10 pm Thursday, 1 pm – 12 am Friday, 11 am – 12 am Saturday, 1 pm – 7 pm Sunday, Closed Monday | Lane Rental: $40 per hour 

Walking into Atomic Bowl Duckpin Bowling in Fountain Square feels like stepping into the past. Every detail screams nostalgia. It even uses equipment from the 50s and 60s to run the lanes, taking the authenticity to the next level. 

The best way to enjoy Atomic Bowl is with a group of people, and it’s great for families. Kids have an easier time with duckpin since the ball is smaller and more manageable for them.   

Before getting to the alley, make sure to reserve a lane since it can be pretty busy at night. 

Kan-Kan Cinema and Restaurant

Go see a movie and then get a meal to talk about it.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (317) 800-7099 | Website | Hours: 5 pm – 10 pm Monday-Thursday, 5 pm – 11 pm Friday, 12 pm – 11 pm Saturday, 12 pm – 10 pm Sunday | Entrance: $12 general admission

My favorite movie theater in Indy is the Kan-Kan. The theater is in Windsor Park, a little north of downtown, and the inside has a Japanese restaurant. It’s the ultimate setup. 

The best way to enjoy the Kan-Kan is by seeing a movie and then getting dinner to talk about the plot. There is a parking lot, but it’s normally full. Luckily, there’s plenty of street parking nearby, making this a simple place to visit.  

Gen Con

A yearly gaming convention filled with art vendors, interesting talks, and, of course, games.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: $164 4-day badge, $83 Thursday and Friday, $112 Saturday, $41 Sunday  

The Indy 500 isn’t the only major event that takes over the city. Every summer, Gen Con draws in more than 70,000 attendees. If you’re looking for the latest in gaming, Gen Con is a must. It’s the nerd event of the year.

There’s a massive artist space where you can spend way too much money on niche fandom essentials. And if you want to test a game before buying it, there are plenty of scheduled group play-throughs.  

Fair warning: Gen Con can be pricey, but it’s so worth it. 

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Thanks for reading my list of the best things to do in Indianapolis! Of course, this is only a taste – there are plenty of hidden gems that couldn’t fit into this list. Up next, check out my article on where to stay in Indianapolis.