11 Best Things To Do In Indianapolis: From Racing To Arts

There are several reasons why Indianapolis is famous for many travelers. The Indianapolis 500 motorsport racing event? The city’s passion for sports? Its landmarks? Even you will be drawn to this capital of the state of Indiana. There are lots of things to do in Indianapolis.

Indy, as the city is also called, is clean-cut – the perfect place to ogle race cars and take a spin around its famous speedway. But there’s more to the city than just racing. There are museums and the White River State Park, as well as the Mass Ave and the Broad Ripple neighborhoods for indulging in food and drinks. What’re more, Indianapolis has stretches of walking and biking trails that connect every wonder. It’s time that you get to know more about these things to do in Indianapolis.

11 Of The Best Things To Do In Indianapolis, Indiana

Don’t miss out on these heart-stopping and fabulous things to do in Indianapolis!

1. Attend The Renowned Indy 500 Racing Event, Or Experience It For Yourself

If there’s one thing that Indianapolis is majorly known for, it has to be car racing. The city hosts the Indy 500 event, an annual automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You can plan your trip ahead to attend this event, and enjoy one of the things to do in Indianapolis popular among international tourists. 

During the Indy 500, race car drivers navigate across 500 miles on 200 laps of the speedway, impressing thousands of spectators each year from across the country and around the world cheering for their bets. 

If you think these experiences are not yet enough, you can go ahead and experience the thrill for yourself. Here in Indianapolis, you can hop into a real Indy race car and take a spin around the track. You’ll literally feel your heart thumping as you position yourself in the passenger’s seat beside a professional Indycar driver – of course, so you’re safe – whose job is to whip you around the track at 180 miles per hour. That’s fast. 

2. Give The Speedway’s Bricks A Kiss At The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

But there are more things to do in Indianapolis than just attending the racing event and experiencing it all for yourself. 

Did you know that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been around since 1909? With this existence, it is just right for this place to tell stories, and among the places they do so is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. 

This museum houses some of the world’s largest collections of vintage race cars, not to mention stories of over 30 winners of the Indy 500. Photos and other vintage memorabilia showcase the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s history, spanning more than 100 years. 

Did you know there’s also a behind-the-scenes tour that will let you immerse into the Speedway’s rich history? In this tour, you can take a photo at the same podium where the race’s winners stand, and “kiss the bricks” at the start and finish line. This act is iconic just as Olympians bite their medals at the Olympics. NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett popularized this tradition of kneeling and kissing the pavement as a tribute to the driving champs.

3. Unite With Nature And Explore The Culture At White River State Park

Another not-to-miss activity on this things to do in Indianapolis guide is visiting the White River State Park. This 267-acre park is the city’s most treasured urban green space. Situated along its namesake, the White River, this space features trails, trees, cultural gems, and so much more. 

The park itself is home to various landmarks worth checking out. There are lots of things to do in Indianapolis while you’re here. You can catch a movie at the IMAX Theater – that’s over six stories tall! – watch a baseball game, and learn about the Hoosiers (Indiana’s people) who made a mark on the world at the Indiana State Museum. Aside from those, you may also visit the Eiteljorg that showcases Indiana’s indigenous people and their art.

The various things to do in Indianapolis make the United States such a beautiful place to travel to. We got more guides around the country’s cities, such as this for Philadelphia. 

4. Take Your Kids To The Largest Children’s Museum In The World, Right Here In Indianapolis

Not only is Indianapolis home to the largest single-day sporting event in the world, but it is also where you can find the largest children’s museum in the world, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. If you are bringing your kids to your trip to Indianapolis, visiting this museum is one of the must-try things to do in Indianapolis. 

The museum spans 472,900 square feet of space, as well as several galleries. Some of the exhibits here include a planetarium and dinosaurs. There’s also a not-to-miss exhibit containing geographic treasures of the Earth that showcase re-creations of archaeological sites, including an Egyptian tomb, the famous Terracotta Army in China, and a pirate shipwreck.  

Plus, there are also exhibits on the Minecraft game, contemporary Greece, remarkable stories of the world’s most influential children, and so much more. If you are with kids in the city, you must include this on your itinerary.

5. Have You Ever Tried A Scavenger Hunt Adventure?

If you haven’t, this is the perfect time to do so, yes, right here in Indianapolis! You won’t only learn about the city, but you’ll also enjoy and have fun. 

This scavenger hunt is inspired by royalty, as you utilize an app to explore the city, and compete in royal tournaments to find a King and Queen in the game. These King and Queen will then lead the team in finding items around the city, and accomplish challenges to accumulate points. Use the app to take a photo of the item and complete the challenges. 

The game’s objective is to keep your King or Queen title the longest, and gain as many points as possible throughout the game. You can play for as long as you want, and in any area of Indianapolis you’d wish to. There’s a remote host you can chat with if you need help somewhere in the middle of the game. Time to learn and have fun in a scavenger hunt that’s one of the best things to do in Indianapolis. 

6. Do A Food Tour Around The Fountain Square Neighborhood

Curious about the food scene in Indianapolis? We recommend that you participate in a food tour around one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, the Fountain Square district. There are lots of things to do in Indianapolis while on this tour. 

Captivate your senses as you explore Fountain Square, one of Indianapolis’ most vibrant neighborhoods, over food. Soak up the district’s funky cultural vibe as you pop not only into local eateries for small-batch mead and savory barbecue, but also those that serve international cuisines like French, Green, and Thai specialties. 

If you’re enjoying the many things to do in Indianapolis so far, you might want to travel further. How about visiting beautiful Chicago in Illinois? 

7. Bike Around The City

As you learned a while ago, what’s great about this city in Indiana is that its landmarks are well-connected by walking and biking trails. So, one of the best things to do in Indianapolis is discovering the place on a bike. There are various trails you can follow. 

Among them is the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, an 8.1-mile-long bikeway that loops through the city’s downtown, and features spurs that will already bring you to three of the city’s neighborhoods. 

The northeastern spur runs along Massachusetts Avenue, which the locals call “Mass Ave,” before connecting to another trail, the Monon Trail. On the other hand, the southeastern spur follows Virginia Avenue into the commercial historic district of Fountain Square. The trail’s southern spur, meanwhile, connects the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.

Throughout your journey with your bicycle, you’ll also be able to see displays of public art scattered on the trail. If you did not bring a bike with you, you can rent one at any of the Indiana Pacers Bikeshare stations along the bike trail.

8. Immerse Yourself In Fantastic Works Of Art At Newfields

You have also learned earlier that Indianapolis is not only home to one of the biggest racing events in the world, but also a great place for great art. One of the destinations in Indianapolis for these works of art is at Newfields.

Newfields is a complex dedicated not just to the arts, but also to nature, as it is home to a nature park and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, among other city’s treasures. The Indianapolis Museum of Art displays over 50,000 artworks consisting of Neo-Impressionist paintings and Asian art. Aside from that, the museum also boasts one of the biggest contemporary art parks in the country. 

The nature park, the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is where you can head over after your visit to the museum. This highly-acclaimed outdoor space features not only natural spaces – particularly a lake – but also art installations set amidst woodlands and wetlands, all spanning 35 acres. 

Then, visit the Lilly House and The Gardens, which is an early 1900s French-inspired estate that has also been declared as a National Historic Landmark.

9. Take A Moment At Monument Circle

If you’re here enjoying the things to do in Indianapolis, visiting the Monument Circle, also referred to as the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a must. 

Situated right in the middle of Indianapolis, the Monument Circle is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Indy. It is a towering monument measuring around 285 feet, built to honor sailors and soldiers who bravely fought for and served the United States.

This stunning Neoclassical monument is further encircled by statues, carved to show the perils and courage of battles, with a woman standing at their forefront. The woman holds a symbolic torch that signifies the glory of the victory that brought freedom to thousands of slaves in the country. Visit this landmark and be part of history.

Aside from this “things to do in Indianapolis” piece, we also have more related stories, such as this: Best Photography Spots In The USA

10. Indulge In More Art And Sumptuous Food At Mass Ave

Now, it’s time to loosen it up a little bit as you explore more things to do in Indianapolis, particularly just having a good time shopping, dining, and sightseeing. Where else, but at the famous Mass Ave?

The nickname locals call Massachusetts Avenue, Mass Ave features several of Indy’s most popular establishments, landmarks, and attractions. Its art galleries, restaurants, bars, and boutiques are centered around what is regarded as one of the nearest neighborhoods to the heart of downtown.

And it’s also not crowded here. This destination really makes it a point to focus on Indy’s charm and art. Here, you can spend the entire afternoon strolling around and discovering treats at a coffee shop or boutique before you enjoy dinner after sunset in one of the district’s eateries.

Specifically, you can bring memories of Indianapolis back to your hometown as you buy a pair of kicks from Stout’s Footwear, which is the oldest shoe store in the United States. You can also treat yourself to award-winning cupcakes at The Flying Cupcake, sip some German lager at the historic Rathskeller Biergarten, or catch a classic play at The District Theater. Truly, there are several things to do in Indianapolis while you’re here at Mass Ave. 

11. Scoot And Zip Around The Bottleworks District

The Bottleworks District is a recently restored district that is also historic as it was once the largest Coca-Cola bottling plant in Indiana before it closed its doors in the 1960s. Walking around this district, there are so many places to see. 

For one, there’s the boutique Bottleworks Hotel, an Art Deco gem that was once the home of the executive offices of the Coca-Cola Company. There’s also the Garage Food Hall, Indianapolis’ first food hall and community-focused marketplace comprising various independently owned local and regional vendors, occupying two former delivery truck garages. 

Or, you might want to challenge your travel buddies to a round of foosball, pinball or duckpin at Pins Mechanical Company, or watch an indie film at the Living Room Theater. You may also choose to pick up a Lime scooter-share to zip around the district’s chic shopping and dining hubs. 

Those are pretty much it about the best things to do in Indianapolis. We hope you enjoyed our guide. We have more guides like this on our blog, such as this on Anchorage. Keep browsing this website for more.

What Are Some Of The Outdoorsy Things To Do In Indianapolis?

The city of Indianapolis is endowed with a gorgeous natural landscape, so it is just apt that this become the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. If you are looking for some outdoorsy things to do in Indianapolis that will have your heart pumping and racing, here’s the list.

• Hike through one of the charming trails of Fort Harrison State Park
• Walk along the Cultural Trail located downtown
• Zipline at Go Ape
• Ride a hot air balloon
• Paintball at Indy Acres
• Ride a horse
• Play golf 

It’s Time To Visit The Crossroads Of America

White the capital of the Hoosier state is best known as the residence of the Indy 500 event, Indy is more than just a place for racing enthusiasts. It’s also a destination where you can find art pieces, bikeways, museums, and parks. You won’t run out of things to do in Indianapolis. 

Whether it’s about immersing into the beauty of art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, cheering on teams or experiencing it for yourself at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or strolling and relaxing through its greenspaces and parks, the city’s distinctive charm and character make it the perfect destination for every traveler looking for a memorable adventure.