Things to Do in Downtown Indianapolis

The literal center of Indianapolis — a 284-foot limestone monument completed in 1902, surrounded by a circular plaza that serves as the city's gathering point. Free to visit; the observation deck at the top (elevator or stairs) gives the best view of the downtown grid. Monument Circle hosts free concerts, festivals, and the city's Christmas tree lighting. Even if you just walk through, it orients you to downtown in a way no map app does.

One of the best zoos in the country and it's ten minutes from the Convention Center. The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center — where orangutans swing on cables directly overhead — is genuinely unlike anything at most zoos. Add dolphins, sharks in a walk-through tunnel, desert biomes, and 64 acres of exhibits. Budget 3-4 hours for adults, 5-6 for families. Buy tickets online to skip the line and save money.

Indiana history and natural science across five floors inside White River State Park, half a mile from the Convention Center. The planetarium is a standout. Strong rotating exhibits make it worth checking what's on during your visit. A solid 2-3 hour option on a rainy day or for a morning before the convention floor opens.

A mile-and-a-half of flat, paved canal path connecting the downtown core to White River State Park. Paddle boats in season, public art along the route, and a genuinely pleasant way to get from the Convention Center area to the zoo and museums without navigating streets. The path is also a great early-morning or evening walk when the crowds are thin.

A 10-mile, dedicated bike and pedestrian path connecting all six of downtown's cultural districts — completely separated from car traffic. It's the backbone of downtown navigation on foot or by bike, linking Monument Circle, Mass Ave, Fountain Square, and White River State Park. Public art installations appear throughout the route. If you're walking between neighborhoods, the Cultural Trail is the best way to do it.

Indianapolis is the permanent home of the NCAA, and the Hall of Champions in White River State Park is a free-admission (or low-cost) museum celebrating college athletics across all divisions and sports. Worth 60-90 minutes for sports fans of any persuasion — the interactive exhibits and historic footage are well-done.

One of the finest collections of Native American and Western art east of the Mississippi. The permanent collection is museum-quality in the truest sense — not a tourist attraction dressed up as a museum. Inside White River State Park adjacent to the zoo, which makes it a natural pairing with a zoo visit. Typically 2 hours for a focused visit.

Home of the Colts and one of the most impressive indoor stadiums in football. Lucas Oil is connected directly to the Convention Center by an underground tunnel — you can walk from the convention floor to your seat without going outside. Beyond Colts games, Lucas Oil hosts the Big Ten Championship, major concerts, and the College Football Playoff. If there's a game or event during your visit, it's worth attending for the experience alone. Check the events calendar before your trip.

One of the best arena experiences in the NBA — intimate by modern standards, loud on game nights, and 5 minutes from the Convention Center via Georgia Street. The Pacers have been one of the league's more interesting teams in recent years. Even if you're not a basketball fan, catching a game is a memorable evening out. Gainbridge also hosts major concerts and events throughout the year.

Consistently ranked one of the best minor league ballparks in the country. Victory Field sits at the edge of White River State Park — you can walk from the Convention Center in 10-15 minutes. The sightlines are excellent, tickets are affordable ($12-20), and the summer evening atmosphere is as good as baseball gets. The Victory Field guide covers Dollar Menu Tuesdays, fireworks nights, seating recommendations, and family tips.

IMS is 7 miles from downtown in the town of Speedway — a 15-minute drive. The Indianapolis 500 (May) draws 300,000 people for the largest single-day sporting event in the world. The Brickyard 400 (NASCAR, July) fills the venue again. Even outside race weekends, the speedway museum is open for self-guided tours of the historic facility. If you're in Indianapolis in May or July, these events define the city's energy and are worth building your trip around.

Indianapolis hosts some of the largest conventions in the country year-round. Gen Con (August, 70,000+ attendees), the Indianapolis 500 (May), the Brickyard 400 (July), FDIC International (April), and the FFA National Convention (October) all bring massive crowds. Check the full events calendar to see what's happening during your visit — the city's energy changes dramatically when a major event is in town.

Indianapolis's most iconic restaurant since 1902. The shrimp cocktail with fresh-grated horseradish is legitimately one of the most famous appetizers in American restaurant history — and it earns its reputation. Reserve weeks in advance for weekend evenings during major conventions. The full dining experience is a bucket list meal for any Indianapolis visit.

Indiana's oldest bar, open since 1850. Live blues nightly, multiple rooms and bars across a historic building, and a solid menu of bar food. The perfect post-convention or post-game stop for anyone who wants a genuine Indianapolis experience over a tourist-facing atmosphere. Walking distance from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Convention Center area has dozens of options within a 10-15 minute walk. The complete restaurant guide organizes them by distance, cuisine, and budget — including options for convention-week crowds when the closest spots have 45-minute waits.

The highest concentration of quality dining outside the immediate convention area. Livery (Latin-inspired fine dining), Bakersfield (street tacos and 100+ tequilas), the Rathskeller biergarten (German food since 1894), Sun King Brewing (Indiana's best craft brewery), and Bazbeaux Pizza (an Indianapolis institution since 1988). The full Mass Ave guide covers all of it.

If you're visiting during Gen Con (or any other large convention), the Gen Con dining guide covers the specific strategies for feeding yourself when 70,000 people are all looking for the same tables — breakfast spots that don't fill up, quick lunch options inside the convention footprint, and where to go for a proper dinner without a two-hour wait.

Convention Center to Lucas Oil Stadium: 5 min. Convention Center to Monument Circle: 5 min. Convention Center to Gainbridge Fieldhouse: 5 min. Convention Center to Mass Ave: 12 min. Convention Center to White River State Park: 10 min. Almost everything worth doing downtown is walkable.

An enclosed, climate-controlled elevated walkway connecting the Convention Center to the JW Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Westin, and Crowne Plaza Union Station — and via underground tunnel to Lucas Oil Stadium. If your hotel is connected, you may never need to go outside. Full skywalk guide here.

Widely available downtown. Most rides within the core are $6-12. To Fountain Square: $8-12. To Broad Ripple: $15-20. Airport: $18-25. Expect surge pricing immediately after Colts/Pacers games — wait 15-20 minutes or walk a few blocks for better rates.

50+ bikeshare stations downtown. $9 day pass for unlimited 60-minute rides. Lime and Bird scooters scattered throughout. Best for quick trips to Mass Ave or riding the Cultural Trail between neighborhoods.

Runs every 10-15 min along a dedicated bus lane from the University of Indianapolis through downtown to Broad Ripple. $1.75 per ride. Best for getting to Broad Ripple without paying for rideshare.

Indianapolis's electric-assist pedal bar — a 16-person party bike that tours the Fountain Square neighborhood, stopping at local bars along the route. BYO drinks allowed (cooler provided). Electric assist means it's not actually hard work. Perfect for bachelorette parties, birthdays, corporate groups, and convention teams looking for something nobody does at home. Book in advance — popular time slots sell out weeks ahead.

Carriage rides operate from Monument Circle and are one of the most romantic and underrated ways to see downtown Indianapolis. A 45-60 minute tour covers the Circle, the historic architecture of the Near Northside, and the illuminated skyline at night. Perfect for couples, convention evenings when you want something different, or families who want to slow down and take in the city. Available most evenings weather permitting.

An institution on Monument Circle. Hundreds of craft sodas, nostalgic candies, novelty items, and the best candy selection in Indianapolis under one roof. The kind of store you walk into for five minutes and emerge from 30 minutes later having spent more than you intended. A great stop with kids — or without. Right on Monument Circle, no detour required.

Indiana's oldest bar (1850) and one of the most storied blues venues in the Midwest. The building has been a brothel, a speakeasy, and an Underground Railroad station — and is now a genuine live music destination with blues acts nightly. Multiple rooms, cold beer, solid bar food, and the kind of atmosphere that takes decades to build. Walking distance from Lucas Oil Stadium.

Duckpin bowling, pinball machines, foosball, and craft cocktails inside a beautifully restored 1930s Coca-Cola bottling plant on Mass Ave. Reserve a duckpin lane in advance on weekends — it fills up. The surrounding Bottleworks District also has The Garage food hall and the Bottleworks Hotel (rated #1 boutique hotel in the US by Condé Nast Traveler).

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is illuminated at night and the Circle takes on a different character after dark — quieter, more dramatic, with the ring of restaurants and bars surrounding it. The free observation deck stays open some evenings. Even if you just take 20 minutes to walk around it on your way back from dinner, it's worth experiencing after the daytime crowds thin out.

JW Marriott (2 min skywalk), Hyatt Regency (3-5 min), Westin Indianapolis (3-5 min), and Crowne Plaza Union Station (5 min) are all connected to the Indiana Convention Center via enclosed skywalk. If weather or distance between sessions matters, book these first.

Several hotels within a 5-10 minute walk of the Convention Center offer significantly lower rates than the skywalk properties — particularly valuable during sold-out convention weeks when the skywalk hotels charge premium rates.

The Bottleworks Hotel on Mass Ave (Condé Nast's #1 boutique hotel in the US) and The Alexander in the Wholesale District are the best options if you want something with more personality than a convention chain. Short rideshare to the Convention Center.