Things to See & Do in Indianapolis, Indiana

As the capital city of Indiana, Indianapolis is a thriving metropolis and major destination for many business and sporting events each year. Whether you are visiting Indianapolis for business or pleasure, there are countless things to see and do in the "Circle City" for memories that will last a lifetime.

Indy 500 Racetrack

Every May, tens of thousands of race fans from around the globe make their way to Indianapolis for the Indianapolis 500 race and countless related events. It's an exciting time in Indy, but you don't have to visit in May to check out the track and its history.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum offers popular Grounds Tours of the Speedway from March through November. These tours include a visit to the famous Pagoda which houses scoring and media suites, a trip through "Gasoline Alley", the "yard of bricks" at the starting line and even the victory podium.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Indianapolis is home to an amazing children's museum - and it's also the largest children's museum in the world. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is four stories of extraordinary exhibits and activities offering educational fun. The lower level houses the museum's renowned Dinosphere, an enormous dome with an artificial atmosphere complete with thunderstorms and sunsets. Children under five will enjoy Playscape, where they can learn through play with water, sand, playhouses, dress-up and more. An indoor carousel adds to the magic on the fourth floor, near the house of mirrors. It's hard to see the entire museum in one day, but it's always worth the trip.

Indianapolis Museum of Art

The Indianapolis Museum of Art, or IMA, was founded more than 125 years ago. The museum boasts impressive collections of both modern and ancient art. Some collections found at the IMA include African Art, Asian Art, Ancient Art of the Mediterranean and American Art to 1945. But the IMA isn't just about viewing art within its walls - the Oldsfields Gardens is landscape architecture at its artistic best. The IMA also offers classes, tours and performances at different times throughout the year, so be sure to check their calendar before your visit.

The Indianapolis Zoo

When visiting Indianapolis, a trip to The Indianapolis Zoo is a must. Located on the west side of the downtown area, the Indianapolis Zoo is directly next to the White River Gardens. The zoo boasts some truly unique exhibits, such as the underwater dolphin gallery, where visitors can watch dolphins swim above, below and all around them. Visitors can walk or take a train ride through the impressive Plains area, where they can watch rhinos or feed a giraffe. The new Waters arena makes the Indianapolis Zoo experience even more amazing, as visitors can actually pet sharks in the specially designed shark pool.

White River Gardens

The White River Gardens are easiest to visit when seeing the zoo, as they're right next to one another, but guests could easily spend a full day exploring the Gardens alone! The White River Gardens are impressively landscaped in combination with beautiful sculptures and fountains. The Gardens are a popular local spot for weddings and other events due to their relaxing atmosphere and natural beauty. The Hilbert Conservatory is a favorite for kids and adults alike due to its Butterfly exhibit, available spring through summer. Guests can wander the conservatory freely among several different species of butterflies, and watch them hatch out of their cocoons in the butterfly nursery.

Indianapolis offers so much for visitors to see and do. Whether you're visiting for a week or a weekend, our unique attractions will offer memories to last a lifetime.