Indianapolis has plenty to offer, from adventure, sports, to iconic Indy museums, monuments and speedway, to serene and peaceful stroll in the park, and vibrant and energetic nightlife. Explore Indy’s beauty in 48 hours through this itinerary, from historic sites, museums to shopping and nightspots, we’ve got all you need to cover covered!
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Day 1- Explore Indy!
9:00am- Kick start your day with Breakfast at Osteria Pronto!
Start your morning off right by having a scrumptious breakfast at Osteria Pronto. Enjoy pancake or savory omelets at this spot! Osteria Pronto serves delectable Italian fare with contemporary influence.
Address: 10 S West St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
10:00am- Stroll along the Indianapolis Canal Walk, Enjoy the pleasant surroundings!
Walk along the Canal Walk, enjoy the Venetian-style gondola ride, go pedal boating. Enjoy the lush green lawn, contemporary architectures, and historic waterways that flows through downtown Indianapolis and White River State Park. A must-visit spot!
Address: 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Osteria Pronto: 1.0 mile or 4 minutes drive
11:00am- Arty Exploration at Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art!
Head over to Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art to know about the various facets of life in the America’s Wild West. This museum holds some of the best western and Native American art collection.
Address: 500 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Canal Walk: 0.9 miles or 3 minutes drive
12:00pm- Explore Indiana History at Indiana State Museum!
History buff, head over to the Indiana State Museum that has exhibits showcasing the Indiana history, from ancient times to present. This museum also features several artworks, nature, culture and science.
Address: 650 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art: 1 minute
Up for some more military history? Head to the Indiana World War Memorial that features several was paraphernalia retracing the Indiana history. Go back in time, awesome piece of history!
Address: 431 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Indiana State Museum: 1.3 miles or 6 minutes drive
1:00pm- An hour with America’s 23rd President, Historic house tour!
Get a glimpse of America’s 23rd President Benjamin Harrison life at Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. This is a well-preserved three-storey home that has artifacts and personal belonging of the president.
Address: 1230 N Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-2598, United States
Distance from Indiana World War Memorial: 0.9 miles or 3 minutes drive
2:00pm-Time to fuel your body, Out to lunch!
Head to The Rathskeller that serves authentic German cuisines. Also, the menu includes- Continental and American specialties.
Address: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Phone: 1 317-636-0396
Distance from Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site: 1.1 miles or 4 minutes drive
3:00pm-Spend an hour with animals at Indianapolis Zoo!
Go for animal watching at Indianapolis Zoo. Stroll with the flamingos, watch penguin feeding, touch real shark at the zoo. Also, enjoy the dolphin show at the zoo. This place guarantees fun for all ages!
Address: 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, United States
Distance from The Rathskeller: 2.3 miles or 6 minutes drive
4:00pm:- Up for Sports History, head to the NCAA Hall of Champions!
College sports fans, visit the NCAA Hall of Champions. This spot has a 40s style gymnasium, photo exhibits of the greatest of all time college players, and interactive sporting activities. This spot covers all college sports. Sports lovers, this is your spot!
Address: 700 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Indianapolis Zoo: 1.9 miles or 7 minutes drive
5:00pm-Go Shopping!
Go to Circle Center Mall that features over 100 specialty stores, including Godiva Chocolatier, Gap, Nordstrom, Banana Republic and many more. This mall also has an entertainment center, a movie theater and bars, to keep you relaxed and entertained.
Address: 49 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from NCAA Hall of Champions: 1.2 miles or 5 minutes drive
Want do shop more? Explore the shops on Mass Ave. This spot has several independent and eclectic boutiques.
Address: 339 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Circle Center Mall: 4.3 miles or 10 minutes drive
7:00pm-Dinner at R Bistro!
Head over to R Bistro, farm to table restaurant for dinner. The menu is vibrant, changes weekly and is paired with appropriate wines. Melt in your mouth fare at this spot!
Address: 888 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
Distance from Mass Avenue: 2.3 miles or 5 minutes drive
9:00pm- The night is young!
Head over to Libertine, an upscale and modern spot with intimate vibe. Savor the creative craft cocktails and boutique wine with delicious fare at this spot.
Address: 608 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from R Bistro: 0.4 miles or 2 minutes drive
11:00pm- Cap off the night at Howl At the Moon!
Ready for non-party with live music, head to Howl At the Moon. This spot is loaded with high energy all the time. Dance to the music that ranges from pop to classic rock to hip hop. Dance, sing and enjoy drinks at this super energetic, lively spot.
Address: 20 E Georgia St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Libertine: 1.2 miles or 5 minutes drive
A Complete Map Guide for Day 1 in Indianapolis
Day 2: Have a gala time in Indianapolis!
9:00am- Breakfast at Cafe Patachou!
Begin your day with savory omelets and delicious waffles at Cafe Patachou.
Address: 4911 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46205, United States
10:00am- Experience the city through Indianapolis Cultural Trail!
Head over to the walking and biking trail, Indianapolis Cultural Trail, that joins the city’s six cultural districts- the Wholesale district, Fountain Square, Canal, Mass Ave, the White River State Park and Indiana Avenue.
Address: 132 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46201, United States
11:00am- Kids Fun at Children’s Museum of Indianapolis!
Head over to Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for some edutainment session. This museum has an array of interactive exhibits of history, art, culture and science that keep you entertained all day long.
Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208, United States
Distance from Indianapolis Cultural Trail: 5.0 miles or 8 minutes drive
12:00pm- Get the taste of Art at Indianapolis Museum of Art!
Head over to Indianapolis Museum of Art to enjoy the Asian, European and African artwork. The museum also has Oldfields-Lilly House & Garden and Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. This interesting museum treats visitors to different and unique artifacts and artworks.
Address: 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208, United States
Website: www.imamuseum.org/
Distance from Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: 2.4 miles or 5 minutes drive
1:00pm- Time to grab Lunch
For lunch, head over to Hank’s Smoke Briskets (3736 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St Ste A) for barbecue, or go to Nourish Cafe (4000 Michigan Rd) that has an extensive menu list. For some American cuisine, drop by Iron Skillet Restaurant (2489 W 30th St), or Meridian (5694 North Meridian Street).
2:00pm- Rev up your Engines!
A trip to Indy is incomplete without visiting Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum. The Hall of Fame Museum features vintage race cars, several cars that won the Indy 500 and trophies. Also, take the tour of the racetrack which offers an up-close look of the track.
Address: 4790 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, United States
3:00pm- A short tour to Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, Literary history!
Take a tour of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, tucked into a historic building, to know about Vonnegut life. Browse the collection available. It contained a trove of artifacts, drawings, personal items, books and letters. An exposition for the Vonnegut fan!
Address: 340 N Senate Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum: 4.2 miles or 9 minutes drive
4:00pm- Explore the Civil War History at Soldiers and Sailors Monument!
Head over to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a 284 feet tall monument that memorializes the Indianapolis residents who perished their lives during the Civil War. Iconic spot in Indianapolis!
Address: 1 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library: 0.8 miles or 4 minutes drive
5:00pm- Laugh out loud at Mind Tripping Show!
To have a gala time and a good laugh, head over to Mind Tripping Show. This spot offers superb entertainment shows; a psychological thriller shows that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. A blend of laughter and amazement!
Address: 120 W Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Distance from Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument: 0.2 miles or 1 minute drive
6:00pm- Time for Retail Therapy!
Go Shopping at Fountain Square, cultural district that houses many vibrant art galleries, antique shops, and unique stores that sell musical instruments, home decor, comics, fresh flowers, and more.
Address: Virginia Ave. at Shelby & Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203, United States
Distance from Mind Tripping Show: 2.5 miles or 8 minutes drive
8:00pm- Dinner
Go for dinner at St. Elmo’s Steakhouse (127 S Illinois St #2, Indianapolis, IN 46225, United States) for steak and shrimp smothered in the homemade horseradish cocktail sauce. If you have been hankering for authentic Italian-style food, head over to the Iaria's Italian Restaurant (317 S College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States), or want some Mexican cuisine and libations, go to Adobo Grill- Up (110 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States)
10:00pm- Experience a taste of Indianapolis Nightlife!
To have a great night, slide into the Slippery Noodle Inn (372 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225, United States), Indiana’s oldest tavern, popular for its booze and blues. For some retro feel, head over to the hot spot for grabbing drink- Nicky Blaine’s (20 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States). Enjoy the signature martinis and cigar at this chic spot with some jazz music playing in the background. If up for some cool jazz, head to the Chatterbox Jazz Club (435 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States).
Want to dance all night long, head over to Blu (240 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225, United States) Groove along with the well-known DJs spinning music that ranges from Top 40, reggae, to hip hop, Latin and house.
Map for Second Day in Indianapolis