Stand at the center of Monument Circle and the city arranges itself around you: the Soldiers & Sailor's Monument rising overhead, the spokes of downtown streets running off in every direction, and the state capitol a short walk west. That circle is the natural place to start, and it sets the tone for a city that treats its public spaces as gathering places.
Indianapolis suits travellers who like their sightseeing compact and walkable, with a strong thread of history and memorial architecture running through it. Downtown holds most of the landmarks, while a handful of the best stops sit a short drive north or southeast. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Indianapolis
1. Soldiers & Sailor's Monument
This is the monument at the center of the city, built in 1902 and topped by a figure of Miss Liberty facing south. The sculpted depictions of Civil War fighting and emancipated slaves are powerful, and the grounds mix quiet water and green grass with the energy of downtown. It is also a good place to sit and watch the city go by.
The Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War museum is in the basement, and you can ride the tower to the top for a view over the city. There is no fee to walk the steps; elevator tickets are sold at the Monument Gift Shop during business hours. Note that the south steps are closed for renovation until November 2025.
2. Indiana State Capitol
Completed in 1888, this is the hub of Indiana's state government, housing the Governor's office, the state legislature and the State Supreme Court. The building draws on Italian Renaissance, Greek and Corinthian design and is made primarily of Indiana limestone. Look up in the Rotunda for the German stained glass window, take a guided or self-guided tour, or watch the government at work.
It sits just west of Monument Circle, so it pairs naturally with the Soldiers & Sailor's Monument. Admission is free. If you drive, use nearby garages or metered spots and respect the meter times, as violations risk a ticket and towing.
3. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
This is the largest children's museum in the world. Its centrepiece is Dale Chihuly's Fireworks of Glass, a glass sculpture rising 43 feet, unveiled in 2006. Children and adults can dig for dinosaur fossils, catch a planetarium show, view the miniature trains and ride the carousel.
It sits about 10 minutes north of downtown on North Meridian Street. Plan on a half day if you are travelling with children, and check the day's programme before you go so you can time the planetarium show.
4. Indiana War Memorial & Museum
This pillared structure holds a war museum, an elaborate auditorium and a shrine honouring World War I troops who lost their lives. Admission to the museum is free. It sits slightly north of downtown on East Michigan Street, within easy walking distance of the Monument Circle area.
Combine it with the other memorial sites clustered nearby, and allow time for the auditorium, which is as much of a draw as the exhibits.
5. Scottish Rite Cathedral
The largest Scottish Rite cathedral in the world and a masterpiece of architecture, on North Meridian Street slightly north of downtown. Take a tour and look at the enormous pipe organ, the floating dance floor and the hand-crafted art glass windows, and learn about the mystery surrounding Freemasonry. There is a cafe on site for a bite to eat. Admission is free.
It is close to the Indiana War Memorial & Museum, so the two fit comfortably into the same morning or afternoon.
6. Crown Hill Cemetery
The third largest cemetery in the United States, about 10 minutes north of downtown, and regarded as the best walking tour in the city. The quiet, contemplative grounds are punctuated by the Gothic Chapel and Waiting Station from the late 1800s and by famous grave sites, including John Dillinger, Booth Tarkington, James Whitcomb Riley at the highest point in Indianapolis, Colonel Eli Lilly and President Benjamin Harrison. Hundreds of soldiers are buried in a war burial ground.
Pick up a free map at the office and explore on foot, by car or by bike. It is free to enter, and seasonal hours apply, so check before a late visit.
7. Indianapolis Zoo
Just west of downtown, the zoo is home to the Dolphin Adventures Gallery and Dome, whose underwater dolphin viewing dome is the first of its kind and free with admission. The Oceans exhibit features a shark touch tank, and other areas cover the Plains, the Forest, the Desert, botanical insects and a petting zoo.
Check the schedule of animal talks throughout the day. Feeding and riding some animals costs extra, as do the amusement rides such as the small roller coaster, carousel and train. The grounds are non-smoking, and hours vary by season, so check the website before you go.
8. Oldfields–Lilly House & Gardens
The former estate of the Lilly family, on the grounds of the Newfields art museum about 10 minutes north of downtown. The 22-room mansion, gardens and museum sit on 26 acres, and the house shows country estate living in the 1930s along with the antiques the family acquired. The gardens are spectacular, with many pathways and fountains.
Look in at the garden shop, where plants grown on the grounds are sold. Admission is free, and it is closed on Mondays.
9. Garfield Park Conservatory
Inside Garfield Park on the southeast side of town, the Conservatory holds 10,000 square feet of plants from around the world. The Sunken Gardens, built in 1916, are three acres of European classical formal gardens, and the plantings change with the season.
Admission is $1, with guided tours at $1 per person and shows at $3 per person or $8 per family. It is closed on Mondays.
10. Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial
Part of White River State Park on the west side of downtown, this monument pays tribute to more than 3,000 Medal of Honor recipients, from the Civil War through modern-day clashes. It is made up of 27 curved glass walls, each 7 to 10 feet high, etched with the names. It is especially striking at night. Admission is free, and it is open from dawn to dusk.
It sits on West Washington Street, close to the zoo, so the two work well together in one outing.
11. The American Legion National Headquarters
On the north side of downtown, the headquarters has a mall that recalls Washington, D.C. The museum features hundreds of World War I and II posters and artifacts and a diorama of Jessica Lynch's rescue. You can explore the grounds and learn about the Legion's history. Admission is free, with free or paid parking available.
It is open on weekdays only, so slot it into a weekday morning if your trip allows.
12. Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium
On the Butler University campus about 10 minutes north of downtown, this is one of the largest public observatories in the world, and its 38-inch Cassegrain telescope is the largest in Indiana. Because students use the observatory during the week, weekend tours are the ones available to visitors, and private tours can also be arranged.
Admission is $3, or $2 for children, cash only. Check the website or call for times before making the trip.
13. Indiana 9/11 Memorial
On West Ohio Street downtown, this memorial is open from dawn to dusk and free to visit. It is a short stop rather than a destination in itself, and it fits neatly into a walk between the downtown memorials and the state government buildings.
14. Downtown skyscrapers
Indianapolis keeps its tallest buildings in a relatively compact cluster downtown, which makes them easy to take in on foot. The tallest is the Salesforce Tower, followed by the OneAmerica Tower and the Regions Tower, then the Market Tower and 300 North Meridian. Others include the BMO Plaza and the JW Marriott Indianapolis, which is the tallest hotel in the state and the largest JW Marriott in the world.
You do not need a specific stop to see them. Walk the downtown grid, particularly around the Monument Circle area, and look up.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Soldiers & Sailor's Monument on Monument Circle, walking the steps and taking the elevator to the top for the view. Walk west to the Indiana State Capitol and look up at the Rotunda's stained glass window. From there, head north to the Indiana War Memorial & Museum and then to the Scottish Rite Cathedral, both within a short walk.
Afternoon. Go west to the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, then continue to the Indianapolis Zoo, where the underwater dolphin viewing dome is free with admission. If you are travelling with children and would rather spend the afternoon indoors, swap in The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, about 10 minutes north of downtown.
Evening. Return downtown and walk the skyscraper cluster while the light fades, finishing at the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial if you did not see it earlier, since the etched glass walls are at their most striking at night. If you have a car and the season allows, Crown Hill Cemetery stays open into the evening and makes a quiet end to the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Soldiers & Sailor's Monument?
The monument is open Thursday to Sunday, 10:30AM to 5:30PM, and elevator tickets are sold at the Monument Gift Shop during business hours. Walking the steps is free, and the south steps are closed for renovation until November 2025.
Which sights are free to visit?
The Indiana State Capitol, the Indiana War Memorial & Museum, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Crown Hill Cemetery, Oldfields–Lilly House & Gardens, the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, The American Legion National Headquarters and the Indiana 9/11 Memorial are all free. The Soldiers & Sailor's Monument is free to walk the steps, with a fee for the elevator, and the Indianapolis Zoo and Garfield Park Conservatory charge admission.
Do I need a car to see these places?
Most of the downtown sights, including the Soldiers & Sailor's Monument, the Indiana State Capitol, the Indiana War Memorial & Museum, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial and the zoo, are close enough to combine on foot. Crown Hill Cemetery, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Oldfields–Lilly House & Gardens and the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium are each about 10 minutes north of downtown, and Garfield Park Conservatory is on the southeast side of town.
What should I know about visiting the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium?
Weekend tours are the ones available to visitors, since students use the observatory during the week, and private tours can be arranged. Admission is $3, or $2 for children, cash only, so check the website or call for times before you go.
Pick the sights that match your interests, check the seasonal hours before you set out, and start building your Indianapolis itinerary around Monument Circle.