Things to Do in Indianapolis

A 250-acre urban park along the White River with walking trails, a canal, picnic spots, and access to several museums and the zoo.

🕐 Open daily 6am–11pm

💡 The park itself is free. Rent a bike or just stroll the canal walk—it connects to the downtown Cultural Trail. Parking is paid, but street parking is free on Sundays.

A historic cemetery on a hill with impressive monuments, including the grave of John Dillinger, and panoramic views of the city from the Gothic Chapel.

🕐 Daily 8am–5pm (gates close at dusk, whichever is earlier)

💡 Go for the quiet and the vistas, not just the famous graves. The Crown Hill Heritage Trail is a self-guided walk that covers the cemetery's history. Pick up a map at the office.

A large art museum with a permanent collection spanning centuries and continents. The main galleries are free; special exhibitions cost extra.

🕐 Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays

💡 The grounds are open for free, too—worth a walk through the gardens and the 100 Acres Art & Nature Park. Check the website for which exhibits are free on the day you visit.

The world's largest children's museum, with five floors of hands-on exhibits including dinosaurs, science labs, and a working carousel.

🕐 Daily 10am–5pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

💡 Admission is $22–28, but the first Thursday of every month is free from 4–8pm. Arrive early to queue; it gets busy.

Museum covering Indiana's natural and cultural history, from ice age fossils to 20th-century industry.

🕐 Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 11am–5pm

💡 General admission is $15, but the ground-floor exhibits on the Ice Age and the Indiana limestone industry are free. Also, the first Sunday of each month is half-price.