Are you planning a weekend getaway to Indianapolis, Indiana? If so, check out this 2-day Indianapolis itinerary full of all the best the Circle City offers. You’ll enjoy delicious food, world-class museums, local art, and more in an action-packed 48 hours. Get ready to get to explore Indianapolis in a whole new light.
I’ve asked an Indy resident, Pam from Our Adventure is Everywhere, for the best Indianapolis itinerary. She’s explored almost every nook and cranny of the city and narrowed this weekend trip down to the perfect overview.
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Table of Contents
Day 1: Focus on Downtown Indy
Morning
Breakfast
Every great day begins with a great breakfast, and luckily for Indy residents and visitors, the city has plenty of excellent choices. If you want a full breakfast, a terrific choice is Cafe Patachou. It’s the place we frequent for Mothers Day or Birthday brunches as the food is high-quality, a bit “fancy”, yet the atmosphere is comfortable. Highlights include the homemade thick-cut cinnamon toast, or the always filling “Hippie with a Benz” (omelet with spinach, feta and mushroom).
If you prefer to grab something quick to go, Java House is a downtown winner. Their cold brew coffee is the perfect base for an outstanding Americano or specialty latte, and their breakfast sandwiches are filling and tasty. Whichever breakfast option you choose, make sure to grab a coffee to go to enjoy while walking the canal.
Canal Walk
Now that you’re fueled up, it’s time for a scenic stroll along the Canal Walk. Picture this: a 3-mile loop lined with interesting architecture and public art. The walk is along the actual central canal, dug in the early 1800s as a form of transporting goods through the city. Today it’s a peaceful urban escape.
As you walk you’ll see kayakers, paddle boats and perhaps even gondoliers – which I can attest is a fun and unique way to view downtown! End your walk at the Indiana State Museum, our next stop during this fun 2-day Indianapolis itinerary.
Afternoon
Indiana State Museum
To really get the lowdown on the Hoosier state, spend a few hours exploring the Indiana State Museum. Since you are entering the museum from the Canal path, be sure to spend a few minutes admiring the back of the building. Every county has a block with something that represents that particular county – it’s pretty interesting, and with 92 counties in Indiana, there is plenty to look at!
From natural science and history to art & culture, the Indiana State Museum is a treasure trove of all things Indiana. For the kids in your group, there are plenty of interactive exhibits to help keep them interested, and for history lovers, you’ll get to see the development of Indiana through the years. My favorite exhibit is on the top floor – it’s all about famous and influential Hoosiers.
White River State Park
After exploring the museum, if you have time, consider a visit to one of the other amazing museums located in the White River State Park. If you like sports, the NCAA museum is a must. Interested in Native American culture? Check out the Eiteljorg Museum. Or, just head over to the Indianapolis Zoo to get up close with some animals – the orangutan exhibit is world-class.
The White River State Park itself is lovely – it connects the canal, all the museums and part of IUPUI’s campus, and is a wonderful place for a picnic, stroll or just a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Evening
Dinner
After such a busy day, a long relaxing dinner at an iconic Indianapolis restaurant is well-deserved. St. Elmo’s Steakhouse has been serving their delicious hand cut steaks since 1902. Be sure to order the sinus-clearing shrimp cocktail – it’s an Indianapolis rite of passage. A dinner at St. Elmo’s is an indulgence, but as an Indy institution, well worth it.
Downtown Nightlife
After you roll out of St. Elmo’s, if you still have the energy after such a busy day, check to see if there is a show playing at the Indiana Repertory Theater (IRT), and if there is, grab a ticket and go. The historic theater is beautiful and located right downtown.
If nothing is playing, consider a drink and some live music at the Slippery Noodle. The Slippery Noodle is Indy’s oldest bar as it’s been open in one form or another since 1850. Today it’s a hotbed for live blues and cold drinks.
Day 2: Cultural Trails & Racing Highlights
Hopefully you had a good night’s sleep because today we’ll be hopping! From eclectic neighborhoods to Indy cars, you’ll get a taste of what makes Indianapolis special to close out the second day of your 2-day Indianapolis itinerary.
Morning
Breakfast
Since you’ll be spending the morning exploring two of the seven designated cultural arts districts of Indianapolis, it makes sense to enjoy breakfast in one of them. Easy Rider is a funky, edgy diner located in the heart of Fountain Square. Breakfast is typical comfort food diner dishes with an upscale twist. Enjoy a waffle flight or breakfast tacos, and wash them down with plentiful coffee. For an extra treat, try one of their adult beverages – the mimosa flight or the seasonal adult hot chocolate are personal favorites.
Designated Cultural Districts
Head right outside of Easy Rider to explore the rest of Fountain Square. With a variety of thrift shops and local boutiques – including an awesome bookstore, it’s easy to lose a few hours browsing. But don’t spend your whole morning in Fountain Square as you’ll want to head over to a second cultural arts district for another taste of Indy.
Massachusetts Ave (Mass Ave) runs diagonally towards downtown Indy and is full of local restaurants, stores and bars. In addition to excellent shopping (be sure to visit Silver in the City), there is quite a bit of art to admire including life-size murals of famous Hoosiers and the unique moving sculpture, “Ann Dancing” by Julian Ope.
Technically you could enjoy a fabulous lunch anywhere along Mass Ave, but for something unique, head to the north end of the street and check out The Garage, Indy’s newest Food Hall. The Garage is full of local, independent restaurants with some of the best food the city has to offer. You’ll find everything from lobster rolls to Arepas, so everyone can find something they love. Let everyone in your party grab their food (and perhaps a tasty cocktail or craft beer from Hard Truth) and meet at a table in the middle.
Afternoon
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
It’s hard to believe our weekend in Indy is coming to an end, but there is one more place you must visit to get a feel for what makes Indianapolis special. And that’s the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), the home of the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indy 500.
Plan on visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and learn about the rich racing history of the city. You’ll get to see more than 25 winning Indy race cars as well as learn about what makes these cars so unique. Definitely take the behind the scenes tour and get the opportunity to walk on the famous racetrack, check out the pagoda and even “kiss the bricks” like a winning race car driver.
Evening
Enjoy a Hoosier Tenderloin at Triton Brewing Company
Before you leave the city, enjoy one last bite of a Hoosier tradition, a breaded tenderloin. These can be found all over the state as it’s the unofficial state sandwich, but a great version can be had at Triton Brewing Company near Fort Harrison State Park just north of downtown Indy. Toast your weekend in the city with one of their craft beers (try a flavored Gose) and start planning your return.
Where to Stay in Indianapolis
Since most of your 2-day Indianapolis itinerary is clustered around downtown Indy it makes sense to book a hotel in that area. Here are the two top choices:
The Bottleworks Hotel
If you like a bougie feel to your stay, The Bottleworks Hotel is the place for you. Located near the Garage Food Hall, it’s one of Indy’s newest and nicest boutique hotels. It’s been winning awards nationwide right and left for its service and atmosphere.
JW Marriott
If you want to be right downtown in the heart of the action, book your room at the stunning JW Marriott. With modern rooms, fantastic city views, and a super convenient location to all the downtown sites, you can’t go wrong.
Conclusion: 2-Day Indianapolis Itinerary
What a weekend, right? From frothy lattes at Java House to the Indianapolis 500, we’ve covered just a taste of what the city has to offer. Indianapolis is THE place to get a bang for your buck when it comes to action-packed, cultural-rich, delicious weekend getaways.
Every moment of this 2-day adventure was designed to whet your appetite for everything that the Circle City has to offer. Although the days were full of good food and fun, there is so much more to explore in the capital of the Hoosier state, so consider this your starter plan and make sure to plan a repeat visit in the near future.
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Have you been to Indianapolis? What would you recommend for a 2-day Indianapolis itinerary? Let me know in the comments!
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3 Comments
Glen Bowe
It never would have occurred to me to visit Indianapolis before I read your blog. Now I might be interested in seeing it especially since I don’t even have to plan it out as you’ve already done that.
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