The city’s first luxury hotel in nearly two decades is housed within the historic 1926 Illinois Building, and is recommended by Travel+Leisure’s A-List advisor Maria Diego. The property includes downtown’s only hotel spa, fine dining, and luxurious marble bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs in every room. From the historic Slippery Noodle Inn—Indiana’s oldest tavern—to creative cocktail bars and farm-to-table restaurants, Indianapolis has big-city luxuries without losing an iota of small-town charm. Other prominent city residents have included Charles Warren Fairbanks (vice president under Theodore Roosevelt), authors Booth Tarkington and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.

Events

Notable independent private schools include the International School of Indiana, the Orchard School, and Park Tudor School in Meridian Hills. Indianapolis Public Schools is the largest district in the city, enrolling about 23,000 students across 60 schools. Nine K–12 public school districts serve residents of the consolidated city as defined by the U.S. Unlike other major Midwest cities like Detroit and Chicago, the homicide rate for Indianapolis remained below the national average throughout the 1990s.

Historic locations and activities

The company’s thermal division operates the Perry K. Generating Station which produces and distributes steam for heating and cooling to about 160 customers in downtown Indianapolis. AES Indiana supplies electricity to more than 500,000 Indianapolis customers and maintains 90,000 street lights. Indianapolis Union Station is the state’s primary intercity bus transfer hub, served by seven carriers operating 12 routes. As home to the second largest FedEx Express hub in the world, it ranks among the ten busiest U.S. airports in terms of air cargo throughput. In 2024, the airport served 10.5 million passengers and offered nonstop service to 53 domestic and international destinations.

• It is home to 17 degree-granting schools, including the main campus of the IU School of Medicine, the largest medical school by enrollment in the U.S.
• Indianapolis Public Schools is the largest district in the city, enrolling about 23,000 students across 60 schools.
• The Marion county cities of Beech Grove, Lawrence, Speedway, and Southport remained autonomous under the arrangement, as did the county’s several school systems.
• IU Health is consolidating and replacing Methodist and University hospitals with a new $4.3 billion academic medical center which is slated to open in 2027.
• For his presidential inauguration, marking the first visit from a president-elect in the city’s history.
• In the 2020 census, Indianapolis was among the 20 largest cities in the U.S. by both population and land area.

Starting in the mid-20th century, the post–World War II economic expansion and subsequent suburbanization greatly influenced the city’s development patterns. In the 2020 census, Indianapolis was among the 20 largest cities in the U.S. by both population and land area. The city’s address numbering system originates at the intersection of Washington (running east–west) and Meridian streets (running north–south). The grid plan called for a town of 1 square mile (2.6 km2) centered on a traffic circle (from which Indianapolis’s “Circle City” https://www.royalspiniacasino.org/ nickname originates). Nine civil townships form the broadest geographic divisions within the city and county; these are Center, Decatur, Franklin, Lawrence, Perry, Pike, Warren, Washington, and Wayne townships.

Indy Is Streaming

A designated cultural district just southeast of downtown, Fountain Square combines vintage architecture with a creative energy. Nicknamed the “Crossroads of America,” the Indy has great access to major highways such as I-65, I-70, and I-74. With convenient rental car access and ride-hailing services, you can be downtown in less than 30 minutes. The best time to visit Indianapolis is during spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable and the city comes alive with outdoor events. In Speedway, Borage feels like a community hub, pairing a relaxed café atmosphere with a connected market selling the same locally sourced grains, vegetables, and breads used in its kitchen.

Broad Ripple Village

North of 18th Street, the canal retains much of its original appearance, flowing through the north side neighborhoods of Riverside, Butler–Tarkington, Rocky Ripple, and Broad Ripple. Between 1985 and 2001, nearly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the former canal in downtown Indianapolis were redeveloped into a cultural and recreational amenity. Since the 2000s, downtown Indianapolis and surrounding neighborhoods have seen increased reinvestment mirroring nationwide market trends, driven by empty nesters and millennials. Notable streetcar suburbs include Broad Ripple, Irvington, and University Heights.

• According to 2014 research published in the American Political Science Review, the city’s policy preferences are less conservative than the national mean when compared with other large U.S. cities.
• Founded in 1821 as the city’s public market, the Indianapolis City Market has served the community from its current building since 1886.
• Religion has played a central role in shaping the city’s healthcare, political, and social service systems.
• Amid the changes in government and growth, the city pursued an aggressive economic development strategy to raise the city’s stature as a sports tourism destination, known as the Indianapolis Project.
• The city’s largest contribution to popular culture, the Indianapolis 500, has influenced entertainment for decades, referenced in film, television, video games, and other media.

According to 2014 research published in the American Political Science Review, the city’s policy preferences are less conservative than the national mean when compared with other large U.S. cities. The Indiana Governor’s Residence is on Meridian Street in the Butler–Tarkington neighborhood, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown. The executive branch is headed by an elected mayor who serves as the chief executive of both the city and county. The city has a strong mayor–council system of government which oversees six administrative departments. Indianapolis—officially the Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County—has a consolidated city-county form of government, a status it has held since 1970 under Indiana Code’s Unigov provision.

According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 83.7% of working residents in the city commuted by driving alone, 8.4% carpooled, 1.5% used public transportation, and 1.8% walked. Urban sprawl and the absence of a comprehensive regional public transit system have contributed to Indianapolis residents driving more vehicle miles per capita than any other U.S. city. Additional publications include Indianapolis Monthly, a regional lifestyle publication; Indianapolis Business Journal, a weekly business newspaper; and NUVO, an alternative weekly that became digital-only in 2019. Notable academic libraries in the city include IU Indianapolis’s University Library and Butler University’s Irwin Library. Indianapolis is also home to the Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau, the state’s largest public library. It is home to 17 degree-granting schools, including the main campus of the IU School of Medicine, the largest medical school by enrollment in the U.S.
In 1970 the governments of the city and Marion county were consolidated into a single entity. The latter led to the development of automobile manufacturing as central to the city’s economy. Some impetus for growth was given when the Cumberland (National) Road (modern Washington Street downtown) was routed across the city in 1827 and later when railroads arrived. Nearby communities include Carmel (north), Lawrence (northeast), Beech Grove (southeast), Greenwood (south), and Speedway (west). Indianapolis, city, seat (1822) of Marion county and capital of Indiana, U.S. It lies on the White River at its confluence with Fall Creek, near the centre of the state.
The museum provides intimate access to the motorsports heritage that defines Indianapolis globally, one of Levingston’s top recommended stops in Indy. Home to the world’s most famous auto race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has guided tours and an extensive museum dedicated to racing history, iconic cars, and the legendary 500-mile tradition. Honoring America’s first self-made woman millionaire, this museum documents Madam C.J. Walker’s entrepreneurial legacy as she built her empire of haircare products. During his yours, you can get to know Indianapolis on a deeper level as you see the city through his historian’s lens. Sampson Levingston’s Walk & Talk tours have garnered national recognition as he takes people through the hidden history of Indianapolis streets. Highlights include real fossils, a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and hands-on science demonstrations.
Part of downtown Indianapolis, this mixed-use development has continued to expand over the years, offering all kinds of activities within the beautifully restored historic Coca-Cola bottling complex. This historic Arts and Theater District stretches for nearly a mile through downtown Indianapolis and is generally considered the city’s most vibrant area. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is the city’s primary gateway, and it’s only 15 miles from downtown. This small but fascinating museum celebrates Indianapolis’s preeminent literary icon, and includes displays of his trusty typewriter, paintings, family artifacts, and recreated writing space.

It is among the largest privately funded zoos in the U.S. and one of the city’s most visited attractions, with 1.1 million guests in 2023. Key literary sites in the city include the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home, the Ray Bradbury Center at IU Indianapolis, and the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library. Major recurring events include the Drum Corps International World Class Championships, the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, and Indy Jazz Fest. Indianapolis is home to several national and international music organizations, including the American Piano Awards, Bands of America, Drum Corps International, and the Percussive Arts Society.
Census Bureau, the Indianapolis (balance) encompasses a total area of 367.9 square miles (953 km2), of which 361.6 square miles (937 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) is water. It is situated 98 miles (158 km) northwest of Cincinnati, Ohio; 107 miles (172 km) north of Louisville, Kentucky; 164 miles (264 km) southeast of Chicago, Illinois; and 168 miles (270 km) west of Columbus, Ohio. Indianapolis is located in the East North Central region of the Midwestern United States, about fourteen miles (23 km) south-southeast of Indiana’s geographic center. In 2020, the George Floyd protests in Indiana prompted a series of local police reforms and renewed efforts to bolster social services for mental health treatment and homelessness.
The Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League have been based in the city since relocating from Baltimore in 1984. Since 2016, more than 350 film and media projects have been produced in the Indianapolis region with a collective economic impact of $24.1 million and the creation of 1,900 local jobs. Founded in 2018, the Indy Shorts International Film Festival is one of 34 film festivals in the world used to qualify for the Academy Awards. Three motion pictures filmed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway include Speedway (1929), To Please a Lady (1950), and Winning (1969). The city’s sports venues have served as backdrops for such films as Hoosiers (1986) and Eight Men Out (1988).
Menu favorites include house-made pastas and their famous house-made grilled breads. The oldest continuously operating bar in Indiana is a great place to listen to live music, enjoy cold drinks, and enjoy a classic pork tenderloin sandwich (a local delicacy). With great cocktails, a hot dance floor, and drag nights, Tini is an LGBTQ+ haven and cocktail bar on Mass Avenue, Indy’s main downtown street. The historic venue features traditional German hospitality with outdoor seating perfect for enjoying bratwurst, schnitzel, live music, and 12 different types of imported draft beers.