Best Time to Travel
Though it’s a city for all seasons, with a wealth of year-round attractions and festivals, Indy hits its peak in summer, when great sports events roar into life. This sporting excitement is matched by star-studded concerts at the Lawn at White River State Park, where long, balmy evenings lend themselves to all-night revelry. Still, it’s no dull place outside of peak season, with the Lucas Oil Stadium continuing to see top NFL action throughout the winter, when magical festivities take over the city, often topped off with a dusting of snow.
Not to Miss
From May through to September, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway stages some of the greatest motor sports events on earth. Bookended by Grand Prix – one in cars and one on bikes – the unmissable main event is the Indy 500, which takes place on Memorial Day weekend. Drawing a crowd of 300,000 spectators for a high-stakes, 500-mile race, in which the cars lap the circuit 200 times, it’s motor racing on a truly epic scale, and will surely be the highlight of a trip to Indianapolis.
Getting around
With the Indianapolis International Airport located just 15 minutes from Downtown, getting in is a stress-free experience. There’s an efficient and frequent shuttle, Go Green, which drops off at major hotels and locations like the Lucas Oil Stadium. The Red line public bus also connects the airport and Downtown, while there are taxis and hire cars available too. The IndyGo network provides transport across the city, while Downtown is pleasantly walkable, and bicycles are also available for rental for green travel in this eco-conscious and gratifyingly flat city.
Cuisine
There’s an art to the perfect pork tenderloin sandwich – and at Indy’s race day food carts, they are phenomenal. From this humble but delicious street food, to high-concept restaurants, Indianapolis serves up a festival of food. A superb Farmers’ Market in the center of Downtown has helped to inspire a passion for local ingredients in many trendy, new restaurants, while family-run eateries have been cooking up Southern soul food for generations. There are also distinct international flavors running through the city, with everything from Asian fusion to Italian staples.
Customs and etiquette
Indianapolis is of a liberal and open disposition, used to welcoming visitors in. Particularly in bohemian districts like Fountain Square, alternative lifestyles form part of the picture. One situation where it does pay to be prepared is when visiting the Speedway for a big race. It’s a huge, 2.5 mile track, so knowing in advance where your seats are is essential. You can take in food and drinks, but no glass bottles. Many people take coolers packed with food, or even grills, with them. Fast Facts
• Population: 852870
• Spoken languages: English
• Electrical: The USA runs on 120V, 60 Hz current
• Phone Calling Code: +1 317911
