Lucas BrennanPlanning a trip to the Crossroads of America means getting ready for lively neighborhoods and deep history.
Whether you’re flying in to sort out a big wedding or just taking a break from regular piano practice at home, exploring the city is easier with the right guide.
Finding the best tours in Indianapolis can turn a normal visit into something more fun and meaningful, with stories, sights, and hidden spots along the way.
I checked out local tour options to see how they really show visitors around the city. Let’s take a look at the best options below.
How much does a tour cost in Indianapolis?
Tours in Indianapolis typically cost between $10 and $100+ per person, depending on the type of experience, group size, and whether you choose a standard sightseeing excursion or a premium guided experience.
| Tour Type | Estimated Cost Per Person |
| Standard Sightseeing / Landmarks | $10 – $20 |
| Guided Walking & Small Group | $55 – $80 |
| Premium Culinary or Private | $100+ |
1. Circle City Tours
Website: https://www.circlecitytours.com/
Address: 150 W Maryland St
Contact: 317 899 9285
Hours: Not indicated
Circle City Tours makes exploring Indianapolis feel easy and smooth with their air-conditioned bus, which blends transportation and storytelling into a single ride.
I liked how efficiently the tour covered major landmarks like White River State Park and the museum district within about three hours, which really helps if you’re short on time.
The founder sometimes joins the small groups too, sharing local stories that make everything feel more personal and real.
Accessibility is also a plus, as they offer wheelchair lifts and secure tie-downs for safety.
However, you can’t request hotel pickups because you must go to fixed boarding spots. Booking early is also needed due to strict passenger rules and limited refunds, so planning ahead is important.
Customer Reviews
Generous three hour tour of the city
Carrie was a very good and knowledgeable host on our generous three hour tour of the city. She was very gracias as well, offering to pick us up at our Airbnb in Speedway rather than us meeting her at one of three locations in downtown Indy. She also dropped us off at the airport after the tour, which was very kind of her. We’d recommend the tour!
- Drummerjeff60, Review
Very knowledgeable about the city
Carrie was an amazing tour guide! She was very knowledgeable about the city and took me to popular places and places off the beaten path. She allowed plenty of time to take pictures and answered any questions that I had. I highly recommend the private SUV tour. I look forward to going back to Indy and see all the places Carrie recommended when our time ended together.
- Art, Review
2. Indy Walking Tours
Website: https://indywalkingtours.com/
Areas Served: Downtown area, covering the Indiana War Memorial Historic District, Mass Ave, the Wholesale District, and City Market
Contact: 317 252 3715
Hours: Mon – Sun, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Indy Walking Tours gives a close-up look at downtown Indianapolis, and I found the experience very engaging from start to finish.
From what I’ve seen, the founder often leads the walks. He mixes true-crime stories and local folklore with architectural history around Monument Circle, which keeps the tour interesting throughout.
The route covers about a mile and a half and takes around 90 minutes, so it feels active yet easy to manage. It’s a great way to experience the city’s atmosphere without feeling rushed.
On the downside, the tour is limited to downtown, so the outer attractions are not included. You also need to be ready for continuous walking, so comfortable shoes are really important.
Customer Reviews
Fantastic walking tour
Fantastic walking tour and our guide Rob was not only very knowledgeable but super fun with his interactions and delivery of information. Answered questions from the group and took extra to point out key facts and history.
Highly recommend this tour with him.
- Alf Raju, Google Review
I was surprised by how much I learned
I’ve lived in Indianapolis for 25 years and loved, loved this tour. Rob is very knowledgeable and personable and I was surprised by how much I learned. I highly recommend this tour for both visitors to the city and for locals wanting to see their city with new eyes.
- Sandra Daly, Google Review
3. Taste Indy Food Tours
Website: https://indianapolisfoodtours.com/
Address: 310 Massachusetts Ave.
Contact: 317 245 8135
Hours: Mon – Sat, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Taste Indy Food Tours offers a fun way to discover Indianapolis by combining great food with local history.
I liked that each tour stops at four or five sit-down restaurants, and the portions are big enough to feel like a real meal, not just small samples.
The guide also explains how each stop relates to the city’s architecture, which makes the experience more interesting.
They’ve been offering tours since 2008 in popular spots like Mass Ave and Fountain Square. The pace is easygoing, with plenty of breaks along the way.
However, booking early is required since they are very popular. Also, cash is not accepted on the day, so everything must be paid for in advance.
Customer Reviews
Delight and helped to make the food tour enjoyable
A great way to sample a few restaurants in downtown Indy and learn some of the history at the same time. Our tour guide, Krista was a delight and helped to make the food tour even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this experience.
- Michele Hauck, Google Review
Great food selections
I was on a group Dine Around with my wife’s company with Taste Indy running the show. Great food selections, with wine to match at some excellent restaurants in downtown! All and all It was a wonderful experience and next time I am in town I plan on checking out the City Market Tour they have. I remember it from my childhood but I am sure its changed hopefully!! Anyways, it was a wonderful experience
- tom fisher, Google Review
4. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Track Tours
Website: https://imsmuseum.org/visit/track-tours/
Address: 4750 W 16th St
Contact: 463 244 2680
Hours: DAILY 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Track Tours is one of those experiences that really brings motorsports history to life in a fun, hands-on way.
Another highlight is the ninety-minute golf cart tour. This offers close access to restricted areas such as Gasoline Alley and the Victory Podium.
Also, the guides were super knowledgeable and shared stories that made the whole track feel like a legend rather than just a racecourse.
One of the coolest parts was stepping out to kiss the famous Yard of Bricks, which is a big tradition for winners. Plus, there are other tour options, such as shorter bus rides, depending on your budget and time.
Still, you do need to buy museum admission first, and weather or track activity can sometimes lead to sudden cancellations.
Customer Reviews
We did a tour that was informative and exciting.
My family and friends were in town for the Indianapolis Colts game and decided to go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The museum is amazing, there is so much to see and do. On display is every car that won the Indy 500, there’s a section for children with car simulators, and we did a tour that was informative and exciting. Everything was very clean and organized.
- Doreen Arnolia, Google Review
The tour was AMAZINGLY informative.
Even though it was pouring rain we did the track tour (leaves every 15 minutes) which includes a stop to give you an opportunity to KISS THE BRICK. The tour was AMZINGLY informative. Unfortunately the museum is CLOSED till Spring for renovations, but as we were snow birding our way to Florida, we would not have time to spend 1/2 day + at the brick yard. A MUST SEE for any race fan & I HOPE to be able to do the 10 + trip down 1 day to attend a main event. – SPA007
- SPA 007, Google Review
5. Indianapolis Ghosts: Ghost Tours and Haunted Pub Crawls
Website: https://usghostadventures.com/
Address: 102 W Washington St.
Contact: 317 799 1337
Hours: Mon – Sun, 11:00 AM–11:00 PM
Indianapolis Ghosts offers a very different way to explore the city, focusing on its darker and more mysterious side.
What’s also notable is that evening walks draw on real historical records and eyewitness accounts rather than relying solely on spooky stories.
Walking past places like the Indiana Repertory Theatre felt eerie because the stories were closely tied to real events.
Also, the route is short, about a mile. It takes roughly an hour, so it’s easy to fit into any travel plan. Since tours run every night, it’s convenient for busy schedules.
But because the tour focuses so much on paranormal history, it might not be for everyone, especially if you want a more traditional sightseeing experience.
Customer Reviews
Our guide was knowledgeable and thorough.
Tour was a little over an hour and covered some really interesting occurrences. Our guide was knowledgeable and thorough. My favorite part was walking around beautiful Indianapolis at night with dramatic lights lighting the historic buildings.
- Melissa Rust, Google Review
The whole tour was great
I bought tickets on a whim for something to do while visiting from Michigan and let’s be real who doesn’t love spooky stuff! our guide was Mitchell and he was great! The whole tour was great! I learned a lot of interesting things and we got to walk around downtown and see some really interesting places! I have a good feeling I’ll be booking more tours in the future in more cities history and ghosts there’s nothing more fascinating than that
- Miranda Andrews, Google Review
