Although the downtown part of Indianapolis might be on the smaller side, it’s a city that is loaded with delicious eateries, numerous cultural destinations, several sports and entertainment venues, and all sorts of niche attractions that keep visitors coming back. And along with a thriving tourism industry, home prices in Indianapolis are considerably less than most larger cities, making it a great spot to consider for entry-level short-term rental investors.
If you’re interested in Indianapolis being a potential destination for your next Airbnb investment, here’s a quick snapshot of what the city offers your future guests:
Major Events
When it comes to major evens in Indianapolis, the Indy 500 essentially acts as the headliner. Held annually on the Sunday before Memorial Day, the Indianapolis 500 is regarded as the largest single-day sporting event in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of people each year. Other annual events and festivals in Indianapolis include the Indiana State Fair, the Broad Ripple Art Fair, and the Circle of Lights.
Tourist Attractions
For a city once referred to as “Naptown” because of its sleepy reputation back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Downtown Indianapolis has since gone through quite the transformation and is now considered one of the best convention cities in the country. From world-class museums to a lively Canal Walk that attracts locals and visitors alike, you’ll find there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Indianapolis, which is why the city’s tourism revenue continues to grow substantially.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Dubbed the largest sports venue in the world, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the famed home of the Indianapolis 500. Other smaller races and events are also hosted at the speedway throughout the year, but the schedule can vary from year to year.
Indianapolis Museum of Art: As party of the Newfields campus, the Indianapolis Museum of Art sits on 152 acres of gardens and grounds and is also one of the nation’s largest and oldest general art museums.
Central Canal: Also called the Indianapolis Canal Walk, the Central Canal is a popular recreational path that officially opened to residents and visitors of the city in 2001. Since then, it’s become one of the city’s top outdoor attractions, providing locals with an awesome place to bike, paddle board, kayak, and enjoy the vibrant downtown atmosphere.
Indianapolis Zoo: Located in White River State Park, the Indianapolis Zoo is home to over 3,800 animals of more than 320 animal species. Thanks to its downtown location, the Indy Zoo is also easily accessible from local walking and biking trails, and it’s also just minutes from several interstate highways as well.
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s largest children’s museum, encompassing 5 full floors of exhibits and interactive learning activities. Every year more than 1 million visitors pack this one-of-a-kind attraction, and if you haven’t been yet, it’s the one thing we recommend doing most for anyone planning a trip to Indy.
Dining Scene
While you don’t often hear Indianapolis mentioned with some of the country’s top food cities, the dining scene here continues to evolve. The iconic St. Elmo Steak House has been named “An American Classic” by the James Beard Foundation and the growing list of excellent craft breweries in Indianapolis is enough for it to have been voted a Top Five Beer City by readers of USA Today.
Professional Sports
Indianapolis has 2 professional sports teams in the Indianapolis Colts (NFL) and the Indiana Pacers (NBA). The Indianapolis Indians also call ‘Circle City’ home, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Lucas Oil Stadium – 500 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225
- Bankers Life Fieldhouse – 125 S Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Victory Field – 501 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
