These are the best places to travel this summer

Indiana

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
American Country

Getty Images/iStockphoto

LONELY PLANET’S RECOMMENDED eSIM

Stay connected in Indiana

with

Saily is an affordable eSIM service that helps you stay connected and secure, anywhere in the world.

Get your eSIM

Overview

The state revs up around the Indy 500 race, but otherwise it's about slow-paced pleasures in corn-stubbled Indiana: pie-eating in Amish Country, meditating in Bloomington's Tibetan temples and admiring the big architecture in small Columbus. The northwest has moody sand dunes to climb, while the south has caves to explore and rivers to canoe. Spooky labyrinths, bluegrass music shrines and a famed, lipstick-kissed gravestone also make appearances in the state.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Love by American artist Robert Indiana, 1970. Gift of the Friends of the Indianapolis Museum of Art in memory of Henry F. DeBoest. Restoration was made possible by Patricia J. and James E. LaCrosse. (Photo by Indianapolis Museum of Art/Getty Images)

    Newfields

    Indianapolis

    The 152-acre Newfields campus houses the Indianapolis Museum of Art, home to a terrific collection of European art (especially Turner and post…

  • May 24, 2019 Indianapolis, IN: FELIX ROSENQVIST (R) (10) of Sweden prepares to practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Indianapolis Motor Speedway

    Indianapolis

    The Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 motor race, is Indy's super-sight. The Speedway Museum features some 75 racing cars (including former winners)…

  • Indianapolis, Indiana, USA August 1, 2019 Indianapolis Children’s museum with models of dinosaurs

    Children's Museum of Indianapolis

    Indianapolis

    It's the world's largest kids' museum, sprawled over five floors holding incredible exhibitions on dinosaurs, space stations and so much more. The museum…

  • Miller House & Garden

    Miller House & Garden

    Indiana

    A dream team is responsible for the design of the former private home of hero industrialist, architectural visionary and former Cummins President/Chairman…

  • Indiana University

    Indiana University

    Indiana

    Indiana University (not University of Indiana!) routinely ranks with the cream of the crop of America's most beautiful college campuses. Founded in 1820…

  • Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

    Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

    Indiana

    This museum has a wonderful display of early roadsters – some outrageously colored – in a beautiful art-deco setting that was once part of the original…

  • "View of the Indiana World War Memorial from the South. Indiana War Memorial Indianapolis, Indiana. RAW source image processed with Nikon Capture NX version 1.3Link to more information on the memorial's history: http://www.in.gov/iwm/2333.htmSome of My Personal Collections:"

    Indiana War Memorial

    Indianapolis

    Only Washington, DC has more city monuments and memorials than Indianapolis (in fact, Scottish surveyor Alexander Ralston helped design both cities). This…

  • Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - October 16, 2021: The sign for the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library.; Shutterstock ID 2060461757; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library

    Indianapolis

    Author Kurt Vonnegut was born and raised in Indy, and this humble museum pays homage with displays including his Pall Mall cigarettes, droll drawings and…

View more attractions

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Indiana

Go Beyond

Indiana and beyond

Beyond Indiana