Getting There

By Plane -- Flights arrive at Indianapolis International Airport (tel. 317/487-9594). Most major domestic airlines can get you there, although US Airways and Southwest have the most frequent service. There is no public transportation into town; taxis average $21 to downtown, but can go as high as $45 elsewhere. Share-a-ride car service through Carey Indiana (tel. 800/888-INDY or 317/241-6700) costs $11 to downtown and around $20 to the north side. All major national car-rental agencies are represented at the airport. (Phone numbers and websites for all the major U.S. airlines and car-rental agencies can be found in appendix D.)

By Train -- Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) has a station at 350 S. Illinois St. (tel. 317/263-0550), with trains arriving from Chicago (trip time: 5 1/2 hr.), Cincinnati (3 1/2 hr.), and Washington, D.C. (18 1/2 hr.). Note: Amtrak service to Indianapolis is spotty and often includes some time on a bus.

By Car -- Major routes into Indianapolis are I-65 from the northwest (Chicago) and south (Louisville), I-69 from the northeast (Detroit), I-70 from the west (St. Louis) and east (Columbus, OH), and I-74 from the southeast (Cincinnati).

Visitor Information

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitor Bureau is at One RCA Dome, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46225 (tel. 800/323-INDY or 317/639-4282), and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm; its website offers video podcasts of what to see and do in the city. The Indiana Tourism Hotline is tel. 800/556-INDY. Find local events online at the Indianapolis Downtown Inc. website and the Indy Arts website.

Getting Around

IndyGo buses (tel. 317/635-3344) run on heavily traveled routes; fares are $1.25. The popular Blue Line Circulator buses are free and run a continuous path circling downtown daily from 10am to 10pm. But you can't rely on public transportation to get everywhere you want to go, so you'll really need a car. Based on a grid system, the city is easy to negotiate. Parking is relatively easy in downtown Indy, which has numerous parking garages and surface parking lots. The Circle Centre mall lots are usually a good parking bet downtown, and it's only $1.50 for up to 3 hours; you can park there all day (6-12 hr.) for $12 (rates can be higher during special events).

Cabs usually line up at downtown hotels, or you can call a radio-dispatched taxi. Try Yellow Cab (tel. 317/487-7777).

Fast Facts

If you need a doctor, call Methodist Hospital, at I-65 and 21st Street (tel. 317/916-3525), for a referral. Riley Children's Hospital, 702 Barnhill Dr. (tel. 317/274-5000), is one of the nation's top children's hospitals.

A growing number of Walgreens and CVS locations have 24-hour pharmacies. If you're staying downtown, the CVS at 1744 N. Illinois St. (tel. 317/923-1491) is convenient; otherwise check the Yellow Pages.

Downtown Indianapolis nearly empties out after the retail shopping spots close; although Indianapolis is fairly safe, be careful walking alone to your car in large outdoor parking lots.

Special Events

Seats for both the Indianapolis 500 (run the day before Memorial Day) and the Brickyard 400 (the first Sat in Aug) sell out very early, though you may be able to get bleacher or infield tickets at the last minute. Call the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office at tel. 317/484-6700 at least 10 to 12 months in advance.

The Indy Jazz Fest runs for a long weekend each June, and the Indiana Black Expo (tel. 317/925-2702) spans a full 10 days in July featuring speakers, live music, and more.