A Guide To Monument Circle, Indianapolis

Things to do / Highlights

Monument Circle is famed for its Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Situated in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets, this city provides a lot of opportunities to explore the various exciting things to do around the monument circle. Some of these are as follows:

Check out the events

Events happen year-round at the Monument Circle and are a must-see. From November 9, 2019, a new initiative “Shining a light in Indianapolis” provides many programs, videos, events, along with a nightly “Signature Salute” that honors military service members. .

Enjoy a day out at the zoo

Explore the local zoo as you stroll through the oceans, forests, and deserts. Spot exotic animals as they would be in the wild. Feel the birds, play with sharks or dolphins, and get lost in the stunning botanical gardens.

Explore Circle City

Circle City has plenty of activities for children and is near the Monument Circle. Let the kids count the 26 toys and toy peppermint sticks around it, or enjoy the trees with a photo to cherish all life. The children can climb up the tower and read a book from the free book shares. During Christmas, take a horse carriage ride along the charming streets of Indy.

Visit the White River State Park

Head to the White River State Park for a fun-filled day. Apart from being the summer retreat for the locals and visitors alike, it has the children’s foot maze, which will enthrall them. Also, check out the Eiteljorg Museum to enjoy the native American art. Have a kayak ride along the 2.4 km (1.5 miles) stretch of the canal that runs through the park.

Relish the local food at the Circle City market

Circle city’s market has all types of fresh food along with smoothies, ice cream, and more. Also, you can look for crafts and quaint art pieces.

Travel tips

Best time to visit

Go to the Monument Circle in the evening so that you can see the lights. However, if you wish to take a tour of the monument, keep an hour in hand and go before 5.30 pm as post that the monument closes.

Admission fees for Soldiers and Sailor Monument

If you want to see the monument, it is free of charge, but if you wish to take the elevator up the monument, it costs 2 USD. For kids up to 8 years, it’s 1 USD.

Horse carriage charges

For a scintillating street tour of Indy and especially during Christmas, the charges for horse carriages depends on the duration. For 25 minutes, it is 60 USD. An hour-long ride will cost 105 USD and depends on the number of passengers. In one carriage, six medium-sized adults can sit and have the joy ride from Hyatt Regency Hotel to the Monument circle.

How to get there

Take the interstate highway

Indianapolis is well connected to several US states via the interstate highways. Here are some routes travelers can take- Interstate 65 runs north to Chicago and south to Louisville; Interstate 69 runs north to Fort Wayne and southwest to Kentucky; Interstate 70 to St. Louis and Columbus; Interstate 74 to Cincinnati and Danville; and Interstate 465 is the beltway around the city that connects to all the interstate highways.

Indy Airport

Indy Airport holds the distinction of being the country’s best airport for the past five years. The airport is 22 km (13.7 miles) from downtown and plenty of public transportation is available to get to the city.

By public transport

IndyGo is the mass transit bus service along with Hoosier Ride services. It takes 12 USD per person to reach downtown in an hour. Buses are available every 30 minutes, from 5 AM to 11 PM every day. IndyGo provides bus services to more than 30 fixed routes from its downtown transportation hub. The Redline is the circle city’s first bus transit with electric buses and platform-level boarding.

By taxi

You can take a local taxi or use ride hailing services such as Uber or Lyft to reach Monument Circle.

By bicycle

Indianapolis has a flat landscape and is the best place to cycle around. Take the bike paths to explore the cultural trail and the historical monuments.

Monument Circle information

Monument Circle, Indianapolis

Address:Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA

Cost: Free

Department of tourism: Indianapolis Tourism