Carmel Arts and Design District Travel Guide

Indianapolis

Carmel Arts and Design District
Carmel Arts and Design District
Carmel Arts and Design District
Carmel Arts and Design District
Carmel Arts and Design District

Search through the galleries and studios of Carmel's downtown arts district for antique pieces and unique works of art for your home.

Go on a tour of the Carmel Arts and Design District, a booming cultural hotspot of galleries, antique stores, restaurants, interior designers and specialty retail shops. Purchase original paintings and sculptures, participate in classes and events that support the development of the arts or simply relax in a bustling enclave of creativity.

Enter the district through one of its four brick gateways. Browse the galleries and studios and purchase paintings and sculptures by local and international artists.

On the second Saturday of every month, join the free gallery art walk, an opportunity to quiz artists about their work and inspirations.

Open up your creativity in art classes hosted by a small number of galleries. For a full list of special events, visit the district’s official website.

As you make your way through the district, pause to study the outdoor life-size sculptures. Among them are painted figures of a street musician playing a violin, a police officer greeting a passerby and a gray-haired businessman sitting on a bench reading his newspaper. These works of art were created by J. Seward Johnson Jr., an American sculptor who is noted for the realism of his work.

Rummage through specialty stores and antique shops and pick up some home décor ideas from the district's interior designer showrooms.

Enjoy lunch, dinner and refreshments in any of the cafés and restaurants scattered throughout the area.

After your visit, consider a run, hike or bike ride. The district has direct access to the Monon Trail, a biking, walking and running trail that follows an old railway line through parts of Indiana. It links parks, state fairgrounds and commercial and residential areas.

The Carmel Arts and Design District is located in the heart of downtown Carmel, about 23 miles (37 kilometers) from downtown Indianapolis and about 27 miles (44 kilometers) from Indianapolis International Airport. Find free and paid parking spaces throughout the district.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Carmel Arts and Design District

Omni Severin Hotel

Omni Severin Hotel

4 out of 5
40 West Jackson Place Indianapolis IN
The price is £146 per night from 7 May to 8 May
£146
per night
7 May - 8 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service and a 24-hour health club. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (960 reviews)
Breakfast was great, beds were comfortable, room was a nice size.

Reviewed on 4 May 2026

Omni Severin Hotel
Sonesta Select Indianapolis Carmel

Sonesta Select Indianapolis Carmel

3 out of 5
37 W 103rd Street Indianapolis IN
The price is £75 per night from 5 May to 6 May
£75
per night
5 May - 6 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the clean rooms in their ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,208 reviews)
The hotel was limited. Simple coffee and water in the lobby. Other items came with a hefty charge. The gym no longer had the free weights that were in the pictures. The treadmills have TV's that were not hooked up to anything (no signal). The foldout couch had a single sheet in terms of bedding for ...

Reviewed on 4 May 2026

Sonesta Select Indianapolis Carmel
Ironworks Hotel Indy

Ironworks Hotel Indy

4 out of 5
2721 E 86th Street Indianapolis IN
The price is £151 per night from 25 May to 26 May
£151
per night
25 May - 26 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (1,893 reviews)
Beautiful hotel. Friendly staff. Great location. Just wish the bed was more comfortable but wouldn’t deter me from staying again.

Reviewed on 4 May 2026

Ironworks Hotel Indy
Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown

Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown

3 out of 5
601 West Washington Street Indianapolis IN
The price is £133 per night from 25 May to 26 May
£133
per night
25 May - 26 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,116 reviews)
Expensive food and drinks--excellent otherwise

Reviewed on 4 May 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown
Best Western Plus Indianapolis North at Pyramids

Best Western Plus Indianapolis North at Pyramids

3 out of 5
9320 N Michigan Rd Indianapolis IN
The price is £80 per night from 25 May to 26 May
£80
per night
25 May - 26 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,006 reviews)
Clean

Reviewed on 3 May 2026

Best Western Plus Indianapolis North at Pyramids
The Fontana Hotel

The Fontana Hotel

2.5 out of 5
7304 E 21st St Indianapolis IN
The price is £87 per night from 5 May to 6 May
£87
per night
5 May - 6 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (967 reviews)
Everything was fine, especially the friendly staff. The hotel is hard to find, because the sign on the street has the name in such small letters that it is easy to miss (we drove by twice before finding it). The room was excellent, although the faucet on the sink was loose. But otherwise a comfortable, ...

Reviewed on 3 May 2026

The Fontana Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Carmel Arts and Design District

Indianapolis white river state park

Castleton

Travellers come to Castleton for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Castleton Square and Dave & Buster's while you're in town.

Castleton
Monon Trail in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis, Indiana - Fall 2022

Broad Ripple

While Broad Ripple isn't home to many top sights, Glendale Town Center and Indianapolis Art Center are some notable places to visit nearby.

Broad Ripple
Meridian-Kessler

Meridian-Kessler

If you're spending some time in Meridian-Kessler, Indiana State Fairgrounds and Marsh Grandstand are top sights worth seeing.

Meridian-Kessler
Mapleton/Fall Creek

Mapleton/Fall Creek

Travellers enjoy Mapleton/Fall Creek for its museums and live music. Consider checking out Freetown Village while you're in the area.

Mapleton/Fall Creek
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Martindale-Brightwood

You'll enjoy the parks and historical sites in Martindale-Brightwood. You might want to make time for a stop at George Washington Park or Willis Mortuary.

Martindale-Brightwood
Near Northside

Near Northside

Well liked for its riverfront and historical sites, Near Northside is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like Methodist Hospital and Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, and jump on the metro at Methodist Station to get around the city.

Near Northside


Carmel Arts and Design District Travel Guide

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