17 Top Experience Gifts in Indianapolis for 2025
Indianapolis is a lively city filled with culture, famous sports teams and Midwest charm that makes it a great place for experience gifts, whether you’re sports-mad, a budding gourmet or an art lover. These fun experience gifts come in all varieties of price points as well, making them ideal gifts for revelers at any age and a great way to surprise your giftee with new or favorite experiences rather than material things.Â
What is a good gift for people who like experiences? We’ve rounded up some of our faves that capture truly Indiana experiences, both in the city and in surrounding areas. They are as fitting for everyday celebrations as they are for birthdays, anniversaries and other special days. Many also make great date ideas in Indianapolis.Â
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- Unique Experience Gifts in Indianapolis
- Best Experience Gifts in Indianapolis
- Experience Gifts in Indianapolis for Adults
- Luxury Experience Gifts in Indianapolis
- Experience Gifts in Indianapolis FAQs
Unique Experience Gifts in Indianapolis
1. Cooking Classes
Cooking classes make excellent experience gifts in Indianapolis for foodies and budding gourmets. You can find cooking classes in Indianapolis covering everything from classic Midwest favorites to exotic global cuisine.
Or, learn new skills and new recipes by taking an online cooking class from the comfort of home. These classes also make great team building activities in Indianapolis.
2. Improv Class
Studying improv can be a fun indoor activity in Indianapolis to help along your communication and listening skills, as well as explore acting and comedic timing. Enroll your giftee in an improv class for an interactive and dynamic experience gift in Indianapolis at venues like ComedySportz, Defiance Comedy or Crossroads Comedy Theater.
3. Ghost Tour
The Midwest is full of haunting locales and Indianapolis is no different. You can find tours in the city and surrounding environs that detail the more morbid and spooky history of the region, including a deadly presidential curse, ghostly racecar drivers and haunted theaters. Tours are available by bus and on foot, check out Bone Chilling Indy Ghost Tours or visit the haunted Historic Hannah House, which hosts a yearly paranormal fair.Â
4. Murder Mystery Dinner
Check out dinner experiences from Dinner Detective in Indianapolis that kill two birds with one stone with both a great meal and engaging entertainment that allows you to help solve a grisly murder. Other options include The Murder Mystery Co. and Joe Strange’s Mystery Cafe, who offer similar programming that makes a curious and interactive experience gift in Indianapolis.
5. Perfumery Class
Learn the history of perfume making and make your own signature scent at the Truly Fragrance Bar, with regularly scheduled classes on how perfume works taught by professional scent designers. You can also find perfume workshops at Studio Alchemy Gallery that make the perfect enrollment experience gift in Indianapolis.Â
Best Experience Gifts in Indianapolis
6. Candle Workshop
Learn to make beautiful and luxurious candles at Penn & Beech Candle Co. in downtown Indianapolis. You will learn the art of mixing, scenting and designing candles and will be able to take home your own personalized candle with you, making this an ideal experience gift in Indianapolis if you love home decor.
7. Theater TicketsÂ
Indy is home to a number of professional and amateur theater companies, including Indiana Repertory Theatre, Storefront Theater and the Actor’s Theatre of Indiana. Local theaters are also host to major Broadway touring shows, all of which make a great experience gift for the performing arts lover in Indianapolis.
8. Art Museum Passes
For a fun and educational experience gift in Indianapolis, give museum passes or memberships to The Indiana Museum of Art at Newfields, described as a place for both nature and art, with exhibition halls and botanical gardens to wander endlessly. They host a large collection of American and international art and make a perfect Indiana experience gift for the art lover.Â
9. Hot Air Balloon Ride
See the city from above with a romantic hot air balloon ride, which makes one of the best experience gifts for couples or a memorable date night. Check out rides from Indy Hot Air, Midwest Balloon Rides or Circle City Balloon Rides which take you over the city and surrounding region as well as offer classes on flying these giant wonders.
Experience Gifts in Indianapolis for Adults
10. Paint and Sip
For a fun and relaxing experience gift in Indianapolis, enroll your giftee in a paint and sip, which allows you the chance to get creative and pick up new art skills while enjoying cocktails. Paint and sips in Indianapolis are a great experience gift for adult groups or individuals.Â
11. Boozy Arcade Visit
For a fun gift experience perfect for adults, try a night out at a Headquarters Beercade, Tappers Arcade Bar or 16-Bit Bar and Arcade, which offer a wide selection of video games and old-school pinball machines to spend hours playing, drinking and eating pub style food.Â
12. Distillery Tour
Visit the Four Finger Distillery, Moon Drops Distillery or West Fork Whiskey Co. for tastings, tours and educational sessions on spirit making. Some distilleries have restaurants that serve food and beautiful tasting rooms that make a fun evening or afternoon outing that makes a great experience gft in Indianapolis for couples.Â
13. Thrill Experiences
Find adrenaline-boosting ziplining classes at Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park or classes through Adrenaline, Inc, which offers zipline and outdoor obstacle courses. These sessions make a great experience gift in Indianapolis for the more adventurous types.
Luxury Experience Gifts in Indianapolis
14. Spa Day
Try a day of relaxation at Woodhouse Day Spa-Bottleworks or Be Bliss Bodywork for services like massage, nail care, facials and saunas. Or gift meditation classes or yoga sessions. You can also spend a weekend at the nearby famed French Lick Resort, known for its luxurious spa experiences for an excellent experience gift near Indianapolis for him or her.Â
15. Flight Lessons
A great luxury experience gift in Indy for the more adventurous is flight training and lessons from Jeff Air, Tom Wood Aviation or ATP Flight School, which allow you access to training modules, air safety lessons and aircraft. Most offer larger classes or one-on-one flight training sessions.Â
16. Sports Box Rental
For a luxury experience gift in the city, get a rental box at one of Indianapolis’ sporting arenas. The city is home to 11 professional teams like the Indianapolis Colts and Pistons, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, as well as the famous Indy 500 race each year. Host a group or private party at an arena as a luxe and lively experience gift with catered refreshments.
17. Bed & Breakfast Stay
This Midwest city is home to a number of charming historic inns and bed & breakfast stays housed in lavish homes and estates that make a great weekend experience gift in the city. Book a stay at Stone Soup Inn or Old Northside Bed & Breakfast for your time in the city with beautiful rooms, hearty meals and excellent accommodations.Â
Experience Gifts in Indianapolis FAQs
How to Surprise Someone With an Experience Gift?
If your giftee loves surprises, try surprising them in the moment, with impromptu tickets and things that delight. If they require a bit more planning and preparation, you can pair tickets, passes or other paper details with other gift options like a bottle of whiskey with details of a distillery visit or sports tickets with a fun t-shirt.Â
How to Gift Experiences Instead of Things?
A great way to introduce a gift is through experience gift cards like Classpop! gift cards that gain you access to many different types of experiences like workshops and paint and sips, as well as allow your giftee to easily choose what they’d like to experience.
These dynamic experience gifts in Indianapolis are great if you want to give a singular Indiana experience to anyone on your list. For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
