Things to do in Madison
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Madison
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
March is still winter, April thaws, May brings lilacs, Terrace opening and graduation price peaks.
Best overall: warm lakes, Terrace at full power, festivals in July and peak lake season in August.
Locals favourite: September may be the best month, October colour peaks, November turns to supper clubs.
Cold, beautiful and cheaper if dressed for it, with frozen lakes, skating and ski trails.
What's on
- Dane County Farmers' Market outdoor season opens mid-April
The Saturday market returns to Capitol Square.
- Crazylegs Classic late April
Long running run through Madison in spring.
- Brat Fest Memorial Day weekend
Billed as the world's largest brat festival, running since 1983.
- UW Graduation mid-May
Mid May graduation floods the city and hotel prices peak.
- American Family Insurance Championship June
PGA Tour Champions golf at University Ridge.
- La Fete de Marquette Usually a long weekend in mid July
July festival stacking with Art Fair weekend.
- Art Fair on the Square Jul 11-12
About 450 artists around Capitol Square, organised by MMoCA.
- Concerts on the Square Wednesdays
Free concerts on the Capitol lawn in summer.
- Great Taste of the Midwest August
Major beer festival, tickets by lottery and hard to get late.
- Taste of Madison Usually Labor Day weekend
Food festival with 90 plus vendors around the Square.
Best things to do in Madison
Dane County Farmers' Market
The largest producer only farmers market in the US, circling the Capitol with Wisconsin stalls.
Wisconsin State Capitol
A free granite dome capitol with rich interiors and a summer observation deck over both lakes.
Memorial Union Terrace
Sunburst chairs, campus ice cream and beer on Lake Mendota, at its best at sunset.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Sixteen acres of themed gardens with a Thai pavilion and a tropical conservatory for winter.
Camp Randall Stadium
Badgers football with the Jump Around and Fifth Quarter, a full Madison game day ritual.
Chazen Museum of Art
Free major art museum on campus, the second largest collection in Wisconsin.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Free contemporary art in a striking glass building on State Street.
State Street
Eight car free blocks of bookshops, comedy, theatres and student priced eats.
Where to stay in Madison
Capitol Square / Downtown Isthmus
first trip, all-round base
Everything walkable: market, Capitol, State Street, museums and the best restaurants.
Langdon / Mansion Hill / Edgewater edge
UW visits and lake lovers
Historic mansions by Lake Mendota, a short walk to the Square and the Terrace.
Capitol East / Breese Stevens / East Washington corridor
concert, soccer and longer stays
Newer and better value hotels near Breese Stevens Field and The Sylvee.
Willy Street / Atwood
a local neighbourhood stay
Madison most beloved food street, with almost no hotels and strong rentals.
Monroe Street / Near West
families visiting zoo, Arboretum and Camp Randall
Quiet pretty streets by the Arboretum and zoo, mostly rentals over hotels.
Think twice about
- Beltline, West Towne and East Towne corridors and far East Washington motel strip
Strip commercial and car dependent, with some rough budget motels and the highest lodging police calls.
- Far south side Park Street corridor and far north side Northport and Packers Ave motel pockets
Fewer visitor services and longer rides, with the same lodging quality caveats at similar prices.
- Student sublets and party houses on Mifflin, Gilman and Langdon
Sleepless and chaotic on graduation, Halloween and football weekends if you are not part of the party.
- Allied Drive, Brentwood and Wexford Ridge residential pockets
Nothing for visitors and no reason to stay or wander there at night.
Best restaurants in Madison
L'Etoile
Madison fine dining founding star, a market driven tasting menu facing the Capitol.
Fairchild
Critics darling with precise seasonal cooking and a warm plant filled room.
The Harvey House
Supper club revival in the historic depot, with famous martinis and walleye.
Mint Mark
Produce forward small plates in a verdant east side room locals recommend first.
Sardine
French inspired bistro in a converted machine shop, with a great raw bar.
RED
The sushi Madison chooses, with creative rolls and a cult lychee martini.
Ahan
Laotian cooking with honest spice, drunken noodles and crispy rice salad.
Tornado Steak House
Supper club time capsule for ribeye and brandy old fashioneds, plus a late menu.
Outdoor things to do in Madison
Brittingham Boats
Boat rentals on Monona Bay, an easy way to get on the water near downtown.
Marshall Boats
Rentals on Mendota north shore for kayaks, paddleboards and group pontoons.
Wingra Boats
Quiet no wake paddling on Lake Wingra, the local pick for beginners and herons.
Outdoor UW
Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards rented right off the Memorial Union Terrace.
Lake Monona Loop
Madison signature 13 mile flat bike loop around Lake Monona past both lake parks.
Capital City State Trail
Paved trail linking the isthmus to longer routes toward Milwaukee and the Driftless.
Madison BCycle
E bike share with 90 plus stations, faster than driving for downtown hops.
Picnic Point
A one mile peninsula into Lake Mendota with fire pits, a beach and skyline views.
Best hotels in Madison
The Edgewater
Landmark lakefront resort with spa, pier and ice rink, the special occasion stay.
Mansion Hill Inn
A 10 room 1857 mansion inn, adults focused, quiet and walkable to everything.
AC Hotel Madison Downtown
Sleek modern rooms and a rooftop restaurant with the best Capitol view dining.
Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club
Large downtown workhorse with pool and shuttle, unbeatable central location.
Graduate by Hilton Madison
Badger themed boutique by the lake with a rooftop and a lobby coffee shop.
Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
Lake Monona views with a skywalk into Monona Terrace and cheap downtown parking.
Best Western Premier Park Hotel
The only hotel directly on Capitol Square, where location is the luxury.
Moxy Madison Downtown
Newer social hotel near Breese Stevens Field and The Sylvee, good value.
Is Madison expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $90 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $190 a person |
| Splurge | $400 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Camp Randall Stadium: months ahead
- Breese Stevens Field: weeks ahead
- Saunaday: a few days ahead
- University Ridge Golf Course: weeks ahead
- Bridges Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Wild Rock Golf Club: weeks ahead
- Lawsonia Links: weeks ahead
- Erin Hills: weeks ahead
- Hotels for football weekends, graduation, IRONMAN, Dairy Expo and Epic UGM can triple in price.
- L'Etoile, Fairchild, Harvey House, Sardine, RED and Tornado need two to four weeks for prime slots.
- Badgers football, Taliesin tours and American Players Theatre sell out in season.
- Farmers Market needs no booking: bring cash, a tote and no dog.
Is Madison safe?
- Capitol Square, State Street, campus and Willy Street are well lit, active and patrolled.
- Downtown homelessness is visible around State Street and East Washington underpasses, but the bases stay recommended.
- Bike theft near campus is the top petty crime: use a U lock.
- Do not leave valuables visible in parked cars near campus and downtown ramps.
- Never assume lake ice is safe in winter: always check ice conditions first.
Madison travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Lower State Street chains and student bars: eat from the Square end and side streets.
- The Old Fashioned has a long market Saturday lunch wait: go at 11am or after 1.30pm.
- House on the Rock is divisive and takes three plus hours: do Taliesin first.
- The Wisconsin Dells strip is a separate vacation: the river is the value.
- Late summer algae can close lake beaches: check city beach postings daily.
Getting around Madison: public transport and more
- Walk the isthmus: Capitol Square to the Memorial Union is about one mile.
- BCycle e bikes and the path network are faster than driving downtown.
- Metro Transit BRT Route A is the useful visitor line on the east west spine.
- Downtown ramps cost a few dollars an hour with evening and weekend caps.
- Dane County Regional Airport is 15 minutes from downtown, many hotels run shuttles.
Who Madison suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Madison your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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