12 Best Things to Do in Madison (Perfect for First Timers!)

Thinking about spending a weekend in Madison, Wisconsin? There are plenty of fabulous things to do in Madison!

Downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin campus are easy to explore by foot.  But you’ll definitely want to have a car to explore some of Madison’s more far-flung attractions.

Since Madison is a university town – and college students aren’t known for their deep pockets – there are plenty of free things to do in Madison. 

Ready to explore Madison? Lace up your shoes and let’s go!

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Best Things to do in Madison Wisconsin

1. Tour the Capitol building

Madison is the state capital of Wisconsin, and it has one of the most stunning Capitol buildings. 

Our room at the Madison Concourse Hotel directly overlooked the Wisconsin State Capitol Building, so we decided to make that our first stop in our exploration of the city.

The Capitol building is open to the public daily, other than major holidays.  You can tour on your own or join one of the free guided tours (offered several times daily).

The Capitol is, surprisingly, the tallest building in Madison.  And it will stay that way due to laws prohibiting the construction of buildings taller than the columns surrounding the dome.

See the Capitol, Monona Terrace, the Henry Vilas Zoo, Camp Randall Stadium, and more on this fun guided e-bike tour of Madison!

See the views from the observation deck

You’ll want to head upstairs to the dome’s observation deck.  From here you’ll enjoy beautiful panoramic views of Madison and the surrounding lakes.  You’ll also be able to get an up-close view of the dome and its decorative statues.

The dome is made of white granite from Vermont and is the world’s largest granite dome.  There are clusters of statues around the dome, which represent characteristics of Wisconsin and its people.

Gracing the top of the dome is a golden statue, Wisconsin, standing 15’5” and weighing 3 tons.  If you were able to get a close look at the ‘Golden Lady’, you’d be amused to see that her helmet features Wisconsin’s state animal, the badger.

Inside the Capitol

The interior of the Capitol building is also beautiful – be sure to wander through the halls to enjoy the amazing architectural details.

Before you head back downstairs, take a little detour to see the Trumpeter’s Gallery.  From here you get a birds’-eye view of the Capitol’s granite and marble floors, columns, and galleries, as well as its cool murals and mosaics. 

 Once you get all the way to the ground floor, be sure to look upwards at the interior of the dome.  At the very peak is a mural, Resources of Wisconsin.  Due to the curved interior of the dome, the mural was painted in pieces and put together puzzle-style.

2. Admire the Olbrich Botanical Gardens

One of the best things to do in Madison is to visit the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.  The gardens are located on the north side of Lake Monona, about three miles from the Capitol. It’s open year-round, even in the winter.

The Olbrich Botanical Gardens span 16 acres and include a 10,000 square foot tropical conservatory.  The outdoor gardens are free to explore, while the Bolz Conservatory (the indoor tropical garden) does require a small fee for entry.

You can join a free guided garden tour, enjoy a guided group tour for a nominal fee, or just explore on your own.  We opted for the self-guided tour and set off to explore the lovely gardens.

There are many different types of gardens to explore, including a sunken garden, a rose garden, and an herb garden.  There are also many water features to enjoy.

Thai pavilion and garden

The highlight of our visit was absolutely the Thai pavilion and garden.  This is a must-see during your trip!  The Thai pavilion sits like a jewel surrounded by lush foliage and a serene water feature. 

This stunning pavilion is very ornate and is decorated in delicate gold leaf.  While the pavilion’s construction materials are quite sturdy, the gold leaf is easily damaged by human contact – so please, don’t touch!

The Thai pavilion was gifted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison by the Thai government and the Thai Chapter of the university alumni.  It was built in Thailand, disassembled, shipped to the states, and reconstructed here in Madison. 

Some fun facts about the pavilion:  It is constructed without use of any nails or screws, and it is one of only four Thai pavilions located outside of Thailand.

3. Explore the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a highly ranked public university with a research focus.  Since it is also my dad’s alma mater, I was excited to check out the campus.

The sprawling campus is made up of a lot of impressive buildings in various architectural styles.   There are also many stunning churches on and around the campus.

One of the more unique buildings is the Armory and Gymnasium, known as the Red Gym.  This Romanesque revival style architecture makes this building look like a medieval fortress or castle. 

You can also enjoy the views of Lake Mendota as you grab a bite at the Memorial Union Terrace.

Bascom Hill and Bucky Badger

Bascom Hill is the symbolic center of the university’s campus and the site of some fun university traditions.  It’s the site of the famous annual snowball fight between residence halls, the Battle for Bascom.  And in the spring, it gets decorated with pink flamingoes in honor of a similar prank in 1979.

Bascom Hall is also located here and is one of the university’s oldest buildings (dating to 1859). 

A statue of Abe Lincoln graces the plaza in front of the building.  I must say that his gravitas is undermined by the giant badger banner that serves as his backdrop.

In front of Bascom Hall, you’ll also find this statue.  Allow me to introduce you to Buckingham U. “Bucky” Badger, the University of Wisconsin-Madison mascot.  Aren’t you glad to know that he earned his diploma?  Good for you, Bucky!

In addition to being smart, Bucky is also fit.  The mascot does push-ups after each point scored in a football game.  (Home games are played at Camp Randall Stadium.)

4. Admire the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright

Speaking of the University of Wisconsin-Madison – one of its most famous students was Frank Lloyd Wright.  The ‘Father of Architecture’ studied civil engineering here, as there was no architecture program.  He left after only a year and was named one of the ‘Top 10 College Dropouts’ by TIME magazine.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed over one thousand structures during his career.  You’ll find many examples of his architecture in the Madison area. 

Monona Terrace

Monona Terrace, in downtown Madison, was one of his inspirations.  He came up with the concept of a ‘dream civic center’ that would blend the nature of Lake Monona with the nearby Madison State Capitol building. 

This view is from the Olin Terrace, as you approach Monona Terrace from the Capitol:

The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center is a very popular event space.  The architecture of Monona Terrace is actually best enjoyed from the lake, and particularly at dusk.  From here you can see the gorgeous arches and organic curves that make this building unique.

First Unitarian Society

Just a short hop west from campus, you’ll find the First Unitarian Society. This Unitarian Universalist Meeting House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a long-time member of this congregation.

This distinctive building features a ship-like ‘prow’ made of glass and wood and has a steeply sloped copper roof.  It is recognized as a US national historic landmark for architecture.

Taliesin

If you’re a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic architecture, you’ll want to take a day trip out to Taliesin.  It’s located about an hour’s drive west from Madison.

Taliesin, which means ‘shining brow’ in Welsh, was Wright’s home, studio and school.  The 800-acre estate includes his 37,000 square foot home and buildings from across all decades of his career.

If you want to visit Taliesin, you’ll need to book a tour – you can’t explore on your own.  There are tour options available for various durations and price points, and advance ticket purchase is recommended.

5. Visit the Chazen Museum of Art

The Chazen Museum of Art is located on the eastern edge of the University of Wisconsin campus.  This museum boasts Wisconsin’s second-largest collection of art, with over 24,000 works across many styles. 

Best of all, the Chazen Museum of Art is open daily and is free to visit!  Be sure to wander through all of the levels.  Note that you’ll cross over into an adjoining building (the Conrad A. Elvehjem Building) during your explorations.

No matter what kind of art you prefer, you’ll definitely find something to enjoy at the Chazen. There are paintings, sculptures, mosaics, prints, and examples of the decorative arts, spanning from oriental arts to Italian Renaissance art.

There are also many pieces of art from world-famous artists, such as Warhol, Picasso, and Magritte.  Check out this bold Homage to Miró by Joan Miró, from the Lane Collection. 

6. Experience State Street

Madison’s State Street connects the eastern edge of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus to the Capitol Building.  It runs diagonally through downtown Madison’s grid of streets.

State Street is a largely pedestrian zone bustling with all sorts of activities including dining, shopping, and entertainment.   As you walk westward from the campus, here is a small smattering of things you’ll find:

Dining on State Street

Stop by the State Street outpost of Ian’s pizza and enjoy a slice or two.  They’re famous for their mac-and-cheese pizza, but our favorite was the Smokey the Bandit (with chicken, BBQ, and bacon). 

Visit the Chocolate Shoppe for an ice cream cone to satisfy your sweet tooth and cool off on a hot summer’s day.  This old-fashioned ice cream store has been serving up scoops of deliciousness since 1962.  I’ll confess we went there more than once during our stay.

Stop by one of the State Street bars or restaurants and enjoy Wisconsin’s favorite cocktail, the Brandy Old Fashioned.  A regular Old Fashioned features whiskey.  The Wisconsin variant uses brandy, includes muddling cherries and oranges with the drink’s bitters, and tops it with soda.

With all those Brandy Old Fashioned cocktails, Wisconsin consumes the most brandy in the nation. 

Entertainment on State Street

The Overture Center is a performing arts venue and arts gallery.  To be specific, it is home to seven performing arts spaces and five galleries.  It also contains Madison’s Museum of Contemporary Art.   

You can’t miss the Overture Center – it’s the corner building with a signature glass-domed atrium.

Just across the street from the Overture Center is Comedy on State.  Enjoy stand-up comedy from nationally known comedians.  Thursdays are ‘College Nights’ with discounts for students.

And just a hop down the block you’ll find the Orpheum Theater.  This classic theater was built in 1926 as a vaudeville theater.  Today you can enjoy live music and comedy shows here.

On first day of our visit, Madison was bursting at the seams with live music for the celebration of the solstice in their annual Make Music Madison Festival.  Anyone can play music during this community musical event, and we saw all manner of artists playing across Madison.

7. Take a hike at the Arboretum

One of the things that Chris enjoyed most on our visit to Madison was our trip to the Arboretum.  The University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum is located south of campus, and on the south side of Lake Wingra. (Note: the Henry Vilas Zoo is located on the north side of the lake.)

The Arboretum is an immense 1200 acres of nature.  Stretch your legs and take a hike (or just a leisurely walk) through different habitats.  The Arboretum’s habitats include conifer forests, deciduous forests, prairies and savannahs, and wetlands. 

We mostly stuck to the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, which are located closest to the visitor center. Enjoy strolling through the magnolias and fruit trees, and perusing the rose gardens. 

Curious about a specific tree you’ve never seen before?   Look for the tag which will tell you its scientific and common names.

You’ll find a few benches sprinkled around if you’re in need of a break or just want to quietly absorb the serene environment.

8. See the Historic Districts

Madison actually has five historic districts:  Mansion Hill, Third Lake Ridge, University Heights, Marquette Bungalows, and First Settlement.

If you’re a fan of Victorian architecture, you’ll definitely want to take a stroll through the Mansion Hill Historic District.    Mansion Hill was Madison’s first historic district, granted this designation in 1976

This area is roughly bounded by the triangle formed by State Street, Hamilton Street, and the shore of Lake Mendota.   Many of the historic homes have little plaques in front of them providing some information on their history and architectural styles. 

9. Check out a museum

We’ve already talked about the Chazen Museum of Art, but Madison has many more museums to entertain and educate.  Here are a few:

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is located inside the Overture Center on State Street.   The museum’s highlights are its fine Chicago Imagism collection and its Mexican Modernist prints, as well as showcasing the works of Wisconsin artists.  No charge for admission (closed Mondays-Wednesdays).

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum features exhibits showcasing Wisconsinites in the military over the last 150 years. Highlights are ‘souvenirs of service’ displays which tell the personal stories of these mementos.  No charge for admission (closed Mondays; Sunday schedules vary).

The Wisconsin Historical Museum, located just across from the Capitol, documents the state’s history from prehistoric times to today.  The museum also offers paid guided walking tours such as ‘Madison’s Tales of Infamy, Scandals, and Mystery’.  No charge for admission (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). 

Don’t forget about the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum, located on the university campus.  They have large collection of rocks, minerals and fossils spanning invertebrates to dinosaurs.  No charge for admission (closed Sundays).

Chris got a kick out of this stained-glass window at the Geology Museum (shown above) representing geologic formations!

10. Enjoy the Allen Centennial Garden

Another Madison hidden gem on the University campus is the Allen Centennial Garden.  This ornamental botanical garden serves as an outdoor classroom for both students and Madison residents.

The botanical garden sits on 2.5 acres of land surrounding the former Agricultural Dean’s Residence.  This lovely Victorian Gothic mansion was originally built in 1896 and looks right at home amongst the plantings.

There are several different mini-garden areas making up the larger gardens. Enjoy the formal French garden, Italian garden, and English garden, as well as the garden’s statuary, water features, and pergola.

The Allen Centennial Gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free.  You can reserve a guided tour of the garden, for a fee, but we enjoyed a leisurely self-guided stroll through the gardens.

11. Wander the nature trails at the Holy Wisdom Monastery

Taking a hike at a monastery was probably not at the forefront of your mind when you were making a list of what to do in Madison.  But, if you’ve got a car and a couple of free hours, why not?

The Holy Wisdom Monastery is located on the northwest side of Lake Mendota.  It’s about a twenty-minute drive from the downtown Madison and the Capitol. 

When you arrive at the monastery, take the fork on the right and drive up the small hill.  Towards the back of the parking lot there is a little information kiosk with maps of the trails. 

At the information kiosk you’ll find brochures showing the property and the trails. 

The trails are maintained by the sisters and are open to the public to enjoy.  Please treat the property respectfully and maintain the quiet environment (sorry, no pets allowed).

12. See the trolls in Mount Horeb

If you’re looking for a unique experience, why not go visit the Mount Horeb trolls?  Mount Horeb is just a thirty-minute drive west from Madison, so it makes for a quick and quirky day trip.

Mount Horeb is officially known as “The Troll Capital of the World”.   This Norwegian town is home to all manner of troll denizens (trolls being common to Norwegian folklore).  They may be a bit scary looking, but are, for the most part, good-natured.

Mount Horeb’s troll tale began with a Scandinavian gift shop that put trolls out on the front lawn to attract customers.  Truckers would call out the trolls over CB radio as they passed through town.

The Mount Horeb Trollway

When the highway bypass was built around the town in the mid ‘80s, there were concerns about a negative economic impact.  From there, the idea sparked to leverage the town’s ‘troll fame’.  They really went all out and turned this business route into ‘The Trollway’.

Today you can find more than two dozen trolls in Mount Horeb.  Many of them cavort in plain sight along Main Street, but others are located inside buildings such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Driftless Historium.

My new pal, Wavin’ Walton, invites you to come visit him in Mount Horeb!  (Note that he only has four fingers on each hand and four toes on each foot, as per Norwegian lore.)

Madison Attractions Map

Madison Travel Tips

Where to stay in Madison

We stayed at the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club. It’s located right next to the gorgeous State Capitol Building, and some rooms have views of the Capitol.

Our room’s decor was classy yet comfortable. The Madison Concourse Hotel has on-site parking as well as an on-site bar and restaurant.

It’s also just a hop from State Street, with a wealth of bar and restaurant options. And it’s easy to walk to many of Madison’s top attractions.

We would definitely stay here again on our next visit to Madison! Book your stay in Madison:

Where to eat in Madison: Breakfast

Now I don’t usually talk about specific restaurants, but we enjoyed some really excellent breakfasts during our stay in Madison.  And breakfast is, of course, the most important meal of the day! 

So, I’ll share our finds with you.  Chances are if you start your day off at any of these places, you’ll probably be able to skip lunch!

Greenbush Bakery

There are two outposts of the Greenbush Bakery, a popular donut shop in Madison.  We went to the one close to the University of Wisconsin campus.  They’re famous for their massive fritters.  Since Chris can’t say ‘no’ to a fritter, we of course had to check them out.

The fritters are indeed enormous, so plan on sharing.  Apple-cinnamon is the standard, but you can also sometimes find cherry or blueberry. Chris is a fritter purist, so we sampled the apple fritter.

Greenbush Bakery also has a wide selection of other donuts from simple to fancy (more than three dozen varieties), so you may have a hard time choosing!

Mickey’s Dairy Bar

Mickey’s Dairy Bar is located just a hop and a skip from the Greenbush Bakery, right next to campus.  It’s quite the famous breakfast institution in Madison (although it does also serve lunch until 2PM).

This restaurant is known for its generous serving sizes and good old home-style cooking.  The most popular breakfast is ‘the scrambler’.  For a mere ten dollars you get a giant heap of yanks (think fried potato cubes), three eggs (scrambled is the default), cheese, and gravy. 

You can order the scrambler with gravy on top, on the side, or without.  We ordered it on the side since eggs and gravy seemed like an odd combination – but it is a good flavoring for the potatoes.  And if this heap of food wasn’t enough, it also comes with toast.

Be sure to bring cash, as Mickey’s Dairy Bar does not accept credit cards.  Also check their website before you go – currently they’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 

Bassett Street Brunch Club

Bassett Street Brunch Club, as you might guess from the name, specializes in brunch.  It’s located just a few blocks away from Madison’s Capitol building and State Street.

It has a retro diner feel, and serves upscale and interesting brunch dishes.  Their menu covers everything from a fancy avocado toast to carnitas hash, to more traditional offerings like eggs, pancakes, and bacon, to healthier options like granola and yogurt.

We decided to sample some offerings from the sweeter side of their menu.  Chris had the coconut cream pie French toast, with a side of bacon to provide a salty counterpoint. 

I enjoyed the lemon ricotta pancakes.  They were light in texture, with a zesty lemon flavor.  The pancakes were topped with blueberry compote and a very tasty sweetened whipped ricotta. 

We always sample each other’s dishes and decide who the ‘winner’ was for every meal.  I was definitely the winner with this dish!

Final Thoughts:

Well, that does it for our whirlwind weekend in Madison.  We had a wonderful time exploring the city and its many great attractions.

I hope I’ve inspired you to take a weekend trip or to make Madison part of your next Midwest road trip!

You might also enjoy these posts about my favorite cities in the United States:

• Fun Things to Do in Milwaukee
• Fun Chicago Road Trip to Wisconsin
• Best Things to Do in Seattle in a Day
• Best Things to Do in Ketchikan