Madison, United States

Madison Travel Guide

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Facts and practical information

Alternative names: Founded: 1836 (188 years ago)Population: 249 thous. (2019)Area: 94.14 mi²Elevation: 863 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 43°4'26"N, 89°23'55"W
Location

WisconsinUnited States

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Madison Top Attractions

Madison Attractions - What to See and Explore

Madison offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Wisconsin State Capitol, Memorial Union Terrace, Camp Randall Stadium, Henry Vilas Zoo. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

  • wisconsin state capitol madison
    Palladian architecture • Museum • History museum

    Wisconsin State Capitol

    The Wisconsin State Capitol, a majestic building in Madison, Wisconsin, stands as a beacon of democracy and history. Erected on an isthmus between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, this grand structure serves as both a working government facility and a cultural monument.

  • memorial union terrace madison
    Palladian architecture • Nightlife • Bars and clubs

    Memorial Union Terrace

    The Memorial Union Terrace, nestled on the shores of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, is an iconic gathering spot renowned for its scenic views, vibrant atmosphere, and rich history. This lakeside terrace is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial...

  • camp randall stadium madison
    Palladian architecture • Sport venue • Sport

    Camp Randall Stadium

    Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. It has been the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team in rudimentary form since 1895, and as a fully functioning stadium since 1917.

  • henry vilas zoo madison
    Free destination with global wildlife

    Henry Vilas Zoo

    Henry Vilas Zoo is a 28-acre public zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Owned by Dane County, the zoo charges no admission or parking fees. It receives over 750,000 visitors annually.

  • kohl center madison
    Palladian architecture • Sport venue • Sport

    Kohl Center

    The Kohl Center is an arena and athletic center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, United States. The building, which opened in 1998, is the home of the university's men's basketball and ice hockey teams, and the women's basketball team.

  • statue of hans christian heg madison
    Monuments and statues • Downtown Madison

    Statue of Hans Christian Heg

    Hans Christian Heg is a statue by Paul Fjelde that was cast in 1925 and installed at the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin, United States in 1926. The bronze statue depicting the Union soldier and abolitionist Hans Christian Heg was torn down by rioters, decapitated and thrown into a lake in June 2020.

  • alliant energy center madison
    Palladian architecture • Sport venue • Sport

    Alliant Energy Center

    Alliant Energy Center is a multi-building complex located in unincorporated Madison, Wisconsin. It comprises 164 acres of greenspace and includes the 255,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall, the 10,000-seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the 29-acre Willow Island and the 22,000-square-foot Arena.

  • wisconsin union theater madison
    Theater • Concerts and shows • Cinema

    Wisconsin Union Theater

    Wisconsin Union Theater is a performing arts center in Madison, Wisconsin, located in the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Memorial Union. Wisconsin Union Theater performances include world stage, concerts, dance, jazz and other special events.

  • madison museum of contemporary art
    Palladian architecture • Museum • Art gallery

    Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

    The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, formerly known as the Madison Art Center, is an independent, non-profit art museum located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. MMoCA is dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and preserving modern and contemporary art.

  • olbrich botanical gardens madison
    Palladian architecture • Botanical garden • Garden

    Olbrich Botanical Gardens

    Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a 16 acre outdoor botanical garden and 10,000-square-foot conservatory in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1952 and named for its founder, Michael Olbrich, the gardens are owned and operated jointly by the City of Madison Parks and the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society.

  • washburn observatory madison
    Palladian architecture • Observatories and planetariums • Museum

    Washburn Observatory

    The Washburn Observatory is an astronomical observatory located at 1401 Observatory Drive on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Completed in 1881, it was a major research facility for about 50 years.

  • monona terrace madison
    Palladian architecture • Frank Lloyd Wright • Convention center

    Monona Terrace

    Monona Terrace is a convention center on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.

  • labahn arena madison
    Palladian architecture • Sport venue • Sport

    LaBahn Arena

    LaBahn Arena is the home ice of the Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey team. It was the second arena to be purpose-built for a women's collegiate hockey team; the first was Minnesota's Ridder Arena.

  • madison childrens museum location map
    Museum • Children's museum

    Madison Children's Museum

    The Madison Children's Museum is a museum for children in Madison, Wisconsin, that contains exhibits on the arts, sciences, history, culture, health, and civic engagement.

  • dane county farmers market madison
    Shopping • Farmer's market • Flea market

    Dane County Farmers' Market

    The Dane County Farmers' Market is America's largest producers-only farmers' market. It is held from April to November on Saturday mornings on the Capitol Square in Madison, Wisconsin and on Wednesday mornings on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

  • chazen museum of art madison
    Palladian architecture • Museum • Cinema

    Chazen Museum of Art

    The Chazen Museum of Art is an art museum located at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The Chazen Museum of Art is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

  • first unitarian society of madison
    Palladian architecture • Frank Lloyd Wright • Church

    First Unitarian Society of Madison

    The First Unitarian Society of Madison is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin. Its meeting house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by Marshall Erdman in 1949–1951, and has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark for its architecture.

  • lake mendota madison
    Nature • Palladian architecture • Natural attraction

    Lake Mendota

    Lake Mendota is a freshwater eutrophic lake that is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes in Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east, and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest.

  • burrows park madison
    Park • Maple Bluff

    Burrows Park

    Burrows Park Effigy Mound and Campsite is an archaeological site in Burrows Park in Madison, Wisconsin. The site includes a bird-shaped effigy mound with an 128-foot wingspan; it once included a fox-shaped mound as well, though it has been destroyed.

Madison plan & book

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Things to See and Do in Madison by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Madison.

Culture

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Park

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Museum

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Theater

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Church

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History museum

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Sport venue

  • camp randall stadium madison

    Camp Randall Stadium

    Near West, Madison
    Palladian architectureSport venueSportRegent
  • kohl center madison

    Kohl Center

    Isthmus, Madison
    Palladian architectureSport venueSportState-Langdon
  • alliant energy center madison

    Alliant Energy Center

    South Madison
    Palladian architectureSport venueSport
  • labahn arena madison

    LaBahn Arena

    Isthmus, Madison
    Palladian architectureSport venueSportState-Langdon
  • warner park madison

    Warner Park

    North Madison
    Sport venueSportPalladian architecture
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Music venue

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Nightlife

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Nature

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Frank Lloyd Wright

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Other categories

Concerts and showsSportArenas and stadiumsLakeNatural attractionNeighbourhood
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Day trips

Madison – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Madison, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Cave of the Mounds (Blue Mounds), House on the Rock (Spring Green), Taliesin (Spring Green).

  • cave of the mounds blue mounds21 milesW
    Natural attraction, Geologic formation, Cave

    Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mounds

    Nestled in the rolling hills of Dane County, Wisconsin, the Cave of the Mounds stands as a premier natural attraction, inviting tourists to explore the underground wonders of this geological gem. Discovered accidentally in 1939 during a routine limestone quarry blast...

  • house on the rock spring green37 milesW
    Museum, History museum

    House on the Rock, Spring Green

    The House on the Rock is a tourist attraction located between the cities of Dodgeville and Spring Green, Wisconsin. Opened in 1959, it is a complex of architecturally distinct rooms, streets, gardens, and shops designed by Alex Jordan Jr.

  • taliesin spring green34 milesW
    , Museum, Architecture

    Taliesin, Spring Green

    Taliesin, sometimes known as Taliesin East, Taliesin Spring Green, or Taliesin North after 1937, was the estate of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

  • cascade mountain portage30 milesN
    Winter sport, Park, Outdoor activities

    Cascade Mountain, Portage

    Cascade Mountain is located in Portage, Wisconsin. It has 47 trails, 4 terrain parks, and an 800-foot-long chute for snow tubing.

  • glacial drumlin state trail lake mills24 milesE
    Hiking, Trail, Hiking trail

    Glacial Drumlin State Trail, Lake Mills

    The Glacial Drumlin State Trail is a multipurpose rail trail in the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It stretches 52 miles from Waukesha to Cottage Grove. The trail travels through or near the Wisconsin communities of Cottage Grove, Deerfield, London, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Helenville, Sullivan, Dousman, Wales, and Waukesha.

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Best Time To Visit Madison

Learn when is the best time to travel to Madison weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

JFMAMJJASOND

July is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in June and August.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in June, July and August. While the coldest is in January.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in January and February. Most of it rains in June, July and August.

Length of day in hours

JFMAMJJASOND

We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Madison?

The top attractions to visit in Madison are:

What is the best time to visit Madison?

July is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in June and August. The highest air temperature is in June, July and August. While the coldest is in January.

Where to next? Visit wisconsin Wisconsin region page or discover the top tourist attractions in United States.

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