Wisconsin’s capital city may be known for beer and cheese, but there’s a lot more to Madison. Consistently named one of the happiest places in America, this Midwestern hub is surrounded by four sparkling lakes and a diverse trail system full of beautiful places to paddle, pedal or run among natural wonders.
Beyond the lakes, experience some of the country’s best cuisine at decidedly Madison restaurants serving up seafood and inventive American fare.
Though the downtown district is a delightful destination on its own, go beyond it into Madison’s thriving neighborhoods, where new breweries, restaurants, and shopping districts revitalize historic buildings with youthful energy and charm.
Check travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Explore Wisconsin’s Capital
Start your tour of Madison downtown at the Wisconsin State Capitol. This unique building is the only state Capitol building with a granite dome, and a longstanding ordinance prevents downtown buildings from rising above its height.
Find unobstructed views atop its panoramic Observation Deck, then step inside for a free tour. This architectural wonder features a dazzling rotunda graced with ornate marble and murals in German, French and Italian styles.
Beyond the Capitol, find Madison’s retail and restaurant center on pedestrian State Street. This walkable mall connects Capitol Square to the University of Wisconsin campus and hosts performers and patio dining on sunny summer days. Take a burger and bourbon break at local favorite Coopers Tavern, followed by an ice cream cone at the Chocolate Shoppe.
Post-lunch, pop into boutiques lining the block to shop for yourself or bring home gifts. Don’t miss Little Luxuries for a versatile mix of home goods, accessories and leather goods; Anthology for gifts, art and paper goods; and Madison Modern Market for quirky kitchen goods and other design-forward surprises.
Continue ambling to explore the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s sprawling campus and rent a bike to ride along the downtown lakefront path.
Head back to Capitol Square for a popular Wisconsin dining tradition: the fish fry. The Old Fashioned specializes in Wisconsin specialties, and its fish fry — prepared to order with cod, perch or walleye — is known as the city’s best. If you’re no fish fan, taste other Wisconsin delicacies like beer-battered cheese curds or a pot of Wisconsin cheese fondue.
End your day with a glass of wine and a view at Eno Vino, a rooftop restaurant atop AC Hotel Madison Downtown.
Saturday: Take In Natural Beauty and Plenty of Brews
Madison’s up-and-coming East Side is the place to get a handle on what’s new and cool in this growing city. Start your day with a stroll through the Dane County Farmers’ Market in Capitol Square, which runs Saturday mornings between April and November. There are a ton of local vendors selling baked goods, crafts, spirits and more.
If you didn’t find any breakfast snacks at the market, get your sugar rush at Daisy Café & Cupcakery, a shop famous for indulgent cupcakes and fluffy German chocolate pancakes.
Next up, take in the Zen vibes at nearby Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a 16-acre outdoor space along Lake Monona packed with Midwest-hardy plants. Stop to smell the roses in a garden dedicated to the flower, then amble through specialty spaces for herbs, perennials and shrubs.
Visit the tropics without leaving Wisconsin inside the Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid that’s home to a waterfall and an array of island-native plants and birds. Still left with energy to burn? Go for a walk on the Capital City State Trail, which runs right past the botanical gardens.
For lunch, hit up the nearby Glass Nickel Pizza Co. for a slice (or three). The no-frills restaurant is a local favorite with plenty of options, from specialty pizzas like the breakfast pie to non-pizza entrées like beer-battered shrimp.
After lunch, hop in the car for a trip to the Chazen Museum of Art on the UW-Madison Campus. This free-admission center is home to the second-largest collection of art in the state and features exhibits spanning from 18th-century Japan to modern Africa.
Once you’ve seen it all, head for a pre-dinner drink at the Nitty Gritty Madison, a classic college student haunt with big Wisconsin pride. If you’re lucky, a football game will be on, and you’ll get to partake in the hallowed Badger tradition: free shots to celebrate every touchdown.
Dinner is served at Garver Feed Mill, a revitalized turn-of-the-century building with eats ranging from tried-and-true Wisconsin snacks to house-made ice cream. Once your food cravings are satisfied, make for the Boneyard, a biergarten that welcomes both humans and their four-legged friends. It features on- and off-leash play areas for Fido and a wide variety of Wisconsin-made brews for you.
Sunday: Have Fun in the Sun on Lake Monona
Grab a quick breakfast at the hotel and take a Sunday Funday outdoors on one of Madison’s four lakes. These sparkling oases welcome boaters, paddlers and sunseekers with plenty of activities to fill a day.
Get the lay of the land with a Betty Lou Cruise boat tour on Lake Monona, followed by one of Madison’s best brunches at lakeside restaurant Sardine. Dazzle your palate with a hearty omelet or a croque-monsieur sandwich, made here with exclusively Wisconsin-sourced ham and cheese.
Burn off brunch and work for your lake vistas with a scenic kayak, canoe, paddle boat, stand-up paddleboard or rowboat experience on Lake Monona from Madison Boats.
Take an easy paddle under two railroad bridges to see more of the city, or gather a crew and take the six-person paddleboard for a spin to the Monona Terrace. This Frank Lloyd Wright-designed beauty was built to be viewed from the water, and though the Wisconsin native designed its signature curved glass wall way back in 1938, the structure didn’t become a reality until 1997.
Once you’ve paddled your heart out, return your boat and soak up the sun on Brittingham Beach — you can almost forget you’re landlocked when waves splash against its sandy shores.
Pair your seafaring experience with fresh seafood at Tempest Oyster Bar, a luxe location serving oysters and Maine lobster alongside handcrafted cocktails. If it’s too early to call it a night post-dinner, head to the Great Dane Pub‘s beer garden for craft beverages and lively vibes.
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