Madison itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Madison, day by day: Monona Terrace, the Wisconsin State Capitol, State Street, Memorial Union, the Chazen Museum of Art and the museums first, then Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Henry Vilas Zoo, the Overture Center and the Arboretum as you add a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Madison in 1 day
Day 1
Monona Terrace
Lakeside convention centre built from a Frank Lloyd Wright design, with a free rooftop garden and views over Lake Monona.
Wisconsin State Capitol
Domed Beaux-Arts building of 1917 at the centre of the isthmus, free to enter, with tours and a dome observation deck.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Museum on Capitol Square covering Wisconsin's role in conflicts from the Civil War onward, with uniforms, dioramas and vehicles.
State Street
Pedestrian street running a mile from the Capitol to the university, lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Memorial Union
Student union on Lake Mendota with the Terrace, cafes and the Rathskeller; a popular place to sit by the lake.
Chazen Museum of Art
Free university art museum with European, American and Asian art, prints and sculpture, on the campus.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art museum in the Overture Center on State Street, free to enter, with changing exhibitions.
James Madison Park
Waterfront park on Lake Mendota near the Capitol, with a beach, picnic lawns and a shore path.
Madison in 2 days
Day 1
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens on Lake Monona with themed outdoor gardens, a Thai pavilion and a glass conservatory of tropical plants.
Monona Terrace
Lakeside convention centre built from a Frank Lloyd Wright design, with a free rooftop garden and views over Lake Monona.
Wisconsin State Capitol
Domed Beaux-Arts building of 1917 at the centre of the isthmus, free to enter, with tours and a dome observation deck.
Overture Center for the Arts
Large downtown performing arts complex on State Street, home to the Madison Symphony, theatres and galleries.
Henry Vilas Zoo
Zoo beside Lake Wingra with free admission, home to big cats, primates, polar bears and a children's area.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
Roughly 1,200 acres of restored prairie, woodland and gardens beside Lake Wingra, free to enter with trails and a visitor centre.
Day 2
Chazen Museum of Art
Free university art museum with European, American and Asian art, prints and sculpture, on the campus.
Memorial Union
Student union on Lake Mendota with the Terrace, cafes and the Rathskeller; a popular place to sit by the lake.
State Street
Pedestrian street running a mile from the Capitol to the university, lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Watch: Madison
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Madison
Late spring to early autumn is the best time, when the lakes, the Terrace and the Farmers' Market are at their liveliest. Summers are warm and humid, autumn colour is strong in the Arboretum, and winters are cold and snowy. Badgers home football games in autumn fill hotels, and the Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival takes place in August.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Madison on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Madison on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Madison on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Madison
- The Wisconsin State Capitol is free to enter, with guided tours and a dome observation deck on set days; bring photo ID, as security checks can apply.
- The Dane County Farmers' Market circles the Capitol Square on Saturday mornings from spring to autumn and is the best way to spend an early weekend hour.
- The Chazen Museum of Art and the Arboretum are free to enter; the Chazen is closed on Mondays.
- The Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota is the classic place for a drink at sunset, with its sunburst chairs; it is busy on warm evenings.
- Downtown sits on a narrow isthmus between two lakes, so the Capitol, State Street and the university are close, but the Arboretum and the zoo need a bus or bike.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Chazen Museum of Art: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Henry Vilas Zoo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- James Madison Park: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: Chief-O at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Memorial Union: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monona Terrace: Kznf, Public domain
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Chief-O at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Overture Center for the Arts: Chief-O of English Wikipedia, Public domain
- State Street: Neonuevo at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum: Dori, CC BY 2.5
- Wisconsin State Capitol: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Wisconsin Veterans Museum: Daderot, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
