Things to Do in Madison, WI - Madison Attractions
Things to Do in Madison
Book these experiences for a close-up look at Madison.
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Shopping Malls
Military Museums • Speciality Museums
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Jogging Paths & Tracks
What travelers are saying
- Anne D2 contributionsIt was a chilly, dreary October day, but an hour in the conservatory — with tropical plants, quail, canaries, and other birds — was restorative. We then spent another hour wandering around the outdoor gardens. How sensational. Even as the plants begin to die back, the gardens remain fascinating, full of interesting colors, textures, and wildlife. I can’t wait to visit again. I was there with my seven-year-old granddaughter who also greatly enjoyed it.Written October 10, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jim TAustin, TX1,154 contributionsWe were here just after Thanksgiving and saw the ginormous Christmas Tree in the rotunda. The tree was named 'Frank' for some reason. There are free tours offered at the top of the hour. There is virtually no security compared to the Texas Capitol, for instance. It's one of the biggest and best Capitol buildings in the country. Worth a visit, no matter how short.Written December 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- KarenGrand Rapids, MI10 contributionsThis zoo was great. Totally donation run so for families it is well worth a visit. All the animals looked very healthy. Seeing a grizzly and a polar bear together in one exhibit was very unique to me. Loved the activity shown by the animals. Each exhibit had explanations and educational information on the animals. Well worth a walk aroundWritten October 26, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Kathrin SPortland, OR618 contributionsGorgeous place to sit out and look at the lake and the sailboats. Really lively student hangout. Grab a coffee and beer and find a seat!Written October 15, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jim TAustin, TX1,154 contributionsThe hub of downtown, State Street has got it going on. Stroll from one end (the University) to the other (the Capitol) and enjoy everything in between. Shopping, bars, restaurants, theaters, street music, you name it they've got it. Sunny day or cold and rainy or anything in between there is plenty to experience.Written December 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Kaitlyn HStreamwood, IL31 contributionsSomething free to do in the city and there were TONS of booths. We loved how you always knew where the good stuff was because of the crowds around that booth. Music on every corner. We bought honey, spicy cheese bread and taste tested hot cheese. It only took us 45 minutes to finish the loop to see all the booths.Written November 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MrsPsPicksButler, PA459 contributionsWe walked around and were impressed by the lovely landscaping and openness of the area. There were lots of people, but unlike many state capitals, the vibe was calm and not anxious. We even ran into Miss America!Written June 21, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ann2 contributionsWe visited the iconic terrace on the lake next to the Memorial Union. Beautiful views of the sailboats on the lake. Sitting (and taking pictures) in the famous “sun” chairs. The luncheon and snack menu provided sizable portions of good food with some healthy options such as a salmon avocado sandwich. There were standard fries and tater tots for sides but also available were carrots and apples.The ice cream section had about 12 flavor options with topping additions. And of course beer. Later in the afternoon music became available.Written July 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Madeline KWisconsin14 contributionsThis is not a large museum so you don’t need a ton of time to go through it. Everything is extremely well organized chronologically making it easy to understand how things change over time. There are a lot of really interesting artifacts and it is neat to see how Wisconsin fits into National or global events! I was also pleasantly surprised that there was no admission cost!Written June 18, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mike XChicago, IL2,006 contributionsYou get a discount or it's free depending on membership level of other children's museums. We have the Kohl children's museum membership but I forgot about it in the moment. It's not the biggest but it has some good quality exhibits.Written September 4, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Taylor BChicago, IL8,751 contributionsThe first time I visited Camp Randall Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison was in 1959. I drove through a snowstorm with some of my University of Illinois fraternity brothers to see the Illinois/Wisconsin football game. Illinois won 9-6. Because of the weather, we didn't have much time to explore the campus. On my most recent visit, I didn't see a football game but I was impressed by the many changes that have occurred since my last visit more than 60 years ago. Built in 1917, the stadium lies on grounds of Camp Randall, a Union Army training camp during the Civil War. It is the oldest and fifth largest stadium in the Big 10 Conference. Today, its capacity is 80,321. In 1959, I was one of 63,425 spectators who filled the stadium. But there are so many more noteworthy changes. In 1966, the upper deck on the west side was added. In 1968, the playing surface was converted from natural grass to artificial turf. In 2002, a large-scale construction project added luxury boxes, a five-story office building, separate football program offices, upgraded concession stands and restrooms and new scoreboards. In addition, the numbers of the two Heisman Trophy winners--Alan Ameche (35) and Ron Dayne (33)--were displayed on the upper deck facade. In 2005, the boxes along the eastern rim were added. In 2006, the bronze statues of former coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez and former football star and athletic director Pat Richter were placed in the stadium's Kellner Plaza. At the same time, the retired numbers of Elroy Hirsch (40), Dave Schreiner (80), Allan Shafer (83) and Pat Richter (88) were added to the upper deck facade. In 2014, a new 50-by-170-foot scoreboard and a 4,271-square-foot Daktronics screen with two smaller screens were installed on the north end. Also added were the Student Athlete Performance Center, academic and strength training facilities, multimedia instructional space, a lower level football team access tunnel, renovated locker rooms, showers and equipment storage space. Finally, in 2018, premium seating was added to the south end zone and the press box was improved. It all makes for a truly enjoyable game day experience.Written January 17, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Laura TIllinois3 contributionsAn amazing place where even those who are not particularly interested in trees can gain new appreciation for themWritten October 17, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MrsPsPicksButler, PA459 contributionsA private event precluded our experiencing all of the Terrace, but we did manage to get out on a portion to see the lovely views of the lake. Would love to come back to see it all.Written June 21, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Aubrianna K7 contributionsVery great place but very small we got through it in 30 minutes to an hour. We had a struggle with parking but the museum was pretty good.Written March 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Taylor BChicago, IL8,751 contributionsI just added a new word to my vocabulary. Eutrophic. It refers to a lake or body of water that is rich in nutrients and so supporting a dense plant population, the decomposition of which kills animal life by depriving it of oxygen. Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, is a freshwater eutrophic lake. But its water is unsafe to drink. It is very fertile from all the nutrients carried into the lake from the surrounding landscape, supporting high densities of algae and fish. But the quality of water is degraded. Thus, Lake Mendota has been called "the most studied lake in the world" because the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Limnology, which rests on its southern bank, has done extensive research and concluded that climate change and the associated lengthening of summer weather have driven the annual formation of dead zones or oxygen-deficient layers deep in the water column of Lake Mendota. These dead zones have been shown to remain in the lake for up to two months in the summer and have the potential to devastate the habitats of fish, leading to an increased frequency of harmful algal blooms. That's the bad news. The good news is that Lake Mendota remains one of the most popular attractions in the state. The banks of the lake largely contain expensive luxury homes and condominiums. They also contain protected natural areas and parks, UW-Madison housing, the Memorial Union and several hotels and restaurants. In the summer, swimmers are attracted to five beaches and others engage in boating, fishing, water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, canoeing, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing. In the winter, sports enthusiasts opt for ice boating, ice skating, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, ice hockey and snowkiting. The northernmost and largest of the four lakes in the Madison area, Lake Mendota borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast and Westport o the northwest.Written January 17, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Madison
- The top attractions to visit in Madison are:
- Wisconsin State Capitol
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Henry Vilas Zoo
- Memorial Union Terrace
- Dane County Farmers' Market
- The best outdoor activities in Madison according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Henry Vilas Zoo
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
- Madison Children's Museum
- Lake Mendota
- The most popular things to do in Madison with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Memorial Union Terrace
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Wisconsin State Capitol
- Dane County Farmers' Market
- Camp Randall Stadium University of Wisconsin
Madison Attractions Information
Attractions | 247 |
|---|---|
Attraction Reviews | 14,950 |
Attraction Photos | 6,366 |
Local Time | Wednesday 9:06 PM |