If you haven't considered Madison, Wisconsin's capital city, a destination bike town, it's time you do! Their 200 miles of bike trails and a user-friendly e-bike share help make them a platinum-rated bike city while being surrounded by five lakes. Madison also boasts the highest number of parks per capita, which means you'll have lots to see along the way.
This sample four-day biking itinerary will show you how to see Madison by bike while enjoying some of the city's favorite restaurants and delightfully fun things to do. In fact, Madison is so bike-friendly that this can be an entirely car-free vacation!
Jump around to explore each day's itinerary:
Day 1: A Taste of Madison
Day one is all about getting deliciously acquainted with Madison. You'll be checking into your hotel, setting up your BCycle and Madison By Bike accounts and trying some James Beard nominees and winners that highlight Madison's culinary scene.
Arrival and check-in at the Madison Concourse Hotel
Your Madison bike adventure starts at the Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club. With its central location less than a block from the Capitol, you'll find the best of Madison just a few steps (or pedals) away. It's Madison's largest hotel and a favorite for locals and visitors alike who want to stay and play in the heart of downtown.
Lunch at Graze
Graze, featuring James Beard Award winner Chef Tory Miller, is only 700 steps from the Concourse. You don't even need to hop on a bike to get there!
Their menu celebrates Chef Tory's Wisconsin and Korean heritage through the use of the region's incredible farms and producers. The bulgogi bibimbap is as delicious as it is beautiful, and the battered dipped cheese curds are full of gooey goodness.
Madison By Bike - BCycle
Destination Madison and BCycle teamed up to bring you Madison By Bike, a web-based program that encourages you to pedal across four specially curated Madison bike trails and stop along the way to redeem exclusive discounts and earn prizes.
Madison By Bike users receive an exclusive discount for 1/2 off Madison BCycle single-ride passes, but you'll be better off getting a monthly pass, even if you're only staying for a few days. The monthly pass allows for longer rides and lets you return your bike to a station when you want to stop pedaling and explore by foot.
Southwest Commuter Path
The first ride (with its unique vibe) is the Southwest Commuter Path. Even though Madison By Bike had some BCycle stations listed, we liked going directly to the BCycle station map. There you can see all the stations and how many bikes are available since you have your choice of about eight stations around the State House.
The Southwest Commuter Path runs from downtown to the historic Monroe Street Neighborhood, home to First Fridays on Monroe Street! If you're lucky (or planned well), your evening is set with shopping over 1.5 miles of locally owned businesses while celebrating First Friday. However, you can always find something local and crafty on Monroe Street while getting a check-in or two with Madison by Bike.
Dinner at Fairchild
On the subject of planning, you should try to get a reservation at Fairchild, located at the far end of the Southwest Commuter Path route.
Note- Madison By Bike names the rides for existing bike paths. The entire Southwest Commuter Path (trail) is 6 miles long, while the Southwest Commuter Path (ride) is 3 miles. This naming convention holds true on the other rides as well, so you'll see signage that doesn't line up with your app. Think of it as a feature to get you out and exploring the neighborhoods of Madison instead of cranking out mileage on the vast network of bike trails.
Back to Fairchild, it's Madison's newest James Beard Restaurant, with Chefs Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger taking home the award for Best Chef Midwest at the James Beard Awards in 2023. They feature classic European cuisine with a focus on exceptional ingredients.
Comedy on State
Comedy On State is Madison's local comedy club that brings in a stellar lineup of nationally known talent. They have shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m., but you'll probably want the late show if you're biking back from Fairchild (the bikes do come equipped with headlights). This might leave you enough time to pop over to Wingra Boats for a sunset paddle or live music. You'll probably even have time to run up to your room for a change of clothes since Comedy on State is only 500 feet from your hotel.
Like many comedy clubs, they have a two-drink minimum, but we found their prices and drink selection very reasonable. We only wish that we had opened our menu and found the ice cream drinks earlier. We never imagined that a comedy club would have a four-page drink menu!
Day 2: Historical Madison
On day two of your biking vacation, you're exploring the best of Madison with a healthy dose of museums and history, with paths dating back to the 1860s.
Dane County Farmers' Market
Start your morning at the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Square. It's a Saturday and Wednesday tradition where you'll find the season's best bounty of vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses and specialty products from about 275 vendors throughout the year. All the items for sale are grown, raised and produced in Wisconsin by the person behind the stand, making this the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country.
Breakfast at Cento
It's hard not to snack your way around the Square, but you'll want to save room for the spectacular brunch specials at Cento. You have to check out the boozy brunch special where, for one low price, you get a pastry selection, two brunch cocktails, bottomless Colectivo drip coffee or Letterbox tea and a choice of any brunch, lunch or pizza entrée.
The breakfast pizza with sausage, spinach, onion, egg and hollandaise is off the hook. If you've never had hollandaise as a pizza sauce, you're missing out, and the crust was simply perfect. You can even substitute an espresso coffee drink for a brunch cocktail.
Wisconsin State Capitol Tour
By now, you've spent enough time around the Square to notice the Wisconsin State Capitol. It's a beautiful building with the only granite dome in the United States and is only three feet shorter than the National Capitol in Washington, DC.
Free tours are offered every day on the hour, but you'll want to book a reservation in advance. During the summer months, you can see all of Madison from the observation deck. Tours last approximately one hour, so you'll continue your downtown tour to make room for lunch.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Is there a better way to work off a delicious breakfast pizza than exploring a museum? Downtown Wisconsin has several museums that are a short walk from the Square, including Madison Children's Museum, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and The Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
You can't go wrong with any of these, but we'll go with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. It's dedicated to the people of Wisconsin who served in the armed forces and honors and affirms the role of all veterans in shaping Wisconsin military history. It's also free, and free is good!
Lunch at the Old Fashioned
You'll be treated to a delicious slice of Wisconsin history the moment you step into The Old Fashioned. From the classic decor to the state's "best cheese curds," you'll get a culinary tour of the Badger State.
From Sheboygan's Grand Champion Miesfeld Market bratwurst to cheese fondue with Madison Sourdough toast points to an authentic take on the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, you'll have lots to choose from. Do yourself a favor and save room for the cheese soup. It's absolutely fantastic!
Ride Lakeshore Path
Lakeshore Path is a Madison By Bike route that's nearly 100% congruent with the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path. It's a wonderful opportunity to explore the University of Wisconsin campus and the shores of Lake Mendota. It follows a historic carriage route dating back to the late 1800s, where early residents would take leisure rides through the university's experimental farm. You can pick up a BCycle in the Square and take the short ride down State Street to the start of Lakeshore Path.
There are many spectacular check-ins along this route, including the Memorial Union (be sure to park your bike and see the lake views and colorful Terrace Chairs), Allen Centennial Garden, and effigy mounds by Observatory Drive. The ongoing work to preserve the effigy mounds would make the trail's namesake, late UW-Madison professor of oncology and Nobel Prize winner Howard Temin, happy. He donated his bar mitzvah funds to a local camp for displaced persons in lieu of throwing a party.
Hike to Picnic Point
Lakeshore Path ends at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, home to Picnic Point. The one-mile hike to the point is a local classic, with stunning lake and downtown views. If you have the time, the preserve has miles and miles of trails waiting to be explored.
Consider riding Observatory Drive on the way back downtown to see even more campus highlights, including the Chazen Museum of Art, Geology Museum and Babcock Dairy Store.
Dinner at Harvey House
Your dinner treat tonight is a double dose of history. The Harvey House is built inside Madison's Historic Train Depot. Every room has a different feel, including dining options in the old Baggage Claim House and a train car! The experience takes you back to the golden age of train travel and the post-prohibition boom of supper clubs in the Midwest.
The Historic Train Depot is right off the Southwest Commuter Trail and less than a mile from the Square via residential streets with wide bike lanes.
Take a Haunted History Tour
With haunted hotels, spooky seats in the cinema and ghosts in the state house, it seems like there are spirits around every corner in Madison. If you like the history of the macabre, you have to experience a haunted history tour in the heart of downtown.
Day 3: Urban Adventures
Day three is all about urban adventures, from exploring Mad Town's most notorious neighborhoods to seeing the city's best industrial chic transformations.
Bikes, Brews, and.... Sardines?
This day starts on your bike and lets you ride all day if you like. The first ride is nothing more than coasting to the shores of Lake Monona from Capitol Square. That's where you'll find Sardine in the historic Machinery Row.
Sardine is a hip bistro with creative French fare and a smashing good brunch. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but we thought the croque monsieur with Wisconsin ham and cheese was fabulous.
Capital City Trail
The Capital City Trail is a premier 17-mile bike trail and a headline 5-mile bike route by Madison By Bike. This route lets you earn the most points of any on Madison By Bike. Stops along the route include:
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
The Olbrich Botanical Gardens are a beautiful, three-mile ride down the Capital City Trail from Machinery Row. Google navigation doesn't quite understand the catty-corner trail crossing at Dunning Street, but follow the trail signs until you reach the back of the gardens at Sugar Street.
There's a BCycle station waiting for you outside of Olbrich and a 16-acre urban oasis inside the facility. There's always free entry to the outdoor gardens, but you can get free entrance to the 10,000 sq ft. Bolz Conservatory if you participate in Bicycle Benefits.
Monty's Blue Plate Diner
You're ready for lunch after a stroll through the gardens. Take the short ride back to the Atwood Neighborhood for an old-school meal at Monty's Blue Plate Diner.
Monty's is a converted gas station, giving it a "50s-diner-meets-hipster" atmosphere. They offer breakfast all day with an incredible variety of vegan comfort food, which certainly lends to the diner meets hipster theme.
Lake Loop or Willy Weirdness?
The question before you is, do you ride home by the classic Lake Monona Bike Loop or spend the afternoon exploring the wild weirdness of Willy Street? For the 11-mile ride around Lake Monona, you'll want to pick a bike with a full charge. Or, you may want to cash in all those check-ins for shopping on Willy Street and enjoying craft brews at BOGO pricing.
Dinner at Merchant / Drinks at Eno Vino
After a full day of riding, you're ready for a night of walking through downtown. Your first stop is Merchant, an energetic industrial-chic café and craft cocktail bar. After enjoying Merchant's seasonal fare, you're ready for a nightcap at Eno Vino Downtown.
Eno Vino restaurant and wine bar is located on the ninth floor of the AC Hotel, with a fantastic view of the Capital. They have an award-winning wine list, offering more than 300 wines by the bottle and another 40 by the glass, but we wouldn't hold it against you if you opted for dessert martinis and crème brûlée. If you're following the notional days of this itinerary, you'll be enjoying Eno's all-day Sunday happy hour.
Day 4: Fitchburg fun
Day four is dedicated to exploring the natural side of Madison, from getting out onto one of the beautiful lakes, pedaling under a canopy of trees, or simply gazing out across a field of wildflowers.
The Governor's Club
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the Governer's Club at The Madison Concourse Hotel. The building's top three floors are home to The Governors Club, which features a private 12th-floor Capitol-view lounge serving complimentary breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and cocktails.
Breakfast isn't a run-of-the-mill "hot breakfast" you'd expect from a chain hotel. It's not quite a buffet, but there's plenty of choices. Hors d'oeuvres are served in the late afternoon, followed by dessert. There's a small selection of high-quality goodies for each course, plus complimentary cocktails at the bar.
Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace is the last completed Frank Lloyd Wright project, which took 59 years to complete. Wright proposed a design for Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in 1938, but it wasn't built until 1997, 38 years after his death.
Even from the outside, you'll realize the magnitude of this architectural gem. But once you step inside, your experience goes one step further with the Frank Lloyd Wright history exhibit, gift shop and even guided tours. You don't want to miss the epic views of Lake Monona, but bikes aren't allowed on the rooftop gardens. There are BCycle stations at Wilson Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard and bike racks at Monona Terrace. There's even a bike elevator that takes you down to the Capital City Trail, which takes you to Wingra Creek Trail and the Cannonball Path.
Fitchburg - Cannonball Loop Route
The Cannonball Path proper is a four-mile shared-use trail that connects Fitchburg to downtown Madison.
The Fitchburg-Cannonball Loop Route is a 12-mile loop ride that utilizes the Cannonball Path and a neighborhood route to form a loop through the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum. Unless you took the Lake Monona Loop, this will be your high-mileage day since the loop is about three miles from downtown. The good news is that the miles will literally fly by on a BCycle ebike. Plus, there's lots to do along the way!
UW Arboretum
"The Arboretum features distinct ecological communities, horticultural collections, effigy mounds, more than 17 miles of trails, and a Visitor Center," according to the arboretum's website. Unfortunately for cyclists, bikes are only permitted on the park roads. Plus, there's no BCycle station inside the arboretum, so you'll have to bring a lock if you want to explore seriously.
That being said, biking to the arboretum is gorgeous. Stopping by the visitor center is absolutely worth it, even if all you can do is take a moment to look over the various prairie gardens around the center.
Lunch at The Thirsty Goat
The Thirsty Goat is perfectly situated for a meal break halfway around the loop. There's even a BCycle station nearby at Hatchery Hills Park. It's an upbeat brewpub offering draft beers and BBQ with an oversized patio and generous portions. Remember to check in to get 15 points and 10% off your bill.
Madison Boats or Henry Vilas Zoo
Break up your ride back with a stop at Wingra Boats, Brittingham Boats or the Henry Vilas Zoo. Madison Boats operates both boating stops and offers a wide range of paddle craft for rent, including some pretty outrageous paddle boats. It's also a 15-point check-in with BOGO ice cream and drinks.
Henry Vilas Zoo is a 28-acre public zoo with more than 650 animals from all over the world that features over 115 species, 20 of which are endangered or vulnerable. The best part? Admission to the zoo is free!
Dinner at Heritage Tavern
We've saved our favorite Madison meal for last, dinner at Heritage Tavern. It's a short walk from your hotel with upscale farm-to-table dining and globally inspired cuisine featuring local Wisconsin ingredients.
Every dish is fresh and bursting with flavor, but if you don't believe us, check out the resume of Executive Chef Daniel Fox. He was Madison Magazine's 2013 Chef of the Year and a James Beard semi-finalist for the Midwest region in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Departing thoughts
With a sad heart, you park your BCycle for the last time. The last four days introduced you to the best of Madison, but Wisconsin's capital city has much more to offer. There are more paths to ride and food to try. Plus, every season looks different on a bike, from vibrant spring green to the warm glow of summer and the crisp colors of call. Before you know it, you'll be planning your next biking getaway to Madison!
