Madison Must-Dos Itinerary
When visiting Madison, there are a few things you simply must do. Even if you only have one day. Or a few hours. If you want to experience Madison like a local, we suggest starting here:
📍 Dane County Farmers' Market
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In summer you can find a farmers’ market every day of the week, and there’s nothing like the Saturday Dane County Farmers’ Market, which wraps around the Capitol Square starting at sunrise. You'll be able to say you’ve been to the largest producer-only market in the entire U.S., try piping hot Stella’s spicy cheese bread and find honey to take home.
Tip: It’s also where you can find fresh flowers to say thanks to your host for having you!
📍 Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
📸 Tag on Instagram: @mmocamadison
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A block off the Capitol Square, in a soaring Cesar Pelli-designed building, is the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art—home to four galleries with F-R-E-E exhibitions and education sessions aimed at making art accessible. It’s also where you can also dine at Tall Grass, the new restaurant by Chef Elena Terry. You may know her from Top Chef and Chopped; locals know her as a member of the Ho Chunk Nation, whose menus are rooted in local flavors with a focus on wild game.
Tip: the rooftop garden with its stunning skyline views and modern glass staircase inside the museum make perfect selfie spots.
📍 Fromagination
📸 Tag on Instagram: @fromagination
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No visit to Madison is complete without cheese—whether you enjoy it here or take it home (or both!). First stop: Fromagination, a European-style, cut-to-order cheese shop brimming with goodies like award-winning cheese, locally made chocolate, crackers and crisps, wine and gifts. It’s the best place to start when you want to create charcuterie boards for snacking (they’ll make them for you, too).
Tip: Fromagination also offers cakes of cheese. Yes, you read that right. Cakes of cheese. All you have to do is order in advance.
Bonus
When you visit one of the 📍Featured Partners listed above, you can enter for a chance to win our Wish You Were Here Getaway Giveaway (see Giveaway Details below). On November 2, we’ll draw a winner at random for the Madison Must-Dos prize shown below!
Looking for more Madison must-do itinerary ideas? Check out our inspiration guide.
New Places + Faces Itinerary
If you've been to Madison before, you might be looking for something more … niche or new to do. We got you. There are always new business owners and experiences popping up in Madison. Some of our favorites include:
📍Rally Madison FC
📸 Tag on Instagram: @rallymadisonfc
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Madison has a reputation as a women’s sports destination, and Rally Madison FC is the newest team on the scene. This USL W soccer team is the first women’s franchise to play at the iconic, historic Breese Stevens Field and its matches are tons of fun. Get dressed up in Rally gear and learn the chants and cheers to experience game day like a local.
Tip: Sit in the “Flock End” of the field for the full-on fan experience.
📍 Saunaday
📸 Tag on Instagram: @saunaday_
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When you’re ready to try something on the quieter side, we recommend Saunaday. It’s a new, Nordic-style bathhouse in the heart of downtown Madison with a focus on warmth, wellbeing and community—a perfect gathering place for groups of friends and family.
Tip: As a courtesy for your comfort, Saunaday has created a First-Timer's Guide to ensure you’re in the know on bathhouse traditions before you go.
📍 The Dylin
📸 Tag on Instagram: @thedylinhotel
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Visiting family and friends doesn't always mean staying with said family and friends. Many guests are giving rave reviews to The Dylin, a luxury aparthotel that blends apartment living with boutique hotel charm. Options range from two-bedroom suites to full houses for a full-on home-away-from-home experience.
Tip: This property has several spaces for social gatherings, including a community room and a lobby lounge for more informal meet-ups.
Bonus
When you visit one of the 📍Featured Partners listed above, you can enter for a chance to win our Wish You Were Here Getaway Giveaway (see Giveaway Details below). On November 2, we’ll draw a winner at random for the New Places + Faces Itinerary prize bundle shown below!
Looking for more new-in-Madison things to do? Check out our new in 2026 experiences blog.
Feel-Good Getaway Itinerary
Any time spent with family and friends is automatically a feel-good getaway. Any activity that enhances that sense of well-being while together is, well, even better. When it comes to being renowned for relaxation, here are a few experiences to try—and why:
📍The Edgewater Spa
📸 Tag on Instagram: @theedge2o
📸 Tag on Facebook: The Edgewater Madison
As if it isn’t enough that The Edgewater is located lakeside with serene views, they have a luxury spa, too. The Edgewater Spa is located in the historic Langdon building and part of receiving services includes access to the relaxation pool and sauna, so you can stay for the day.
Tip: This spa accepts group inquiries—all you have to do is fill out the form in advance.
📍 Orange Tree Imports
📸 Tag on Instagram: @orangetreeimports
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Retail therapy. It’s a thing. And whether you enjoy shopping for unique boutique gifts, top-notch cookware and cutlery, or collectible children’s toys, Orange Tree Imports promises to be your happy place. The second you step into this shop in the posh Monroe Street neighborhood, you’ll discover why it’s been voted Best of Madison for 30+ years!
Tip: Orange Tree has a cooking school, which makes for a great group activity or gift!
📍 Kosa Spa
📸 Tag on Instagram: @kosaretreat
📸 Tag on Facebook: Kosa Spa (Madison, WI)
It’s not every day that National Geographic names you the Best Spa in the World among 20 other retreats in locations like Thailand to Iceland. Kosa Spa’s approach to blending Ayurvedic treatments with seasonal, organic, Wisconsin-made products makes it a must-do when in Madison.
Tip: Be sure to check out Kosa Kitchen, offering organic, family recipes to enjoy in the Sanctuary or to go!
Bonus
When you visit one of the 📍Featured Partners listed above, you can enter for a chance to win our Wish You Were Here Getaway Giveaway (see Giveaway Details below). On November 2, we’ll draw a winner at random for the Feel-Good Getaway Itinerary prize bundle shown below!
Seeking more self-care suggestions? There’s a whole blog about that: Plan a Relaxing Getaway
Fresh-Air Adventures Itinerary
Madison’s lake-city-lake landscape creates unlimited urban outdoor adventures: from biking and hiking to golfing and gardening to swimming and paddling (we could go on). You just have to know where to look for them:
📍Vitense Golfland
📸 Tag on Instagram: @vitensegolfland
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Many Madisonians and visitors think of Vitense Golfland as a family-friendly mini-golf place. And while that’s true, there’s even more to do when you want to fill a whole day: indoor and outdoor mini golf. Batting cages. And a par 3 course (the only illuminated one in Wisconsin!)
Tip: Plan to grab a bite at Babe’s, a longtime neighborhood fave bar and grill that recently relocated to Vitense.
📍 Olbrich Botanical Gardens
📸 Tag on Instagram: @olbrichgardens
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16,000 acres of sprawling gardens. An indoor Conservatory that’s home to fragrant orchids, canaries and koi, and a rushing waterfall. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is an outdoor oasis, a stunning setting for community events and even a place to give back via voluntourism.
Tip: Don’t miss the Royal Thai Pavilion. This ornate teak and gold leaf structure is the only one of its kind in the continental U.S.!
📍 Madison Boats
📸 Tag on Instagram: @brittinghamboats, @marshallboats or @wingraboats
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Did you know that Madison is home to five lakes? Mendota, Monona, Kegonsa, Waubesa and Wingra. You'll know someone's from Madison if they can pronounce all five. But even more important is getting in and on our five lakes, and no one gets you paddling, skiing and sailing better than Madison Boats—comprised of Brittingham Boats, Marshall Boats and Wingra Boats, plus captained pontoons at The Edgewater.
Tip: Madison Boats hosts a full season of don’t-miss events, from SUP yoga at sun-up to Full Moon Paddles.
Bonus
When you visit one of the 📍Featured Partners listed above, you can enter for a chance to win our Wish You Were Here Getaway Giveaway (see Giveaway Details below). On November 2, we’ll draw a winner at random for the Fresh-Air Adventures Itinerary prize bundle shown below!
Got energy for more fresh-air adventures? 36 Things to Do This Summer is a good spot to start.
Savor the Moment Itinerary
There’s not a single friends and family itinerary that doesn’t focus on food—especially in Madison. From our famous farmers’ market that drives fresh, local menus to our 47 James Beard honors to global fare that’s beyond compare for a city our size, there are so many places to try:
📍Lola's High/Lo Lounge
The only way to describe Lola’s Hi/Lo Lounge? It’s a vibe. From its kitschy backstory to its draw for celebrities (Harry Styles chose it as one of two U.S. locations for an official listening party) to its global tavern-style menu and classic cocktails, it’s a must-see for all five senses.
Tip: This is a no-reservations location, so plan accordingly—luckily, you can sip a cocktail while you wait in the new Sidecar Lounge.
📍 Lucille
Madison’s historic First Settlement District is where you’ll find Lucille, a stunning three-floor space known for its steel pan pizza and nachos, craft cocktails, local beers and a Cheap Date Night menu on Wednesdays that includes a shared appetizer, entrée and dessert plus a bottle of wine for just $50.
Tip: Wednesday is also Jazz at Lucille night—free entertainment that makes for another perfect pairing.
📍 Quivey's Grove
Quivey’s Grove is a Madison classic located in Fitchburg, not far from the Epic Systems campus. It’s where you’ll find fine dining in the Stone House or more casual menu options in the Stable Grill—both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Try savory duck, lamb or veal dishes, or stick to a classic: Friday Fish Fry.
Tip: The property sits on five acres—feel free to wander its gardens before or after your meal.
Bonus
When you visit one of the 📍Featured Partners listed above, you can enter for a chance to win our Wish You Were Here Getaway Giveaway (see Giveaway Details below). On November 2, we’ll draw a winner at random for the Savor the Moment Itinerary prize bundle shown below!
Looking for more restaurant reccos? Dining Around the Globe and 10 New Eateries will help!
If You Want to Be a Badger Itinerary
Even if you’re not a student or an alum of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, it’s hard not to want to be a Badger when you’re in the Jump Around town. If you're a parent visiting your student, these are top spots to try! We’ve captured the top traditions that’ll get you in the spirit and help you play the part like a local:
📍Graduate Madison
There are only 30 hotels in the Graduate college town collection, and Graduate Madison was among the first. It’s THE place to stay if you want to be close to campus and be inspired by its blend of Badger traditions and campus legends. The best part? Camp Trippalindee, the rooftop restaurant, offers classic Old Fashioned cocktails, cheese curds and tabletop s'mores.
Tip: Book early because this popular spot fills fast during Homecoming and Fall Family Weekend.
📍 Memorial Union Terrace
Originally dubbed the “campus living room” when it opened in 1928, the Memorial Union Terrace remains one of the most popular spots on the UW–Madison campus. Its panoramic lakeside views, live music and movie nights, and Babcock ice cream at The Daily Scoop are top reasons to visit.
Tip: You can buy your own Terrace chairs in red and white.
📍 The University Book Store
Since 1894, The University Book Store on State Street has been the place for so much more than books—collegiate clothing, dorm room décor and gifts for grads. Though Badger game day gear trends change, one thing remains the same: red and white stripes, Bucky Badger and the Motion W are front and center.
Tip: This popular shop has a second location in Hilldale, where there’s more to explore!
Bonus
When you visit one of the 📍Featured Partners listed above, you can enter for a chance to win our Wish You Were Here Getaway Giveaway (see Giveaway Details below). On November 2, we’ll draw a winner at random for the If You Want to Be a Badger Itinerary prize bundle shown below!
Need another boost of Badger fandom? Check out our Badger Game Day Guide.
