Things To Do
Memorial Union Terrace
There's nothing like the historic Memorial Union Terrace. Come enjoy the iconic sunburst chairs, beautiful lake views, gorgeous sunsets, and your food faves. No reservations needed—just enter along the east side of Memorial Union, outside or indoors, to experience the Terrace. We're planning our summer events, so watch this space for our Terrace Stage music and film lineup. Grab a chair and soak up the sun on the historic Memorial Union Terrace. The years have passed, the space has grown and even the chairs have changed. But through it all, the Terrace has remained a favorite spot for UW students, faculty, staff, Union members and anyone else looking to enjoy a sunny day or beautiful evening.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a 16 acre outdoor botanical garden and 10,000-square-foot conservatory in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1952 and named for its founder, Michael Olbrich, the gardens are owned and operated jointly by the City of Madison Parks and the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society.
Dane County Farmers' Market
The Dane County Farmers' Market is America's largest producers-only farmers' market. It is held from April to November on Saturday mornings on the Capitol Square in Madison, Wisconsin and on Wednesday mornings on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Wisconsin State Capitol
Our capitol building is a gorgeous landmark of Madison with a lot of history. There are free tours daily, but you can also enter the building and look around without a guide. There are a lot of shops and restaurants around the Capitol as well, so you have a lot of options! We recommend parking in the Overture Center Parking Garage, which has the cheapest parking garage in Madison and is only a short walk to the Square.
The Biergarten at Olbrich Park
View the downtown skyline over Lake Monona with friends and family all around and a cold drink in your hand. Join us for feelings of gemütlichkeit—friendliness and good cheer. Bring your own picnic or enjoy our locally crafted soft pretzels, Nürnburg-style brats, or fresh, squeaky cheese curds.
Madison Sourdough
Madison Sourdough is a bakery, cafe, mill and patisserie located on Madison’s near east side. They are a from-scratch bakery committed to nourishing our community, supporting our local food systems, and sharing our love of Wisconsin grains and wild fermentation through the tastiest treats in the city. Their cafe is open for dine in and carry out orders of bread, pastry, breakfast, and lunch daily, 8am-3pm (kitchen open until 2:30pm).
The Old Fashioned
Wisconsin-themed, retro-style tavern offering beers, brats & cheese curds (all sourced in-state). Claims to have the best cheese curds in Wisconsin, but you can decide for yourselves! Order yourself a WISCONSIN Old Fashioned while you're there: "Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet" or "Brandy Old Fashioned Sour" is how you would order it! Enjoy!
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, formerly known as the Madison Art Center, is an independent, non-profit art museum located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. MMoCA is dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and preserving modern and contemporary art.
Chazen Museum of Art
Free campus art museum offering rotating exhibits from a collection of over 20,000 works.