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Capital · United States

MadisonMadison, Wisconsin

Two nights is enough: one day on the Capitol Square and State Street, one on the lakes and the UW campus. Add a third only for a game or a bike day.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Madison is Wisconsin's capital, built on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, with the University of Wisconsin at its centre. It is compact, walkable and bike-first, and most of what a visitor wants sits within about 2 km of the Capitol. It is a two-night stop, or a base for the Greater Madison Area, not a week-long destination.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (deep cold), late Jul–Aug humidity
Airports
MSN · ORD
Nights
2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Madison911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Madison, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Beerdraught in a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9$10–14
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshareSurge pricing on game nights.$12–20
  • Metro or bus rideMetro Transit single ride$2–3 (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum or botanical-garden entryCapitol tours and some campus museums are free.$0–20
  • Budget bedHostel or dorm bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedDowntown hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedDowntown hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$240

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Wisconsin State CapitolUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison and State StreetLakes Mendota and MononaBike trails and farmers' market
Airports
MSN Dane County Regional (About 15 min by car or taxi to the Capitol; daily flights to Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Minneapolis and Denver, plus nonstops to Atlanta, Newark, New York and Washington.) · ORD Chicago O'Hare (About 2 h 15 min by car on I-90; VanGalder and Megabus run coaches to the UW campus.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −2°C (28°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    6°C (43°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid*

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    27°C (81°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    0°C (32°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jan (−11°C (12°F) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Madison: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−2°C (28°F)

−11°C (12°F)

8 rd

Feb

−1°C (30°F)

−10°C (14°F)

7 rd

Mar

6°C (43°F)

−4°C (25°F)

9 rd

Apr

14°C (57°F)

2°C (36°F)

11 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Jun

26°C (79°F)

14°C (57°F)

11 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

17°C (63°F)

10 rd

Aug

27°C (81°F)

16°C (61°F)

10 rd

Sep

23°C (73°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

Nov

7°C (45°F)

−2°C (28°F)

9 rd

Dec

0°C (32°F)

−8°C (18°F)

9 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Downtown is walkable and the bike network is strong; Madison is regularly ranked among the most bike-friendly US cities. Metro Transit buses cover the city and campus. A car helps for the arboretum, the lakes' far shores and day trips; parking downtown is metered and tight on game days.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Columbus, Wisconsin

go

Door to door: About 40 min

I-90/94 north, about 30 min by car; Amtrak's Empire Builder stops here

Use it as the rail link to Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis; the town itself is a short stop.

Wisconsin Dells

go

Door to door: About 1 h

I-90/94 north, about 1 h by car

Waterparks and sandstone bluffs; a full day or an overnight in summer.

Johnson Creek

caution

Door to door: About 35 min

I-94 east, about 30 min by car; Badger Bus stops on demand with advance tickets

Outlet shopping rather than sightseeing; worth it only if you want the stores.

Portage, Wisconsin

caution

Door to door: About 50 min

I-39 north, about 45 min by car

Historic canal town; pair it with the Dells rather than making a separate trip.

Stoughton, Wisconsin

go

Door to door: About 30 min

I-90 southeast, about 25 min by car

Norwegian heritage main street; easy half-day.

Verona, Wisconsin

caution

Door to door: About 25 min

US-18/151 southwest, about 20 min by car

Suburb with trails and a few breweries; go only if you are already heading west.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Isthmus / Capitol Square

Downtown core: Capitol, State Street, restaurants and lake views on foot. Best for a first visit without a car.

State Street and UW campus

Student-side of downtown; walkable to the Memorial Union terrace and the lakefront. Coach stops on Langdon Street land here.

West

Shopping and chain hotels near the beltline; cheaper rooms, but you need a car or bus to reach downtown.

East

Neighbourhood dining and retail east of the Capitol; quieter, still a short drive or bike to the centre.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–190 excl. bed
High
$190+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Downtown hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130US$520
Metro Transit day pass, one day2 × US$5 · checkUS$10
Taxi or rideshare, MSN airport to downtown1 × US$30 · checkUS$30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$96
Trip total≈ US$264 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,056

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Cheese curds or a burger plate$10–18
Beer: draught in a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9 / $10–14
5 km taxi or rideshareSurge pricing on game nights.$12–20
Metro Transit single ride$2–3 (check)
Museum or botanical-garden entryCapitol tours and some campus museums are free.$0–20

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Madison is a safe, low-drama city for visitors; the real risks are winter cold, lake ice that is never safe to walk on, and late-night bar streets near campus.
  • Winter is genuinely cold: January highs sit near freezing and wind off the lakes cuts. Pack for it Nov–Mar.
  • Summer can be hot and humid, with heat indices well above 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August.
  • Badger football Saturdays fill hotels and bars near campus: book ahead and expect road closures.
  • Prices are shown before Wisconsin sales tax, added at the till.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MadisonMadison, Wisconsin

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Madison; most countries are represented in Chicago or Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MSN airport → downtown: about $25–35 by taxi or rideshare, about 15 min (check)
  • VanGalder coach, Chicago O'Hare → UW campus: about $30 one way, about 3 h (check)
  • Metro Transit single ride: $2–3 (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the Capitol? — Where is the Capitol?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • One coffee, please — One coffee, please

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Madison. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (deep cold), late Jul–Aug humidity · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MSN: taxi and rideshare times field-checked, plus the O'Hare coach fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Capitol Square, State Street and campus, the Memorial Union lakefront, and the arboretum.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Capitol, UW campus, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, the farmers' market) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Game-day and winter fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources