Explore hotels in Madison

Surrounded by four beautiful lakes, Madison serves as a unique outdoor getaway in the midst of a burgeoning metropolitan and political center. You can hike and bike more than 200 miles of trails around the city before attending a show at the Overture Center for the Arts. Tour the Wisconsin State Capitol to see Daniel Chester French's Wisconsin statue, grab dinner from a Capitol Square food cart, and watch the sun set over Lake Mendota at James Madison Park.

Madisonians brim with Badger pride for the University of Madison–Wisconsin, known for its highly selective science and technology research programs. While on campus, you can visit four National Historic Landmarks and various museums such as the L. R. Ingersoll Physics Museum. Be prepared to dance to House of Pain’s “Jump Around” and cheer on the Badgers football team as they compete for top rank in the Big Ten.

Each season brings new adventures to the city, such as watching the plants bloom in spring around the Thai Pavilion in Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Rent a boat in the summer to paddle along Lake Monona and see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace. The UW-Madison Arboretum glows with yellow, orange, and red leaves throughout the fall. During winter, University Ridge invites visitors of all skill levels to traverse their cross-country skiing trails.