City Information

About Madison

You will find the best of all worlds in Wisconsin’s vibrant capital city and picturesque surrounding towns: natural beauty and outdoor recreation, stimulating cultural offerings, distinctive restaurants and shops, and an irreverent spirit of fun.

Built on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, Madison is renowned for its beautiful scenery. A total of five area lakes and over 200 parks provide an abundance of year-round outdoor activities, from hiking, biking, swimming and sailing along with cross-country skiing, snow sailing, and ice fishing.

Madison offers a variety of things to do before and after the conference sessions. Within blocks of many of the conference hotels and one block from the Memorial Union is the iconic State Street. After checking out the State Street shops and restaurants, take time to stop by and tour the beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol. Tour the Capitol on your own or by guided tour to experience this stunning icon.

Madison is in Central Standard Time (CST)

Getting Around Madison

Madison offers several ways to get around and explore the city while you’re here. If you’re not quite up to walking down State Street or up Bascom Hill there are other modes of transportation to get you where you need. Madison Metro Bus System travels throughout downtown Madison including routes to and from the UW campus area to the Capitol. Biking is also a very popular mode of transportation and Madison offers bicycle rental stations , several shops that rent bicycles, and extensive bike trails within the city and into surrounding areas.

Local Bike Rentals

  • Erik's
    795 University Ave
    Madison, WI 53715
    (608) 250-2701
    Prices vary depending on bike

  • Budget Bicycle Center
    1230 Regent St OR
    930 Regent St
    Madison, WI 53715
    (608) 251-8413
    Prices vary depending on bike and length of rental

  • BCycle
    Various locations around campus and downtown Madison
    $5/30 minutes - can be purchased at bike kiosk

Madison also offers multiple taxi options. Hailing cabs in Madison is not common and you will receive faster service by calling a company directly. If you need a taxi while at the conference venue, please see Conference Management staff in the Annex Room on the 2nd floor and they will call a taxi for you. To reach a taxi service directly, call one of the numbers below:

Things to do in madison

Henry Vilas Zoo

702 S Randall Avenue
(608) 266-4732
Open Daily from 9:30am – 5pm

Brittingham Boats

701 W. Brittingham Place
(608) 250-2555
Open Daily from 8:30am – 8pm

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Avenue
(608) 246-4550
Open Daily 10am – 4pm

Wisconsin State Capitol

2 East Main Street
(608) 266-0382
Open Monday – Friday: 8am – 6pm, Weekends and Holidays: 8am – 4pm

UW Madison Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway
(608) 262-7888
Trails Open 7am – 10pm; Visitor Center Open Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 4pm, Saturday – Sunday: 12:30pm – 4pm

Picnic Point

(608) 265-9275
Open Daily 4am – 10pm
(Can be reached by Campus bus #80, by bike/foot using Lakeshore Path, by parking a car in lots 129 or 130)

Union South

1308 West Dayton Street
(608) 890-3000
Open Monday – Thursday: 7am – 12am, Friday: 7am – 1am, Saturday: 8am – 1am, Sunday: 8am – 12pm
(Be sure to check out the Lower Sett where there are bowling lanes, pool tables, and rock climbing available)

Bike Rentals

Budget Bicycle Center

1230 Regent Street
(608) 251-8413
Open Monday – Friday: 9am – 9pm, Saturday: 9am – 7pm, Sunday: 10am – 7pm

Machinery Row Bicycles

601 Williamson Street
(608) 442-5974
Open Monday – Friday: 10am – 8pm, Saturday: 9am – 7pm, Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Madison BCycle

Stations located throughout Madison
(800) 473-4743
System Hours: 5am – 12am

Bike Trails

  • Monona Lake Loop - 12 mile bike ride around Lake Monona (Machinery Row Bicycles is located on the loop)
  • UW Madison Arboretum - 4 miles of paved trail (Exiting on the north side of the trail will leave you near Henry
  • Southwest Commuter Path)
  • UW Lakeshore Path - Begins at the Memorial Union and ends at Picnic Point

Kayaking


UW Outdoor

800 Langdon Street (Memorial Union, Lower Level)
(608) 262-1630
Office Open Daily 8am – Sunset, Rentals Daily 12pm – Sunset
(Stand-up Paddleboards, Kayaks, & Canoeing available)

Betty Lou Cruises

1001 Arboretum Drive #204
(608) 246-3138
Private Charters and Public Cruises are available

Restaurants and Bars

Midwestern Experience

  • Tornado Steak House - Renowned for its prime cuts and elegant ambiance. Must-try: bone-in tenderloin.
  • Old Fashioned - A hotspot for traditional Wisconsin dishes. Must-try: cheese curds, walleye sandwich.
  • Mickey’s Dairy Bar - A retro diner offering a nostalgic Wisconsin experience, closes early at 2 pm.
  • Toby’s Supper Club - Famous for its traditional Friday fish fry. Must-try: Deep fried locally caught blue gill.
  • Harvey House - Known for walleye and prime rib.
  • Blue Moon Bar & Grill - Affordably priced burgers.
  • State Street Brats - Famous for their brats.

Vegan Options

  • Jardin - Offers a range of creative vegan dishes.

Indian Cuisine

  • Rajni - Flavorful and affordable Indian cuisine.

Japanese & Sushi

  • Red - Contemporary space for sushi and Japanese dishes.
  • Muramoto - Offers a modern twist on traditional sushi and Japanese cuisine.
  • Sake Sushi - Features an all-you-can-eat sushi menu, perfect for enthusiasts of Japanese cuisine.

Vietnamese & Laotian Cuisine

  • Hạ Long Bay - Offers authentic Vietnamese and Laotian dishes.
  • Saigon Noodle - Known for its authentic Vietnamese flavors and noodle dishes.

French Cuisine

  • Sardine - Known for its lakeside patio and French bistro staples.
  • Fairchild - Fancy French dining, quite expensive.
  • L’Etoile - French cuisine, upscale yet inviting atmosphere.

Italian Cuisine

Pizza

  • Pizza Brutta - Specializes in Neapolitan wood oven style pizza, known for its authentic preparation and ingredients.
  • Ian’s Pizza - Known for its creative toppings and late-night service.

Seafood

Turkish Cuisine

Donuts

  • Greenbush Bakery - Popular with local students, known for its variety of donuts.