Free Things to Do in Downtown Madison WI
Madison, Wisconsin, is a great place to go for a quick weekend break in the summer. Not only is the weather pleasant, but the city vibes are buzzing. Everybody is out and about, and there are plenty of events happening. Here’s a roundup of 3 free things to do in Downtown Madison, Wisconsin.
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In a nutshell: A farmers’ market located in the square in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Located in the square in front of the Capitol, the Saturday Farmers’ Market is the biggest local farmers’ market in Wisconsin. Everything sold at the Saturday Market is made locally. No nationwide chains, nothing made in China, so expect unique and very Wisconsin items.
There’s local honey, cheese, jerky, jams, and lots and lots of flowers. Those are just a sampling of what’s on offer at the market, and you’ll have to see it for yourself.
It does get busy between 9 and noon, when crowds all go the same direction, and you’ll have to make your way to individual booths.
The market ends around 1:45 pm, but for the best availability and selection of products, go early. The earlier you go, the more products you can choose from. The bigger flowers, the prettier arrangements, the fresh bread: the early bird catches the worm.
In case the weather changes, the market packs up early, and stalls may not be open when you get there. When I visited, there was a huge thunderstorm that happened around noon. Most stalls packed up and left within an hour of the storm.
Not really, but there are clean bathrooms inside the Wisconsin Capitol. This is the most convenient and closest toilet to the market. Alternatively, there are hotels, museums, and restaurants within walking distance from the Capitol and Farmers’ Market. You can visit a museum and go to the bathrooms!
Address: 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm
Madison is the home of the state Capitol. We try to visit State capitals when we have time, but Madison is one of the few state capitals where you can tour a Capitol building on a weekend.
Guided tours run every few hours and are completely free of charge. You don’t even have to sign up in advance. Meet the guide at the rotunda at the tour time, and off you go.
On weekends, you’ll get a chance to go inside locked rooms with a guided tour. These rooms are open on weekdays for self-guided and guided tours. After your tour, you can then head up to the Capitol Museum and the viewing area on the sixth floor. From there, you’ll get to see a view of Madison and the streets that lead up to the Capitol.
The Capitol is truly beautiful, with numerous hidden details that your guide may not have time to point out. Some of the more obvious sculptures include the badgers on top of the state rooms and the eagles on the light fixtures by the bridges.
Who would’ve thought you could find fossils inside a state capitol? When the materials to build the Capitol (the third one in this area) were assembled inside, the fossils became an unexpected bonus.
There is a starfish located by the stairs near the North Wing on the left grand stairs. The biggest fossil, of an extinct creature called the ammonite, is located in the hearing room. On a guided tour, your guide will most likely show you the first 2 fossils we mentioned. If you want to create a bit of a scavenger hunt, the information center has a brochure that tells you where exactly to find all the fossils in the Capitol.
Address: 30 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 12 nn to 4 pm
A delightful free museum located in downtown Madison, right across the street from the Capitol Building. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum showcases the wars that Wisconsin soldiers fought in. It’s interactive and has great displays. It’s very engaging and isn’t just walls of text on the wall. Oh no, you’ll see mannequins and actual items that were used during the period as exhibits.
For me, what’s absolutely amazing about this museum is that as you walk in, the first exhibit you’ll see on the right side is of the Philippine-American War. Did you ever know that was a thing? No? Well, as a Filipino, I knew about that war, and I was shocked when I saw that it was an exhibit. I knew this museum would be one of my favorites, and I will keep recommending it to everyone.
The museum covers wars from the Civil War to more obscure ones like the Battle of Buna during World War 2. Know anything about the Battle of Buna? No? Well, head to the museum to find out more about it.
The shop is great, and has Wisconsin items, to other veterans/military-themed items on sale. Prices are reasonable, and every purchase you make in the museum helps support it.
Address: 227 State St, Madison, WI 53703
Hours: 12 pm to 6 pm Wednesday, Friday & Sunday, 12 pm to 9 pm Thursdays, 10 am to 6 pm Saturday
Located just a few minutes walk from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a free art museum on State Street. It’s a three-storey contemporary art museum with rotating exhibits on the first and second floors. The third floor is a cafe and a rooftop sculpture garden. Be mindful of the weather, though: if you’re unlucky enough to visit during rain or bad weather, they usually close the third-floor space.
The museum is popular for weddings and other events, so if you see a group inside the museum, it doesn’t mean that the museum is closed. You can still try to approach the front desk and ask if the museum is open to the public.
Looking for a great place to stay in Downtown Madison? The Hyatt Place is your go-to. Not only is it walking distance to the Capitol and all the other attractions I’ve mentioned in this post, but it also has free breakfast and an indoor pool!
The rooms have plenty of room for a family of four to stay in, and parking is available in a parking lot beside the hotel. It’s the perfect spot to stay downtown, especially when parking may be an issue during market days (ie, Saturdays).
Madison is one of those places that’s fun to go to since a lot of activities are free. These are just some of the free things to do in Downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Have I missed any spots on the list? Feel free to let me know in the comments below!
A special thanks to Destination Madison for hosting me on this trip. Check out their website for trip planning ideas for the Madison area.
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