Destination Madison

22 E. Mifflin St. Suite 200 53703

Why Choose Madison?

Our capital city sits upon an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, which means our vibrant downtown is surrounded by stunning scenery. It’s a place where visitors get all the beauty plus the perks of a city. From meeting planners to the media, we’ve been topping rankings and growing our reputation as a place where you can count on a successful meeting and happy attendees. #4 Greenest Cities in the US (2020): The Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center is Platinum LEED-Certified, and we have 100+ LEED Certified buildings all around town. (Not to mention the care we take for our 5 lakes, 200+ miles of biking and hiking trails, and 270 parks.) Here, sustainability isn’t a trend—it’s a tradition. 2 James Beard Best Chef winners (2023) + 27 semifinalists in the last 10 years: We’re proud of our agricultural heritage, which pairs perfectly with the long list of award-winning chefs and mixologists in Madison’s dining and drinking scene. Most menus feature local growers, and our range of restaurants make it easy to find options from global fare to gluten-free or plant-forward, cocktails, mocktails and more. #3 Happiest City in America (2023): This one is not surprising, given the lake-city-lake landscape that creates a perfect setting for year-round outdoor activities from hiking, biking, paddle-boarding and kayaking in summer to cross-country skiing, snow sailing and ice fishing in winter. Madison features more than 12,000 rooms and 400,000 sq. ft. of meeting space available to accommodate a wide variety of events. Madison has hosted environmental, educational, engineering, agri-business, sporting, biotechnology and medical groups including World Dairy Expo, IRONMAN Wisconsin and the CrossFit Games. Walkable. Sustainable. Memorable Madison. Plan now to host your next event here!

Distance from airport

  • Dane County Regional Airport

    9 mi. from city center


Local Attractions

State Street

Shopping
Enjoy all that State Street has to offer: great locally owned and operated restaurants and bars, specialty retailers and entertainment.

Wollersheim Winery & Distillery

Recreation
Historic limestone winery known for its distinctive wines. Situated on southern slopes, the vineyards overlook the Wisconsin River. Winery store, guided tours and tastings daily. Open year round. Located 25 miles northwest of Madison.
7876 Hwy. 188
Prairie du Sac, WI

Madison Boats

Recreation
Choose your ideal location to get on Madison's lakes! Explore Lake Wingra, Lake Monona or Lake Mendota by canoe, kayak, rowboat, paddleboards or paddleboat rentals. Classes, yoga sessions and special events add to the enjoyment.
Various locations
Madison, WI

Madison Children's Museum

Museum
With one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits, daily activities and year-round special events for both kids and adults there's always something to do at the Madison Children's Museum. Event space available.
100 N. Hamilton St.
Madison, WI 53703

Overture Center for the Arts

Theater
Overture Center for the Arts presents internationally-acclaimed performances including opera, musicals, dance and family entertainment. Overture offers a variety of venues for meetings and special events.
201 State St.
Madison, WI 53703

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum
Housed in a soaring, Cesar Pelli designed building, MMoCA provides free exhibitions that engage people in modern and contemporary art. Four galleries offer changing exhibitions that feature established and emerging artists. A rooftop sculpture garden provides a respite with inspiring views. Admission is free.
227 State St.
Madison, WI 53703

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Park
Stroll 16 acres of outdoor gardens - from a Midwest-hardy rose garden to the only Thai Pavilion in the continental U.S. Enjoy the Bolz Conservatory, an indoor tropical paradise featuring exotic plants, flowers, birds and fish. Events, concerts and classes offered. Open Daily year-round.
3330 Atwood Ave.
Madison, WI

Chazen Museum of Art

Museum
The Chazen presents collections that range from ancient times to the present day, as well as temporary exhibitions, tours and cultural events. Special event space is also available. Admission is free, closed Mondays.
750 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53703

Convention Centers

  • Alliant Energy Center

    Located in the heart of Madison and a top choice for expositions, conventions, meetings, concerts, sporting events and much more, the Alliant Energy Center complex is a one-stop-shop for all your events.

  • Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center

    Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center is located on the shore of Lake Monona in downtown Madison, two blocks from the State Capitol building.