Madison for one: 10 exciting ways to enjoy the city solo

Photo courtesy of Sharon Vanorny/Destination Madison.

By Erin Yarnall

September 27, 2024

Touring Madison by yourself can be one of the most exciting ways to see the city. Here are the best activities for a solo traveler around Wisconsin’s capital.

Solo traveling isn’t for everyone. It can be lonely, and oftentimes stressful as you try to organize and plan every aspect of the trip on your own. But it can also be a thrilling and freeing experience for those who decide to embark on a trip by themselves.

One of the best parts of traveling by yourself is getting to do exactly what you want during your trip. Why not make the most of that time by doing some of the best activities for solo travelers in and around Madison?

Whether you want to meet new people on a tour or enjoy time by yourself while exploring the great outdoors, there are plenty of things for solo travelers to do in and around Wisconsin’s capital city. Here are some of our favorite activities for solo travelers in Madison.

1. Take a tour of the Capitol

2 E. Main St., Madison

The Wisconsin State Capitol building is arguably the most important structure in all of Wisconsin, let alone in the state’s capital, Madison. The center of government for the entire state is housed in a historic and scenic building that’s conveniently regularly open for tours. As one of the most important sites in the city, no trip to Madison is complete without a visit to the Capitol.

Join a free guided tour, which runs Monday through Saturday almost every hour or on Sundays at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Or, enjoy strolling through the Capitol on your own time—but make sure to stop by the sixth floor to enjoy the observation deck if you’re visiting over the summer. The Capitol Building is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on the weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Vanorny/Destination Madison.

2. Have a drink at Memorial Union Terrace

800 Langdon St., Madison

Sometimes, it can be awkward to grab a drink at a bar if you’re on your own. So don’t go to a bar while traveling through Madison. Or, do. But also make a stop at Memorial Union Terrace—one of the most popular places to grab a drink in the city and one of the most scenic spots to watch the sunset. Located along the edge of Lake Mendota, the Memorial Union Terrace has sat on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison for nearly a century since it first opened in 1928.

You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the terrace, though—anyone can grab a seat on one of the terrace’s iconic sunburst chairs, but you do have to have a Wisconsin Union membership. If you’re not already a member of the Wisconsin Union, you can purchase a daily membership for $1.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Vanorny/Destination Madison.

3. Rent a kayak from Madison Boats

701 W. Brittingham Place, Madison

Madison may not be located on an ocean or a Great Lake, but that doesn’t mean there’s not access to incredible sources of water. The city is home to five different lakes, which are great for swimming, fishing, and, of course, spending a day on a boat.

Conveniently, there are plenty of places where residents and visitors can rent a boat for a fun day on one of the city’s lakes, including Madison Boats, which has four different locations along three of Madison’s lakes. The company rents out fishing boats, pontoons, and paddle craft, including stand-up paddleboards and kayaks, at its numerous locations. Single kayak rentals cost $16 for one hour, or you can spend up to five hours on the water for $64.

4. Pick out some produce at the Dane County Farmers’ Market

2 E. Main St., Madison

One of the highlights of summertime in Madison for residents and visitors alike is the Dane County Farmers’ Market, a farmers’ market on the grounds of the Capitol Building. The market is the largest producers-only farmers’ market in the country and has approximately 220 vendors throughout the year. It’s held on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. and Saturdays from 6:15 a.m. until 1:45 p.m.

A perk of this farmers’ market is that unlike traditional farmers’ markets, which typically wind up for the year in autumn, there are variations of the Dane County Farmers’ Market happening all year long. So, no matter when you plan your solo trip to Wisconsin’s capital, you can make a stop at the famous market. Every year, the Dane County Farmers’ Market offers the Holiday Market, which runs on most Saturdays in November and December and sells local produce and holiday crafts at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. There’s also the Late Winter Market, which kicks off after the Holiday Market ends, running on Saturdays from January through the beginning of April.

5. Walk through the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

227 State St., Madison

Museums aren’t a great place to talk to friends, family, or travel companions. That’s why they’re a perfect place for solo travelers to explore while taking in some local culture. Solo travelers to Madison should make a stop at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, an independent, non-profit art museum that’s located in the city’s downtown.

The city’s contemporary art museum has a series of rotating exhibits and a permanent collection that includes works from renowned international artists like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as more local works, like photos from Wisconsin-based photographer Suzanne Rose. The museum is open Thursdays through Sundays, excluding major holidays and when the weather is so bad that the city’s bus service is canceled. Admission is free!

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Sadowski/Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

6. Check out the nearby state parks

Madison’s a great city, but sometimes you have to go a bit outside of the city limits to appreciate all that the area has to offer. Conveniently, Madison is surrounded by several state parks and natural areas. Just 15 miles outside of the city is Lake Kegonsa State Park, a 342-acre park that lies along the lake it was named for. The park is ideal for swimming, boats, and lounging at the beach, but it’s also great for cross-country skiing and sledding throughout the winter. On the other side of Lake Mendota from Madison is Governor Nelson State Park, which has more than eight miles of trails. The park also offers a beach and boat launch along Lake Mendota.

If you feel like venturing even farther, Devil’s Lake State Park, one of the most popular state parks throughout Wisconsin, is an approximately 50-mile drive from the city.

7. Take a road trip to a historic cave

2975 Cave of the Mounds Road, Blue Mounds

A fun part of traveling is seeing all of the new things that the city you’re visiting has to offer, but in the case of Madison, it’s also got something very, very old that’s well worth a visit. Cave of the Mounds, a limestone cave in Blue Mounds, Wisc., which is a 25-minute drive away from Madison, began forming approximately one million years ago. The cave was accidentally discovered in 1939 by limestone quarry workers who blasted a section of the quarry and exposed the cave. For decades, it’s been open as a must-see attraction in the Madison area, showcasing stalactites, stalagmites, and many other formations.

Tours of the cave are available daily, and visitors can either take a traditional tour or a self-guided tour. A traditional tour is where visitors are led through the cave by a guide, and it takes between 45 and 55 minutes, whereas self-guided tours don’t offer a guide, but visitors can explore the cave at their own leisure. Admission to Cave of the Mounds is $23.99 for anyone that’s 13 or older, $14.99 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for any child under the age of 4.

Photo courtesy of Cave of the Mounds vis Instagram.

8. Spend a day cycling and chowing down on the Bike n’ Bites Food Tour

3241 Garver Green, Madison

An easy way to meet people while traveling solo is by joining a tour, and Madison’s Bike n’ Bites Food Tour doesn’t just supply its attendees with a fun tour of the capital city, but also with plenty of food, too. From creative pizza slices at Ian’s Pizza to local beers at Starkweather Brewing, the Bike n’ Bites Food Tour runs the gamut of some of Madison’s best dining experiences.

The three-hour tours only run on Saturdays and cost $119 per person. Seven different food tastings are included in the food tour, which will see attendees biking six miles throughout the city to reach each culinary site. Don’t worry about being too stuffed to bike efficiently—the bikes have electric assist, making it a smooth and easy ride.

Photo courtesy of Madison Eats Food Tours via Instagram.

9. Watch the ice cream-making process at the Babcock Dairy Store

1605 Linden Drive, Madison

Wisconsin very proudly calls itself “America’s Dairyland,” and there’s no shortage of dairy products throughout Madison. Visitors can sample all varieties of cheese products, but they shouldn’t skip out on dessert.

Solo travelers can enjoy a stop at the Babcock Dairy Store, a dairy shop run by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s agriculture department, and witness the ice cream-making process in action before picking up a scoop or two.

Tours of the dairy shop’s observation deck are free but must be booked at least two weeks in advance. If the tour makes you hungry, pick up some ice cream to eat later—the Babcock Dairy Store sells sizes ranging from single-serve cups to three-gallon tubs.

Photo courtesy of Babcock Dairy Store.

10. Sample some local brews at Capital Brewery

7734 Terrace Ave., Madison

If there’s one thing that Wisconsin is well-known for, it’s the state’s abundance of local breweries and the quality of the beer that they produce. Stop by one of the Madison area’s most notable ones, Capital Brewery, to sample some of its brews. The brewery, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024, has more than 23 beers on tap, including its annual Wisconsin Amber lager, a seasonal Oktoberfest brew, and even a non-alcoholic beer that’s served in a 12-ounce can.

The brewery, located in suburban Middleton, is about a 20-minute drive outside of the center of Madison. In addition to its lengthy beer list, the brewery also has a calendar that’s jam-packed with events, including live music nights and an annual Oktoberfest celebration.