Things to Do in Madison Wisconsin
I have lived in the Midwest for the majority of my life. Both Cleveland and Chicago have been my home base so I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the Midwest. But I have to come clean, I was sleeping on Madison! Wisconsin is home to an underrated gem. Whether you are a foodie or museum-lover, there are SO many things to do in Madison Wisconsin.
I was initially drawn to Madison Wisconsin because I heard it was for lesbians what Palm Springs is to gay men. If you don’t get that analogy, it means: Madison Wisconsin is a haven for queer women. Even without a dedicated lesbian bar, it’s easy to find fellow queers in Madison.
While I was in Madison, I texted my wife about an experience I never had anywhere else. While waiting for my Uber in one part of town, a fellow passenger princess femme complimented my outfit. When I exited the Uber at my hotel in a different part of town, I nearly ran into a butch-femme lesbian couple. Community and SO much more awaits you in Madison Wisconsin so let’s get into it!
This post was created in collaboration with Destination Madison but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Getting There
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated in the South-Central part of the state. Its unique position on an isthmus between two lakes has led to innovation as the city continues to grow.
Us Midwesterners love to drive so getting to Madison by car is definitely an option. About a two and a half hour drive away, Madison is located 150 miles from Chicago and 80 miles from Milwaukee. The city of Minneapolis is about a four hour drive away.
There are 17 US cities that fly directly to Madison Wisconsin via Dane County Regional Airport (MSN). Some of the cities that fly to Madison include Denver, Phoenix, Detroit, Washington DC, Tampa, Newark and Charlotte. I flew from Cleveland to Chicago. My flight from Chicago to Madison was less than a half hour.
Once you arrive – there’s no shortage of things to do in Madison Wisconsin!
Foodie Things to Do In Madison Wisconsin
I have watched every episode of Top Chef‘s 22 seasons. When I started watching season 21 in Wisconsin, I was not sure what to expect. I quickly learned why the Badger State and particularly Madison is a city for foodies!
While Top Chef Wisconsin starts in Milwaukee, Madison’s cheese production is in the spotlight by episode 3! There are so many ways to experience Madison’s award-winning cheese. First, take a visit to an European-style cheese shop, Fromagination. Just steps away from the Capitol, you’ll find this LGBTQ-owned business to be the perfect introduction to all things cheese. You can sample many varieties or grab an artisan sandwich to go!
Staying on the cheese train, you must visit The Old Fashioned for a round of beer-battered cheese curds. Food Network featured these cheese curds for their use of fresh curds from the local farming community. The Lazy Susan is another must-order at The Old Fashioned. From deviled eggs to dilly beans, this dish spins to show you the many traditional pickled offerings of Wisconsin.
Farm to table ingredients are a theme in Madison. It’s also common for restaurant servers to describe the daily specials based on seasonal, fresh ingredients secured directly from farmers early that day. There’s a good reason for this!
Madison is home to the country’s largest producer-only Farmer’s Market. On episode 5 of Top Chef Wisconsin, Tom Collichio called it “one of the best farmers’ markets in the world.” And it’s easy to see why!
On Saturdays from April through November, you’ll find farm stands circling around the Wisconsin State Capitol building. The market opens at 6:45 A.M. and early risers will definitely find the widest selection alongside the smallest crowds.
Samples are abundant! I was able to try a 15-year-aged cheddar from Hook’s Cheese that was featured on Top Chef. Even if you are traveling, there’s still items to buy. I purchased honey from lesbian farmers, a bundle of dried flowers and a block of cheese I put in my carry-on bag.
With the Farmers’ Market still in sight around the Square, I had brunch at nearby Graze. The James Beard Award Winning Chef Tory Miller serves up Korean comfort food with Wisconsin fresh ingredients. You’ll find Hook’s Cheese curds on the menu alongside Bibimbap in a hot sizzling bowl.
If the name Tory Miller sounds familiar, he was the guest judge on Episode 5 of Top Chef Wisconsin. This episode culminated with an elimination challenge at Harvey House celebrating Madison’s iconic supper club tradition. Located in a former train depot and boosting an open kitchen, the dining room itself is an experience.
I couldn’t believe the food was even better. The relish tray is a MUST try. Solo traveler tip: although the menu advises the relish tray serves for two people, they can make a relish tray for one by request.
I could go on and on about all of the things to do in Madison Wisconsin for foodies! The culinary scene in Madison is really top notch. I would be remiss if I did not mention a place that I am very qualified to judge: where to find the best Italian food in Madison.
At D’Vino, you’ll find Sicilian family recipes made with ingredients fresh from the Farmers’ Market. My favorite part was how owner, Dino Maniaci, goes table to table to describe the specials of the day. There’s a story behind every dish and every family photo on the wall. Dino also owns Madison’s longest continuously operating gay bar, Woof’s, right next door!
LGBTQ+ Things to Do
As you may have noticed when reading about the best restaurants in Madison, there is an abundance of LGBTQ+ owned businesses. Destination Madison regularly updates their list of 30+ LGBTQ+ owned businesses in Madison.
While some cities may struggle to name a LGBTQ+ owned business beyond a bar, Madison’s queer businesses really cover a wide range of categories. Plus, the number of LGBTQ+ friendly businesses is seemingly endless. You’ll find rainbow flags in windows and queer-coded employees at every turn.
If you have time to visit only one LGBTQ+ owned business in Madison, book a longer trip! But for real, you cannot understand or appreciate queer Madison without a visit to A Room of One’s Own Bookstore. First opening in 1975, A Room of One’s Own is one of the few remaining groundbreaking independent feminist bookstores.
Their current location on Atwood Avenue features an extensive selection of LGBTQ+ centered stories from a number of intersections. I nearly cried seeing a dedicated section on bodies featuring titles from my favorite fat queer activists. I spent three hours here and it was not long enough!
Like any self-respecting queer, I like to start my day with an iced lavender latte. Although Ancora Cafe isn’t LGBTQ+ owned, the cashier did ask my big three and didn’t bat an eye when I added lavender to my Fruity Pebbles latte. You can’t go wrong with any of their egg sammies.
If the expression “I’m literally just a girl” was a shop, it would be The Shop by EBNS. Owner Kenzie Beam first started sewing scrunchies in high school. After graduating from UW-Madison with a Masters in 2023, Beam opened up her shop near campus the following year at the age of 24. You can find scrunchies and other handmade goods from local artists in the shop alongside a menu of creative dirty sodas and cold brew.
When it comes to libations, you don’t need to go to a gay bar to find community and your drink of choice. If vino is your poison, visit Square Wine Co., located (you guessed it) right outside the Wisconsin State Capitol square. This lesbian-owned business serves up wine flights featuring vintages from around the world.
Madison is home to one of the country’s only trans-owned breweries, Giant Jones Brewing Company. A pink, white and blue floral flag declaring “Trans Rights are Human Rights” hangs above stainless steel barrels of beer declaring exactly what this business stands for. At Giant Jones Brewing Company, you’ll find certified organic brews with high ABV (think 7% ABV and up)! Despite snacking all day, I stood up from my flight tipsy.
There is no stand-alone lesbian bar in Madison. When I talked with local lesbians at the monthly Lesbian Pop Up Bar, they mentioned that there was no shortage of things to do in Madison Wisconsin for queer women. They told me that the bigger issue is picking which event to attend of any given day. Pop-up parties at local LGBTQ+ friendly venues dominate the Madison queer scene.
In 2014, DJ Sarah Akawa started throwing events for queers/dykes/trans people, and queer people of color who had been previously underserved by existing LGBTQ+ spaces in Madison. Akawa went onto to host iconic events like Hot Summer Gays and Dyke Dive (which just ended in July 2025). I attended Hot Flash x Hot Summer Gays in July 2025 and it looks like co-host DJ Millbot will be picking up where Akawa left off. The Mad City Sapphics Meetup group is another great way to find things to do in Madison Wisconsin for queer travelers.
The list of queer things to do in Madison Wisconsin is LONG and you probably can’t accomplish them all in one week. I really just scratched the surface here so please feel free to leave a comment below with your favorite LGBTQ+ spot in Madison.
Vintage Shops in Madison Wisconsin
Much like the LGBTQ+ and foodie cultures in Madison, the secondhand shopping scene in Madison also blew me away. In addition to creating LGBTQ+ travel content for you, I run my own secondhand store for plus size shoppers. I am always looking for well-curated vintage stores when I travel and Madison did not disappoint.
Destination Madison suggested I start my secondhand shopping along Willy Street. Here, I encountered Rewind Decor. This cozy curated shop featured my exact brand of kitschy collectibles. Think a 90s Mickey Mouse novelty phone alongside Baywatch trading cards. Owner Morgan Miller quickly introduced me to the Madison Vintage Store map and highlighted where to visit with the limited time I had left in Madison.
I stopped by Kool Things Vintage a few doors down and got some good deals on tees. Across the street, you’ll find a large St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. As I scanned the racks, I was happy to see size 4XL size tags.
I continued down Willy Street to Meep Meepleton’s World of Fun. This is a nostalgia dream for anyone who grew up in the 60s-90s. I walked in and saw trolls, 90s McDonald’s toys, Barbie’s and so much more. I left the store with a bag full of buttons, toys and trinkets and a Kermit novelty phone being shipped to my house.
Although it’s not located on Willy Street, Retro-Revolution is worth a visit! If you love vintage glassware and all things kitsch then this is the spot. They also have some great deals on vintage jewelry.
Cultural Landmarks and Museums
Did you know that Madison is home to the only granite dome on a US capitol? This is just one of the many facts you’ll learn on the free 50-minute guided tour of the Capitol. This tour is so detailed and provides an amazing context to Madison’s history and the building itself. You can take the tour on the hour from 9-3 pm Monday through Saturday.
Capitol Square stays busy in the summer months. Much like the Farmer’s Market, the Square transforms at 7 pm on Wednesdays. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra hosts the free Concerts on the Square series over the course of six weeks every summer. Music fills the air as crowds reaching more than 50,000 cover the Capitol lawn with picnic blankets. Grab a cheese board from nearby Fromagination or visit one of the many local food trucks set up around the Square and enjoy!
Just a quick jaunt from the Capitol, you’ll find the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. This free museum features a rooftop sculpture garden and rotating exhibitions highlighting both established and emerging artists.
Did you know that UW-Madison has one of the largest Thai student populations of any US University? As a result of this strong relationship, the government of Thailand gifted the city the Royal Thai Pavilion located at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. You’ll find gleaming gold leaf inside the only Thai Pavilion in North America. While you’re there it’s definitely worth taking a look around at all of the gardens and checking out any special exhibits.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to dress the night away watching local drag artists or taste the best cheese curds you’ve ever had, there’s so many things to do in Madison Wisconsin. This is a city with not only a rich LGBTQ+ culture but a deep respect for the land it occupies. With a focus on local farm produced ingredients, this is a city you want to arrive with a hunger in your belly. You will leave satisfied and maybe with a block of cheese in your carry on luggage.
This post is really just scratching the surface of all that Madison has to offer! What are your favorite things to do in Madison Wisconsin? Let me know in the comments below!