State Street & Downtown Madison
State St., Madison, WI
Connecting the Wisconsin Capitol to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, State Street is the beating heart of downtown Madison. The neighborhood is one of the Midwest’s best—it sits on an isthmus between two lakes, offering fabulous water views, and countless shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and bookstores.
State Street runs for seven blocks across downtown Madison, with the 700 and 800 blocks a pedestrian mall—full of street-food vendors during business hours. Its atmosphere is a bit eclectic, mixing vintage Madison with high-class cultural attractions and student hangouts. Picture 19th-century buildings and restaurants that haven’t changed in 50 years; contemporary art museums and modern, white-tablecloth restaurants; and sticky hangouts offering fast food to late-night pub crawlers.
Tours ranging from e-bike to self-guided to ghost will show you all the downtown hot spots, from State Street to the Wisconsin State Capital, which could pass for the White House. With water in nearly every direction, you’ll get history and views, all in the same place.
Parking is typically a combination of street meters and parking garages—meters are enforced until 6pm.
The visitor center has public restrooms that are only open during business hours.
The Route 81 bus is free and services the UW campus and State Street.
If you’re in Madison, odds are you’ll get siphoned to downtown at some point—Madison sits on a narrow isthmus, and the main way to get around is through downtown. For those wanting a good spot to explore State Street, there are nearly a dozen parking garages within walking distance (look for the “P” sign), plus plenty of metered parking. Biking, taxis, and rideshares are good options, too.
When to explore downtown Madison and State Street depends on whether you want to share in the buzz of a Badger football game, join 10,000 students on a Friday night pub crawl, or experience the farmers market. There’s no bad time to be here, but if you’re looking for quieter crowds, any weekday will do.
Downtown Madison is in a constant state of change as the city explodes in population. But a few places seem to defy time, achieving institution status: Giving off street-food vibes, spots such as Teddy Wedgers, Parthenon Gyros, and Paul’s Pel’meni have been around since time immemorial—they’re great for an bite as you explore.
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