Madison

Everybody loves Madison!

Nestled between two lakes, our city is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty.

It is home to the Wisconsin State Capitol, a large university, and a vibrant industry and biotech community. The city offers a high quality of life, with endless entertainment opportunities, music, restaurants, and more without the drawbacks of a large metropolitan area.

Madison is known for its 200 miles of bike paths, our celebrated Farmers’ Market, the iconic Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus, and the Isthmus, the narrow strip of land between lakes Mendota and Monona that forms the center of the city and hosts the Capitol building.

Traveling around Madison is easy, whether walking, biking, or using Madison’s excellent public transit system. Commuting is short, and the City of Madison parks 6,000 acres of parkland across more than 290 parks, making it one of the greenest cities in the US.

“Destination Madison”, video credits VisitMadison.com

The UW–Madison Campus

The UW–Madison campus is extensive, yet compact and walkable, making it easy to access facilities and connect with collaborators. Situated along the shores of Lake Mendota, our Campus is immersed in natural beauty, and offers endless year-round recreation and entertainment. Highlights include:

  • Walking, running, and biking along the Lakeshore Path
  • Enjoying summer water sports on the lake, including swimming, sailing, kayaking, and waterskiing
  • Ice skating, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing in the winter
  • Accessing two modern, state-of-the-art campus recreation and fitness centers for indoor exercise
  • Attending UW Badgers games (football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, soccer, and more)
  • Experiencing live music and theater performances

Campus Photo Gallery

Learn more about our program.