With a dense city center, housing in downtown Madison is diverse, ranging from apartments and condos to tree-lined neighborhoods that prioritize walkability. Minor league sports teams are wildly popular, as are local leagues such as softball, soccer, and disc golf, representative of a city with a work-hard, play-hard ethic.

State Street

Madison’s main corridor links the university to the state capitol through a busy and charming thoroughfare filled with cafés, art galleries, clubs, boutiques, and more. With city buses as its only traffic, State Street is friendly to bikers and pedestrians.

Food Carts

For a quick and delicious lunch break, visit Library Mall and its colorful food carts, which deliver up a slice of the world’s cuisine in a tasty handheld wrap of your choosing. From Indonesia to Ethiopia, falafel to spring rolls, food cart heaven is not to be missed.

Restaurants

Madison’s growing food and drink scene has no boundaries. With a tradition of farm-to-table, the cuisine has gone far beyond simple Midwestern fare. Sourcing fresh and local ingredients from the surrounding farmlands, the city’s award-winning chefs continue to serve up creative dishes and inspiring cocktails.

Dane County Farmers' Market

Here’s a habit you’ll never want to quit: Saturday morning strolls around the capitol in search of the perfect croissant and cup of coffee. From early spring to late fall, this market brings together farmers from around the region, selling local organic produce and homemade goods. You’ll never sleep in again.