Cheap flights to Madison, WI from $172

Madison overview

Madison, the picturesque and friendly capital of the state of Wisconsin, is located on an isthmus between the Mendota and Menona lakes. As well as easy access to some lovely countryside, the city offers good shopping, lots of music, an active theater community and many excellent restaurants. There are numerous hiking and biking trails in the vicinity, and during the colder months from December to March there’s plenty of opportunities for ice skating, snow-kiting, ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Madison is also noted for its fine cultural heritage. World class museums within the city include the UW Geology Museum and an award winning children’s museum. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra often stage open air performances in the impressive surrounding of Capitol Square. A tour of the State Capitol building, with its magnificent granite dome, is well worth taking. A day out that all the family can enjoy is at the Henry Vilas Zoo, where the admission is free. Here there are over 800 animals, a superb primate exhibit and an outstanding tropical rain forest aviary. Regarded as the city’s favourite landmark, Memorial Union Terrace offers live music, films and theater performances by the lakefront, plus art galleries and a wide selection of outdoor recreation. Much of the outdoor activities in Madison centre on the five lakes in and around the city. There are over a dozen beaches, great waterfront dining and a host of water sports options, including boat, kayak and canoe rentals. A natural national landmark, the Cave of the Mounds, with its stunning natural rock and mineral formations, is definitely worth a visit. 

Getting around Madison, WI

For getting around in the city, the Madison Metro Transit is a very popular and efficient public transportation system offering reasonably priced fares. Madison has four major taxi companies, available on an appointment only basis. However, as Madison is a very bicycle friendly city, you might wish to take advantage of the Madison B-Cycle bike sharing scheme, which has thirty five stations throughout the city. An excellent way to become familiar with the layout of the city and to learn all about its history is to take the two-hour, 25-mile City Highlights Tour. The six passenger minivans allow for plenty of personal attention.

Getting from the Airport to the City

The Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is the nearest to Madison. Taxis are reasonably priced for the 6-mile journey to downtown. The closest international airport is General Mitchell, located 85 miles away in Milwaukee. Taxi, shuttle and bus transport is available.

Madison, WI airport overview

Quaint, clean and well-run are some of the first words that come to mind when traveling through Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), which serves Madison, Dane County and all of south-central Wisconsin, USA.

This zippy little airport has a fair amount to offer for such a small space, and as it should only take you a few minutes to walk from security to whichever one of the 13 gates you’re flying out from, you should have a little time to sample one of the tantalizing eateries at hand.

Don’t, however, mistake the intimacy of Dane County Airport for small-town laxness  – the airport is renowned for having extremely thorough security, so be sure to have all your liquids in a bag and your shoes removed before entering into the line.