Timeline
07:16
Walk up to the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds. Arriving ten minutes before sunrise gives you the stillness and the first golden light hitting the dome, which faces WSW at this time of year.
07:46
Head back toward the Art Lofts building and stop at Michelangelo's Coffee House. It opens at 08:00, which is perfect for a hot drink and pastry as the city fully wakes up.
08:11
Walk up Bascom Hill to see the main quadrangle. It is the historic core of the campus and offers a great vantage point looking back toward the Capitol and the lake.
Local tip
The Capitol grounds are open early, but the building interior has specific opening hours. For this plan, you are enjoying the exterior architecture and views. Michelangelo's is open daily starting at 07:00 on weekends and 08:00 on weekdays, so check the day you visit.
Check before you go
- Michelangelo's Coffee House opens at 08:00 on weekdays (Su-Fr) and 07:00 on Saturdays (Sa).
- The Wisconsin State Capitol exterior is accessible at dawn.
Worth knowing
- Michelangelo's Coffee House is open at 07:46 only on Sa
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Madison (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).