Memorial Union Terrace Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Memorial Union Terrace. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Downtown Madison E-Bike Guided Tour

• Wisconsin's Madtown: A Madison Self-Guided Walking Tour

• Madison, Wisconsin Scavenger Hunt

It’s free to visit the Memorial Union Terrace on your own, though for access to some of the terrace’s perks, like select restaurants and outdoor gear rentals, you’ll need Union membership (you can buy a day pass for US$1). There are also plenty of affordable tours that will give you a taste of campus life on Lake Mendota—self-guided tours start at US$8.

No, you don’t need tickets or a membership for general access—the Terrace is open to students, locals, and visitors alike who want to grab a chair and take in the view over Lake Mendota. A Wisconsin Union membership does unlock extras like discounts and entry to restaurants, but you can enjoy the setting and use the chairs without joining. Alternatively, day passes are just US$1.

Terrace season usually runs from mid-April through late October, when the 2,000 orange, yellow, and green sunburst chairs are out. Weekday evenings around sunset offer the classic lake view with fewer crowds, while summer weekends bring live music and events, often for free—check the Wisconsin Union calendar for the season's lineup.

That depends on when you’re reading this. The yellow, green, and orange sunburst chairs remain a Memorial Union Terrace hallmark, though they’re strictly seasonal—they return each spring (typically mid-April) in a celebratory "Chair Return Party," with roughly 2,000 chairs set out across the space through the summer and into the fall, weather permitting.

All visitors to the Memorial Union Terrace are welcome to grab a seat and take in the view or enjoy live music. With membership or a day pass (US$1), you can also grab pub fare, ice cream, or plastic pitchers of Spotted Cow; catch live performances and film screenings; join free art-making sessions; or rent kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards through Outdoor UW to explore the lake.