Memorial Union Terrace

Memorial Union opened in the 1920s as a living room for the university, and from the beginning its lakeside terrace was meant to be shared with the wider public. That tradition holds today: anyone can wander in, sit down, and stay as long as they like, without a ticket or a fee. Few great university gathering places are so genuinely open to their city.

The building itself is a handsome, ivy-touched landmark, but it is the Terrace out back that draws the crowds. The patio steps down toward the water in tiers, giving everyone a view of Lake Mendota and the boats crossing it, and the whole space has the unhurried, welcoming feel of a shared backyard.

The Terrace's most famous feature is its chairs, metal cafe seats painted in a bright sunburst pattern of green, orange, and yellow. They are scattered by the hundreds across the patio, easy to drag to the water's edge or pull into a circle with friends, and their cheerful color has made them a symbol of Madison recognized far beyond the campus.

There is a small ritual to the seasons here. The chairs are set out when the weather warms and the Terrace comes alive, and they are put away as the cold sets in and the lake quiets. Their return each spring is a quiet signal, to students and townsfolk alike, that the good months have arrived.

Through the warm season the Terrace hosts a steady run of free events, live bands most nights, outdoor films projected against the summer dark, and gatherings of every stripe. The programming draws people from across the city, and on a busy evening the patio hums with conversation and music over the lapping of the lake.

The water itself is part of the appeal. The union runs a lakefront outdoor program, and canoes, kayaks, and sailboats move across Lake Mendota just offshore. A cone of ice cream made at the university's own Babcock Hall dairy plant, eaten with your feet up and the sun going down, is close to a required Madison experience.

Lake Mendota is the larger of the two lakes that shape Madison, and the Terrace sits on its southern shore at the edge of campus. From here a lakeshore path runs west past university buildings and into the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, a stretch of woods and marsh along the water that feels a world away from downtown.

In the other direction, State Street climbs from the union toward the Capitol Square, lined with shops, cafes, and street performers. The Terrace anchors one end of that walk, so an evening here folds easily into a fuller day exploring downtown Madison on foot.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Memorial Union Terrace, on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, is a beloved lakeside gathering spot on the shore of Lake Mendota, famous for its iconic colorful sunburst chairs and its relaxed, festive atmosphere. A cherished Madison institution, the terrace offers a lively lakefront where students, families, and visitors gather to enjoy food and drink, live music, sunsets over the lake, and easygoing conversation in the signature orange, green, and yellow chairs. A quintessential Madison experience, it captures the city's laid-back, lake-loving spirit. With its lakeside setting and iconic chairs, the Memorial Union Terrace offers a delightful destination in Wisconsin.

You can relax in the iconic sunburst chairs along the shore of Lake Mendota, enjoy food, ice cream, and refreshments, listen to live music and events, watch sailboats and stunning sunsets over the lake, rent a kayak or paddleboard, and soak up the festive, welcoming atmosphere. The lakeside setting, the famous colorful chairs, the live music, and the sunsets are the draws, offering a quintessential relaxed Madison experience. It is a favorite gathering place in any season. With its lakefront, chairs, and music, the Memorial Union Terrace offers an enjoyable experience in Madison, Wisconsin.

The sunburst chairs at the Memorial Union Terrace are famous because their cheerful design of radiating rays in bright orange, green, and yellow has become an enduring symbol of the terrace, the University of Wisconsin, and Madison itself, instantly recognizable to generations who have gathered lakeside in them. The colorful metal chairs, scattered across the terrace facing Lake Mendota, embody the relaxed, welcoming spirit of the place and are among the most photographed sights in Madison. Their iconic look and cherished history make the sunburst chairs a beloved emblem of the Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin.

Summer is the classic time for the Memorial Union Terrace, when the lakeside is at its liveliest with live music, warm evenings, and glorious sunsets over Lake Mendota, and the iconic chairs are out, though it is also the busiest. Late spring and early fall are also lovely with pleasant weather. Sunset is a magical time any warm evening. For the full lively terrace experience with music and sunsets, aim for summer, or visit in late spring or early fall for pleasant weather, at the Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Memorial Union Terrace is on the University of Wisconsin campus along Lake Mendota in Madison, near the State Street pedestrian mall leading to the Capitol Square, the Wisconsin State Capitol, the university campus, and Madison's lakes and museums. That makes the Memorial Union Terrace a delightful stop to combine with State Street, the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the other attractions of Madison on a visit to Wisconsin.