Hidden Dells

Dells Picks

Wisconsin Dells attractions and tours

Boat tours, rides, mini golf, shows and the gloriously weird stuff the Dells is famous for. Filter for rainy days, little kids or teens, and see what's open when you're here.

Popular lists:Mini golf and go-kartsHorseback ridingEscape roomsZip lines and ropes coursesAnimal parks and farms

Hand-picked, not paid. Tap to save. Hours change by season, so check before you go. How the areas fit together

Showing 4 of 58

Shows (1)

The Al. Ringling Theatre marquee in Baraboo

Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Researched

AL. Ringling Theatre

Baraboo and Devil's Lake · Year-round

A restored 1915 movie palace on the Baraboo square that hosts plays, concerts and classic film screenings, with short history tours.

Best for:
Couples and history fans pairing it with Circus World
Know before you go:
The posted hours are box office hours; check the event calendar for performances.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention the ornate restored interior and friendly staff who share the building's history.

Hours
  • Mon: Closed
  • Tue to Fri: 10 am to 2 pm
  • Sat to Sun: Closed

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Indoor
  • Rainy day
  • Evening
  • Adults
  • Year-round

Museums and oddities (3)

The AL. Ringling Mansion in Baraboo

Photo: dwhartwig, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Researched

AL. Ringling Mansion

Baraboo and Devil's Lake · Year-round

Guided tours of the Ringling family's restored Baraboo mansion, filled with family photos and artifacts, with a small brewery on the property.

Best for:
Adults pairing history with a beer
Know before you go:
Tour tickets come with a discount at the on-site brewery, and you can sip during the tour.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention knowledgeable guides and that the house feels lived-in rather than like a static museum.

Hours
  • Mon to Sun: 11 am to 4 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Indoor
  • Rainy day
  • Adults
  • Year-round
The Circus World Museum building in Baraboo

Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Researched

Circus World

Baraboo and Devil's Lake · Seasonal, about mid-May to early September

Museum on the original Ringling Bros. winter quarters in Baraboo, with daily Big Top circus performances, historic circus wagons and hands-on clowning and juggling.

Ages:
All ages
Allow:
About 2.5 hours or more
Best for:
Families pairing a circus show with history
Know before you go:
Plan around the Big Top show times, and leave extra time for the wagon collection and guided tours.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention the live Big Top show and the restored wagon collection.

  • Outdoor
  • Indoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Teens
  • Adults
  • Seasonal
Trains at the North Freedom depot, Mid-Continent Railway Museum

Photo: Jeffrey Lentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Researched

Mid-Continent Railway Museum

Baraboo and Devil's Lake · $$ · Seasonal, May through October, plus holiday trains in late November and December

Volunteer-run living railroad museum with restored wooden passenger cars and vintage train rides through rural Sauk County, including steam-era excursions.

Ages:
All ages
Best for:
Train enthusiasts and families with kids
Know before you go:
Themed trains like the Pumpkin Special and Santa Express run on set dates and sell out.

From public reviews: Reviewers often mention the knowledgeable conductors and the sheds of restored cars worth touring after the ride.

Hours
  • Mon to Fri: Closed
  • Sat to Sun: 9:30 am to 5 pm

Hours change by season. Check before you go.

  • Outdoor
  • Kid-friendly
  • Adults
  • Seasonal
  • Buy tickets online

List last updated Oct 2026.

Wisconsin Dells attractions, in short

The Dells was a tourist town long before the waterparks. Boat tours have been running up the Wisconsin River to Witches Gulch and Stand Rock since the 1800s, the Ducks have splashed into the river since 1946, and the Parkway filled up with go-karts, mini golf and gloriously odd roadside attractions after that. All of it is still here, along with newer things like Aquavia Lumina, escape rooms and zip lines.

Downtown Broadway has the Upper Dells boat docks, Ripley's and plenty to walk between. The Parkway (Hwy 12) running south toward Lake Delton is where you'll find the Ducks, Mt. Olympus, go-karts and most of the mini golf, and the zip lines, animal parks and horseback riding are spread out in the countryside a few minutes away.

A lot of the outdoor attractions run from spring to fall and close for the winter, while the indoor ones stay open all year. Each card shows its season and whether it's open today, and you can set your month at the top of the page to hide what's closed while you're here.

Questions

What are the best attractions in Wisconsin Dells?

If you only do one, make it the Upper Dells boat tour with its walk through Witches Gulch. Our other favorites are Lost Canyon, Aquavia Lumina at night, Pirate's Cove mini golf and Wizard Quest for kids. Everything we've done ourselves is marked We've been on the cards.

What is there to do in Wisconsin Dells besides waterparks?

Plenty: boat and Duck tours on the river, Lost Canyon, hiking at Devil's Lake and Mirror Lake, mini golf, go-karts, zip lines, animal parks, magic and dinner shows, and museums. Our guide to things to do besides waterparks has the full rundown.

Which Wisconsin Dells attractions are open in winter?

The indoor ones stay open all year, including Wizard Quest, Tom Foolerys, Ripley's, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory, the escape rooms, Asgard Axe and the magic and dinner shows. Aquavia Lumina runs every night, Bigfoot has snow tubing, and two zip lines run all year. Most boat tours, go-karts and mini golf close for the winter, so set your month at the top of the page to see what's open.

What can you do in Wisconsin Dells on a rainy day?

Tap the Rainy day filter for everything indoors: Wizard Quest, Tom Foolerys, escape rooms, axe throwing, arcades, Ripley's, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory and the shows. Our rainy day guide has more ideas, including the indoor waterparks.

Do you need tickets in advance for Dells attractions?

For most of them, no. The regular boat tours, the Ducks, mini golf and go-karts are walk-up. Book ahead for Aquavia Lumina time slots, the Ghost Boat, the sunset dinner cruise, escape rooms, zip lines and dinner shows, especially on summer weekends.

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