Milwaukee
A lakefront city of breweries, museums and festivals.
Points of interest
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- Harley-Davidson Museum
- Riverwalk
- Public Market
- Summerfest
State guide
Things to do in Wisconsin
Milwaukee's lakefront, breweries and Summerfest, Madison between two lakes, the orchards and fish boils of Door County, the Apostle Islands sea caves and plenty of cheese curds.
90
Minutes from Chicago by train
Lakes, festivals and supper clubs
Wisconsin sits between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, with thousands of inland lakes, rolling dairy farms and northern forests. It is proudly unpretentious: a place of cheese, beer, Friday fish fries and supper clubs, where summer is spent at the lake and winter is for football.
Milwaukee, on Lake Michigan, is a former brewing capital with a lively lakefront, the winged Milwaukee Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum and Summerfest, one of the biggest music festivals in the world. Madison, the capital, sits on a narrow strip of land between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, with a big university, a huge Saturday farmers' market and plenty of bike paths.
Up north, Door County is a peninsula of orchards, lighthouses and small harbour towns, and the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior have sea caves you can kayak into. Milwaukee is only 90 minutes from Chicago by train. Give Wisconsin four or five days. Summer and early autumn are best; winters are long and cold.
Where to base yourself
Milwaukee and Madison for the cities, and Bayfield for the Apostle Islands.
Madison
A lively capital between two lakes.
Points of interest
- State Capitol
- Memorial Union Terrace
- Farmers' market
- Taliesin nearby
Bayfield
A small harbour town on Lake Superior.
Points of interest
- Apostle Islands sea caves
- Madeline Island
- Orchards
Regions of Wisconsin
Milwaukee and Madison in the south, Door County on Lake Michigan, and forests and Lake Superior in the north.
Milwaukee
City, beer, festivalsThe lakefront city, 90 minutes from Chicago.
Madison and the south-west
Lakes, Frank Lloyd WrightThe capital, Taliesin and rolling farmland.
Door County
Orchards, lighthousesA peninsula of harbour towns on Lake Michigan.
Northwoods and Lake Superior
Forests, sea cavesBayfield, the Apostle Islands and northern lakes.
Wisconsin Dells
Waterparks, rock formationsSandstone gorges and the waterpark capital.
Things to do
Things to do in Wisconsin
In Milwaukee, see the Milwaukee Art Museum, whose wing-like sunscreen opens and closes during the day, and visit the Harley-Davidson Museum. Walk the Riverwalk and the lakefront, tour one of the breweries, and eat at the Milwaukee Public Market. In summer, the city has a festival almost every weekend on the lakefront.
In Madison, tour the State Capitol, sit on the Memorial Union Terrace by Lake Mendota, and browse the Dane County Farmers' Market around Capitol Square on Saturdays. Near Spring Green, visit Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, and the strange House on the Rock.
Drive up Door County for cherry orchards, lighthouses and a traditional fish boil. From Bayfield, kayak or take a boat to the sea caves of the Apostle Islands. Football fans can tour Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Milwaukee's Riverwalk, lakefront parks and beaches are free. In Madison, tours of the State Capitol are free, with the observation deck open in summer, and so is the Henry Vilas Zoo. The Memorial Union Terrace and the Saturday farmers' market cost nothing to enjoy.
Milwaukee's summer festivals often have cheap or free entry at certain times.
State parks need a vehicle admission sticker.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Wisconsin is America's Dairyland, so try fresh cheese curds, which squeak when you bite them, fried or plain. Friday night means a fish fry, and bratwurst is everywhere. A supper club is a classic night out: relish trays, prime rib and a brandy old fashioned.
In Door County, a fish boil is cooked outdoors over a fire, with a dramatic boil-over at the end, followed by cherry pie.
Milwaukee has a long brewing history and plenty of craft breweries. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Nightlife
Going out
Milwaukee's Third Ward, Walker's Point and Brady Street have bars, breweries and live music. Madison's State Street is lively with students.
Wisconsin loves a bar: there are lots of them, and they are often cheap. Bars close at 2am on weekdays and 2:30am at weekends.
In summer, Summerfest and the lakefront festivals take over Milwaukee.
Getting around
Getting around
Milwaukee Mitchell Airport is the main gateway, and many travellers fly into Chicago instead. Amtrak's Hiawatha runs between Chicago and Milwaukee in around 90 minutes, and the Empire Builder continues west.
Milwaukee has buses and a downtown streetcar, The Hop, and Madison has buses and good bike paths. A car is needed for Door County and the north.
Winter driving needs care, with snow and ice.
Costs
What Wisconsin costs
Wisconsin is good value, cheaper than Chicago and the coasts. Door County and the lake resorts are pricier in summer, and Milwaukee costs more during Summerfest.
Sales tax is 5 per cent statewide, plus county and city taxes, reaching 7.9 per cent in Milwaukee. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
There are few hostels, so budget travellers often camp or base themselves in Chicago for Milwaukee.
Safety
Safety and scams
Wisconsin is generally safe. In Milwaukee, the downtown, Third Ward and lakefront are fine; take normal city care at night and ask locally about other neighbourhoods.
Lake Michigan has dangerous rip currents, so swim at lifeguarded beaches. Lake Superior is very cold, even in summer; kayak the sea caves with a guide, as winds change fast.
Winter is very cold, with snow and ice. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Music festivals, state fairs and autumn colour.
Late June and early July
Summerfest
Milwaukee
One of the biggest music festivals in the world, on the lakefront.
Late July
EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh
A huge aviation gathering and air show.
Early August
Wisconsin State Fair
West Allis, Milwaukee
Cream puffs, fried food and farm animals.
Late September to October
Autumn colour
Door County and the north
Forests turn red and gold.
When to go
June to September is the best time, with lakes, festivals and Door County at its best. Late September and October bring autumn colour. Winter, from December to March, is cold and snowy.
Jan
Cold, snow
Feb
Cold
Mar
Cool
Apr
Spring
May
Mild
Jun
Summerfest begins
Jul
Festival season
Aug
State Fair
Sep
Pleasant
Oct
Autumn colour
Nov
Cold
Dec
Snow
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Milwaukee, rounded. The lakefront is cooler.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Milwaukee prices.
Treat these as a guide. Festival weeks and Door County in summer cost more.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Wisconsin questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Milwaukee worth visiting?
Yes, for the lakefront, museums, breweries and summer festivals. It is an easy trip from Chicago.
How do I get from Chicago to Milwaukee?
By Amtrak's Hiawatha, in around 90 minutes.
What is a supper club?
A classic Wisconsin restaurant, often by a lake, with relish trays, prime rib and brandy old fashioneds.
When is Summerfest?
Late June and early July, on Milwaukee's lakefront.
Can you kayak the Apostle Islands sea caves?
Yes, from around Bayfield in summer. Go with a guide, as conditions change fast.
Do I need a car in Wisconsin?
Not for Milwaukee or Madison. For Door County and the north, yes.
When is the best time to visit Wisconsin?
June to September, with autumn colour in October.
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