A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Milwaukee for Families, Attractions, Nightlife, and Food

Should you visit Columbus or Milwaukee?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Columbus or Milwaukee? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Columbus

Columbus is a friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a friendly, welcoming, and undiscovered city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Columbus and Milwaukee: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbus or Milwaukee?

Both Milwaukee and Columbus have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Columbus is famous for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene. Milwaukee is famous for its many breweries and its baseball culture.

How is Columbus different from Milwaukee?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Milwaukee and Columbus. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbus or Milwaukee?

Spend time exploring the nice sights and museums in either Columbus or Milwaukee.

Columbus is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

Milwaukee offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several unique museums like the Harley-Davidson Museum, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. There's also the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Grohmann Museum as well as outdoor sculpture parks and other cultural and historic museums.

Is the Food Better in Columbus or Milwaukee? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Columbus and Milwaukee both to be reasonable destinations.

Columbus offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Milwaukee. The Midwest is known for its artery clogging comfort foods, and Milwaukee is no exception. Cheese curds, fried fish, fruit dumplings, and frozen custard are all popular.

Is Columbus or Milwaukee Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Columbus and Milwaukee.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbus. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

Milwaukee has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a decent number of breweries around town. There are also wine bars, nightclubs, and live music venues that are worth checking out.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbus or Milwaukee?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Columbus and Milwaukee.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Columbus. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Milwaukee offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find the standard shopping centers and shopping malls around town, but if you want some more local vendors, check out the areas around the Historic Third Ward and The Village in Wauwatosa.

Is Columbus or Milwaukee Better for Families?

Columbus is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Milwaukee is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Columbus is very family-friendly. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Milwaukee. Kids will enjoy a visit to Discovery World, which is a science center with hands-on exhibits. There's also the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Younger kids will also enjoy a stop at Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

Is Columbus or Milwaukee Better for Couples?

Neither Columbus or Milwaukee is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Columbus is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

Most people don't think of Milwaukee as a couple's destination. Take a walk or visit a local restaurant. There are also museums and performances that make for a nice outing.

Is Columbus or Milwaukee Better for Students?

Milwaukee is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Columbus is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Milwaukee. It's home to a number of colleges and universities, so there is a bit of a college town vibe.

Columbus is not popular with students.

Is Columbus or Milwaukee Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Columbus and Milwaukee.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is generally limited in Milwaukee. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Columbus or Milwaukee a more walkable city?

Columbus and Milwaukee are nice when it comes to walkability.

Columbus is somewhat walkable. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

Milwaukee is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are relatively compact and walkable. The most walkable neighborhoods are East Side, Riverwest, Brewers Hill, Downtown, Avenues West/Marquette, Third Ward, Walker's Point, and Bay View.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Milwaukee Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Milwaukee or Columbus?

How long in Columbus or Milwaukee?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Columbus or Milwaukee to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Columbus than Milwaukee. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Columbus, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Milwaukee than Columbus if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Milwaukee.

One day in Columbus or Milwaukee?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Columbus. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Columbus has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The city of Milwaukee offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbus or Milwaukee?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the down-to-earth destination of Columbus. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Milwaukee is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Milwaukee, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbus or Milwaukee?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the friendly city of Columbus. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Milwaukee is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbus or Milwaukee?

Columbus is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Milwaukee is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Milwaukee, we can see that Milwaukee is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Milwaukee Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbus or Milwaukee?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Milwaukee. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Milwaukee, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Columbus or Milwaukee?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbus or Milwaukee in the Summer?

Both Milwaukee and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Columbus in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Milwaukee for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Columbus is around the same temperature as Milwaukee. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbus in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 74°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Milwaukee. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbus. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Milwaukee during summer. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 321 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Columbus. In July, Columbus usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Columbus or Milwaukee in the Autumn?

Both Milwaukee and Columbus during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Columbus for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Milwaukee because of the shopping scene.

In October, Columbus is generally a little warmer than Milwaukee. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 57°F (14°C), and Milwaukee fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In the autumn, Columbus often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Milwaukee. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 174 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets more rain in October than Milwaukee. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbus or Milwaukee in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Milwaukee. The winter months attract visitors to Columbus because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milwaukee this time of year.

It's quite cold in Milwaukee in the winter. The weather in Columbus can be very cold. Columbus is much warmer than Milwaukee in the winter. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Milwaukee fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).

Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Milwaukee during winter. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 138 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Columbus usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Columbus or Milwaukee in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Milwaukee.

In the spring, Columbus is a little warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbus in April average around 54°F (12°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 47°F (8°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Milwaukee. In the spring, Columbus often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Milwaukee. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 211 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets more rain in April than Milwaukee. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Milwaukee and Columbus