Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Milwaukee?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Milwaukee?

Most people spend one to two days in Milwaukee during their visit. The friendly city offers amazing highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the nightlife scene, and shopping.

Milwaukee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan in the state of Wisconsin. It's an often overlooked city but it has some eclectic museums and a thriving brewery scene. Visitors will appreciate the city's authentic personality and its welcoming atmosphere.

Do you have one or two days to visit Milwaukee? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the nightlife scene, and shopping. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is probably needed even though it's not a huge city. Many travelers opt for one to two days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Milwaukee

Perhaps the most famous place in Milwaukee is the Lakefront area, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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 a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Milwaukee?

A weekend is the perfect amount of time in the friendly city of Milwaukee, as many visitors prefer to spend around one to two days here. Since it's not a huge city, over two days or on a weekend trip you'll be able to explore the museums and famous sights, dance the night away, and go shopping. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your weekend adventure below.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

How to spend 2 days in Milwaukee

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Milwaukee will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Skip the Line: Museum Admission Ticket - Grohmann Museum ($5)
Skip The Line: Harley-Davidson Museum Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option ($22)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Milwaukee, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.