Milwaukee

Wisconsin's largest city, on Lake Michigan, with brewery history, lakefront parks, art museums and Summerfest, an 11-day music festival.

Find a room in Milwaukee Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Milwaukee

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Milwaukee is Wisconsin's largest city, on the western shore of Lake Michigan. It had 577,222 residents at the 2020 census, and its metro area has more than 1.57 million. The city is nicknamed Brew City and was once the world's leading beer producer. Miller is still brewed here, and its historic brewery is the oldest functioning major US brewery. Craft breweries include Lakefront Brewery in Brewers Hill and Milwaukee Brewing Company in Walker's Point.

Sights include the lakefront, the Milwaukee Art Museum and its Santiago Calatrava wing, the Riverwalk and the Harley-Davidson Museum downtown. Summerfest runs for 11 days from late June into early July and drew 831,769 people in 2017, so book lodging early if you plan to attend. July is the warmest month, with a mean of 73.3°F, and lake breezes can keep lakeside areas cooler on hot days. For a day trip, the Kettle Moraine and lake country lie about 30 miles west.

Milwaukee in five

Take the Hiawatha train from ChicagoAmtrak's Hiawatha runs between Chicago Union Station and Milwaukee, about 90 minutes each way. It beats driving on summer weekends. Check the schedule and reserve ahead.Chicago
See the Milwaukee Art Museum on the lakefrontThe Calatrava-designed building is the city's best-known landmark. Check the official site for hours, and walk the Lakefront path afterward.
Book a brewery tour for a weekendThe city's brewing history is the draw, and tours and tap rooms get busy on Saturdays. Book ahead for popular slots and keep a designated driver.
Check the festival calendarSummerfest, a large music festival, runs over days in late June and July. Hotels fill and prices rise, so book early or choose another weekend.
Plan for winterWinters are cold and snowy. Museums, breweries and indoor markets work, but outdoor lakefront walks are a spring to fall plan.

Things to do in Milwaukee

See all attractions in Milwaukee

Sight · MilwaukeeMiller Brewery TourReserve a tour in advance to help secure a place.

Museum · MilwaukeeDiscovery WorldGo on a weekday if your schedule allows, as the museum can be busy.

Museum · MilwaukeeMilwaukee Art MuseumThe building exterior and lobby can be visited without entering the exhibition galleries; galleries require admission.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MilwaukeePut the places you like in Milwaukee on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE); Chicago O'Hare is the larger alternative
Getting there: Amtrak Hiawatha from Chicago, about 90 min; or drive Interstate 94
Getting around: Walk downtown; a streetcar loop, buses and rideshare
Best base: Downtown or the Historic Third Ward
Time needed: 1 day from Chicago; 2 to 3 days to see it properly

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryCloudy8 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-8°Cold, snow
FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-7°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low-1°Raw, late winter
AprilRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low3°Cool, spring
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, patios
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Festival season
JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh27°Low18°Summerfest, warm
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Warm, festivals
SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Mild, fewer crowds
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Fall color
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Cold, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-4°Cold, holiday

Average daily high and low in Milwaukee, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Summerfest · Jul Summerfest

Right now in Milwaukee

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 14°
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 14 km/h
Chance of rain: 16%

Milwaukee

02:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today16°11°16%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 16%.
Tue20°16°83%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 83%.
Wed18°12°83%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 83%.
Thu12°8°29%Thursday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 29%.
Fri8°5°26%Friday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 26%.
Sat8°4°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun8°5°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 10%.

Updated 11:26 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Milwaukee

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

Jun–JulSummerfestMilwaukee

Day trips by train

Chicagoabout 90 minutes by trainA big-city add-on or the other end of a long weekend.Read the guide
Madisonabout 1.5 hours by roadLakes, a capitol building and a college-town food scene.
Lake Michigan shore townsabout 30 to 60 minutesBeaches and small towns north of the city along the lake.

Before you go to Milwaukee

Hiawatha from ChicagoCheck times and reserve aheadRead the guide

Downtown and Third Ward hotelsWalk to the lakefront and museumsCheck availability

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USMedical cover for visitorsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Milwaukee, checked

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before they fly to the US. Other visitors need a visa. Check travel.state.gov first.Source
Declare food, plants and animal products on the CBP customs form. Check cbp.gov for what you can bring in before you pack.Source
Carry-on liquids must be in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, all in one clear bag, at US airport security checkpoints.
Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance in Milwaukee.

Plan around Milwaukee

Chicago

The big city 90 minutes south by train

Read the guide Minneapolis

The other Great Lakes and river city

Read the guide Plan US transport

Trains, buses and flights across the country

Read the guide All of the USA

States, parks and cities in one planning hub

Read the guide ESTA, explained

Who needs it, the fee and how to apply

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical cover for a US trip

Read the guide

Milwaukee FAQ

Is Milwaukee worth visiting?

Yes for breweries, lakefront parks, museums and a lively festival summer. It is cheaper and quieter than Chicago, so it works as a weekend city.

How many days do you need in Milwaukee?

Two days covers the art museum, a brewery and the lakefront. One day works as a trip from Chicago, and three days leaves time for festivals and day trips.

Can you visit Milwaukee as a day trip from Chicago?

Yes. The Hiawatha train takes about 90 minutes each way, and driving is similar without traffic. A day covers the museum and a brewery, but not a slow evening.

When is the best time to visit Milwaukee?

June to September for festivals and lakefront weather, or early October for fall color. Winter is cold, so choose indoor plans.

Milwaukee or Chicago: which should I choose?

Chicago for skyscrapers, architecture and a big museum scene. Milwaukee for a smaller, cheaper city with breweries and the lake. They are 90 minutes apart, so see both if you can.