Wisconsin · United States
Where to stay in Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a city in Wisconsin, United States, home to about 577,000 people.
- Best months
- September
- Nearest airport
- MKE12 km · General Mitchell International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it had a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, making it the 31st-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous city in the Midwest.
Milwaukee's human history begins with American Indian people who lived near the confluence of Milwaukee's three rivers into Lake Michigan for centuries. Tribes who inhabited the area that is now Milwaukee included Menominee, Fox, Mascouten, Sauk, and Potawatomi. With the arrival of Europeans and an increasing population, large and often violent divides become more prominent. These settlers built three dueling settlements, Juneautown, Kilbourntown, and Walker's Point, around what is now Downtown. The two former communities were extremely competitive and created two non-aligning street grids.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Milwaukee
See
- US Bank Center
- Hoan Bridge
- Pabst Brewery Complex
- Pabst Mansion
- Mitchell Park Domes Horticulture Conservatory
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- City Hall
- Basilica of St. Josaphat
- Allen-Bradley Clocktower
- Milwaukee Public Museum
- Discovery World Museum at Pier Wisconsin
- Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Do
Breweries are integral to Milwaukee's image. Although the number of large scale operations has dwindled in the last decade, the nickname "the Brew City" still rings true, and microbreweries are booming. In several spots around the city, the smell of yeast from the beer factories is quite strong. Milwaukee was once the home to four of the world's largest breweries: Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst, and Miller. For many years it was the number one beer producing city in the world. Of those four only Miller remains.
- Miller Brewing Company
- Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery
- Sprecher Brewery
- Lakefront Brewery
- Milwaukee Brewing Company
- Great Lakes Distillery
- Water Street Brewery
- Delafield Brewhuas
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- Summerfest
- Indian Summer
- Mexican Fiesta
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Milwaukee to stay in
Visitors to Milwaukee find it easiest to stay in or near downtown, where most of the city's hotels are. Milwaukee has a youth hostel and an array of hotels to meet most budgets. There is a small bed and breakfast district on the Westside. Cheap hotels can be found on the Near South Side as well as the North Side, the quality of these tends to reflect the average quality of life in the areas these are in, hence may not be up to the standards of relatively affluent travelers. More generic cheaper hotels are outside the urban city. For instance, there is a strip of budget hotels on College Ave near Mitchell International Airport. Near most interstates you can also find chain hotels.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Milwaukee
9 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| The Pfister Hotel | 1893 | 3.8 km |
| Hilton Milwaukee City Center Hilton Hotels & Resorts | 1928 | 2.9 km |
| Gilpatrick Hotel | 3.0 km | |
| Potawatomi Casino Hotel | 2.4 km | |
| Ambassador Hotel | 1.4 km | |
| Kimpton Journeyman Hotel | 4.0 km | |
| Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel | 3.3 km | |
| The Iron Horse Hotel | 3.7 km | |
| The Westin Milwaukee | 4.1 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Milwaukee
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Milwaukee are September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; June is the wettest, with about 102 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Milwaukee: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line; Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN, 113 km) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, 119 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
There is an array of almost every transportation mode thinkable to get to Milwaukee. The cheapest way is by bus, but many travelers prefer the comfort and convenience of air, boat, car, or train travel. Chicago, a massive transportation hub, is less than 100 miles (161 km) away. Milwaukee is served by Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). Southeast of the city. The airport has service with the following airlines from its 2 concourses.
Getting around
Getting around in Milwaukee is easy. Block numbers are consistent across the city, including most of the suburbs, starting roughly where the Milwaukee and Menominee rivers meet. All numbered streets run north-south, increasing in number as you head west from 1st Street. Most named streets go east-west, with the notable exception of streets east of 1st St. Standard blocks are 1/8th of a mile long north to south, and 1/16th of a mile east to west. Milwaukee's bus system, MCTS, has an extensive coverage area (85% of Milwaukee County) and core routes with very frequent service.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
MKE · General Mitchell International Airport
MSN · Dane County Regional Truax Field
ORD · Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Milwaukee
Eat
With its immigrant heritage, Milwaukee is a major restaurant city. Good local restaurants serve almost every kind of food imaginable, usually quite cheaply. Different neighborhoods have different specialities when it comes to food.
Drink
Milwaukee has a strong culture with a large number of unique local places despite the onslaught of Starbucks. Some are open late, until midnight or so.
Stay safe
Milwaukee, like all major American cities, has a relatively high crime rate. Since most crime is concentrated in specific poorer areas, the majority of the city is perfectly safe. Though virtually all tourist destinations in and around Milwaukee are safe and accessible during the day and night, common sense should always apply. Like anywhere else, it helps to be aware of your surroundings. As in most American cities, dangerous neighborhoods tend to be very run down. The areas of Milwaukee along the lakeshore (also where most attractions are) tend to be the safest.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Milwaukee: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Milwaukee?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Milwaukee are September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; June is the wettest, with about 102 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Milwaukee?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line; Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN, 113 km) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, 119 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Milwaukee?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Milwaukee
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.