Milwaukee in 3 days

Lakefront beer city with a world-class art museum, a famous festival and Midwestern food done right. Best time to visit: June-September. Average daily budget: $120 to $240 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: East Side, Young, dense and walkable, with Brady Street's restaurants, shops and nightlife.

Morning: See the Milwaukee Art Museum wings open. The Burke Brise Soleil spreads its wings at 10am, noon and closing; the collection inside is excellent.

Afternoon: Explore East Side, Young, dense and walkable, with Brady Street's restaurants, shops and nightlife.

Evening: Walk the Lakefront Trail. A paved path from the art museum past the War Memorial and Veterans Park to the beach at Bradford.

Eat: Squeaky cheese curds, fried or fresh from a dairy counter

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Historic Third Ward, Converted warehouses, boutiques, galleries, and the city's best dining and hotel conversion.

Morning: Tour a brewery. Miller, Lakefront, Milwaukee Brewing Company and third-party walking tours cover the city's beer history.

Afternoon: Explore Historic Third Ward, Converted warehouses, boutiques, galleries, and the city's best dining and hotel conversion.

Evening: Explore the Historic Third Ward. Boutiques, design studios, the Public Market and converted warehouse restaurants.

Eat: Bratwurst on a roll with sauerkraut and mustard

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Bay View, A laid-back south-side neighbourhood with indie cafés, record shops and Lake Michigan views.

Morning: Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum. A polished museum of American motorcycle culture, design and road-trip lore.

Afternoon: Explore Bay View, A laid-back south-side neighbourhood with indie cafés, record shops and Lake Michigan views.

Evening: The Milwaukee Public Market in the Third Ward for local cheese, sausage, seafood and baked goods.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Frozen custard at Kopp's, Leon's or Gilles

Hidden gems

The Milwaukee Public Market in the Third Ward for local cheese, sausage, seafood and baked goods.
The Pabst Mansion, a Gilded Age brewery baron's house in near-west Milwaukee.
Kopp's Frozen Custard, a local institution for burgers and daily custard flavors.
The Domes at Mitchell Park: three beehive-shaped conservatories with desert, tropical and floral displays.

Getting around

Downtown, the Third Ward and the lakefront are walkable and connected by the Milwaukee County Transit System and the Hop streetcar, which is free and runs through downtown and the Third Ward. The lakeshore is best explored by bike or on foot. For Bay View, Wauwatosa or the suburbs, Uber is easiest. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is 15 minutes south of downtown.

Safety

Downtown, the Third Ward, East Side, Bay View and the lakefront are safe and active. Some north-side neighbourhoods have higher crime rates and are not typical tourist destinations. Use standard precautions: don't leave valuables in cars, stay in well-lit areas at night, and use rideshare for late bar closings. Summers are warm and humid; winters are cold and snowy with lake-effect wind.

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