The Basics of Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a vibrant city on the shores of Lake Michigan, offering a unique blend of world-class amenities, fast-paced excitement and endless charm. Whether you're seeking a thriving cultural scene, an award-winning culinary landscape, or a wealth of outdoor activities, Milwaukee has something for everyone.
Learn More About the Good Land
Milwaukee by the Numbers
- Incorporated in 1846, today 1.8 million people live in the Greater Milwaukee area.
- Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and ranks No. 32 in the U.S.
- Positioned along the western shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is a 90-minute drive from Chicago, while Minneapolis-St. Paul and Indianapolis are within a 5-hour drive. The state capital of Madison is an hour west of downtown Milwaukee.
- There are 191 distinct neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
- In addition to the lakefront, the city is situated at the confluence of three rivers (the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic).
Experience a City Powered by the People
Fun Facts
Discover more about the Cream City with fun facts about Milwaukee!
- With 15,000 theater seats in the downtown alone, the Milwaukee Theater District ranks #1 in the U.S. for the highest number of theater seats per capita.
- There are more than 200 locally owned restaurants in downtown Milwaukee, and 18 James Beard-recognized chefs and restaurants, plus 30+ breweries, in the area.
- Potawatomi Casino | Hotel is the largest entertainment destination in the Midwest welcoming 6 million people each year.
- Milwaukee has eight professional sports teams: the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), Milwaukee Wave (MASL), Milwaukee Milkmen (AAPB) and Lakeshore Chinooks (NWL), Lake Country DockHounds (AAPB) and Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL).
- There are more than 1,000 houses of worship in Milwaukee, helping it earn the nickname “City of Steeples.”
- On top of its only-in-Milwaukee amenities, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport offers over 30 nonstop flights.
- Milwaukee is home to 11 major colleges and universities, in addition to several smaller private colleges.
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Milwaukee is home to more than
100 festivals, including Summerfest, the world’s largest outdoor music festival.
- There are just over 6,000 hotel rooms in downtown Milwaukee and just under 20,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Milwaukee area.
- This year, USA Today named Milwaukee’s fully accessible RiverWalk, the Milwaukee Public Market, and the kayaking scene as among the best in the country.
Milwaukee Tax Information
Hotel Room Tax Rate
City room tax: 7%
City sales tax: 2%
County room tax:3%
Wisconsin sales tax: 5%
County sales tax: 0.9%
TOTAL: 17.9%
Food & Beverage Total Tax Rate = 8.4%
Wisconsin sales tax: 5%
City sales tax: 2%
County sales tax: 0.9%
Baird Center: .5%
TOTAL: 8.4%
Car Rental Tax
Convention Center: 3.0%
WI Rental Vehicle Fee: 5.0%
Concession Recovery Fee: 11% (airport only)
Facility Fee: $1.00 per rental
Title/License/Reg Recovery Fee:
determined by rental car companies
Energy Fee: determined by rental car companies
Architecture & History
Create a paragraph or two about architecture in Milwaukee. Why it's important. Then some fun facts. After that, add a line at the bottom that says something like "find ways to explore Milwaukee's architecture by scheduling a tour with one of our many tour companies. Check out the link below." (adding in the Things to Do architecture widget below).
