Milwaukee Bucket List

Milwaukee is a city bursting with things to do and sights to see, offering a variety of unforgettable experiences for every visitor. By checking off these 10 classics, you'll embark on a journey highlighting some of the quintessential hallmarks that make Milwaukee the city that locals love, and visitors can’t help but come back to!

tour guide talking while crowd listens intently

Take a Brewery Tour

Milwaukee’s unique combination of beer history, brewing giants, and modern craft breweries makes it a beer destination like no other. Take historic tours Best Place at Historic Pabst Brewery, Miller Brewing Company and Pabst Mansion. Then stop by newer craft breweries like Lakefront Brewery, Sprecher Brewing Company, and Black Husky Brewing. Don’t leave Brew City without seeing how the product that “made us famous” gets made.

father and son looking around art museum

Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Milwaukee Art Museum's striking modern facade features a wing-like sunscreen with the span of a Boeing 747. Watch the wings open when the museum opens, flap at noon and close when the museum closes. Inside, you’ll find an extensive collection of American and European works, decorative arts, folk art, a Haitian art collection and one of the world’s largest Georgia O’Keeffe collections.

Get Out on the Water

Set on the coast of Lake Michigan and the confluence of three rivers, Milwaukee is truly a water city. Enjoy a sightseeing boat cruise or paddle your way right up to the docks outside Lakefront Brewery. Boat tours, beaches, freshwater surfing, urban kayaking, jet skis and even a tavern that floats–it’s all waiting for you on the water in Milwaukee.

two women holding frozen custard and laughing

Get a Scoop of Frozen Custard

Frozen custard is a food that’s classically Milwaukee and the city is home to the world’s largest concentration of frozen custard shops, earning it the unofficial title of “frozen custard capital of the world”! Ice cream and frozen custard are both made with milk, cream and sugar, but custard is also made with egg yolks. This gives it a richer, creamier texture than ice cream. You won’t want to miss out on this sweet treat during your next visit.

two women sitting at a table in a dim, string-light-lit bar pulling apart a cheese curd to stretch the cheese inside

Snack on Some Cheese Curds

A cheese curd is a small, fresh, springy piece of cheese. During the cheesemaking process, the curds are separated from the whey – these bits of cheese can be pressed into a nice block of cheddar or eaten as-is. Cheese curds are mild and slightly salty, and you can tell they’re fresh when they squeak between your teeth! Deep-fried or fresh and squeaky, this is a must-have appetizer.

Enjoy a Festival or Two

Milwaukee is known as the City of Festivals for a reason and the best way to get to know the city is to celebrate with us. At Henry Maier Festival Park, enjoy the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, as well as cultural festivals like PrideFest, German Fest, Black Arts Fest and Mexican Fiesta. Go beyond the festival park for fests like Bastille Days, Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival and the Milwaukee Air & Water Show.

players gathered around table game while one cheers

Try Your Luck at Potawatomi Casino | Hotel

Gaming, dining and entertainment come together under one roof. It’s game on at Potawatomi Casino | Hotel for the excitement of more than 3,000 slot machines, high-stakes bingo, table games and more. Treat yourself to one of the many culinary options, and enjoy the Potawatomi Sportsbook, a 6,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art sports betting experience.

a bronze statue of the Happy Days character The Fonz on the Milwaukee RiverWalk

Snap a Selfie with the Bronze Fonz

This life-size statue of Henry Winkler’s Happy Days character is located on the Milwaukee RiverWalk just off Wells Street. Milwaukee’s RiverWalk extends for 3.1 miles, linking the city’s downtown with the Historic Third Ward. You’ll see a variety of permanent and temporary public art displays along this scenic promenade of restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops.

a mother and daughter pointing at a wall of motorcycle tanks

Learn About an American Icon at the Harley-Davidson Museum

Harley-Davidson is part of the fabric of Milwaukee, and at the museum, you can follow its history and another that survived the 2011 tsunami. From the first Harley ever produced in 1903 through a priceless display of 450 bikes including one owned by Elvis Presley, the museum chronicles the history of an American legend and its role in pop culture.

a family walking through the Milwaukee Public Market

Sample Local Foods and Products at the Milwaukee Public Market

Located in the city’s Historic Third Ward, the Milwaukee Public Market is your one-stop shop for prepared food, grocers, gifts and more. Nearly 20 local vendors are located under one roof in what Frommers named one of America’s best public markets. This year-round indoor market features some of the freshest and most delicious products.

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