2026 Travel Professionals Guide

Find out why National Geographic named Milwaukee “Best of the World”

Discover a great place on a Great Lake! A city where art museums fly, where Harley-Davidsons roar, and where good things are always brewing. In Milwaukee, you’ll find everything from James Beard Award-winners to mouthwatering food truck dinners, championship-caliber sports teams to a top-flight theater scene, and world-class amenities to endless festivals. See for yourself why more travel professionals are choosing the Cream City for their next adventure.

6-HOUR DRIVE

12 REASONS

Milwaukee is perfect for your traveler!

Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin and ranks in the top 35 in the U.S.

Located at the confluence of three rivers and Lake Michigan, Milwaukee really is a great place on a Great Lake.

The Brew City has over 70 original breweries and beer attractions throughout the Greater Milwaukee area.

There are over 17 downtown museums and dozens of regional attractions, from the Milwaukee Art Museum’s iconic lakefront wings to the Milwaukee Public Market’s local flavors.

Milwaukee is home to more than 100+ seasonal and ethnic festivals including Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival. There are more than 200 locally owned restaurants in downtown Milwaukee

EXPERIENCE THE

Squeeze the most out of Milwaukee with these activities and attractions.

• 3rd Street Market Hall

• America’s Black Holocaust Museum

• Antiques/Art Galleries

• The Basilica of St. Josaphat

• Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery

• Boerner Botanical Gardens

Did you know?

• Milwaukee is just a 90-minute drive or an Amtrak Hiawatha ride north of Chicago.

• The city sits five hours from Minneapolis by car or via the Amtrak Borealis.

• It’s within a day’s drive of one-third of the U.S. population.

• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is highly ranked and only 10–15 minutes from downtown.

• Travelers can arrive by plane, train, car, ferry, or bus, making the city incredibly accessible.

The Milwaukee Theater District ranks No. 1 in the United States for the highest number of theater seats per capita, with over 15,000 seats located in a walkable cluster.

Milwaukee is home to over 150 state and county parks.

There are 100+ public and private golf courses in Southeast Wisconsin, including dozens of public courses within a few minutes’ drive of downtown

Milwaukee has become a top port for Great Lakes cruises, welcoming dozens of ship visits and thousands of passengers each year.

Milwaukee is the city for sports fans with nine professional sports teams across the NBA, MLB, AHL and MASL.

During the holidays, Milwaukee radiates festive charm with dazzling lights, cozy markets and group-friendly shows.

• Cave of the Mounds

• Charles Allis Art Museum

• Deer District

• Thomas Dambo’s “Mama Rosa” Troll

• Discovery World

• East Troy Railroad Museum

• Fireside Dinner Theatre

• Forest Home Cemetery

• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burham Block

• Great Lakes Distillery

• Grohmann Museum

• Guided City Tours

• Harley-Davidson Museum Campus

• Henry Maier Festival Park

• Holy Hill Basilica

• Jewish Museum Milwaukee

• John Michael Kohler Arts Center

• Lake Michigan Sailing/Fishing

• Lakefront Brewery

• Latino Arts, Inc.

• Lynden Sculpture Garden

• Marcus Performing Arts Center

• Miller Brewing Company

• Milwaukee Art Museum

• Milwaukee Ballet

• Milwaukee County Zoo

• Milwaukee Historical Society

• Milwaukee Public Market

• Milwaukee Public Museum

• Milwaukee RiverWalk

• Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

• Milwaukee Theater District

• Mitchell Park Domes

• Museum of Wisconsin Art

• National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

• North Point Lighthouse

• Old World Wisconsin

• Pabst Mansion

• Potawatomi Casino | Hotel

• Racine Art Museum

• River Kayaking Tours

• Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

• Sculpture Milwaukee

• Sherman Phoenix

• Sightseeing Cruises

• Sprecher Brewery

• Ten Chimneys

• Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

• Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum

• Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts

• Wisconsin State Fair Park

Milwaukee has nine professional sports teams: THE CITY FOR SPORTS FANS

• Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)

• Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)

• Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

• Milwaukee Wave (MASL)

• Milwaukee Milkmen (AAPB)

• Lakeshore Chinooks (NWL)

• Lake Country DockHounds (AAPB)

• Milwaukee Monarchs (PUL)

• Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL)