Milwaukee & Madison | 2-Day Travel Guide

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin, nestled along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Madison, the state capital, also sits by the lake. While many travelers might choose Chicago first (only about a 1.5-hour drive away), these two cities are absolutely worth a visit—especially for beer lovers, as they boast many craft breweries. If you're an NBA fan, Milwaukee has its own home team (check the official website for game schedules!). Overall, two days are perfect for exploring both Milwaukee and Madison! ✨ 1-Day Itinerary Day 1: Milwaukee 1️⃣ Harley-Davidson Museum 🏍️ (Admission: $24, my favorite spot! ~2 hours) 2️⃣ Milwaukee Art Museum 🎨 (Absolutely stunning! Admission: $27, ~3-4 hours) 3️⃣ Public Market 🧀 (Features Wisconsin specialties like cheese and sausages. ⚠️ Fair warning: It’s small with limited shops, so don’t expect too much. Half an hour is more than enough! The seafood stall is well-reviewed, and the nearby Benelux Coffee offers great brunch.) 4️⃣ Brewery Tours � (For craft beer fans: Lakefront Brewery or Miller Brewery) Day 2: Madison (1.5-hour drive from Milwaukee) 1️⃣ Wisconsin State Capitol 🏛️ 2️⃣ University of Wisconsin-Madison 🎓 3️⃣ Lake Mendota Hike 🚶 (Try the full 16 km loop—download offline maps on AllTrails: Lake Mendota Loop) 4️⃣ Saturday Public Market (Around the Capitol) 🏖️ Nearby Attractions Chicago (Check out my other guide! ✨) 🍴 Restaurant Recommendations 1️⃣ Mader’s Restaurant 🍖 (Famous German cuisine since ~1900. The vibe is great, but the food was just okay for me.) 2️⃣ Lake Park Bistro 🍷 (French dining with lakeside views) 3️⃣ Kopp’s Frozen Custard 🍦 (Local favorite, new flavors every 2 days—check ahead. Personally, I found it overrated.) 4️⃣ The Old Fashioned (Madison) 🧀🔥 (Must-try: fried cheese curds and fish fry!) #Milwaukee #Wisconsin #Madison #USRoadTrip #TravelUSA 🇺🇸✨