Top Wisconsin Walking Tours

Make the most of your visit with the help of a guide who’ll take you to see some of the best of Madison by bike. Whether you want to get the lay of the land when you arrive in town for the first time, or you’re a local looking to learn more about the history of your city, this informative tour has something for everyone.

Milwaukee is a city shaped by its waterways, its waves of immigrants, and its bold spirit-famous for its German heritage, its brewing traditions, and its knack for reinvention over nearly two centuries. Our journey today starts at Wisconsin Historical Marker three three three, which marks the heart of old Kilbourntown, walk through stories of rivalry, resilience, and remarkable change, all the way to the bustling Milwaukee Public Market in the Historic Third Ward. Go at your own pace. The tour never expires. This is a hand free experience, press play and put your phone in your pocket. The tour is location aware, and plays as you walk. It never expires.

Travel between two lake-side terraces and enjoy some of Wisconsin's best cultural sites along the way with this self-guided and self-paced walking tour! • Visit some of Madison historically rich architectural gems such as the State Capitol, Der Rathskaller, Bascomb Hill, Memorial Union and much more • Hear from producer Frank Burge, an award-winning writer, essayist and midwestern local • Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Unveil the dark history of Brew City with this ghost tour of the city’s most haunted locations. Meet your guide for a ghoul-fueled stroll through the heart of Milwaukee to take in spirit-infested historic hotels, theaters, and even skyscrapers. Be entertained by bone-chilling ghost stories and tales of paranormal activity as you delve into Milwaukee’s ghoulish past.

One of the most haunted bars in the nation, Shaker’s Cigar Bar—a Milwaukee institution—has a history as wild as its ghostly encounters. On this small-group tour, you’ll explore behind the scenes, hearing stories about the Capone brothers and Jeffrey Dahmer, the bar's cemetery and brothel past, and more. Bring your camera, sure, but beware of what you might catch on film.

The Midwestern city of Milwaukee is known for its beer and cheese and this walking food tour gives you a taste of the best. Join a small group and enjoy a walk through "Brew City" to sample a number of beers and regional snacks. Learn about the 19th-century Germanic population that immigrated to the area and its influence on today's local cuisine.

Ready to uncover Madison’s spookiest secrets? Join us for a thrilling and fun walking ghost tour through the city’s most haunted historic spots! Led by expert local guides—Madison’s official haunted history gurus—you’ll hear real, chilling tales of the city’s dark past and the spirits that still roam today. Explore iconic sites and hidden gems on Madison’s #1 guided ghost tours and haunted pub crawls. Experience spine-tingling stories nightly, revealing centuries of wicked history and visits to haunted buildings and bars. Wander haunted streets after dark and discover local legends, from infamous witch trials to scandalous tragedies. Learn why Madison is one of America’s most haunted cities as you stroll through its historic district. Tours cover about a mile of ghostly ground, showcasing authentic tales and deep connections to the eerie past. Get ready for a hair-raising adventure on this captivating journey through Madison’s haunted history!

West of the Milwaukee River, you’ll find the historic arts and entertainment district of Downtown. Today, the area known as Westown includes several theaters and arts venues as well as sports arenas, the Baird Convention Center, and several historic hotels. Also in the district is the multi-block Grand Avenue Mall (1982), now redeveloped into The Avenue (2018) with updated food hall and shopping. This tour will explore the recent transformation of several historic buildings into mixed-use development with apartments, new coffee shops, and gallery spaces, and the reinvigoration of office space. Included on the tour are Milwaukee’s large blue building, the Reuss Federal Plaza, now known as 310W (1983), the historic Hotel Wisconsin (1913), and the Pabst Theater (1895). This walking tour is 1.4 miles in length. We recommend that travelers bring (weather permitting): good walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and/or an umbrella.

Downtown Milwaukee's growth began around the intersection of N. Water St. and E. Wisconsin Ave. but expanded quickly as the small settlement became a large city. If you are looking for an introduction to Milwaukee's history, this is the best place to start. The tour will explore this commercial district from the earliest beginnings at the river's edge all the way to the modern office buildings along Lake Michigan's shore. Stops on the tour include a variety of architectural styles including Alexander Eschweiler's Art Deco Gas Light Building (1930), the Richardsonian Romanesque style Federal Building (1892), and Northwestern Mutual's Neoclassical Headquarters (1914). This walking tour is 1 mile in length. We recommend that travelers bring (weather permitting): good walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and/or umbrella.

Explore Wisconsin Dells like never before with this interactive scavenger hunt walking activity. Delve into the city’s vibrant history, uncovering fascinating facts about its evolution from Kilbourn City to a bustling tourist destination. Engage your mind with challenging questions while visiting iconic sites, including the largest candy store in Wisconsin and the famous WWII DUCKS fleet. Perfect for families, friends, or anyone looking for a unique way to sightsee, this self-guided adventure allows you to navigate at your own pace and enjoy a mix of fun and learning along the way. - Duration: 60 to 120 minutes, covering 1.5 miles - Ideal for kids, teens, families, and friends - Accessible via an interactive app with no reservations needed - No limit on team sizes, but smaller groups recommended for optimal fun

Madison's original ghost tour. This haunted history walking tour of Madison’s historic Capitol Square will give you a unique perspective on the history of the city. Your guides are expert storytellers who will let you in on the ghost stories, urban legends, and paranormal activity that are sprinkled throughout Madison’s past. This is an outdoor walking tour, so please check the weather before coming and dress accordingly. The tour runs in cold temperatures and light rain. Please wear walking shoes and dress appropriately for walking around outside.

The home of American lager and once a rival to Chicago in size, Milwaukee’s history and preeminence may not be as obvious as it once was—unless you look. With this self-guided audio tour, you’ll travel down Brew City’s most opulent drag, from the Milwaukee Public Library to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Across 150 years of history and plenty of steps, you’ll get a guided-tour experience without any of the crowds.

With 191 different blocks, it should come as no surprise that Milwaukee is known as a ‘City of Neighborhoods’. On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll be introduced to two of its most interesting suburbs, Brady Street and the Lower Eastside, and their architecture. You’ll begin by discovering the impact that Polish and Italian immigrants had on Brady Street Historic District, including delicious Italian cuisine at Sciortino’s Bakery and Glorioso’s Deli. Finally, you’ll stroll down the city’s former Gold Coast to end this tour at the Oak Leaf Trail on Prospect Avenue, giving you the opportunity to continue your Milwaukee adventure independently on the Lake Line Trail. This family-friendly tour is an easy stroll, with the option to pop inside some of the city’s most interesting churches. Come hungry, there are plenty of opportunities to grab snacks, or discover your new favorite restaurant along the route.

If you've already seen most of the sights of Milwaukee, get a different perspective on the city with this haunted history walking tour of Lake Geneva. As you stroll in a small group, your guide will fill you in on all the colorful history and characters, from haunted mansions and vengeful spirits to lake monsters and more.

Our tour blends art, street art, architecture and history to provide an informative yet interesting tour. You will be provided excellent views of Lake Michigan and various photography spots for those who love to take pictures. Our goal is to keep prices low while still offering a quality product that is fun for the entire family. The comfort and ease of having everything organized for you takes away the stress when going on holiday. Plus, the extra support and experience of a guide and the chance to travel with and meet like-minded people makes this tour much more attractive. Kenosha is an exciting and vibrant community on the shores of Lake Michigan in Southeastern, Wisconsin. Come enjoy the history and art that make up the Downtown and Harbor Park communities.

Like many communities in the industrial Midwest, Milwaukee’s ecological legacy has a significant period of pollution. Thankfully, in the late 1980s & early 1990s, driven by Mayor John Norquist and others, Milwaukee dedicated resources to water clean up and the reinvigoration of the buildings along the Milwaukee River. This reinvestment included the creation of a public-private partnership known as the Riverwalk (1993). Today, the Riverwalk extends 3.1 miles along both sides of the Milwaukee River, from the site of the former North Avenue Dam, through Downtown and the Historic Third Ward to Lake Michigan. The tour will explore the industries and early city growth that impacted the river so greatly and also a number of the historic buildings along the way. You’ll also learn about some of the temporary and permanent public art on display. This walking tour is 1.2 miles in length. We recommend that travelers bring: good walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and/or umbrella.

The Historic Third Ward was the first stop for many of Milwaukee's European immigrants, particularly the Irish and later the Italians. Close to cheap housing and available jobs, these new arrivals created close-knit communities. Like most major industrial cities, the Third Ward had a significant and destructive fire in 1892, which reshaped the landscape to much of what you see today. In the 1970s, this area experienced a resurgence that transformed factories and warehouses into condos and mixed adaptive reuse. On this tour, learn about the neighborhood landscape as well as the Irish and Italian immigrants as well as the impact of the LGBTQ+ community and other residents. Stops include the Milwaukee Public Market (2005), Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) (1974), and Commission Row (1894). This walking tour is 1 mile in length. Travelers are recommended to bring (weather permitting): good walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and/or umbrella.

The tour is 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Walking around downtown Baraboo for 35 minutes to hear about the history and ghosts that live in Baraboo. We will stop at the First Morgue of Baraboo, Neot'o Bakery, Luther Saloon, 2nd Morgue of Baraboo and end at the old stable. Then coming into the Wright Building to ghost hunt in the building for a reminder of the tour. We provide ghost hunting equipment: dosing rods, ghost meters, spirit boxes, and flashlights.

Hear about all the haunts of Bayfield on this group walking tour, where your guide tells you all about the ghoulish stories surrounding the city. You tour the city, stopping at cursed houses, places haunted with spirits, and hear stories about infamous men in white, the cursed courthouses, and much more.

Get to know one of Milwaukee‘s most haunted neighborhoods, Westown, and discover why Marquette University is considered one of the nation‘s most haunted schools. On this self-guided walking tour, you‘ll visit eleven haunted locations and hear some of Milwaukee‘s most spook-tacular tales! Starting in front of the Milwaukee Public Museum, you‘ll stroll around Marquette Campus and along Wisconsin Ave to Straz Tower, where our tour ends. Along the way, you‘ll meet some of Milwaukee‘s most famous ghosts, including a professor who continues to report to work, and a home-proud beer baron. You‘ll also see the site of one of the city‘s most notorious murders. Lace up your shoes and join me in discovering the haunted side of this historic neighborhood. This family-friendly hour-long walk does contain content that may be disturbing, including details of murders, mentions of suicide and accidental deaths. Please use caution when selecting this tour for very young or sensitive audiences.

Shakers Bar in Milwaukee has some gritty stories that have happened behind its walls. This ghost tour explains all the details, and at the same time summons the spirits. Enjoy this experience with a small-group, where you might make a few new friends. Another perk is that you can use a divination rod, made more special by sipping an included cocktail.

Milwaukee is called many names; Brew City, City of Festivals, and Cream City, but it is most recognized as the place for great beer and cheese in the Upper Midwest. The large 19th century Germanic population continue to influence our local food products and dishes while some of the best restaurants from the historic Third Ward to East Town Downtown. When booking our winter exclusive Skywalk Food Tour you'll get to experience and enjoy all the best we have to offer from a warm second-story perspective. You'll get to experience and enjoy all the best we have when you book our Secret Food Tour: Milwaukee. As a private tour, everything works around you! Our start times are much more easy going, dates can open up. It's a much more intimate and cozy experience. No need to shout over other tourists, you will have every question answered, and leave feeling like a native yourself!

Milwaukee, once known as the German Athens, is the most German among major US cities. Walking down Old World Third Street today you are not likely to see many German shops advertising “English Spoken Here” as a special or unique service, but as early as 1848 it would not have been uncommon. Germans represented 1/3 of the entire population in Milwaukee and this section of the city was integral to German immigrant’s daily life. Today, much of the landscape today reflects that influence including a number of stops on the tour such as Turner Hall (1882), the Germania Building (1896) and Old St. Mary’s Church (1846). Woven between the cream city bricks, hear stories about the notable German biermeisters, tanners, merchants and artists who helped to shape Milwaukee.