MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee has been ranked among the top three large cities in the U.S. to visit, according to the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards released this week.

More than 526,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted responses, rating their travel experiences to offer a look at the places they would visit. Milwaukee came in just behind San Diego and Chicago, the latter receiving the top spot. It came in ahead of New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Nashville, Washington, D.C. and Miami.

The travel publication wrote:

“So much more than just a day trip from Chicago, Milwaukee has many (if not all) of the same qualities that make other cities on this list buzz—and then some. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the city’s surprisingly eco-diverse location makes it a hotbed of locavore cuisine. A spate of award-winning restaurants have helped Milwaukee shed its beer-and-cheer reputation, though you can still get your fill of both between fine dinners. The dedicated revitalization of neighborhoods such as the historic Third Ward and Lincoln Village has also kept visitors busy with specialty shops, galleries, and more creative businesses.”

The city was previously named a top destination by National Geographic as well.

“Milwaukee is a major player in tourism and consistently draw major events to our community — and as the Condé Nast Traveler Awards show, more and more people across the country and around the world are taking note,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president & CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “At VISIT Milwaukee, we’re incredibly proud of everything our city has to offer to business and leisure travelers, and we’ll continue to work tirelessly alongside our partners to bring even more visitors here and ensure they want to come back.”

To read Condé Nast Traveler’s full Readers’ Choice Awards list, click here.