Christmas Tours

We LOVE Christmas at Milwaukee Food & City Tours! We offer several festive seasonal experiences, including the Christmas Around Milwaukee Bakery Bus and the Christmas Lights & Desserts Bus Tour. These tours range from 2.5 to 3.5 hours and focus on local traditions, history, and the city’s best holiday treats.

Expect a festive, high-energy journey through Milwaukee’s holiday traditions, typically lasting 2.5 to 3.5 hours aboard our comfy food tour bus. These tours combine deep historical narratives with generous food portions that add up to a full meal, such as sampling “Santa’s favorite” pastries and signature cookies from celebrated local artisans or enjoying a sit-down holiday dinner. To fully embrace the atmosphere, we highly encourage guests to wear festive attire like ugly sweaters, Santa hats, or reindeer antlers.

Our Christmas tours stand out by featuring specialized storytelling and interactive elements, such as a singing tour guide who leads carols through the city’s 500,000 light displays. Beyond the sights, we dive into the authentic heart of Milwaukee by sharing the diverse history of Christmas traditions from Milwaukee’s immigrant groups, including German, Polish, Italian, and Irish heritages. These tours provide exclusive, non-touristy access to the city’s most cherished seasonal gems.

Yes, we can schedule your group on a private tour perfect for adult outings and corporate holiday parties that includes drinks, a sit-down holiday dinner, dessert, and even a little bowling!

Most of our Christmas tours are suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Children aged 5 and under can join for free, and those aged 6–10 enjoy a reduced ticket price.

We highly encourage festive attire! Many guests wear ugly Christmas sweaters, reindeer antlers, or Santa hats to add to the holiday spirit. Because some stops involve short walks outdoors to view light displays, please dress appropriately for the Milwaukee winter weather.

You can expect to leave full. Most of our food-focused Christmas tours provide enough samples and treats to equal a full meal or more. Our Christmas bakery tours also include time for shopping, so you can bring home your favorite holiday treats.

While most stops accept cards, some local bakeries are cash-only, so bringing extra cash is recommended. We also suggest bringing a tote bag to store your treats; alternatively, you can purchase a tote for $5 on the bus to benefit local food pantries.

Yes, our tours run rain, shine, or snow. If the weather is particularly cold or snowy, we adjust our schedule to spend more time inside our heated partner bakeries and restaurants to ensure everyone stays warm.

Our Christmas tours regularly sell out months in advance due to high demand. We recommend checking our Tour Calendar early in the season to secure your preferred date and time for public tours or private group buyouts.

Absolutely. We offer private experiences and custom itineraries for corporate groups, convention planners, and large family celebrations. Our stress-free planning means we handle all the restaurant reservations and transportation logistics for your group.

Public tickets are eligible for a full refund if cancelled at least 48 hours in advance. For private group events, we require 72 hours’ notice for a full refund. For last-minute peace of mind, you can purchase $2 “Tour Ticket Insurance” at checkout.