13 Places to Avoid in Milwaukee, WI [TOURIST SAFETY GUIDE]
As an avid traveler and tourist, I’m always looking for new and exciting places to visit. However, I’ve learned over the years that not every city is perfect, and some areas are better left unexplored. That’s definitely true for Milwaukee, a city with a complex history and socioeconomic landscape, there are still some places to avoid in Milwaukee you’ll want to know about.
While Milwaukee, WI has fantastic dining, breweries, festivals, and more, there are unfortunately several neighborhoods that are considered high-crime areas with risks for visitors. As someone who wants travelers to stay safe while experiencing the best Milwaukee has to offer, I wanted to provide a helpful guide on places to avoid in Milwaukee.
After doing thorough research and consulting both data and local perspectives, I’ve compiled a list of specific areas that are best avoided in Milwaukee – especially for tourists and those unfamiliar with the city. Keep reading for more details on each location, why they made the list, and tips for staying safe if you do venture near these areas during your Milwaukee travels.
1. Metcalfe Park
Metcalfe Park is a small residential area on the North Side of Milwaukee that has crime rates well above the city average. This neighborhood is plagued by drugs, gangs, and street violence. As a visitor, you face risks like theft, robbery, and even physical assault if you enter Metcalfe Park. It’s best to avoid Metcalfe Park altogether when visiting Milwaukee. If you do travel near this area, be alert, don’t display valuables openly, and don’t walk alone at night. Unfortunately, Metcalfe Park’s challenges with crime and poverty make it an unsafe area for tourists.
Address: Metcalfe Park, Milwaukee, WI, USA
2. North Division
Bordering Metcalfe Park, North Division is another North Side Milwaukee neighborhood with more than its share of crime. Gun violence, drug dealing, and gang activity are ongoing issues here. Robberies and burglaries also happen frequently. As a tourist, you could be caught in the crossfire of violence or targeted for a robbery. It’s wise to avoid North Division entirely when visiting Milwaukee. If you must travel near this area, do so during the day and employ the usual precautions – be alert, hide valuables, don’t go alone at night, etc. But ultimately, North Division is a neighborhood tourists are better off avoiding.
Address: North Division, Milwaukee, WI, USA
3. Franklin Heights
Franklin Heights sits between Milwaukee’s North Side and South Side. Unfortunately, this neighborhood wrestles with many of the same issues as its northern neighbors – namely drugs, gangs, poverty, and violence. Muggings, burglaries, and assaults are risks in Franklin Heights, especially after dark. As a visitor unfamiliar with the area, you’re an easy target for local criminals. It’s best to avoid Franklin Heights altogether when touring Milwaukee. If you must travel near this area, take precautions like avoiding nighttime, hiding valuables, and staying alert. But ultimately, Franklin Heights is not an area tourists should explore.
Address: Franklin Heights, Milwaukee, WI, USA
4. Harambee
Bordering Franklin Heights, Harambee is another Milwaukee neighborhood plagued by crime and poverty. Gun violence is a regular occurrence here, often tied to gang conflicts over drug territory. Robberies and assaults are also common. Harambee is not an area where tourists will feel safe or welcome. As an unfamiliar visitor, you face risks of becoming caught in gang crossfire or targeted for muggings and theft. It’s wisest to avoid Harambee completely when visiting Milwaukee. If you must travel near this neighborhood, take safety precautions – but ultimately, Harambee should be avoided.
Address: Harambee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
5. Amani
The Amani neighborhood sits between Harambee and Metcalfe Park on Milwaukee’s North Side. This area contends with many of the same issues facing its neighboring communities – drugs, gang violence, poverty, etc. Robberies and muggings often target unfamiliar tourists and visitors here. As an outsider, you face risks of assault, theft, and violence in Amani. It’s highly recommended that tourists avoid this neighborhood entirely when visiting Milwaukee. If you must travel near Amani, take precautions – but ultimately, this unsafe area is one of the places to avoid in Milwaukee that travelers are better off avoiding.
Address: Amani, Milwaukee, WI, USA
6. Silver Spring
West of Metcalfe Park sits the Silver Spring neighborhood. While Silver Spring contends with less violent crime than some North Side areas, this community still deals with issues of drugs, poverty, and higher-than-average crime rates. Muggings, car break-ins, home burglaries, and assaults occur regularly in Silver Spring. As a visitor unfamiliar with the area, you face a higher risk of becoming a victim. It’s recommended tourists avoid Silver Spring when visiting Milwaukee. If you must travel near here, take precautions – but ultimately, this area is best avoided.
Address: Silver Spring, Milwaukee, WI, USA
7. Old North Milwaukee
Bordering Silver Spring, Old North Milwaukee is another neighborhood dealing with higher-than-average crime, much tied to lingering poverty and drug activity. While less violent than some neighboring areas, Old North Milwaukee still sees regular muggings, break-ins, and assaults. Tourists unfamiliar with Old North Milwaukee face risks of property crime and theft here. It’s recommended you avoid this neighborhood when visiting Milwaukee. If traveling near Old North Milwaukee, take precautions – but ultimately, this area is best avoided, especially after dark.
Address: Old North Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
8. Riverwest
Just northeast of downtown sits the Riverwest neighborhood. While Riverwest has seen improvement in recent years, this diverse area still wrestles with lingering crime fueled by poverty and urban decay. Muggings, car theft, burglaries, drug activity, gang violence, and assaults still occur regularly in Riverwest. As an unfamiliar visitor, you’re at higher risk after dark. It’s wise to avoid Riverwest at night when touring Milwaukee. If you travel here during the day, stay alert and avoid overt displays of valuables. But ultimately, Riverwest has safety issues that make it less than ideal for tourists.
Address: Riverwest, Milwaukee, WI, USA
9. Midtown
Bordering Riverwest, Midtown is a neighborhood northwest of downtown Milwaukee. Unfortunately, Midtown contends with issues like urban blight, drugs, poverty, and higher-than-average violent crime rates. Muggings, assaults, shootings, and robberies can be risks here, especially after dark. Midtown is best avoided by tourists, particularly at night. If you travel here during daylight, take precautions with valuables and be alert. Ultimately, Midtown’s challenges make it less than welcoming for visitors.
Address: Midtown, Milwaukee, WI, USA
10. Hillside
Hillside is a northwest Milwaukee neighborhood dealing with lingering urban decay, drugs, poverty, and ensuing crime. While less violent than in some areas, crimes like car theft, burglaries, and muggings still pose risks – especially for unfamiliar tourists. As a visitor, it’s wise to avoid Hillside due to safety concerns, particularly after dark. If you travel here during the day, be alert and avoid openly displaying valuables. But ultimately, Hillside is a challenged neighborhood that tourists are better off avoiding.
Address: Hillside, Milwaukee, WI, USA
11. Rufus King
In Milwaukee’s northwest side, Rufus King is a neighborhood that contends with ongoing issues of poverty, urban blight, drugs, and gang violence. These factors contribute to higher rates of crime that can put tourists at risk. Muggings, car theft, shootings, robberies, and home invasions are potential dangers in Rufus King, especially after dark. It’s best if visitors avoid Rufus King altogether when touring Milwaukee. If you must travel nearby, use caution – but ultimately, this neighborhood is unsafe for unfamiliar tourists.
Address: Rufus King, Milwaukee, WI, USA
12. East neighborhoods
Milwaukee’s East Side is a collective term for neighborhoods east of the Milwaukee River like Riverwest, North Avenue, Upper East Side, Murray Hill, etc. While some of these areas are safer, the East Side overall still contends with higher-than-average crime fueled by lingering urban decay, drugs, poverty, and gang activity. Risks like car theft, shootings, robbery, and muggings are elevated in these areas, especially at night. It’s wise for tourists to use caution when visiting Milwaukee’s East Side – avoid it at night, don’t openly display valuables, and stay alert. While some neighborhoods are safer than others, the East Side overall has lingering crime issues.
Address: East neighborhoods, Milwaukee, WI, USA
13. West of the Milwaukee River
Similarly, neighborhoods west of the Milwaukee River like Harambee, Riverwest, and Midtown have higher crime rates than other parts of Milwaukee. Drugs, poverty, and urban decay contribute to risks like robbery, burglaries, car theft, assaults, and more throughout these areas. It’s wise for visitors to avoid these neighborhoods west of the Milwaukee River when possible, or at least take precautions like avoiding nighttime, concealing valuables, and remaining alert. But overall, areas west of the river in Milwaukee pose elevated safety risks tourists should keep in mind.
Address: Areas west of the Milwaukee River, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Conclusion
Milwaukee is a fantastic city that I highly recommend visiting. However, as outlined above, there are definitely certain areas that tourists and visitors should avoid due to safety concerns and crime risks.
If planning a trip to Milwaukee, steer clear of high-crime neighborhoods identified in this article on places to avoid in Milwaukee. Metcalfe Park, Amani, Riverwest, North Division, and others noted above are parts of the city best avoided, especially if unfamiliar with Milwaukee.
By being an informed and cautious traveler, you can soak in all the great sights and experiences Milwaukee has to offer while minimizing risks in areas best avoided. Have a fantastic trip, and be safe during your Milwaukee travels!
Post Author
