The Best Things To Do in Green Bay: A Weekend Guide

Are you heading to Green Bay for an exciting football game and looking for ways to fill the rest of your weekend? Or are you planning a trip and couldn’t care less about the Packers? Either way, my guide has everything you need to make the most of your weekend in Green Bay.

Green Bay might be known for being the home of the Green Bay Packers, but this charming Midwestern city is so much more than football and die-hard cheeseheads. Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, there are so many fun things to do in Green Bay for a lovely weekend getaway.

As a self-proclaimed Cowboy fan (Go Cowboys!), I never imagined I’d find myself in Green Bay—but a trip to attend my cousin’s wedding led us there, and we fell in love with the vibrant city. While we didn’t come for the Packers, we spent our weekend in Green Bay enjoying some of its best sights. From a beautiful botanical garden with a Hobbit house to a nostalgic amusement park, endless cheese and beer, and yes, a visit to the legendary Lambeau Field.

So, whether you’re looking to explore the outdoors, indulge in local flavors, or dive into the city’s sports culture, Green Bay has something for everyone—and you will find it right here, including where to stay and places to eat!

The Best Things to Do in Green Bay

Green Bay offers a wide range of activities year-round, catering to every type of traveler. Here are a few of the best things to do during your weekend in Green Bay, no matter the season.

Step Foot on Lambeau Field

A weekend in Green Bay without seeing Lambeau Field is like going to Paris and skipping the Eiffel Tower. And if you can’t catch a Packers home game, the next best thing is a Lambeau Field Stadium tour.

Whether you are a football fan or not, this tour is one of the best things to do in Green Bay. I recommend this tour even if you go to a home game because you can step foot on the legendary Lambeau Field!

There are different tiers of tours to choose from that offer unique experiences with varying durations, prices, and sights—but no matter which one you pick, all tours include an epic walk through the tunnel and out onto Lambeau Field.

The tour includes inside information and stories of the incredible history of the Green Bay Packers. One of the tour’s highlights is going inside a suite and enjoying the feeling of the “suite life” of watching the Green Bay Packers.

Don’t forget to go to their gift store—it is gigantic!!! They have everything Packers-related you could think of. Most importantly, they have the iconic cheeseheads!

All Aboard the Packers Trolley

The Packer’s Heritage Trolley Tour offers a fun and informative way to explore Green Bay’s rich history and iconic landmarks from a unique perspective. The guided tour takes you through the heart of Green Bay, highlighting its most significant historical sites, including the stunning Lambeau Field, the old City Stadium, and the charming downtown district.

As you cruise through the city, your entertaining guide will share fascinating stories about Green Bay’s past, from its early days as a trading post to its rise as an NFL team. Along the way, you will pass historic buildings, local landmarks, and beautiful waterfront views, giving you a deeper understanding of the city’s heritage.

Dive into Packers History

The Green Bay Hall of Fame Museum is a must-visit for any NFL fan, offering a fascinating journey through the rich history of the Packers. The two-level museum is packed (no pun intended) with Packers memorabilia showcasing the team’s legacy, including an awe-inspiring trophy room.

During the tour, you will learn about the team’s beginnings, the creation of Lambeau Field, the legendary players and coaches who shaped its success, and how the Super Bowl trophy was named after coach Vince Lombardi.

Whether you are a cheesehead fan or not, by the end of the tour, you will leave with a newfound appreciation for the only NFL team owned by its fans. Who knows, maybe you will become a fan, too.

Pro Tip

For the ultimate Packers experience, purchase a combo tour, which includes a Stadium Tour, Hall of Fame admission, and Heritage Trail Trolley Tour.

Play at Titletown

Titletown is a 45-acre entertainment district located near Lambeau Field. It is the perfect gathering place for friends and family to relax, dine, and enjoy outdoor activities.

Test your skills on the regulation-sized football field, climb impressive play structures, race friends in a 45-yard sprint, or dive into classic backyard games. In the winter, the fun continues with ice skating and snow tubing down Ariens Hill.

Go on a Scenic Train Ride

Choo-choo, all abroad—now calling all train enthusiasts! The National Railroad Museum is one of the best things to do in Green Bay for history buffs and train lovers of all ages.

The National Railroad Museum is one of the oldest and best railroad museums in the country. It houses a curated collection of over 70 unique train cars, including historic locomotives like the famous Union Pacific Big Boy, passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses. You will also find an impressive array of railroad artifacts, photographs, and manuscripts highlighting railroads in a pivotal role in American history.

Beyond the exhibits, the museum offers interactive experiences like a scenic 2-mile train ride pulled by a diesel locomotive—and throughout the year, you can enjoy special events like a murder mystery, dinner on the train, and the beloved Polar Express.

Travel Through Time in a DeLorean DMC-12

Calling all car enthusiasts and Back to the Future fans! During your weekend in Green Bay, you must make a pit stop at the Automobile Gallery.

The Automobile Gallery boasts an impressive car collection that spans nearly a century of automobile history. From a 1912 Maxwell to a 1954 Corvette, striking James Bond Aston Martin DBS, and a 2020 Ford GT, there’s something for every car lover.

Of course, one of the best highlights in the collection is sitting inside a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 for a picture—who knows, maybe you will catch a glimpse of 88 miles per hour!

Enjoy Classic Thrill Rides

Have you ever visited an amusement park in the 21st century where the rides start at just 25 cents? Yep, you heard that right! Bay Beach Amusement Park is one of the most budget-friendly things to do in Green Bay.

Bay Beach Amusement Park offers a variety of classic amusement rides for all ages, including a Ferris wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, and the famous Zippin’ Pippin’ roller coaster. With 22 rides, prices range from just 25 cents to a maximum of one dollar, making it a super affordable spot for families.

Do not miss the Zippin’ Pippin’—a classic wooden roller coaster that spans 2,500 feet and offers incredible bay views. It’s a bit rickety on the turns, as most wooden coasters are, but it was our favorite ride!

Hand Feed White-Tailed Deer

Across the street from the amusement park is Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, a 535-acre urban wildlife refuge home to over 4,500 orphaned or injured animals. The sanctuary offers plenty of nature activities for visitors of all ages.

A family-friendly Nature Education Center features hands-on exhibits, a crawl tunnel, and a two-story slide. You will also find live animal exhibits, a nursery viewing area, and outdoor wildlife viewing areas to spot rescued Wisconsin native animals, including otters, gray wolves, cougars, and red foxes.

There are also miles of hiking trails that turn into winter cross-country skiing paths, excellent bird-watching opportunities, and our favorite activity—hand-feeding the sweet white-tailed deer residents!

Explore a Serene Botanical Garden

The Green Bay Botanical Garden offers a breathtaking 47-acre nature escape with over 120,000 plants from Wisconsin and beyond. There is something enjoyable around every corner in the garden, with countless Instagram-worthy spots, including a hobbit house restroom and vine-covered tunnels.

The Green Bay Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to visit year-round. In spring, you will be amazed by more than 350,000 blooming flowers, while summer brings exciting exhibits and concerts in the stunning outdoor amphitheater. The holiday light show, WPS Garden of Lights, and winter activities add even more seasonal magic to Green Bay.

It is also a great place to take kids. A 2.5-acre children’s garden combines nature, play, and learning. Children will enjoy fun activities such as a splash pad, a treehouse with slides, a hedge maze, and more.

Adventure to New Heights

The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park is a wild and exciting, family-friendly destination for animal lovers and thrill seekers. At the NEW Zoo, you can see over 90 species and 200 animals, feed gentle giraffes, and go on a treetop canopy walk to get the best view of the zoo.

The Adventure Park offers an epic aerial playground for visitors of all ages. Race your friends on an exhilarating zip line, conquer over 17 challenges on the ropes course, and scale the towering climbing wall. Younger thrill seekers can join the fun on the Kids Kourse, a scaled-down version of the ropes course designed just for them.

Take a Step Back in Time

Heritage Hill State Historical Park is a 56-acre living history state park—home to over 20 original and reconstructed buildings showcasing Wisconsin’s history from the 1600s to the 19th century. Visitors can step back in time as they explore restored structures, including a schoolhouse, gorgeous church, log cabin, and more while interacting with historical interpreters who bring the past to life.

What makes Heritage Hill State Historical Park one of the best things to do in Green Bay for history buffs and families are the hands-on activities that offer a unique glimpse into life in early Wisconsin. You can participate in a military drill, learn the craft of blacksmithing, create prints on a historic printing press, or make butter at the Belgian Farm.

Discover, Create, and Play!

Every trip we take with kids, we visit a children’s museum. So, I like to think of ourselves as children’s museum connoisseurs, and the Children’s Museum of Green Bay is one of the best things to do in Green Bay with kids.

The Children’s Museum of Green Bay offers hands-on, interactive exhibits that spark creativity and allow kids of all ages to learn through play. The museum features a variety of themed areas, including a water sensory table, an imagination station to create art, and, always a crowd favorite, a mini farmers market.

The exhibits are thoughtfully designed to engage children’s imaginations while helping them develop important problem-solving and motor skills. Whether building in the construction zone, taking care of stuffed animals at the vet clinic or simply having fun on the outdoor playground, every corner of the museum is designed to inspire young minds.

Play a Game of Hammerschlagen

What is Hammerschlagen, you ask? Well, it’s a hilariously ridiculous drinking game that may land you in the ER—but it’s totally worth it. Originating in Minnesota, Hammerschlagen made its way into Wisconsin, so you will find this game frequently played in these states.

The rules are simple: players take a hammer (with a beer in hand and booze in your belly) and attempt to strike a nail into a log. The first person to get their nail entirely below the log’s surface wins. Sounds easy, right? Not when you’ve got booze in your belly!

Ready to play? Head to Ned Kelly’s, where they have over 100 craft beers on tap and are supposedly the only bar in Green Bay with Hammerschlagen. Start a bar tab and prepare for some good laughs and maybe a few battle scars!

Places to Eat and Drink

There are several places in Green Bay where you can find your fair share of cheese curds and beer, but here are a few of our favorite places.

The Pancake Place

Start your morning with a stack of the most enormous plate-size buttermilk pancakes. The Pancake Place is a local favorite, offering a cozy atmosphere and a delicious variety of pancakes. Try the Banana Split Pancake with hot fudge or make your creation adding options like apples and cinnamon, chocolate chip, cranberries, and even savory choices like bacon and eggs.

Beyond pancakes, the menu also features a range of hearty breakfast options, including three-egg omelets, sandwiches, steak and eggs, and stuffed hashbrowns. Whether you are starting your day with a big appetite or just want a light bite, The Pancake Place offers a warm, welcoming spot to enjoy a leisurely breakfast with friendly service.

1919 Kitchen & Tap

After a tour of the iconic Lambeau Field, complement your experience with a delicious meal at 1919 Kitchen & Tap. Located inside the stadium atrium, 1919 Kitchen & Tap is the perfect place to unwind after a tour of Lambeau Field.

Offering elevated pub food with a Wisconsin twist, the menu features local favorites like parmesan-battered cheese curds, cranberry chipotle wings, and braised elk stroganoff. Of course, you cannot forget beer in Wisconsin. 1919 Kitchen & Tap has over 30 beers on tap, so you can enjoy a cold one while reminiscing about your Lambeau Field experience.

Hinterland Brewery

Hinterland is a bustling craft brewery and restaurant due to its prime location across the street from Lambeau Field. Hinterland Brewery boasts various craft beers, including American wheat, IPAs, and gluten-free beer. Our table favorite was the Cherry Wheat, a delightful brew that honors the nearby juicy Door County cherries—I highly recommend it!

Hinterland isn’t just about great beer; it offers an exceptional culinary experience beyond typical pub fare. The restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine with a creative twist.

The chef creates the menu daily based on the freshest produce, meats, and seafood sourced from local and sustainable farms. What you enjoy one day may not be there the next, making every visit to Hinterland a fun culinary adventure during your weekend in Green Bay.

Titletown Brewery

Titletown Brewery is a cornerstone of Green Bay’s vibrant craft beer scene. Housed in a historic building that once served as a train station, this local favorite has been brewing unique beers since 1996.

There is more than just good beer at Titletown Brewery. You can enjoy fantastic views of downtown Green Bay and the Fox River from the rooftop, learn about their brewing process on tour, and savor inventive dishes that incorporate their brews, including a signature cheesy sauce made with their flagship Green IPA.

Rustique Pizzeria

Rustique Pizzeria offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that blends history with flavor. The pizzeria is inside a 122-year-old chapel, where diners can enjoy the charming ambiance with a front-row seat to the open-concept kitchen, watching pizzaiolo (pizza chefs) toss and handcraft every pizza.

Known for its thin, New York-style crust, Rustique Pizzeria serves delicious brick-oven pizza combinations with only the freshest ingredients. It’s not just pizza that makes this Rustique Pizzeria one of the best places to eat in Green Bay—the restaurant also serves a classic Wisconsin fish fry basket, pesto shoestring fries, slow-roasted pulled pork Cuban sandwiches, and more.

Best Place to Stay in Green Bay

Green Bay offers a variety of accommodation options, depending on what kind of experience you are looking for. Here are some of the best places to stay during your weekend in Green Bay.

Luxury Hotels:

• Lodge Kohler – Easily a standout if you are looking for a luxury experience. Located near Lambeau Field, it’s perfect for sports fans visiting the Packers or anyone who wants a high-end, modern stay. The lodge offers spacious rooms, a full-service spa, an upscale restaurant, complimentary e-bikes, shuttle service to select attractions, and an indoor pool with a view of the stadium!
• Hotel Northland – Offers a beautiful blend of modern amenities and vintage charm that will take your breath away. Located in downtown Green Bay, this classy hotel has been restored to reflect its 1920s heritage while offering luxury amenities like an elegant restaurant and rooftop bar with great city views.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Tundra Lodge – The perfect resort for families looking for fun and relaxation all in one place! Tundra Lodge features an arcade and a large indoor waterpark with water slides, a lazy river, and a splash zone. Making it an ideal choice for families who want a pool day or a fun-filled retreat after exploring Green Bay.
• Hyatt Regency Green Bay – Conveniently located near the Lambeau Field and downtown Green Bay, the Hyatt Regency Green Bay hotel offers spacious rooms, a beautiful atrium, and a variety of amenities like an indoor pool, fitness center and on-site restaurant. Whether you have Hyatt status or not, this hotel is a lovely place to stay in Green Bay.

Budget-Friendly Hotels:

• Best Western Green Bay Inn – This budget-friendly hotel provides modern amenities, including spacious rooms, a football field-inspired heated indoor pool, and a complimentary breakfast. Its welcoming atmosphere and walking distance to Lambeau Field make it a great option for families, sports fans, and travelers looking for a relaxed and affordable place to stay.
• Bay Motel – An affordable hotel that will exceed your expectations. Located just a short drive from downtown, this spot offers comfortable rooms with everything you need for a pleasant stay, including a convenient location and friendly service.