The 15 best things to do in Traverse City (2026)

We rank 75 experiences in Traverse City, United States, on the same 0 to 100 Outty Ranking. The best right now is 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula at 91/100, and 1 experiences here make the 90+ Club. Updated Sep 2026.

Quick picks

The ranked list

  1. 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

    1. 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

    Outty Ranking91

    Sit back and enjoy the gentle slopes, winding country roads and Caribbean-like views on a Traverse City Wine Tour. The Magic Shuttle Bus is a chauffeur service with an entire fleet ready to take your group around Old Mis. 90+ Club at 91/100, 4.9/5 from 2,687 traveler reviews, 5h from $79, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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  2. NON-BUS 4 Winery Traverse Wine Tour on Old Mission - ICE COLD AC in Traverse City, United States

    2. NON-BUS 4 Winery Traverse Wine Tour on Old Mission - ICE COLD AC

    Outty Ranking90

    THE MOVIE STAR TOUR- Luxury SUV Private or Public Join-in Tours for the same price as a wild party bus! Perfect for Groups of 1-7! With ICE Cold AC - most retired school buses do NOT have AC. This IS NOT The Cheap scho. Exceptional at 90/100, 5.0/5 from 556 traveler reviews, 4h from $69, free cancellation.

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  3. 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula

    3. 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula

    Outty Ranking86

    Discover the best of Leelanau County's wineries with the convenience of inclusive transportation leaving from downtown Traverse City. This wine tour takes you to three carefully selected wineries, allowing you to savor t. Exceptional at 86/100, 4.9/5 from 435 traveler reviews, 5h from $79, free cancellation.

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  4. 4-Hour Traverse City Sunset Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

    4. 4-Hour Traverse City Sunset Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

    Outty Ranking83

    Sit back and enjoy the gentle slopes, winding country roads and Caribbean-like views on a Traverse City Sunset Wine Tour. The Magic Shuttle Bus is a chauffeur service with an entire fleet ready to take your group around. Exceptional at 83/100, 4.9/5 from 267 traveler reviews, 4h from $74, free cancellation.

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  5. NON-BUS Old Mission Sunset AFTERNOON Wine & Distillery Tour in Traverse City, United States

    5. NON-BUS Old Mission Sunset AFTERNOON Wine & Distillery Tour

    Outty Ranking82

    SUNSET / AFTERNOON MOVIE STAR WINE TOUR! You choose your tour! Public Tours go to 3 locations, private and group tours go up to 4 locations (wineries/distillery) Our vehicles have ICE COLD AC- not like the buses Stun. Exceptional at 82/100, 5.0/5 from 126 traveler reviews, 4h from $69, free cancellation.

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  6. Guided Sightseeing Cruise on West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, United States

    6. Guided Sightseeing Cruise on West Grand Traverse Bay

    Outty Ranking76

    You can view the beautiful beach town scenery and peninsulas from the outdoor upper decks or inside the double decker tour boat at table and chair seating on both the main and upper decks. Hungry or thirsty? Visit the. Strongly Recommended at 76/100, 4.8/5 from 246 traveler reviews, 2h from $49, free cancellation.

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  7. Half-Day Fun Pass: Kayak, Bike and SUP Rental in Traverse City

    7. Half-Day Fun Pass: Kayak, Bike and SUP Rental in Traverse City

    Outty Ranking75

    The Riviera is Jackson Kayak’s blend of easy and FUN! Designed for its simplicity, the Riviera is a great option for those looking for an easy to use and comfortable sit on top. The high back on the seat gives you the co. Strongly Recommended at 75/100, 4.9/5 from 56 traveler reviews, 4h from $70, free cancellation.

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  8. Historical Ghost Lantern Tour Downtown Traverse City

    8. Historical Ghost Lantern Tour Downtown Traverse City

    Outty Ranking75

    Wander through downtown Traverse City by lantern-light, tracing the city’s origins, history, architecture and the ghost stories. This 100% outdoor walking tour weaves authentic stories of hauntings and spirits with compe. Strongly Recommended at 75/100, 4.8/5 from 143 traveler reviews, 1.5h from $38, free cancellation.

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  9. Daily Tours to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Traverse City, United States

    9. Daily Tours to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Outty Ranking75

    With 35 Miles of coastline designated as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Where should I go? What should I see? Our tour provides access to all of it. As well, you'll be accompanied by a guide well-versed in the a. Strongly Recommended at 75/100, 4.9/5 from 99 traveler reviews, 6h from $169, free cancellation.

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  10. NON-BUS Cadillac MOVIE STARS Traverse Old Mission Wine Tour in Traverse City, United States

    10. NON-BUS Cadillac MOVIE STARS Traverse Old Mission Wine Tour

    Outty Ranking73

    NO MORE MAGIC SHUTTLE BUS FOR MAGIC MIKE - Book Magic Mike here! Tiered pricing for groups! Yellowstone Style Meets Traverse City Wine Country in a Luxury Cadillac Escalade! Stunning views, NO BUSES, NO Rush, Iconic wine. Strongly Recommended at 73/100, 5.0/5 from 22 traveler reviews, 4h from $69, free cancellation.

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  11. NON-BUS GMC Yukon Traverse Old Mission Wine Tour in Traverse City, United States

    11. NON-BUS GMC Yukon Traverse Old Mission Wine Tour

    Outty Ranking72

    NO MORE MAGIC SHUTTLE BUS FOR MAGIC MIKE - Book Magic Mike here! Yellowstone Style Meets Traverse City Wine Country in Luxury GMC Yukons (one fancy Suburban)! Stunning views, NO BUSES, NO Rush, Iconic wineries, stellar w. Strongly Recommended at 72/100, 5.0/5 from 20 traveler reviews, 4h from $69, free cancellation.

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  12. Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Michigan Lakeshore, M-22 in Traverse City, United States

    12. Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Michigan Lakeshore, M-22

    Outty Ranking69

    Download the GuideAlong self-guided audio tour and you'll discover more on your Michigan Lakeshore road trip. Hear fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, local tips and directions play automatically along the M-22 Scenic. Solid Choice at 69/100, 4.6/5 from 29 traveler reviews, 8h from $17, free cancellation.

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  13. Michigan Lakeshore, M-22 Self-guided Driving Audio Tour in Traverse City, United States

    13. Michigan Lakeshore, M-22 Self-guided Driving Audio Tour

    Outty Ranking69

    Experience the beauty of Michigan’s wilderness with this self-guided driving tour of the shores of Lake Michigan. See the majestic Sleeping Bear Dunes, a vast expanse of towering sand dunes. Visit the iconic Point Betsie. Solid Choice at 69/100, 4.8/5 from 10 traveler reviews, 8h from $15, free cancellation.

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  14. Magic MIKE NON-BUS Traverse Old Mission Wine Tour in Traverse City, United States

    14. Magic MIKE NON-BUS Traverse Old Mission Wine Tour

    Outty Ranking69

    NO MORE MAGIC SHUTTLE BUS FOR MAGIC MIKE - Book The Official Magic Mike Top Rated Traverse City Wine Tour here! Tour Wine Country in Luxury Cadillac Escalades, GMC Yukons, Limousines! Stunning views, NO BUSES, NO Rush,. Solid Choice at 69/100, 5.0/5 from 10 traveler reviews, 4h from $69, free cancellation.

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  15. MOVIE STARS NON-BUS Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour in Traverse City, United States

    15. MOVIE STARS NON-BUS Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour

    Outty Ranking68

    Skip the hassle of a party bus and go VIP like a Movie Star with Andie's Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour. Stunning views, NO BUSES, NO Rush, Iconic wineries, stellar wines, and 5-star Celebrity customer service. This is the. Solid Choice at 68/100, 5.0/5 from 8 traveler reviews, 4.5h from $69, free cancellation.

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Traveler ratings are provided by Viator and Tripadvisor. The Outty Ranking is our own independent evaluation. How the ranking works.

When to go

June to October, with peak colour in early October.

Frequently asked questions

What is the number one thing to do in Traverse City?

5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula is the top ranked experience in Traverse City right now, with an Outty Ranking of 91 out of 100 from 2,687 traveler reviews, from $79 per person. It leads a field of 75 experiences we rank in the city.

What are the must-see attractions in Traverse City?

Traverse City pairs Old Mission and Leelanau winery tours with Sleeping Bear Dunes trips, kayak and paddleboard rentals on Grand Traverse Bay and fall colour drives.

How much do things to do in Traverse City cost?

The 15 best experiences average $67 per person. The cheapest of them is Michigan Lakeshore, M-22 Self-guided Driving Audio Tour from $15, and 15 of the 15 offer free cancellation.

What are the best things to do in Traverse City with kids?

Most of the top experiences suit older kids; check the minimum age listed on each activity before booking.

When is the best time to visit Traverse City?

June to October, with peak colour in early October.

How is this list ranked?

Every experience is scored 0 to 100 by the Outty Ranking, which blends traveler sentiment, review depth, booking momentum, value against comparable options in Traverse City, quality signals and cancellation flexibility. The list updates automatically as new reviews and bookings arrive.

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