Things to do in Omaha
Late spring and early fall bring mild days, blooming gardens, and lively riverfront events; summers are warm and humid but peak for the zoo and patios, while winters are cold and best for indoor museums.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Omaha
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian BridgeDo not miss
A graceful S-curved footbridge over the Missouri River where you can stand in Nebraska and Iowa at once, glowing with colored lights at night.
Landmark · 53 min4.8
Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumDo not miss
One of the world's top-rated zoos, home to the largest indoor desert, an indoor rainforest, and a walk-through aquarium tunnel.
Activity · 5 hr4.8
Lauritzen GardensDo not miss
A 100-acre botanical garden of themed landscapes, a model railroad garden, and a conservatory of tropical and arid plants near the zoo.
Park · 2.3 hr4.8
Durham MuseumDo not miss
Housed in a grand art deco former union train station, it tells Omaha's railroad and regional history amid restored vintage rail cars.
Museum · 2 hr4.7
Gene Leahy MallDo not miss
The reimagined heart of the downtown RiverFront, with a sculpture garden, dog park, performance lawn, slides, and a winding lagoon.
Park · 1.4 hr4.7
Joslyn Art MuseumDo not miss
A free, marble-clad art museum spanning ancient to contemporary works, with a renowned collection of Western American art and a new pavilion.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.7
Omaha Children's MuseumDo not miss
A hands-on play museum with a science center, art studio, and imagination playground, one of the city's best rainy-day stops for families.
Museum · 2.3 hr4.7
Heartland of America ParkDo not miss
A downtown lake park with a 300-foot computerized fountain, walking paths, and an evening light show along the revitalized riverfront.
Park · 1.3 hr4.6
Boys TownDo not miss
The National Historic Landmark village founded by Father Flanagan, with the Hall of History, world's largest ball of stamps, and a working campus.
Historic Site · 2.3 hr
Old MarketDo not miss
Cobblestone streets, brick warehouses, and a glass passageway packed with galleries, restaurants, pubs, and shops in Omaha's lively downtown core.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr
Cathedral of St. Cecilia
A towering Spanish Renaissance Revival cathedral with twin spires, a hand-carved nativity collection, and a tranquil garden, anchoring the Gold Coast.
Architecture · 53 min4.8
Fontenelle Forest
A 2,000-acre preserve in nearby Bellevue with a boardwalk over wetlands, a raptor recovery center, and wooded bluff trails above the Missouri.
Nature · 2.3 hr4.8
Holland Performing Arts Center
A glass-fronted downtown concert hall and home of the Omaha Symphony, with superb acoustics and a fountain plaza out front.
Cultural Experience · 2.3 hr4.8
Hot Shops Art Center
A converted warehouse of working artist studios, glassblowing and pottery shops, and galleries you can wander and watch creators at work.
Cultural Experience · 1.5 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Omaha is a driving city with cheap, plentiful parking, so renting a car makes reaching the zoo, Boys Town, and day trips far easier than relying on the limited bus system.
- The Old Market, Gene Leahy Mall, and riverfront parks are all walkable from each other downtown, making one car-free afternoon on foot easy.
- Many top experiences are clustered: pair the zoo with Lauritzen Gardens to the south, or downtown museums with the pedestrian bridge along the river.
- Standard US tipping applies: 18 to 20 percent at restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at bars.
- Summer is warm and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, so keep an indoor museum or the Old Market in reserve as a rain backup.