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Destinations / United States

Omaha

River city with a world-class zoo and steakhouses

familiesfoodbudgetart
Plan your trip to OmahaSee the top 10
489,265Population
1.0 millionMetro area
English, SpanishLanguage
USDCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$160-260Typical day

Omaha sits on the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska, across from Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is best known for Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, often ranked among the best in the world, plus a cobbled Old Market district and a newly rebuilt riverfront. The Joslyn Art Museum is free, and steakhouses are a point of pride. It suits families, budget travellers and road-trippers crossing the Plains.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A world-class zoo with a huge indoor desert dome, rainforest and aquarium. It is Omaha's top attraction.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $28.95Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Autumn 2026 adult admission is $28.95; parking is free.

    Tip. Arrive at opening and start with the indoor exhibits.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. A historic warehouse district of brick streets, restaurants, galleries and shops.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to explore.

    Tip. Visit in the evening for dinner.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. A pink marble Art Deco museum with a new wing, covering art from antiquity to today.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    General admission is free.

    Tip. Closed Mondays.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. Botanical gardens with a rose garden, conservatory and a model railroad garden.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $18Cost
    noBook ahead

    2026 adult admission is $18 plus tax.

    Tip. Pair with the zoo, which is nearby.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. A history museum in the grand 1931 Union Station, with old rail cars and a soda fountain.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Order a phosphate at the soda fountain.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. A curving footbridge across the Missouri River to Iowa.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Stand on the state line marker mid-span.
    See on the map

  7. A rebuilt downtown park with playgrounds, gardens and event spaces.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free public park.

    Tip. Great for kids.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. Cold War aircraft and space exhibits in huge hangars.

    Half a dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Drive about 35 minutes west on I-80.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. The historic home for children, with a visitor centre and a huge ball of stamps.

    1 to 2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Start at the Visitors Center.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. Riverside park near where the Lewis and Clark expedition passed, now part of The RiverFront.

    45 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free public park.

    Tip. Walk on to the pedestrian bridge.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Omaha in three days

Day one the zoo and Old Market, day two Joslyn, Durham and Lauritzen Gardens, day three Boys Town and the SAC Museum.

  1. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumFull day · about $28.95
  2. Old Market2 to 3 hours · Free
  3. Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront1 hour · Free
  4. Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge1 hour · Free
  5. Joslyn Art Museum2 hours · Free
  6. The Durham Museum1.5 hours
  7. Lauritzen Gardens2 hours · about $18
  8. Lewis and Clark Landing45 minutes · Free
  9. Boys Town1 to 2 hours
  10. Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum (Day Trip)Half a day
Beyond the city

Day trips

Lincoln

Nebraska's capital with a striking Capitol tower.

59 mi · Car, about 1 hour

Fort Calhoun and Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Reconstructed 1820s frontier fort.

16 mi · Car, about 25 minutes

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Historic Iowa town across the river with Union Pacific heritage.

6 mi · Drive, about 15 minutes

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: May to June and September to October. Warm, comfortable weather for the zoo and riverfront.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.5JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

31°F
Typical daily high
Average23°F
Rain0.7 in
About2 rainy days
Sun strength2.0 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jun

NCAA Men's College World Series

June

College baseball's championship, held in Omaha; hotels fill.

Jul

Independence Day

July 4

National holiday with fireworks; check listings.

Year

Jazz on the Green

Summer evenings

Free concert series at Turner Park; check schedule.

Oct

Fall pumpkin and zoo events

October

The zoo, gardens and farms run seasonal events.

Year

Zoo lights

Winter

Holiday displays at local attractions; verify dates.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

Based on UK FCDO advice for the USA, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists; Omaha's visitor areas are generally calm with normal care.

3/5
Walkability

The Old Market and riverfront are walkable, but the zoo and other sights need a car.

2/5
Public transport

Metro buses and the ORBT rapid line exist, but most visitors drive.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Old Market

$$WalkabilityCompact and very walkable.

Best for: first-timers, couples

Cobbled streets of restaurants, galleries and bars.

See on the map

2. Downtown and Riverfront

$$WalkabilityEasy walks to the river.

Best for: families

Near the Gene Leahy Mall and pedestrian bridge.

See on the map

3. Blackstone District

$$WalkabilityWalkable strip.

Best for: food lovers, nightlife

Trendy bars and restaurants in midtown.

See on the map

4. West Omaha

$WalkabilityCar-oriented.

Best for: budget, families

Chain hotels near highways.

See on the map

5. Midtown and Blackstone

$$WalkabilityWalkable in the Blackstone strip, otherwise short rides.

Best for: food, nightlife

Trendy streets with restaurants and bars near Joslyn Art Museum.

See on the map

6. Zoo area and South Omaha

$WalkabilityZoo is near, but not much else on foot.

Best for: families, budget

Close to the zoo and convenient for families.

See on the map

Getting there and around

Main airportEppley Airfield (OMA), 4 mi from the center
To the centerTaxi or rideshare takes only a few minutes; rental cars are on site.
Around townWalk the Old Market and riverfront, and drive or rideshare to the zoo, gardens and Boys Town.
Ride appsUber, Lyft
Taste it

What to eat

Omaha steak

Corn-fed beef at classic steakhouses.

Reuben sandwich

Omaha claims to have invented it.

Runza

Bread pocket filled with beef and cabbage.

Butter Brickle ice cream

Toffee flavour with local roots.

Nebraska steak

Local steakhouses, such as The Drover, are famous.

Ted and Wally's ice cream

Local ice cream shop highlighted by the tourism board.

Craft beer

Breweries are common in Blackstone and the Old Market.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTip 18 to 20 percent at restaurants.
PaymentsCards are accepted nearly everywhere.
EtiquetteFriendly Midwestern manners. Casual dress is fine almost everywhere.
  • Zoo parking is free.
  • The Joslyn Art Museum is free.
  • The Bob Kerrey bridge lets you stand in two states at once.
  • Hotels book up during the College World Series.
  • Winters are cold and windy.
  • Rental car is almost essential outside the Old Market.
  • College World Series weekends fill hotels well ahead.
  • Omaha's zoo is large, so wear comfortable shoes.

A short history

The Omaha people, after whom the city is named, lived in the region before settlers arrived. The city was founded in 1854 and became the eastern starting point of the Union Pacific Railroad, part of the first transcontinental line. Stockyards and meatpacking made it a major cattle market. The Durham Museum occupies the city's grand 1931 Union Station, and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is based here.

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Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Omaha