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Jess and I have family in Omaha, which means we’ve visited the city a number of times over the years. In that time, we’ve visited a great many of Omaha’s sights and attractions. So we wanted to put together a quick guide to our favorite things to do in Omaha, Nebraska.

Omaha is the largest city (by population) in Nebraska. It became an important transportation hub in the 19th century and would eventually attract people to stay for its railroad, meatpacking, and industry jobs. Today this mid-sized Midwestern city is home to a number of cultural attractions and plays host to popular events such as the College World Series and the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting.

So, whether you’re in town for a big event like the College World Series, a conference, visiting family like us, or just wondering what there is to do in Omaha, this guide is for you.

We’ll cover the main sights and attractions, provide tips on where to stay, give suggestions on foods to try in Omaha, ideas for what to do in Omaha with kids, and lots more.

Let’s get started!

Things to Do in Omaha

There’s a lot to do in Omaha, from museums to historical sights to eating and shopping. Here are our favorite things to do in Omaha.

Durham Museum

The Durham Museum is found in Omaha’s original Union Station building, which dates from 1899. It was the Union Pacific’s first Art Deco railroad station and was used as a passenger train station until 1971.

The Union Station building is a gorgeous example of Art Deco architecture. It’s almost worth visiting this museum for the building alone! That said, the museum contained within the building is one of our favorite attractions in Omaha.

The Durham Museum focuses primarily on the history of the region and Western America in general, covering history, culture, science, and industry. So whether you are interested in transport and trains, Native American culture, or wildlife, you are going to find something interesting. We particularly enjoyed the full size train exhibits on the lower levels, but the whole museum was excellent to be honest.

If you want to learn about Omaha and this part of the country in general this is the best place to go. If you are going to just one museum in Omaha, this would be our recommendation for most people.

There is also an on-site museum shop which is a great place for souvenirs and the Soda Fountain and Candy Shop which is the original Union Pacific soda fountain that serves phosphates, egg creams, sundaes, soda, coffee, ice cream floats, snacks, candy, and more. Sandwiches, salads, and soups are also served here during lunch hours.

If you stay for lunch, you can easily spend half your day enjoying this museum. They also often have special exhibitions and family events happening.

There’s an admission fee for the museum and free parking on site. You can save on admission with the free Omaha Savings Pack.

The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Rated as one of the world’s top zoos, the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, also known as the Omaha Zoo, spreads across over 130 acres of land and is home to over 962 animal species! It has been around for over one hundred years as well, making it one of the oldest attractions in Omaha on our list.

The zoo is large and there’s a lot to see, with different habitats showcasing different species. These include:

• the 28-acre African Grasslands area, home to species including African elephants, giraffes, rhino, lion, cheetah, meerkat, ostrich, and more
• the 8-acre Asian Highlands area including species such as the red panda, Indian rhinos, snow leopard, and Siberian tiger
• the Desert Dome, which is one of the world’s largest indoor deserts. This 1 acre covered area has desert species from around the world including the African wild cat, klipspringer, bobcat and greater roadrunner
• Gorilla Valley – an exhibit primarily focused on primates including gorillas and various monkey species
• Orangutan Forest – another primate focused exhibit which includes the orangutan and langur
• the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, one of the world’s largest in-zoo aquariums. Species include sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish, puffins, and penguins
• Kingdoms of the Night, the world’s largest nocturnal animal exhibit, which also happens to contain the world’s largest indoor swamp! Inside you’ll find everything from bats to porcupine, sloth, crocodiles, & alligators

There are lots more exhibits, but this should give you an idea of how impressive this zoo is. There are also rides, including a 2.5 mile steam powered narrow-gauge railroad which loops around the park. There’s also a tram and a “Skyfari”, which is basically an open-air chairlift which offers excellent views over exhibits including the lions and cheetahs.

The old Rosenblatt stadium, which used to host the College World Series (now played in town at the Charles Schwab Stadium), can also be found at the Zoo. Whilst not a lot remains, the footprint of it can still be found in the Zoo parking lot.

As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do at the Omaha Zoo. We recommend planning on spending at least a half day here, but ideally a full day.

There’s an entry fee, with free parking available on site. You can save on admission with the free Omaha Savings Pack.

Joslyn Art Museum

If you enjoy art museums then you will definitely want to include a visit to Omaha’s impressive Joslyn Art Museum on your visit to Omaha. This originally opened in 1931, and has undergone significant updates over the decades, including the most recent renovations which were completed in late 2024.

Today, the museum has a number of permanent collections which cover a wide range of time periods and areas. These include Ancient art from Greece and Italy, European artists including Rembrandt and Monet, and a wide range of early and modern American art. There is also a large area of modern and contemporary art, and a lovely outdoor garden featuring various sculptures.

The Joslyn Art Museum is free to visit and there is also free parking on site. However, you should be aware that the car park can fill up so be prepared to wait, or find parking nearby (paid street parking is also available).

Omaha’s Riverfront Area

Omaha’s riverfront area has undergone significant revitalization in recent years, turning it into a destination in its own right. Today, it’s a 72-acre area which links downtown Omaha to the riverfront. There are three distinct areas to explore: the Lewis & Clark Landing. the Gene Leahy Mall, and the Heartland of America Park.

You can visit all three in one go, or pick and choose depending on your interests. The whole riverfront development is definitely worth a stroll though, especially on a nice day. If you are looking for a nice place to go for a walk, have a picnic, relax on a bench, or take the kids out for some fresh air, any of these would be a great option. Here’s what you’ll find in each area.

Lewis & Clark Landing & Visitor Center

In the early 19th century, famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark journeyed across the vast expanse of land which the United States had purchased from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase. They primarily followed the Missouri River, which today flows through and marks the eastern edge of Omaha.

Today, there are a number of things you can do in the landing area. First, we’d recommend visiting the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center. This building is the headquarters of the historic trail which covers 4,900 miles across 16 states, and is a good place to learn about the expedition and the trail as it can be explored today. It is free to visit.

The Lewis and Clark landing area has a lot more to offer beyond the visitor center though. It’s part of the Omaha Riverfront area, and is home to an urban beach, volleyball courts, walking trails, and an impressive playground which features zip-lines, rocket ship shaped climbing towers, sand pits, and more. If you have kids, they are going to love visiting this playground.

This part of the Riverfront is also where you’ll find the Kiewit Luminarium, which we cover elsewhere in this post as a top thing to do in Omaha.

Gene Leahy Mall

The Gene Leahy Mall extends Omaha’s riverfront parks into the downtown area. This large urban park has a sculpture park, outdoor concert venue, water features, outdoor tables and benches, and play area. If you visit in winter time, it’s going to be festooned with lights.

The Gene Leahy Mall connects with the Old Market area of Omaha as well as the Heartland of America park. It’s a nice place to walk for a nice green break from the urban landscape.

Heartland of America Park

The largest of the three RiverFront parks, this is also the most southern of the parks. It extends along the Missouri River, with the key element being a large lake which features three fountains. The largest of these three fountains shoots water 300 feet into the air and has a nighttime light show.

There’s a walking trail which circumnavigates the lake (around a mile in length), and in the summer you can take boat rides on the General Marion boat. If you’re in Omaha in late Spring, this is also where you’ll find the annual Taste of Omaha event.

Kiewit Luminarium

Found in the Lewis & Clark Landing area of Omaha’s RiverFront, the Kiewit Luminarium is a large Science Museum which has an emphasis on hands-on, interactive exhibits. It is a particularly good option if you’re visiting Omaha with kids, but adults are catered too as well. In fact, there’s normally an adults only event called Night Light on Thursday evenings.

Inside, you’re going to find more than a hundred hands-on exhibits. From learning how physics works, to material science, structures, the human body, technology, math and geometry, you are sure to find something to enjoy.

There’s free parking on site. There’s an entry fee, which is relatively high, but we think worth it if you plan to spend at least half a day here.

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

Omaha sits right on the eastern edge of Nebraska, with just the Missouri river separating the city from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Linking the two cities, and giving you the opportunity to stand in both states at once, is the impressive Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.

This 3,000 foot long bridge curves majestically across the river, and from it you get good views of the cities of Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Naturally you also get good views of the Missouri river, which the bridge crosses.

The bridge is pedestrian only so no car traffic making it a popular option for families with kids to enjoy.

On the Omaha side, the bridge starts near the National Park Service Visitors Center. It takes you to the Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park on the Iowa side. If you enjoy walking or cycling the bridge links up with 150 miles of trails. So you can keep going for quite some time if you wish!

Museum of Shadows

If you like your experiences to be of the paranormal kind, then you will likely enjoy a visit to Omaha’s Museum of Shadows. This is home to a variety of haunted artifacts, with the museum itself also said to be haunted.

Now, this experience isn’t going to be for everyone, and reviews are definitely mixed. However, if you want to experience something a bit different and believe in the paranormal, it’s definitely an option.

There’s an entry fee, find out more here. You can purchase tickets online in advance or on site in person. Just note this is not open every day so be sure to check opening days and hours before you head here.

The Old Market

One of our favorite neighborhoods to wander around and grab a coffee in Omaha is the Old Market. This was the originally the heart of Omaha’s wholesale grocery trade back in the late 19th century when Omaha sat at the heart of the railroads connecting East and West. The brick buildings here served as warehouses, wholesale stores, offices, and more.

Changes in how groceries were bought and sold meant that by the 1950s the Old Market was no longer fulfilling its original function, and many of its buildings were at risk of being condemned.

Thankfully, locally born landowner Samuel Mercer saw the potential of the area, and led the renovation efforts. Today, the Old Market district is the heart of the dining and shopping experience in Omaha. The old buildings and cobbled streets remain, now home to stores, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, thrift stores, pubs, and apartments. You can even still take a carriage ride!

You’ll also find that the Omaha Visitors Center is located next to the Old Market area on 306 S 10th Street. It is normally open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. They have staff who can help you plan your time, free tourist brochures, and also local souvenirs and gift for purchase. If you are interested in the Omaha Savings Pack, you can find out more about it here.

Lauritzen Gardens

If you enjoy green spaces, Omaha has a lot of options, both free and paid. Falling into the latter category are the Lauritzen Gardens. These are a botanical garden and arboretum in southern Omaha which cover 100 acres, including a 4-acre arboretum, and bird sanctuary. They also have events running throughout the year. We visited once during a Japanese festival which was a lot of fun. You can find out more on the official website here.

The arboretum area focuses primarily on the flora of the Nebraska region, and it also has helpful information on how to attract local birds to your garden. The gardens also include a rose garden, Victorian garden, herb garden, Japanese park, and even a model railroad garden complete with running model trains.

Speaking of trains, right next to the Lauritzen Gardens is Kenefick Park. This overlooks Interstate 80 and welcomes people arriving from Iowa with the sight of two massive locomotives. Which you can stand right next to if you visit Kenefick Park. This park is free and we really enjoyed visiting it.

Lauritzen Gardens charge an entry fee, and there’s free parking on site. You can save on admission with the free Omaha Savings Pack.

Joslyn Castle & Gardens

When you visit Omaha, you will notice the name “Joslyn” popping up here and there, including the Joslyn Art Museum and the Joslyn Castle & Gardens. And you might wonder why that is.

Well, George Joslyn and his wife Sara moved to Omaha in 1880 and became wealthy thanks to George Joslyn’s involvement in the printing industry. They contributed a great deal to the city, including the aforementioned Art Museum.

By 1893 the Joslyn’s had sufficient wealth to build the garden and home of their dreams. This resulted in the creation of their home they called Lynhurst and what is today known as Joslyn Castle & Gardens. The house itself, completed in 1903, is a four story building built in the Scottish Baronial Revival architectural style. It basically looks like a Scottish castle in the heart of Omaha. This cost $250,000 to build back in 1903, or around $9 million in today’s money.

The almost 20,000 square foot house is open to the public by guided tour only, and we can definitely recommend taking a tour if you’d like to learn more about this unusual property and the people who built it. We really enjoyed our tour here, the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and the interior is just stunning. This was definitely our favorite guided tour we’ve taken in Omaha.

There is a fee to take a tour and you can see the tour schedule and price here. The tours last about 90 minutes and I’d allow at least 2 hours for your total visit.

If you aren’t visiting on a tour day, or are happy to just explore the garden and look at the building exterior, this is free to do. There’s free parking on site and you can explore the grounds yourself.

Public art in Omaha

If you like public art, then there are lots of locations across Omaha where you can enjoy public art for free. Some of our favorite pieces include:

• Untitled by Jan Kaneko in the Gene Leahy Mall. You can’t help but notice the large peaceful head when you walk through this park!
• The Illumina sculptures outside the CHI Health Center Arena. Featuring six statues of people representing the arts and humanities events that take place at the convention center, as well as a 35 foot clock. Step inside the center at night for another colorful art installation
• The Pioneer Courage Park sculptures by Utah sculptors Blair Buswell and Edward Fraughton can be found on Capital Avenue. They feature a wagon train proceeding along a creek bed, and have to be seen to be believed. There’s also another installation in this series, the Spirit of Nebraska Wilderness sculptures found outside the First National Bank of Omaha, which depict over 50 larger than life Canada Geese. See details on both these parks here. Two sculpture parks, Pioneer Courage and Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness and The Transcontinental Railroad, celebrate the city’s pioneering history.
• Fertile Ground Mural by Meg Saligman. You can’t talk about public art in Omaha without including the Fertile Ground Mural. At 70 feet tall and 465 feet long this is the largest public art project in Omaha and one of the largest murals in the USA. Find it on 602 N 13th St in the Old Market area of town.
• The Chef Boyardee Statue outside the Conagra building in the Heartland of America park. OK, so this might be an oddball choice, but if you’ve ever eaten canned spaghetti in the USA as a child, you are probably familiar with the Chef Boyardee brand. The statue is of the real-life chef behind the brand, Italian immigrant Ettore Boiardi. He changed his name to Chef Hector Boyardee to help sales of his packaged spaghetti sauce and dinners and his name became nationally known.

You can see lots more examples of public art in Omaha, with location information and details of the piece and artist at the official Public Art Omaha website here.

Local food and produce

When you’re in Omaha you are going to want to eat, and there are a few food options you should definitely try when you’re in town. We recommend the following dishes and locations:

• A Reuben Sandwich. It is believed that the original Reuben Sandwich was invented at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, back in 1925 (although some New Yorkers would contend this!). The good news is that you can still have a Reuben Sandwich at the Blackstone Hotel, which has since become the Cottonwood Hotel. We had one here and it was delicious (as was the other food we’ve tried here). We also had one at the Crescent Moon across the road on another visit, which many claim to be the best Reuben in Omaha. Honestly, they were both good. If you prefer a more formal dining experience, then the Blackstone is the best option. If you prefer a pub style setting with a beer, then go with the Crescent Moon option.
• It’s hard to mention food in Omaha without talking about steaks. There’s literally a whole company dedicated to the concept! This actually makes a lot of sense as beef is Omaha’s largest industry, and the city has been a meatpacking center since the middle of the 20th century. So you might want to actually have a steak while you are in town. Options to consider for a steak include Drover, Mahogany, Jerico’s, Sullivans, Gorat’s, Flemings, and Brother Sebastian’s.
• Speaking of steakhouses, as we mentioned above, one popular steak dining option in Omaha is Gorat’s Steakhouse. But this restaurant is famous for another reason – it’s the favorite steakhouse of legendary investor Warren Buffet who is head of Berkshire Hathaway. He’s eaten here many times, and has even eaten here with Microsoft founder Bill Gates. His favorite dish is the 22-oz Omaha T-bone steak and the hashbrowns. When we went we didn’t see Warren in person, but there’s a cardboard cutout of him that you can pose by if you so wish!
• If you want to try more local produce beyond steak, then you’ll definitely want to include corn in your list of foods to try in Omaha. Corn is the number one crop grown in the state so we definitely can recommend having an ear of corn here when its in season. Other popular crops and produce include milk and dairy products, beans (Great Northern, pinto, etc.), pork, poultry, eggs, sugar beets, apples, and honey. Nebraska is also home to over 30 wineries so you may also have a chance to try some local wine.
• A locally popular fast food is the Runza, which is a yeast dough bread pocket with a filling consisting of beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. The best place to get a Runza is at a Runza’s, a fast-food chain which has been operating in Nebraska since 1949. For a true local experience, buy a cinnamon roll at Runza’s and dip it in Runza’s chili. We’ve done this, and it is definitely better than it sounds.
• If you like ice cream (who doesn’t like ice cream?), then we highly recommend a visit to Coneflower Creamery, which is within walking distance of the Kimpton Cottonwood hotel and Joslyn Castle & Gardens. This actually placed first in a nationwide ranking of ice cream locations, so we’re not the only ones who think it’s worth a visit! They handmake their ice cream with local, fresh ingredients, and have a range of classic and seasonal flavors to choose from

That should give you some ideas of where and what to eat when you visit Omaha, although there are of course plenty more options across the city.

Omaha Children’s Museum

If you’re visiting Omaha with children, then you should definitely consider including the Omaha Children’s Museum on your to-do list. This award winning museum aims to stimulate kids imagination and excite them about learning new things.

It does this through a wide variety of permanent and temporary exhibits, the majority of which are interactive. These include a science center where experimentation is encouraged, a kid-sized hospital with interactive “x-ray” machines, an interactive kid-friendly bank branch, and loads more.

The museum has an entry fee and there’s free parking on site. You can save on admission with the free Omaha Savings Pack.

Shopping

As with most cities, Omaha has an excellent choice of shopping options. These range from the standard big box and department stores that you’ll find most everywhere, through to locally owned locations, which we’ll focus on in this guide.

• The Old Market area of Omaha is where we’d recommend heading if you’re looking for smaller, locally owned shops. You’ll find everything from antique shops to candy shops, home decor, books, vintage clothing, jewelry and music. We can also recommend visiting the Artists Cooperative Gallery if you’d like to peruse and buy art from local artists. Naturally, the area also has plenty of coffee shops (as well as restaurants and bars) to keep you fueled. You’ll also find the local tourism office here.
• The Dundee neighborhood, to the west of downtown, is also a good shopping destination. Neighborhood shops include Roger + Chris (home decor), Albany and Avers (vintage clothing) and Dundee Candle Co where you can create and pour your own candle.
• Nebraska Furniture Mart. Founded in Omaha in 1937, and today owned by Berkshire Hathaway, this is an iconic Omaha home furnishing store. With over 450,000 square feet of retail space, it’s safe to say that if you are looking for furniture, this is a good option. It’s also quite an experience wandering around such as vast store. Jess and I visited, and were impressed at the range of furniture on offer, across a wide range of budgets. And yes, they offer shipping.
• For more name brand retail therapy, you might want to head to one of the nearby shopping outlets. These are largely located outside of Omaha, and include Nebraska Crossing (largest outlet mall in Nebraska), Village Pointe and Regency Shopping Center (more upscale brands). We once did some coat shopping at Nebraska Crossing and found it to be a really nice outdoor outlet mall.

As you can see, there are lots of shopping options in Omaha, whatever you are interested in buying!

Fun Plex Waterpark and Rides

If you are visiting Omaha in the hot summer months with family, then you might consider a trip out to the Fun Plex Waterpark and Rides. This is about seven miles from downtown, and is the largest amusement park in Nebraska.

The park has a number of regular rides for both adults and kids, as well as a large waterpark area which features slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and more. There’s even a 21+ swim-up bar for those looking for a bit more adult fun.

The Fun Plex is normally open from late May to the start of September, and you can see ticket prices and park opening hours on the official website here.

Local Entertainment, Festivals, Shows, & Events

Omaha hosts many events throughout the year, from major sporting events through to large conferences, festivals, and more. Depending on when you visit Omaha, you might find that there’s something go on! Here’s a quick run down of just a few of the events that take place in Omaha to give you an idea of what to expect.

Even if you aren’t interested in a specific event it’s worth noting when it takes place as some events, such as the Berkshire Hathaway Meeting or the College World Series can be very popular times to visit Omaha, with accommodation prices shooting up and popular restaurants booking out. So if you don’t intend on taking part in the event, you might want to avoid town at that time!

• College World Series, a baseball tournament held in Omaha every June since 1950,. currently taking place at the Charles Schwab Field
• Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, the annual meeting for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. Normally held in early May at the CHI Health Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena.
• Taste of Omaha – a three-day food festival held every summer in the Heartland of America park
• Maha Festival – a large music festival which normally takes place at the end of July
• The Omaha Film Festival, which takes place in March each year
• There are also numerous plays, musical acts and other performances at venues across the city throughout the year, including at The Rose Theater (children’s theater), Orpheum Theater, Omaha Community Playhouse, The Waiting Room and the CHI Health Center
• Plus of course there are movies, axe throwing, arcades, bowling, mini golf… the list of activities in Omaha goes on!

For more on what’s on in Omaha, and more ideas on what to see and do in general, we highly recommend popping into the Omaha Visitors Center in the Old Market area on 306 S 10th Street. The Visit Omaha website also has information on events happening in the city.

And Even More!

Of course, there’s lots more to do in Omaha and the surrounding area than we have covered above! Some other notable highlights to consider visiting, depending on your interests, are the following:

• Squirrel Cage Jail. Found in Council Bluffs, Iowa, this museum was a jail from 1885 through to 1969. It’s notable as being home to a revolving “squirrel cage” cell, one of only 18 built
• Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. Just southwest of Omaha, this museum focuses on the aircraft and nuclear missiles of the US Airforce during the Cold War. Exhibits include an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft and a B52 Stratofortress aircraft, as well as lots more aircraft, missiles, and even spacecraft.
• Platte River State Park – found halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, this state park offers a variety of nature trails and activities including fishing and kayaking. We can recommend climbing up one of the observation towers for wonderful views of the surrounding landscape
• Vala’s Pumpkin Patch – if you’re visiting Omaha from late August through to early November, then consider a visit to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. This huge outdoor attraction focuses on all things Fall, and you’ll find loads to do from watching pig races to a corn maze, cider drinking, live shows and more. A very fun family attraction.

How to Get to Omaha

Omaha is right in the middle of the USA, and has reasonable transport connections. We’ve visited Omaha by car, plane, and train! Here are the main ways to get to the city.

• By car. Omaha is connected by road to the rest of the U.S. by two main Interstates, I-80 which runs east all the way to New York via Chicago and west all the way to San Francisco via Salt Lake City. There’s also I-29 which runs north to Fargo, and then ultimately to the Canadian border, and south to Kansas City.
• By plane. Omaha’s airport offers direct flights to over 30 destinations in the United States, meaning the city is relatively easy to get to by air
• By train. Omaha is on the Amtrak passenger train network. We’ve traveled to Omaha on the overnight sleeper train from Denver into Omaha which was a fun experience. Omaha is on the main Amtrak route which runs between Chicago and San Francisco, the service known as the California Zephyr, which includes stops in Denver, Salt Lake City, and more.

How Many Days Should I Spend in Omaha?

Yon can spend as little or as much time as you want in Omaha as there are plenty of things to do and see. You can easily spend a week here visiting all the cultural attractions, exploring the parks, gardens, and walking paths, shopping, eating at steakhouses, and taking in some evening entertainment.

But at a minimum we’d probably recommend at least two full days and nights to get a good taste of the city.

Suggested Two Day Omaha Itinerary

Here’s a quick overview of a possible itinerary for two days in Omaha.

On your first day you might go to the Durham Museum in the morning, have a Reuben for lunch, spend the afternoon in the Old Market area, and see a play that evening.

Then on the second day you might head over to the Omaha Zoo & Aquarium (Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium) for a full day out and then have dinner that evening at a local steakhouse.

If you have more time, then I would go through our list and write down all the places you want to see and how much time you think you’d spend at each. That should give you a good idea of how much time you’ll need. Also be sure to take into account opening times and days as many attractions are closed at least one day a week.

If you are visiting for the College World Series, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, or some other big event, it is a good idea to add an extra day to your trip so you have more time to explore if possible.

Where to Stay in Omaha

Omaha has a wide range of accommodation options, including hotels, apartment rentals, motels, and more. Prices range from budget to high-end, and generally the closer you are to downtown the higher the prices will be. If you are driving, most downtown hotels will offer valet parking, although street parking is also often an option (just remember to pay the meter!).

It’s also worth noting that pricing can vary a lot depending on the time of year you visit, and if there are any major events going on in the city. The Berkshire Hathaway meeting for example is a time when prices for accommodation in Omaha can really go up, so if you aren’t planning on attending that you might want to avoid those few days.

Here are some options for where to stay in and around Omaha.

• Hotel Deco – in a building dating from 1930, this Art Deco styled 4* boutique hotel offers lovely en-suite rooms and is within easy walking distance of the downtown sights. There’s an on-site restaurant and valet parking. We stayed here for three nights on a recent visit to Omaha and enjoyed it.
• Hilton Omaha – This is the closest hotel to the CHI Health Center (convention center for a number of events and conferences in the city), to which it is connected via a Skybridge, making it a good option if you’re attending an event here. 4* hotel with on-site restaurant, airport shuttle, pool and both self-parking and valet parking options. Pets accepted. This also a good hotel option for the College World Series at the Charles Schwab stadium as it is very close to the venue also.
• The Peregrine – this hotel is found in a historic local landmark building which dates from 1914. Today it’s a boutique hotel offering 4* accommodation just minutes walk from downtown.
• The Farnam, Autograph Collection – one of the most highly rated hotels in downtown Omaha, this centrally located 4* hotel offers comfortable rooms, on-site parking, and three restaurants to choose from.
• Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel – found in Omaha’s Blackstone district a few minutes drive from downtown, this gorgeous 4* hotel is a revival of the iconic Blackstone hotel which was found on this location from 1916. This is a beautiful old hotel with all the amenities you’ll need for a leisure or business stay. If you stay here, be sure to try a Reuben! The hotel also has afternoon tea service on some Sundays.
• Hampton Inn Council Bluffs – if you would prefer a hotel with free parking, then the Hampton Inn in Council Bluffs Iowa is a good option to consider. It’s just a few minutes drive to downtown and breakfast is included
• BridgePointe Inn & Suites – a more budget oriented option found in Council Bluffs, Iowa. There’s free parking on site and breakfast is included. It’s also only a short drive from downtown Omaha

Naturally there are many more accommodation options in Omaha. See a full list of options including vacation rentals, motels and hotels here.

How to Get Around Omaha

Omaha is a fairly easy city to get around whether on foot, by car, by bike, or by public transit.

Downtown Omaha is very walkable, with many sights just a few minutes walk apart. For destinations a little further from downtown, such as the Blackstone District, Joslyn Castle, Lauritzen Gardens etc., then you will want to use some means of mechanized transport.

Public transport services, primarily in the form of a bus system, operate across the Omaha area. The system is known as the Omaha Metro, and you can find live bus times and routes on the My Ride website and app. Fares for the Metro service need to be paid through the UMO system, which means either downloading the UMO app, getting an Umo card, or purchasing an Umo token. See more on how to do that here.

Omaha is also in the process of constructing a streetcar service which is intended to link downtown with the Blackstone district. That is hoped to be running by 2027.

You can also drive easily around Omaha, which is what we normally end up doing. Street parking is available all around the city for reasonable rates, and you can pay using the Park Omaha or ParkMobile app for smartphones. Rates vary, and you can check the latest parking information here.

Ride share services including Uber, Lyft and zTrip are also available, as are bike share and scooter rental services.

How to Save Money in Omaha

While Omaha doesn’t have a city attraction pass that we are aware of, you can save on attractions with the free Omaha Savings Pack. This is a free service offered by the local tourism office, and offers discounts on some of the most popular attractions in the city.

This includes places like the Durham Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, the Zoo, Omaha Children’s Museum, and more.

It’s free to get the pass and it’s all handled online. All you have to do is provide your information and the pass will be sent to your phone. You can see more and sign up on the official Omaha Savings Pack website here.

Further Reading

That’s it for our guide to things to do in Omaha, Nebraska. Before you head off though, I just wanted to share some more resources we’ve put together to help you plan your trip to the city, and travel in the USA in general.

• Wondering how much a visit to Omaha might cost? Check out our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA to help you plan your trip budget.
• I’ve written a guide featuring some of my top tips for driving in the USA to help get you going on the road!
• We’ve visited a lot of other cities in the USA! See our guides to things to do in Las Vegas, things to do in Huntsville, things to do in Savannah, things to do in Charleston, things to do in Albuquerque, visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras, things to do in Cambria, things to do in Houston, things to do in Dallas, and things to do in Santa Fe
• If you want some USA road trip inspiration, see our itineraries for a USA Deep South road trip, California Road Trip, Route 66 Road Trip and Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
• And if you’re looking for inspiration for the rest of the USA, check out our USA section, which has lots more inspiration

Do you have any questions about visiting Omaha? As always, we’re happy to answer any questions you might have, just pop them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.