New to town, hosting visitors, or just overdue for a day out? Here are five Omaha classics that earn their reputation. Locals know them, but they're worth a fresh look, and a couple have changed a lot lately.
Five Omaha classics
3701 S 10th St · Zoo & aquarium
Regularly ranked among the best zoos in the world, and the crown jewel of Omaha attractions. The grounds hold the Desert Dome (billed as the world's largest indoor desert), the Lied Jungle rainforest, and the Kingdoms of the Night nocturnal exhibit beneath the dome. The Scott Aquarium's underwater tunnel puts sharks and sea turtles right over your head. Give yourself the better part of a day, the property runs about 160 acres, and parking is free.
Why go: One-of-a-kind exhibits you genuinely can't see anywhere else. First-timers: start at the back and work forward to beat the crowds.
Downtown · Historic district
Omaha's original arts and entertainment district, roughly nine blocks of downtown between Farnam and Jackson. Cobblestone streets, brick warehouses turned lofts and shops, horse-drawn carriages, and street performers set the scene. More than 40 restaurants and taverns sit alongside galleries and independent boutiques. Saturday mornings from May to mid-October bring a farmers market to the streets. Stop at Ted & Wally's for scratch-made ice cream.
Why go: The walkable heart of downtown. On the National Register of Historic Places, and the easy answer when someone asks what to do in Omaha.
Riverfront · Missouri River crossing
A 3,000-foot cable-stayed footbridge over the Missouri River, and the first pedestrian bridge built to link two states. Cross to the middle and you can stand in Nebraska and Iowa at the same time, which locals call "bobbing." The span connects to miles of riverfront trails on both banks and delivers postcard views of the Omaha skyline. OMAR the troll guards the Nebraska end. The 2025 "Baby Bob" connector made the walk from downtown even shorter.
Why go: Free, open 24 hours, and lit up at night. A short walk from the Old Market and a favorite for a sunset stroll.
2200 Dodge St · Art museum
The state's largest fine arts museum, a gift to the city from Sarah Joslyn in 1931. It reopened in September 2024 after a two-year, $100 million renovation that added a 42,000-square-foot pavilion and rejuvenated the sculpture gardens. The collection spans thousands of years across three connected buildings, with more than 30 galleries from ancient to contemporary. General admission is free, always.
Why go: A newly reimagined space, free to enter, recently named a top art museum in national readers' polls. Check current hours before you head over.
100 Bancroft St · Botanical garden
Omaha's botanical center: 100 acres of rolling terraces and more than 20 themed gardens on the bluffs above the Missouri River, plus the indoor Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory for year-round greenery. Highlights include single-species gardens that erupt with color in season, three miles of trails, a model railroad garden, and Sofia's Play Garden for families, which opened in 2025. A narrated tram runs May through October. Admission is charged; parking is free.
Why go: A quiet, meticulously kept escape near the zoo. Plan for a few hours, and bring a hat for the open stretches.
Got a favorite we missed? Hit reply and tell us what belongs on the list. Tips always welcome.