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Nebraska · the United States
The city on the Missouri River, home to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium with its covered desert and forest, the Old Market warehouse district, and the Joslyn Art Museum.
In the photo: Omaha seen from the Missouri River bank.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Omaha sits in eastern Nebraska on the west bank of the Missouri River, opposite Council Bluffs, Iowa. Founded in 1854, it was a jumping-off point for the West and, in the 1860s, served as a Union Pacific base in building the first transcontinental railroad, which made it a rail, meatpacking and cattle-trading center.
The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is one of the largest zoos in the United States, featuring the Desert Dome, a desert enclosed by a geodesic dome, and the Lied Jungle, a tropical rainforest under a roof. Along the river, the Old Market is a district of old brick warehouses and cobblestone streets, with galleries, shops and restaurants.
The former Union Station, an Art Deco building, houses the Durham Museum, and the pink-marble Joslyn Art Museum has an addition by the firm Snøhetta. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge spans the Missouri River and lets you stand with one foot in Nebraska and the other in Iowa.
This destination brings together 1 city: Omaha.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Eppley Airfield (OMA) · 7 km to Omaha
Eppley Airfield (OMA) is about 7 km from downtown. Long-distance trains stop at Omaha station near the Old Market. By car, Lincoln, the state capital, is about an hour away.
The local experience
One of the largest zoos in the United States, with the Desert Dome, the Lied Jungle, an aquarium with a tunnel and the African savanna.
A district of brick warehouses and cobblestone streets along the river, with galleries, shops, restaurants and a covered passageway.
An art-deco museum clad in pink marble, with a new Snøhetta pavilion, Karl Bodmer watercolors and free general admission.
A history museum housed in the former Union Station, a 1931 art-deco train station, with railcars and a period diner.
A roughly 900-meter pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River between Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the state border marked in the middle.
A roughly 40-hectare botanical garden by the river, with a conservatory, rose garden, Japanese garden and giant Union Pacific locomotives in the adjacent park.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From April through October; May, June and September usually have the most pleasant days. In June the College World Series, the collegiate baseball championship, fills the city. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold with snow.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Two days: one for the zoo and another for the Old Market, the riverside and the museums.
Downtown and the Old Market concentrate lodging near restaurants, the river and the pedestrian bridge. Midtown, near the Joslyn, includes the Blackstone neighborhood with bars and restaurants. Near the zoo there are hotels along I-80.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Two days: one for the zoo and another for the Old Market, the river and the museums.
A full day, to see the Desert Dome, the Lied Jungle, the aquarium and the outdoor areas at a relaxed pace.
In June, at the downtown stadium; during the tournament dates lodging is more in demand.
Helpful: downtown and the Old Market are walkable, but the zoo, the Joslyn and the airport are easier to reach by car or rideshare. In the United States you drive on the right.
Entry requirements for the United States depend on your nationality and travel document: some countries participate in the visa waiver program, with prior electronic authorization, and others require a visa. Requirements can change: confirm before you travel.
