Things to do in Omaha Nebraska include museums, riverfront parks, wildlife attractions, gardens, science exhibits, and historic sites. The Missouri River also creates several memorable outdoor experiences near downtown.
Additionally, Omaha has many family-friendly attractions. Visitors can combine the zoo and museums with parks, public art, and riverfront walks. Because many sights cluster downtown and in South Omaha, visitors can easily combine several stops in a day.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium sits at 3701 S. 10th Street and covers 160 acres. Its indoor highlights include the Desert Dome, the world’s largest indoor desert, and the Lied Jungle, North America’s largest indoor rainforest. In addition, the Scott Aquarium features a 70-foot shark tunnel and is included with admission. From April 1 through October 31, the zoo opens at 9 a.m., and most buildings stay open until 6 p.m. From November 1 through March 31, hours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The zoo closes only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission prices change by season, so check the website.
The Durham Museum fills Omaha’s historic Union Station at 801 S. 10th Street, and it is a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can climb aboard restored passenger train cars from the 1940s and see regional history exhibits. In addition, the museum hosts traveling exhibits through its Smithsonian affiliation, and an authentic 1931 soda fountain serves treats. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. It closes on Mondays and major holidays, and it closes early on Christmas Eve.
Joslyn Art Museum at 2200 Dodge Street reopened after a two-year renovation, and general admission is always free. Three architecturally distinct, connected buildings hold more than 30 galleries of art, from ancient to contemporary. Prairie-inspired gardens surround the museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended evening hours on select days. It closes on Mondays and major holidays. In addition, Art-astic Saturdays offer family activities on the first Saturday of each month.
Kiewit Luminarium at 345 Riverfront Drive is a hands-on science museum on Omaha’s riverfront. More than 100 interactive exhibits explore science, art, and human perception. In addition, Sean Kenney’s Brick Masters Studio, an immersive art-and-science exhibition, runs from September 26 through January 18. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it stays open until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. It also opens Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, on federal holidays, and during school breaks. Because hours may vary, reserve timed tickets online.
Gene Leahy Mall is a 9.6-acre park in the middle of Omaha’s RiverFront. It reopened on July 1, 2022, after a major redesign. Visitors can enjoy green spaces, a playground, public art, and The Cascades, a seasonal water feature. The Cascades is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closes on Tuesdays. The RiverFront parks are open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. In addition, the mall connects the historic Old Market with the river.
Heartland of America Park extends the downtown RiverFront toward the Missouri River. It reopened on August 18, 2023, after a redesign. Farnam Pier reaches into the park’s lagoon, and a skate area and open lawns give visitors more ways to enjoy the park. The park shares the RiverFront’s daily hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. As a result, it is an easy place for an evening walk.
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge links Omaha with Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River. A marker on the bridge shows the Nebraska–Iowa state line, which makes a popular photo stop. Walkers also get river and skyline views, and the bridge sways slightly in the wind. The bridge starts at Lewis & Clark Landing, beside Kiewit Luminarium and the National Park Service visitor center.
Lauritzen Gardens at 100 Bancroft Street covers 100 acres of botanical landscapes. Highlights include a rose garden, a Victorian garden, a model railroad garden, a Japanese garden, and the Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory. The gardens are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and they close on Thanksgiving. In addition, the gardens celebrate their 25th anniversary this fall, and the Bright Nights holiday lights return each winter. Check the calendar for dates. Free Kenefick Park sits next door.
El Museo Latino at 4701 S. 25th Street is the first Latino art and history museum in the Midwest. It opened in 1993 and has occupied its South Omaha building since 1997. Permanent and traveling exhibitions feature local, national, and international Latino art and culture. The museum is open Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed Sunday through Tuesday and on major holidays. General admission is $10, and children under 5 and members are free.
The National Park Service operates the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center at 601 Riverfront Drive, beside the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Visitors can watch a 28-minute film about the expedition on demand and try on early-1800s clothing in the Dress Like an Explorer display. In addition, kids can earn Junior Ranger badges, and dogs can become B.A.R.K. Rangers. Rangers also help plan trips along the 4,900-mile trail. Because the center sits inside a National Park Service office building, check the park’s page for current hours.
The Great Plains Black History Museum is the only African American history museum in Nebraska. Bertha Calloway founded it in 1976, and in 2026 the museum marked its 50th anniversary. It now occupies the first floor of the historic Jewell Building at 2221 N. 24th Street in North Omaha. Exhibits tell American history through the experiences of African Americans on the Great Plains and across the country. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Because hours can change, call (402) 932-7077 before you go.
Begin in South Omaha at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. After that, visit The Durham Museum for regional and railroad history, about two miles north. Later, head to The RiverFront to explore Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park, and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Families can add Kiewit Luminarium or the Lewis and Clark visitor center nearby. Finally, choose Joslyn Art Museum or Lauritzen Gardens. Because hours change, confirm them before you visit.