Start from 74 curated places around Omaha, NE, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
V. Mertz
A subterranean Old Market fine-dining room in the original 1880s warehouse brick, open since the district's earliest days. The seasonal tasting and an unusually deep wine cellar make it Omaha's default special-occasion table. Jacket-optional but it sets the tone.
Le Bouillon
A French brasserie in a vaulted Old Market basement from the team that ran the long-loved La Buvette next door. Steak frites, mussels, and a Francophile wine list in a candlelit stone room. Date-night territory.
Trails & outdoors
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
The flat, paved riverfront crossing that doubles as the easiest scenic walk downtown, linking Omaha to Council Bluffs over the Missouri. Under a mile round trip to the Iowa side and back, fully accessible. The default short walk for visitors with no gear.
Heartland of America Park
A short, flat paved loop around a downtown lake, easy to combine with Gene Leahy Mall and the pedestrian bridge for a longer riverfront stitch. Urban, accessible, and good for an after-dinner stroll. The low-effort downtown nature fix.
Things to do
Joslyn Art Museum
The free flagship art museum in a 1931 Art Deco landmark, reopened in 2024 with a major glass-and-steel expansion. Strong American Western collection plus rotating contemporary shows. The default rainy-day cultural anchor.
The Durham Museum
Omaha's history museum in a restored 1931 Union Station, a Smithsonian affiliate with walk-through period exhibits and rotating traveling shows. Indoor, kid-friendly, and as much about the Art Deco building as the displays. A solid rainy-day pick.
Landmarks & sights
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Consistently ranked among the best zoos in the country, anchored by the Desert Dome (the world's largest indoor desert under a geodesic glass dome) and the Lied Jungle. The Kingdoms of the Night exhibit beneath the dome is the largest nocturnal display anywhere. Plan on most of a day if you have kids.
Joslyn Art Museum
Omaha's flagship art museum in a 1931 pink-marble Art Deco building, with a strong collection of American Western art (Catlin, Bodmer) and a 2024 glass-and-steel wing that doubled the gallery space. General admission is free, which makes it an easy hour or three.