Omaha
Discover Omaha
Omaha is the largest city in the US state of Nebraska, with about 486,000 residents in 2020. Tourist attractions in Omaha include history, sports, outdoors and cultural experiences. Its principal tourist attractions are the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Men's College World Series. The Old Market in Downtown Omaha is another major attraction and is important to the city's retail economy. Omaha has some unusual traits, as it has the most millionaires per capita in the nation, and is also home to billionaire Warren Buffett, one of the world's richest and most famous investors. Conversely, it also has one of the highest rates of African Americans living under the poverty line. It is still quite racially divided, with the affluent west side and Midtown being predominantly white, the south side Latino, and the northeast side African American.
What to Experience in Omaha
Taste of Omaha...
It's said that Omaha has more restaurants per capita than almost anywhere else in the world. Omaha and much of Nebraska are known for high quality corn-fed beef. Smoking is illegal inside all restaurants in Nebraska. Smoking on outdoor patios is legal, but is rare and usually prohibited. Below are a selection of locations to eat in Omaha. All restaurants, bars, and coffee shops in Omaha are smoke-free indoors. Smoking on outdoor patios is legal, though rather uncommon. All bars in Omaha must close by 2AM. Beer, wine, and liquor can be purchased in grocery stores. Hard liquor cannot be served or sold before noon on Sunday. Other fun bars include the 41.2547-95.929466 Old Market Tavern, the 41.25627-95.932267 Dubliner, 41.25564-95.931468 Billy Frogs, and 41.25562-95.929469 Barry O's, all within a few blocks of each other in the Old Market District. Omaha is generally a safe city, but still use common sense. Simply using caution and avoiding any situation in which you are uncomfortable will basically keep you out of trouble. The vast majority of violent crime occurs in North Omaha, roughly defined as the area North of Cuming St, between 24th and 72nd St. Exercise a bit of additional caution when in this area, especially after dark. Omaha is in Tornado Alley, so severe weather can erupt between the months of April and August with the main threats being hail, high winds and street flooding, but tornadoes can sometimes be a threat.
Climate
The climate of Omaha is continental with hot and humid summers and winters with cold and snow. Average heat indices in the summer are 92 °F (33 °C) during the day and 68 °F (20 °C) at night. It's not unheard of for heat indices to reach or exceed 106 °F (41 °C) and not go below 77 °F (25 °C) on exceptionally hot and sweltering days. Secondary airports serving the area are 41.1961-96.11222 Millard Airport (MIQ ) in West Omaha, 40.95167-95.918343 Plattsmouth Municipal Airport (KPMV) in South Omaha, 41.3683-96.02254 North Omaha Airport (FAA LID: 3NO), 41.4492-96.52035 Fremont Municipal Airport (FET) and 41.26-95.7586116 Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF) in Iowa, across the Missouri River east. Amtrak serves Omaha with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. It has several stops along the way, with connections throughout America. However, the trains arrive at inconvenient times in the middle of the night.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsSecondary airports serving the area are 41.1961-96.11222 Millard Airport (MIQ ) in West Omaha, 40.95167-95.918343 Plattsmouth Municipal Airport (KPMV) in South Omaha, 41.3683-96.02254 North Omaha Airport (FAA LID: 3NO), 41.4492-96.52035 Fremont Municipal Airport (FET) and 41.26-95.7586116 Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF) in Iowa, across the Missouri River east. Amtrak serves Omaha with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. It has several stops along the way, with connections throughout America. However, the trains arrive at inconvenient times in the middle of the night. Omaha once had two historic grand stations, but one is now a television studio, and the other has been converted to a museum. The current 41.249749-95.9271857 Omaha Amtrak station is on 1003 South 9th Street. The 41.25435-95....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Neighbourhoods of Omaha are generally ill-defined and rarely used. When describing a location, Omahans are more likely to give an intersection. For example "39th & Davenport" for Joslyn Castle or "156th & Center" for Zorinsky lake. Roughly speaking: Downtown is between I-480 and the Missouri River, Midtown is between I-480 and I-680, and West Omaha is west of I-680. By far the easiest and most convenient way of getting around. The city is a grid and easily navigable, numbered streets run north-south and increase in number as you go west. Parking is plentiful and often free outside of downtown, and traffic jams are rare. All major rental car companies operate in Omaha. The Omaha Metro has regular bus services serving around Omaha. Fares are $1.25-1.50 for adults, $1 for students, and $.60 for seniors. Taxi service is available, but there is much less than in major cities.
Where to Stay
Omaha is generally a safe city, but still use common sense. Simply using caution and avoiding any situation in which you are uncomfortable will basically keep you out of trouble. The vast majority of violent crime occurs in North Omaha, roughly defined as the area North of Cuming St, between 24th and 72nd St. Exercise a bit of additional caution when in this area, especially after dark. Omaha is in Tornado Alley, so severe weather can erupt between the months of April and August with the main threats being hail, high winds and street flooding, but tornadoes can sometimes be a threat. Tornado alert sirens are located throughout the city. At 11AM on the first Wednesday of the month, the sirens are tested. If in doubt, ask a resident. Local stations KETV Channel 7 (ABC), WOWT Channel 6(NBC) and KMTV Channel 3 (CBS) break into programming if a severe weather event is in progress. Radio services 1110 AM and 590 AM also provide severe weather coverage.
Money & Budget
Supermarkets are ubiquitous and multiple brands are available. Big-box stores Walmart and Target are also present. It's said that Omaha has more restaurants per capita than almost anywhere else in the world. Omaha and much of Nebraska are known for high quality corn-fed beef. Smoking is illegal inside all restaurants in Nebraska. Smoking on outdoor patios is legal, but is rare and usually prohibited. Below are a selection of locations to eat in Omaha. All restaurants, bars, and coffee shops in Omaha are smoke-free indoors. Smoking on outdoor patios is legal, though rather uncommon. All bars in Omaha must close by 2AM. Beer, wine, and liquor can be purchased in grocery stores. Hard liquor cannot be served or sold before noon on Sunday. Other fun bars include the 41.2547-95.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Omaha is generally a safe city, but still use common sense. Simply using caution and avoiding any situation in which you are uncomfortable will basically keep you out of trouble. The vast majority of violent crime occurs in North Omaha, roughly defined as the area North of Cuming St, between 24th and 72nd St. Exercise a bit of additional caution when in this area, especially after dark. Omaha is in Tornado Alley, so severe weather can erupt between the months of April and August with the main threats being hail, high winds and street flooding, but tornadoes can sometimes be a threat. Tornado alert sirens are located throughout the city. At 11AM on the first Wednesday of the month, the sirens are tested. If in doubt, ask a resident. Local stations KETV Channel 7 (ABC), WOWT Channel 6(NBC) and KMTV Channel 3 (CBS) break into programming if a severe weather event is in progress. Radio services 1110 AM and 590 AM also provide severe weather coverage.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Omaha
a view of a city with a lake in the foreground
The Good Life
an aerial view of a city at night
Skyline of Omaha, Nebraska.
a body of water surrounded by tall buildings
an aerial view of a circular building surrounded by trees
A cool fall evening in Omaha, Nebraska.
Pedestian Bridge
Omaha nights
Under the highway in West Omaha
a view of a city with a lake in the foreground
The Good Life
an aerial view of a city at night