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.

Understand


It is on the Missouri River border with Iowa, along Interstates 29 and 80.

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.

Residents are friendly and polite, and Omaha has a well-deserved reputation for hospitality.

By plane


Secondary airports serving the area are  in West Omaha,  (KPMV) in South Omaha, ,   and   in Iowa, across the Missouri River east.

By train
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 a two historic grand stations, but one is now a television studio, and the other has been converted to a museum. The current is on 1003 South 9th Street.

By bus
The for Burlington Trailways and Jefferson Lines south of downtown at 1601 S Jackson St while Express Arrow serves the airport. Check schedules & websites. (Some of these companies also have (additional) stops in other parts of the city.) From here buses typically come from Denver to the west on I-80/76; and from Chicago to the east along I-80/88. There are other bus services going north & south between Sioux City, IA and Kansas City, MO as well:



There are additional companies offering intrastate transportation out of the airport (see 'By shuttle' in below).

Districts
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 car
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.

By bus
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.

By taxi
Taxi service is available, but there is much less than in major cities. Taxis are always available at the airport and train and bus stations, but you won't be able to hail a cab downtown; you must call and arrange for a taxi to pick you up. Rates are fixed by city ordinance and do not vary among companies. Ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft are also present.

Zoo

 * The Zoo also runs a drive-through near the city of Ashland that has elk, wolves, eagles, buffalo, and other native animals.
 * The Zoo also runs a drive-through near the city of Ashland that has elk, wolves, eagles, buffalo, and other native animals.

Museums


Omaha has quite a few museums and art galleries:


 * Various other Old Market and Benson galleries. Omaha has a "First Friday" gallery crawl through both neighborhoods every first Friday of each month.
 * Various other Old Market and Benson galleries. Omaha has a "First Friday" gallery crawl through both neighborhoods every first Friday of each month.
 * Various other Old Market and Benson galleries. Omaha has a "First Friday" gallery crawl through both neighborhoods every first Friday of each month.

Landmarks
Omaha has many unique landmarks.



Parks
Many parks and recreational areas are scattered throughout Omaha.

Sports

 * If you can't make it to the MCWS but still want to see quality baseball, take a short drive to the southern suburb of Papillion to catch an Omaha Storm Chasers game at . The Storm Chasers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, one step down from Major League Baseball.
 * Each September, the River City Roundup takes place. The event includes a festival of events, a professional rodeo, stage shows, expositions, parades, kiddie rides and more.
 * During hockey season, the Omaha Lancers take the ice in the in the southern suburb of Ralston.
 * The Omaha Beef is Omaha's indoor football team, which also plays at the Ralston Arena.
 * Union Omaha is Omaha's professional men's soccer team, playing in the third-level USL League One and sharing Werner Park with the Storm Chasers.
 * The Creighton Bluejays, the sports teams of Creighton University, are also a big part of Omaha life. Jays men's basketball especially, played at the CHI Health Center (formerly Qwest Center and CenturyLink Center), is a big draw for students and residents alike. Creighton also has a great soccer team that plays in one of the best soccer stadiums in the country, Morrison Stadium, located right on campus.
 * The Omaha Mavericks, representing the University of Nebraska Omaha, have a Division I hockey team that is usually a top 20 team. The Mavericks hockey team plays in the on-campus Baxter Arena, also home to Mavericks men's and women's basketball.
 * For a taste of subculture sports, check out the Omaha Roller Girls, Omaha's one-and-only flat track roller derby team.
 * Omaha has been home to four editions (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021) of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials at the venue now known as CHI Health Center, though the 2024 trials will be in Indianapolis. When held in Omaha, heats and finals usually begin the last week of the Men's College World Series and tickets are open to the public.
 * Omaha has been home to four editions (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021) of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials at the venue now known as CHI Health Center, though the 2024 trials will be in Indianapolis. When held in Omaha, heats and finals usually begin the last week of the Men's College World Series and tickets are open to the public.

Events and festivals
Omaha hosts many festivals throughout the year.
 * Every Thursday night throughout the summer, you can take part in Jazz on the Green where local and regional musicians present programs ranging from reggae to swing at this annual concert series sponsored by the Joslyn Art Museum. Bring a blanket, picnic dinner, beverages and your dancing shoes!
 * Another summer event is Shakespeare on the Green is an offering of Shakespearean works, a drama and a comedy running in repertory and draws more than 35,000 playgoers during its annual three-week run.
 * Every summer, the Omaha Farmers Market takes place in the downtown Old Market area and is open Saturday mornings.
 * The Taste of Omaha festival is usually held between the Lewis & Clark Landing & Heartland of America Park downtown. Held in early June, this is a great way to sample food from various local vendors. There is also live music and other fun events.
 * In the winter months, the Holiday Lights Festival takes place in Downtown Omaha. Lights are put up on many buildings and trees, and different activities take place throughout the festival, including ice skating, singing performances, and fireworks.
 * The West-Omaha Neighbourhood of Millard hosts Millard Days, usually the last week in August. Great for families, events include a parade, carnival, and horseshoes tournament.

Music

 * Omaha is home to the Saddle Creek record label, which carries bands such as Bright Eyes, The Faint, and Cursive. These bands are part of the "Omaha Sound" and frequently play in Omaha. Check out venues such as, , and the to see if they, or any other bands of your liking, are playing.
 * You can also check out what bands are playing at the which hosts national acts.

Activities

 * A trip to Omaha is not complete without a trip to the Old Market. The area still retains its brick streets and covered sidewalks, and rides on horse-drawn carriages are available. It is a good area to take a stroll and do some window shopping at the eccentric shops and upscale boutiques found throughout the area. Common sights include street performers, musicians, artists, and other vendors. In the summer, it is home to the Omaha Farmers Market.

Learn
There are three major universites present in Omaha: University of Nebraska Omaha, Creighton University, and University of Nebraska Medical Center.



Work
Omaha has a thriving employment market in finance, healthcare, and IT.

Despite its relatively small population, Omaha is home to the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies:, , Kiewit Corporation, and Mutual of Omaha Insurance.

Other major employers in the area include Charles Schwab, First National Bank of Omaha,, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Grocery store
Supermarkets are ubiquitous and multiple brands are available. Big-box stores Walmart and Target are also present.





Eat
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 rare. Below are a selection of locations to eat in Omaha.

Drink
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.

Bars


Other fun bars include the, the , , and , all within a few blocks of each other in the Old Market District.

Stay safe
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. Omaha is in Douglas County in the state of Nebraska, as meteorologists often point out warnings this way.

During winter months, Omaha often sees cold temperatures as well as snow or ice events. There are steep hills in the city, and precaution should be taken during slick driving conditions. Blizzards are often possible, the entire city normally shuts down during one of these.

Cope

 * The Omaha World-Herald; the city's largest newspaper.
 * Nebraska Examiner; local non-profit online newspaper, mainly focused on investigative journalism.
 * The Omaha Star; Newspaper published in North Omaha, primarily covering the black community.
 * Silicon Prairie News; covers the midwestern tech industry

Consulates

 * 🇲🇽 Mexico

Go next

 * Council Bluffs, Iowa is just across the Missouri River. Gambling is illegal in Nebraska, so Omaha residents visit Council Bluffs for its casinos. There are also some interesting historic sites here.
 * The nearby cities of Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion and Ralston have various shopping areas. See Eastern Nebraska for details.
 * Visit Lincoln ( west on I-80) to explore various museums and shopping there. Or catch a University of Nebraska football game, where every home game has been sold out for over 50 years.
 * Nebraska City - Has orchards and vineyards (Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard or Arbor Day Farm) about an hour drive from Omaha.