Free & Cheap Things to Do in Lincoln

History & Culture

Nicknamed 'The Tower on the Plains,' this is one of the most architecturally stunning state capitols in America. The art deco masterpiece is covered in breathtaking mosaics, murals, and stone sculptures inside and out — and free guided tours run daily, letting you explore the entire building with a knowledgeable guide.

Address: 1445 K St, Lincoln, NE 68509

Tip: Free guided tours depart from the North Entrance (2nd floor) multiple times daily Monday through Sunday — check the schedule at capitol.nebraska.gov. Allow 45–60 minutes for a full guided tour.

Parks & Nature

A beloved Lincoln landmark since 1931, Sunken Gardens is a gorgeous free botanical garden set below street level, creating a sheltered microclimate that supports stunning seasonal flower displays. Over 30,000 plants are replanted each year, making every visit a colorful spectacle unlike anything else on the Nebraska plains.

Address: 27th & Capitol Pkwy, Lincoln, NE 68503

Tip: Peak bloom is mid-summer (July–August) when the tiered beds are at their most dramatic. Open daily from dawn to dusk. The garden is compact and perfect for a 30-minute visit.

Parks & Nature

A hidden gem on Lincoln's edge — 668 acres of tallgrass prairie, woodland, and wetland trails with free wildlife exhibits in the nature center. Resident bison, elk, and white-tailed deer roam large outdoor enclosures viewable from the trails. A rare chance to see Nebraska's native wildlife up close without paying a dime.

Address: 3201 S Coddington Ave, Lincoln, NE 68522

Tip: The bison and elk enclosures are the highlight — walk the full loop trail for the best views. The indoor nature center has free wildlife exhibits that are great for kids of all ages.

Arts & Culture

The art museum of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, housed in a striking 1963 Italian travertine marble building designed by Philip Johnson — said to be Johnson's favorite of his own works. The 13,000-piece permanent collection focuses on American art with major works by Mary Cassatt, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, Helen Frankenthaler, and the largest public collection of Stuart Davis paintings outside New York City.

Address: 12th & R Sts, Lincoln, NE 68588

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm (Thursday until 8pm) and Sunday noon–5pm; closed Mondays. The outdoor Sculpture Garden surrounding the building has 30+ free-standing works and is open 24/7. Free street parking on weekends; metered weekdays. Free guided tours run Sundays at 2pm.

Shopping & Strolling

Lincoln's original 1860s railroad warehouse district has been reborn as the city's most atmospheric walkable downtown — restored brick storefronts now house coffee roasters, indie boutiques, breweries, galleries, and a James-Beard-honored restaurant scene. The Saturday Farmers' Market in the Haymarket runs May through October, a free historic walking tour passes 30+ marked buildings, and live music spills onto the streets on warm summer evenings.

Address: 7th–9th & O–Q Sts, Lincoln, NE 68508

Tip: Park free on Saturday and Sunday at any downtown garage with Park & Go validation. The walking-tour map is free at the Downtown Lincoln Organization office on 8th St or as a PDF online. Allow at least 2 hours to do the district justice. Pinnacle Bank Arena anchors the north end.

History & Culture

The Nebraska State Historical Society's flagship museum two blocks from the State Capitol covers 12,000 years of Plains and Nebraska history in a renovated four-story building — from Pawnee earth lodges and an 1880s sod house you can step inside, to the original 1894 Burlington wagon used in the Oklahoma land rush. A standout Children's Discovery Area on the lower level is a hit with families.

Address: 131 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE 68508

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday 9am–4pm; closed Sunday and Monday. The lower-level Discovery Area is the best free kids' history activity in Lincoln — easy to spend an hour there alone. Free public parking at the State Capitol garage one block south. Combo with a free Capitol tour next door.

Arts & Culture

Nebraska's largest natural history museum, housed in a 1927 building on the UNL campus and famed for Elephant Hall — the world's largest collection of fossil elephants and mammoths, with eight complete skeletons towering through two stories. Other floors cover dinosaur fossils, Mesozoic Nebraska seas, Native American culture, and a popular Mueller Planetarium upstairs (small additional fee for planetarium shows).

Address: 645 N 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68588

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday 9:30am–4:30pm and Sunday 1:30–4:30pm; closed Mondays. The Elephant Hall is the marquee — Archie, the towering Columbian mammoth, is the star. Free parking in UNL Lot 24 on weekends. Planetarium shows are an extra $7 — most kids find them worth it.

Arts & Culture

The world's largest publicly held quilt collection — over 6,000 quilts spanning five centuries and dozens of cultures — is housed in a purpose-built 37,000-square-foot building on the UNL East Campus. Rotating exhibitions are remarkable, the storage vault (visible through observation windows) holds millions of dollars of textile art, and the museum hosts the largest annual quilt symposium in North America.

Address: 1523 N 33rd St, Lincoln, NE 68583

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–4pm and Sunday 1–4pm; closed Mondays. UNL students/faculty/staff are free with N-Card. Free parking in adjacent Lot 50. Allow 90 minutes — start with the temporary exhibitions on level 1 and work back to the permanent display rotating from the vault.