Pittsburgh
Save39 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 3 ready-made day plans ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Historic 1877 funicular up Mount Washington
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Pay the small fare, cash or card
- Go at sunset for skyline views
- Small museum at the top station
📷 Photos
- 2
Park at the meeting of three rivers with a giant fountain
3 tips
- Fountain runs in warm months
- Fort Pitt Museum is nearby
- Great for a riverside stroll
📷 Photos
- 3
Largest single-artist museum in North America
- Must know: Closed Mondays
2 tips
- Allow two to three hours
- Start on the top floor and work down
📷 Photos
- 4
Famous dinosaur hall and gem collection in Oakland
3 tips
- Dinosaurs in Their Time is the highlight
- Shares an entrance with the art museum
- Allow two to three hours
📷 Photos
- 5
Victorian glasshouse with themed seasonal displays
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Check seasonal flower shows
- Pair with Schenley Park
📷 Photos
- 6
Gothic skyscraper at Pitt with the Nationality Rooms
3 tips
- Nationality Rooms are guided or self-guided
- The Commons room is free to visit
- Look up at the vaulted ceiling
📷 Photos
- 7
Pirates ballpark with a skyline backdrop
3 tips
- Sit along the first base line for skyline views
- Walk the riverfront before games
- Cross the Clemente Bridge on foot
📷 Photos
- 8
Classic Pittsburgh skyline viewpoint on Mount Washington
3 tips
- Best views at dusk
- Take the incline up
- Several restaurants along the rim
📷 Photos
- 9
Market district with food vendors and shops
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Try local sandwiches and pastries
- Bring cash for some stalls
📷 Photos
- 10
Clayton mansion, art museum and grounds
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Grounds are free
- Allow half a day
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Pittsburgh tips
Transportation
- Get a ConnectCard: Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and the T light rail use this reloadable card, or you can pay via the transit app.
- Ride the T downtown: light rail trips between downtown stations and the North Shore are free, handy for stadiums and museums.
- Take an incline: the Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines climb Mount Washington and are real public transit, not just a tourist ride.
Security
- Stick to busy areas at night: downtown empties after office hours, so walk with others or use rideshare after late events.
- Lock your car: break-ins happen in parking lots and on streets, so leave nothing visible in the vehicle.
- Drive carefully on hills: steep, narrow streets and winter ice make some neighbourhoods tricky, and local drivers can be unpredictable.
Saving
- Use free museum days: several museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish times, and many galleries in Lawrenceville and Garfield are free to enter.
- Shop the Strip District: grab cheap eats, pierogies, coffee and market snacks along Penn Avenue instead of sit-down restaurants.
- Explore the riverfront trails: the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and Point State Park are free and give great skyline views.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack layers for winter: December to March is cold, grey and snowy, so bring a warm coat, hat, gloves and waterproof boots.
- Expect humid summers: June to August is warm and muggy with thunderstorms, so carry a light rain jacket.
- Wear walking shoes: the city is all hills and public staircases, so comfortable shoes with grip make exploring much easier.
Cultural
- Learn some Pittsburghese: locals say yinz for you all and call the city the Burgh; a few words will earn you a smile.
- Try local classics: a Primanti Bros sandwich with fries and slaw inside, pierogies and a chipped ham sandwich are Pittsburgh staples.
- Wear black and gold: sports are a big deal here, and game days for the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins fill bars across the city.
Local Hacks
- See the skyline at night: Grandview Avenue on Mount Washington has the classic view where the three rivers meet.
- Avoid tunnel rush hours: traffic backs up badly at the Fort Pitt and Squirrel Hill tunnels during commutes, so plan drives around them.
- Climb the city steps: Pittsburgh has hundreds of public staircases linking hilly neighbourhoods, a fun free way to explore.
1-day itineraries in Pittsburgh
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 3
The Strip District and around
🕘 9:30–17:15📍 7 stops
- 1The Strip District
- 2Randyland
- 3The Andy Warhol Museum
- 4Roberto Clemente Bridge
- 5PNC Park
- and 2 more
Day 2 of 3
Grandview Scenic Byway and Overlook and around
🕘 9:30–17:30📍 5 stops
- 1Grandview Scenic Byway and Overlook
- 2Point State Park
- 3Duquesne Incline
- 4Carnegie Science Center
- 5Mattress Factory
Day 3 of 3
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and around
🕘 9:30–16:30📍 5 stops
- 1Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- 2Carnegie Museum of Art
- 3Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- 4Cathedral of Learning
- 5Schenley Plaza
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