Travel guide · United States
Pittsburgh travel guide
Three rivers, 19th-century inclines and the museums steel money built
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Pittsburgh sits where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio, in a landscape of steep hills, hundreds of bridges and neighbourhoods divided by ravines. The fortunes of Carnegie, Frick, Mellon and Heinz paid for an outsized cultural legacy — the Carnegie Museums, the Frick, Phipps Conservatory — while the Andy Warhol Museum honours the city's most famous son. Ride a 19th-century incline up Mount Washington for the skyline view, shop the Strip District's old produce warehouses and eat a sandwich with the fries inside. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- PIT
- Mid-range daily budget
- $190–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Three rivers, Inclines, Bridges and Andy Warhol
Why visit Pittsburgh
- The Duquesne and Monongahela inclines, from 1877 and 1870, climb Mount Washington to one of the most dramatic city views in the United States.
- The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum in North America dedicated to a single artist, across the Andy Warhol Bridge from downtown.
- One ticket covers both the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, with its dinosaur halls, and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland.
- Neighbourhoods such as the Strip District and Lawrenceville mix Polish delis, steel-era bars and new restaurants.
- Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and the Laurel Highlands are about 90 minutes away by car.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Experience · Mount Washington
Duquesne Incline
Opened in 1877 to carry workers up Mount Washington, this funicular still runs in its original wooden cars, climbing about 120 metres from West Carson Street to Grandview Avenue.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · North Shore
Andy Warhol Museum
Seven floors of a former warehouse trace Warhol's life from his Pittsburgh childhood to Factory-era fame, with paintings, films, screen prints and his time-capsule boxes of everyday objects.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Oakland
Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art
Andrew Carnegie's twin museums share a building and a ticket.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Market · Strip District
Strip District
Along Penn Avenue, family-run shops such as the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, fishmongers, bakeries, coffee roasters and Asian grocers sell food from shops that once supplied the city's wholesale produce trade.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Iconic
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Landmark · North Shore
PNC Park
The Pittsburgh Pirates' ballpark, opened in 2001, is often rated among the best in baseball for its view across the Allegheny to the downtown skyline and the yellow Roberto Clemente Bridge, which closes to cars on game days so fans can walk over.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
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Viewpoint · Mount Washington
Grandview Avenue overlooks
A string of platforms along Grandview Avenue looks straight down on the Point, where the Allegheny and Monongahela join to form the Ohio, with downtown's towers and bridges spread out below.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- After dark
Where to stay
Downtown is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and solo travellers
Downtown
The Golden Triangle of office towers, theatres and Point State Park between two rivers
$$$ · Best for food lovers, shopping and first-timers
Strip District
Old produce warehouses turned into food shops, markets and new apartments
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and couples
Lawrenceville
Row houses, independent shops and much of the city's newer dining on Butler Street
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and culture
North Shore
Stadiums, the Warhol and riverfront parks across the Allegheny
What to eat
- Primanti Bros. sandwich — Grilled meat and cheese piled on thick Italian bread with tomato, vinegar coleslaw and a fistful of fries inside the sandwich, created for truckers and produce workers in the Strip District in the 1930s.
- Pierogies — Dumplings stuffed with potato and cheese, sauerkraut or farmer's cheese, then boiled and fried in butter with onions.
- Pittsburgh salad — A green salad topped with grilled steak or chicken, cheese and a heap of french fries, often with ranch dressing.
- Chipped chopped ham — Processed ham sliced paper-thin, made famous by the Isaly's dairy chain and eaten on a soft bun, often warmed in barbecue sauce as a 'ham barbecue'.
- Haluski — Egg noodles fried with cabbage, onion and plenty of butter, a Slovak and Polish dish that is cheap, filling and common at church festivals and Lenten fish fries.
- Fish sandwich — Huge pieces of battered and fried cod or whiting that hang far off the bun, the centrepiece of Pittsburgh's Lent fish-fry tradition at churches and fire halls.
When to go
The best time to visit Pittsburgh is May to June and September to October, when temperatures are about 18–27°C and the rivers, trails and ballpark are at their best. July and August are hot and humid but busy with festivals, while winter is cold and grey but cheap.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Changeable, from late snow in March to mild green May, with Lent fish fries, baseball's return and the marathon. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm to hot and humid, with thunderstorms, free festivals downtown and the busiest time on the rivers. |
| Autumn | September–November | Crisp, colourful September and October and the heart of Steelers season; grey and chilly by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, cloudy and snowy at times, with holiday lights, skating at PPG Place and low hotel rates. |
Getting there and around
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is about 30 km west of downtown. The 28X Airport Flyer bus runs to downtown and Oakland in about 40–60 minutes. Taxis and rideshares take about 25–35 minutes outside rush hour, longer when the Fort Pitt Tunnel backs up.
Downtown, the Strip District and the North Shore are walkable and linked by bridges, but Pittsburgh's hills and rivers make other neighbourhoods feel further than they look. Pittsburgh Regional Transit runs buses, the T light rail and the Monongahela Incline.
Plan your days
Two days covers the inclines and Mount Washington, the Warhol, the Strip District and Oakland's museums. A third day adds the Frick, the Mattress Factory or a ballgame; add a day for Fallingwater.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Central areas are generally safe with normal precautions; East Carson Street can get rowdy late on weekend nights, and car break-ins happen in parking areas. Stairways and steep streets become slippery with ice in winter.
Flights to Pittsburgh
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Pittsburgh?
Two days covers the inclines and Mount Washington, the Warhol, the Strip District and Oakland's museums. A third day adds the Frick, the Mattress Factory or a ballgame; add a day for Fallingwater. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Pittsburgh?
The best time to visit Pittsburgh is May to June and September to October, when temperatures are about 18–27°C and the rivers, trails and ballpark are at their best. July and August are hot and humid but busy with festivals, while winter is cold and grey but cheap.
+What is Pittsburgh known for?
Three rivers, Inclines, Bridges, Andy Warhol, Steel heritage, Steelers, Pierogies and Primanti Bros. sandwiches. The Duquesne and Monongahela inclines, from 1877 and 1870, climb Mount Washington to one of the most dramatic city views in the United States.
+Is Pittsburgh expensive?
Pittsburgh is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $190–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Pittsburgh?
Not for a city break; buses, the T, inclines and rideshares cover the main sights. Rent a car for Fallingwater, Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands.