3 days in Pittsburgh

Day by day

1. Day 1: Andy Warhol Museum and PNC Park

   Andy Warhol Museum, PNC Park and Carnegie Science Center, then Duquesne Incline in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      PNC Park

      Walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge from downtown before the game, and pick seats on the third-base side for the skyline view.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Primanti Bros. sandwich

      The original Primanti Bros. on 18th Street in the Strip District, and its branches around the city and at the stadiums.

   4. Afternoon

      Carnegie Science Center

      On the Ohio River next to Acrisure Stadium, this hands-on science museum has a planetarium, a robotics hall, a big miniature railroad and village, and the USS Requin, a Second World War submarine moored outside that you can walk through.

   5. Evening

      Duquesne Incline

      Ride up just before sunset and stay until the city lights come on; look through the window into the old winding machinery at the top.

2. Day 2: Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art and Cathedral of Learning

   Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art, Cathedral of Learning and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, then Grandview Avenue overlooks in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art

      Start in Dinosaurs in Their Time, then cross to the Hall of Architecture; allow a full afternoon for both.

   2. Late morning

      Cathedral of Learning

      The University of Pittsburgh's 42-storey Gothic Revival tower is one of the tallest educational buildings in the world.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pierogies

      Church pierogi sales and festivals, Eastern European delis and bars, and the frozen aisle of every supermarket.

   4. Afternoon

      Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

      Visit during the winter holiday show or the spring flower show for the most impressive displays; on cold days the warm rooms are a welcome break.

   5. Evening

      Grandview Avenue overlooks

      Walk the 1.5 km between the tops of the two inclines, then ride down the Monongahela Incline to Station Square for a different view.

3. Day 3: Strip District and Senator John Heinz History Center

   Strip District, Senator John Heinz History Center and Point State Park and Fort Pitt, then Gateway Clipper riverboats in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Senator John Heinz History Center

      Families should head straight for the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood display, including King Friday XIII's castle.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pittsburgh salad

      Diners, bars and family restaurants across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Point State Park and Fort Pitt

      At the tip of downtown, a large fountain marks the confluence of the three rivers.

   5. Evening

      Gateway Clipper riverboats

      Choose an evening sightseeing cruise for the lit skyline, and combine it with the Monongahela Incline next to Station Square.

If it rains

• Swap in Mattress Factory (Central Northside): Visit the separate row-house galleries on Sampsonia Way as well as the main building; many visitors miss them.
• Swap in National Aviary (North Side): Ask about scheduled feedings and encounters on arrival; feeding the lorikeets is a highlight for kids.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Downtown keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Lawrenceville ($$) suits food lovers, nightlife and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 22–29 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Pittsburgh
• 2 days in Pittsburgh

Questions travellers ask