Sight guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Visiting Cathedral of Learning
The University of Pittsburgh's 42-storey Gothic Revival tower is one of the tallest educational buildings in the world.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Notyourbroom, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Cathedral of Learning is an architectural landmark in Oakland, Pittsburgh. Allow 1 hour; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Architecture
- Area
- Oakland
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, architecture, history and rainy day
- Best months
- January and March–April
About Cathedral of Learning
The University of Pittsburgh's 42-storey Gothic Revival tower is one of the tallest educational buildings in the world. Its vaulted ground-floor Commons Room is open to visitors, and the Nationality Rooms are working classrooms decorated in the styles of the cultures that built Pittsburgh, from Scotland to China.
Tip: Check the Nationality Rooms tour schedule; some rooms can only be seen with a guide, and December brings holiday decorations.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Oakland, universities, hospitals and the Carnegie museums around Schenley Park.
Best time to visit Cathedral of Learning
Cathedral of Learning is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: 2°C (36°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, very quiet crowds.
- March: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Pittsburgh has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Pittsburgh itinerary visits Cathedral of Learning on day 2, together with Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Grandview Avenue overlooks.
- No. 7 of the 18 sights in our Pittsburgh things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Pittsburgh.
- One of the picks in pittsburgh on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Pittsburgh.
Near Cathedral of Learning
Also in Oakland, so you can walk between them:
- Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art — 3–4 hours, mid-priced
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — 1.5–2 hours, mid-priced
If you like Cathedral of Learning
- Point State Park and Fort Pitt — Downtown, 1–2 hours
- Senator John Heinz History Center — Strip District, 2–3 hours
- Carnegie Science Center — North Shore, 3–4 hours
- The Frick Pittsburgh — Point Breeze, 2–3 hours
Staying near Cathedral of Learning
Stay in Oakland ($$) to walk here: universities, hospitals and the Carnegie museums around Schenley Park. All areas to stay in Pittsburgh.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Cathedral of Learning?
Plan 1 hour. With Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art nearby, it fits a half-day in Oakland.
+Is Cathedral of Learning free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Cathedral of Learning?
January and March–April, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Check the Nationality Rooms tour schedule; some rooms can only be seen with a guide, and December brings holiday decorations.
+Do I need to book Cathedral of Learning in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.