Sight guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Duquesne Incline is an experience in Mount Washington, Pittsburgh. Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Mount Washington
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- views, history, kids and after dark
- Best months
- April and October–November
About 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. The upper station has a small museum of the incline's machinery and history and an observation deck over the three rivers.
Tip: 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.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Mount Washington, clifftop streets with Grandview Avenue's skyline views.
Best time to visit Duquesne Incline
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- November: 11°C (52°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- October: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-November the sun sets at about 17:03 local time (calculated for Pittsburgh).
When to visit Pittsburgh has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Pittsburgh itinerary visits Duquesne Incline on day 1, together with Andy Warhol Museum, PNC Park and Carnegie Science Center.
- No. 1 of the 18 sights in our Pittsburgh things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Pittsburgh.
- A family favourite in Pittsburgh with kids.
Near Duquesne Incline
Also in Mount Washington, so you can walk between them:
- Grandview Avenue overlooks — 1 hour, free
If you like Duquesne Incline
- Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art — Oakland, 3–4 hours
- PNC Park — North Shore, 3 hours
- Point State Park and Fort Pitt — Downtown, 1–2 hours
- Senator John Heinz History Center — Strip District, 2–3 hours
Staying near Duquesne Incline
Stay in Mount Washington ($$) to walk here: clifftop streets with Grandview Avenue's skyline views. All areas to stay in Pittsburgh.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Duquesne Incline?
Plan 1 hour. With Grandview Avenue overlooks nearby, it fits a half-day in Mount Washington.
+Is Duquesne Incline free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Duquesne Incline?
April and October–November, the quietest of the good months. 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.
+Do I need to book Duquesne Incline in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Duquesne Incline good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is a good-value family destination, with the inclines, dinosaurs at the Carnegie, the Science Center's submarine, the National Aviary and Kennywood.