Sight guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Visiting National Aviary
In Allegheny Commons Park, the National Aviary houses hundreds of birds, many in free-flight rooms where you walk among them, including a tropical rainforest, a wetlands room and an outdoor area for Andean condors.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popscreenshot, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
National Aviary is a zoo in North Side, Pittsburgh. Allow 2 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Area
- North Side
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, nature and rainy day
- Best months
- August–October
About National Aviary
In Allegheny Commons Park, the National Aviary houses hundreds of birds, many in free-flight rooms where you walk among them, including a tropical rainforest, a wetlands room and an outdoor area for Andean condors. Penguins, sloths and lorikeet feedings are popular with children.
Tip: Ask about scheduled feedings and encounters on arrival; feeding the lorikeets is a highlight for kids.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: North Side, stadiums, the Warhol and riverfront parks across the Allegheny.
Best time to visit National Aviary
National Aviary is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- September: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, busy crowds.
- August: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, busy crowds.
- October: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Pittsburgh has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
National Aviary is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Duquesne Incline and Andy Warhol Museum.
- No. 14 of the 18 sights in our Pittsburgh things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in pittsburgh on a rainy day.
- A family favourite in Pittsburgh with kids.
If you like National Aviary
- Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art — Oakland, 3–4 hours
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — Oakland, 1.5–2 hours
- Senator John Heinz History Center — Strip District, 2–3 hours
- Carnegie Science Center — North Shore, 3–4 hours
Staying near National Aviary
Stay in North Shore ($$$) to walk here: stadiums, the Warhol and riverfront parks across the Allegheny. All areas to stay in Pittsburgh.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at National Aviary?
Plan 2 hours.
+Is National Aviary free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit National Aviary?
August–October for the most comfortable weather. Ask about scheduled feedings and encounters on arrival; feeding the lorikeets is a highlight for kids.
+Do I need to book National Aviary in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is National Aviary 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.