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Point State Park and Fort Pitt, Pittsburgh

Itinerary · Pittsburgh · United States

One day in Pittsburgh

A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Pittsburgh, not crossing it.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Matt Joseph, CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. Day 1: Andy Warhol Museum and PNC Park. Base yourself in Downtown.

Key facts

Days
1
Sights covered
5
Day trips
None
Best base
Downtown
Book ahead
Nothing essential

Day by day

  1. Day 1: Andy Warhol Museum and PNC Park

    Andy Warhol Museum, PNC Park, Carnegie Science Center and Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art, then Duquesne Incline in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Andy Warhol Museum

      Start at the top floor and work down chronologically, and check when the basement printing studio is running. Allow 2–3 hours.

    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. Allow 3 hours.

    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

      Allow time for the Requin tour and the Miniature Railroad and Village, and check planetarium show times on arrival. Allow 3–4 hours.

    5. Late afternoon

      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. Allow 3–4 hours.

    6. 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.

If it rains

  • Swap in Cathedral of Learning (Oakland): Check the Nationality Rooms tour schedule; some rooms can only be seen with a guide, and December brings holiday decorations.
  • Swap in Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Oakland): 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.
  • Swap in Senator John Heinz History Center (Strip District): Families should head straight for the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood display, including King Friday XIII's castle.

Where to stay for this itinerary

$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and solo travellers

Downtown

The Golden Triangle of office towers, theatres and Point State Park between two rivers

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–15 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Bus. Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses are the main public transport, with frequent routes from downtown to Oakland, Shadyside and Lawrenceville, plus dedicated busways.

More or fewer days

Questions travellers ask

+Is one day enough in Pittsburgh?

One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. How many days Pittsburgh needs.