Rainy day · Pittsburgh · United States
8 things to do in Pittsburgh when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art and Cathedral of Learning. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 16–21 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free. January is usually the wettest month, with about 15 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 16–21 hours
- Areas
- North Shore, Oakland and Strip District
Pittsburgh on a rainy day
Museum · North Shore
1.Andy Warhol Museum
Start at the top floor and work down chronologically, and check when the basement printing studio is running.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Oakland
2.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.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Architecture · Oakland
3.Cathedral of Learning
Check the Nationality Rooms tour schedule; some rooms can only be seen with a guide, and December brings holiday decorations.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Oakland
4.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.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Kids
- Photo spot
Museum · Strip District
5.Senator John Heinz History Center
Families should head straight for the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood display, including King Friday XIII's castle.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · North Shore
6.Carnegie Science Center
Allow time for the Requin tour and the Miniature Railroad and Village, and check planetarium show times on arrival.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Central Northside
7.Mattress Factory
Visit the separate row-house galleries on Sampsonia Way as well as the main building; many visitors miss them.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Zoo · North Side
8.National Aviary
Ask about scheduled feedings and encounters on arrival; feeding the lorikeets is a highlight for kids.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| North Shore | Andy Warhol Museum and Carnegie Science Center | 2–3 hours + 3–4 hours |
| Oakland | Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art, Cathedral of Learning and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | 3–4 hours + 1 hour + 1.5–2 hours |
| Strip District | Senator John Heinz History Center | 2–3 hours |
| Central Northside | Mattress Factory | 1.5–2 hours |
| North Side | National Aviary | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 7 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (North Shore): Andy Warhol Museum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (North Shore): Carnegie Science Center, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Oakland): Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art → Cathedral of Learning, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Oakland and Strip District): Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens → Senator John Heinz History Center, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Central Northside and North Side): Mattress Factory → National Aviary, at least 4 hours.
The wettest months
- January: highs of 2°C (36°F), about 15 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold and grey, with regular snow showers; a quiet month for museums and low hotel prices.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds. Changeable weather from snow to mild days; Lent fish fries run every Friday.
- April: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds. Trees blossom on the hillsides and baseball returns, though showers are frequent.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Strip District — Old produce warehouses turned into food shops, markets and new apartments
- North Shore — Stadiums, the Warhol and riverfront parks across the Allegheny
- Oakland — Universities, hospitals and the Carnegie museums around Schenley Park
More of Pittsburgh
All things to do in Pittsburgh · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Pittsburgh?
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.
+Which of these are free in Pittsburgh?
Cathedral of Learning.