Where to stay · Pittsburgh · United States
Where to stay in Pittsburgh
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Joshua Peacock jcpeacock, CC0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown. The Golden Triangle of office towers, theatres and Point State Park between two rivers. Best alternatives — families: North Shore; budget: Oakland; nightlife: Lawrenceville.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown
- Families
- North Shore
- Budget
- Oakland
- Nightlife
- Lawrenceville
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown | The Golden Triangle of office towers, theatres and Point State Park between two rivers |
| Families | North Shore | Stadiums, the Warhol and riverfront parks across the Allegheny |
| Couples | Lawrenceville | Row houses, independent shops and much of the city's newer dining on Butler Street |
| Budget | Oakland | Universities, hospitals and the Carnegie museums around Schenley Park |
| Nightlife | Lawrenceville | Row houses, independent shops and much of the city's newer dining on Butler Street |
| Food lovers | Strip District | Old produce warehouses turned into food shops, markets and new apartments |
| Solo travellers | Downtown | The Golden Triangle of office towers, theatres and Point State Park between two rivers |
| Shopping | Strip District | Old produce warehouses turned into food shops, markets and new apartments |
| Quiet stays | Shadyside | Victorian houses and boutiques along Walnut Street |
Pittsburgh neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and solo travellers
Downtown
Downtown fills the triangle of land between the Allegheny and Monongahela, with PPG Place's glass Gothic towers, Market Square and the Cultural District's theatres including Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center. Point State Park at its tip marks the confluence. It is the most central base, with the T light rail to the North Shore and Station Square.
- Good
- Central for everything; Theatres and Market Square on the doorstep; Light rail to the North Shore
- Watch out
- Quiet on weekday evenings outside the theatres; Expensive parking
- Nearby
- Point State Park, Market Square, PPG Place, Cultural District
$$$ · Best for food lovers, shopping and first-timers
Strip District
Just northeast of downtown along the Allegheny, the Strip District's Penn Avenue is lined with Italian grocers, fishmongers, coffee roasters and stalls selling Steelers gear, busiest on Saturday mornings. The Heinz History Center is here, along with new hotels and apartment blocks on Smallman Street.
- Good
- Best food shopping in the city; Walk to downtown; Lively at weekends
- Watch out
- Quiet after shops close; Weekend traffic and parking
- Nearby
- Heinz History Center, Penn Avenue, Primanti Bros. original, Downtown
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and couples
Lawrenceville
A former working-class river neighbourhood, Lawrenceville now has some of Pittsburgh's most popular restaurants, bars, breweries and design shops along a long stretch of Butler Street. It also has the Allegheny Cemetery, one of the oldest in the country, and the Allegheny Arsenal ruins. Hotels are few, but holiday rentals are common.
- Good
- Great independent restaurants and bars; Walkable main street; Local feel
- Watch out
- Few hotels; A bus or rideshare from downtown
- Nearby
- Butler Street, Allegheny Cemetery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and culture
North Shore
Across the bridges from downtown, the North Shore holds PNC Park, Acrisure Stadium, the Carnegie Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum, linked by a riverfront trail. Hotels here are a short walk from the T stations, and the Mexican War Streets and Mattress Factory are just inland.
- Good
- Walk to the stadiums and museums; River views of downtown; Light rail connection
- Watch out
- Very busy and pricier on game days; Limited dining beyond sports bars
- Nearby
- PNC Park, Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center, National Aviary
$$ · Best for culture, budget and families
Oakland
Pittsburgh's academic centre is home to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon, the Cathedral of Learning, the Carnegie Museums and Phipps Conservatory at the edge of Schenley Park. Inexpensive restaurants cater to students, and many hotels serve hospital visitors.
- Good
- Walk to the major museums; Cheap eats; Frequent buses to downtown
- Watch out
- Student crowds and traffic; Less character after dark
- Nearby
- Carnegie Museums, Cathedral of Learning, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and shopping
Shadyside
East of Oakland, Shadyside is a leafy residential neighbourhood with grand Victorian homes and a shopping street, Walnut Street, of boutiques, cafés and restaurants. It is one of the most comfortable, quiet bases in the city, with a handful of small hotels and B&Bs.
- Good
- Pretty, calm streets; Good shops and restaurants; Close to Oakland's museums
- Watch out
- Few hotels; A bus ride from downtown
- Nearby
- Walnut Street, Oakland, Bloomfield
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
South Side
Across the Monongahela from downtown, the South Side Flats grew up around steel mills; East Carson Street's long run of Victorian buildings now holds the city's densest bar strip and casual restaurants. SouthSide Works has newer shops and hotels near the riverfront trail.
- Good
- Lots of bars and casual food; Riverfront trail access; Good-value hotels
- Watch out
- Rowdy on weekend nights; Parking is tight
- Nearby
- East Carson Street, SouthSide Works, Station Square
$$ · Best for couples and quiet stays
Mount Washington
Above the South Side, Mount Washington is reached by road or by the two inclines and is famous for Grandview Avenue's overlooks across the confluence to downtown. Its restaurants trade on the view, and a few rentals and B&Bs offer the panorama from your window.
- Good
- Famous city views; Quiet residential streets; Incline down to the city
- Watch out
- Few places to stay; Limited shops and nightlife
- Nearby
- Duquesne Incline, Monongahela Incline, Grandview Avenue, Emerald View Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $$$ | Point State Park, Market Square, PPG Place, Cultural District |
| Strip District | $$$ | Heinz History Center, Penn Avenue, Primanti Bros. original, Downtown |
| Lawrenceville | $$ | Butler Street, Allegheny Cemetery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh |
| North Shore | $$$ | PNC Park, Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center, National Aviary |
| Oakland | $$ | Carnegie Museums, Cathedral of Learning, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park |
| Shadyside | $$$ | Walnut Street, Oakland, Bloomfield |
| South Side | $$ | East Carson Street, SouthSide Works, Station Square |
| Mount Washington | $$ | Duquesne Incline, Monongahela Incline, Grandview Avenue, Emerald View Park |
Getting to your hotel
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is about 30 km west of downtown. The 28X Airport Flyer bus runs to downtown and Oakland in about 40–60 minutes. Taxis and rideshares take about 25–35 minutes outside rush hour, longer when the Fort Pitt Tunnel backs up.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Pittsburgh for first-time visitors?
Downtown. Downtown fills the triangle of land between the Allegheny and Monongahela, with PPG Place's glass Gothic towers, Market Square and the Cultural District's theatres including Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center.
+Where should families stay in Pittsburgh?
North Shore: Walk to the stadiums and museums.
+Which area of Pittsburgh is best for a budget stay?
Oakland ($$): Universities, hospitals and the Carnegie museums around Schenley Park.