Season guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Pittsburgh in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Notyourbroom, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Cold, cloudy and snowy at times, with holiday lights, skating at PPG Place and low hotel rates. Expect highs up to 4°C (39°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 42 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -6°C (21°F) to 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 42
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2°C (36°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 15 | 9.6 h | 1/5 |
| February | 4°C (39°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 13 | 10.6 h | 1/5 |
| December | 4°C (39°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 14 | 9.3 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 3°C (37°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 42 of the year's roughly 152 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 1/5 and hotel prices 1/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- December: Holiday market in Market Square (usually late November to December)
- December: Ice skating at PPG Place (winter)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Point Breeze
The Frick Pittsburgh
Book a guided tour of Clayton, the only way to see the house interior, and leave time for the car collection.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Central Northside
Mattress Factory
This museum commissions room-sized installations from artists in residence, spread across a former mattress warehouse and nearby row houses in the Mexican War Streets.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Zoo · North Side
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
Museum · North Shore
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Oakland
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
Day trips in winter
- Ligonier (About 1 hour) — A small Laurel Highlands town with a traditional town square, shops and Fort Ligonier, a reconstruction of a 1758 British fort.
- Presque Isle State Park, Erie (About 2 hours) — A sandy peninsula curving into Lake Erie, Presque Isle has swimming beaches, lagoons for kayaking, a lighthouse and a paved loop trail for cycling.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
It is a trade-off: Cold, cloudy and snowy at times, with holiday lights, skating at PPG Place and low hotel rates. The best months overall are May–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Pittsburgh in winter?
Highs of up to 4°C (39°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 42 rainy days over the season.