Things to do in Pittsburgh
Late spring through early fall brings warm days and lush green hillsides, while October delivers spectacular fall foliage across the river valleys. Winters are cold, gray, and often snowy.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museum of Natural HistoryDo not miss
World-class dinosaur halls, gems, and dioramas in one of the nation's great natural history museums.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.8
Mount Washington Overlook (Grandview Avenue)Do not miss
Grandview Avenue's overlooks deliver the postcard panorama of downtown wedged between the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
Viewpoint · 53 min4.8
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical GardensDo not miss
A glittering Victorian glasshouse of seasonal flower shows, a tropical forest, and one of the greenest buildings on earth.
Park · 2 hr4.8
Carnegie Museum of ArtDo not miss
Andrew Carnegie's grand Oakland art museum holds a celebrated collection of Impressionist and modern masterpieces.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.7
Point State ParkDo not miss
Stand at the dramatic confluence where the rivers form the Ohio, marked by a giant fountain and Fort Pitt's history.
Park · 1.4 hr4.7
Senator John Heinz History CenterDo not miss
A Smithsonian-affiliated museum telling Western Pennsylvania's story, from the original Mister Rogers set to glass and steel.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.7
The Andy Warhol MuseumDo not miss
The largest museum dedicated to a single artist, spanning seven floors of the hometown pop-art legend's work.
Museum · 2.5 hr4.6
Carnegie Science CenterDo not miss
Hands-on science, a planetarium, a real WWII submarine, and riverfront views on the North Shore.
Museum · 3.3 hr4.4
Duquesne InclineDo not miss
Ride an original 1877 cable car up Mount Washington to the city's most iconic overlook of the three rivers and skyline.
Landmark · 1.1 hr4.4
The Strip DistrictDo not miss
A bustling half-mile of ethnic grocers, fresh produce, street food, and Pittsburgh's beloved Primanti's sandwiches.
Food District · 2.3 hr
Bicycle Heaven
The world's largest bicycle museum and shop, a free, gloriously overstuffed warren of thousands of vintage bikes.
Museum · 1.1 hr4.9
The Clemente Museum
A reverent Lawrenceville museum to Pirates legend Roberto Clemente inside a historic firehouse, by appointment.
Museum · 1.4 hr4.9
Allegheny Observatory
A historic working observatory atop Riverview Park, offering free evening tours of its grand domed telescopes.
Historic Site · 1.8 hr4.8
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Main Branch)
Andrew Carnegie's flagship library in Oakland, a grand Beaux-Arts hall of reading rooms and music.
Architecture · 53 min4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Pittsburgh is shaped by three rivers and more than 440 bridges; the inclines and overlooks on Mount Washington give the best skyline views.
- The city is a patchwork of distinct neighborhoods (the Strip District, Lawrenceville, the South Side, Squirrel Hill); plan stops by neighborhood to cut down on hilly cross-town travel.
- Pittsburgh is a passionate sports town; check the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins schedules, as a game night transforms downtown and the North Shore.
- Many museums and the Strip District markets keep limited hours and close early or on Mondays, so confirm times before you go.
- Streets are steep and winding; comfortable shoes help, and rideshare or transit is often easier than parking downtown.