Pittsburgh is one of my favorite places in all of Pennsylvania. It’s the hometown of many celebrities, such as Jeff Goldblum, Wiz Khalifa, and Christina Aguilera. It even has it’s own language – Pittsburghese. It’s more of a slang than a language, but still. Many people will associate this city with one of two things – steel, or sports. It’s known as ‘Steel City’ because of it’s many steel-related businesses and it’s even home to the ‘Pittsburgh Steelers’. The city has three professional sports teams, NFL, MLB, and NHL, making it a prime location for sports fans.
My husband’s family lives nearby, so every time we go for a visit, we make a trip (or two, or three) here. It’s an easy day trip from Ohio, West Virginia, or even from Philadelphia. There is so much to do in this city that you could easily spend weeks here and never get bored. We love finding new things to do every time we’re in town, but these are some of our favorite things if you’re trying to decide what to do in Pittsburgh.
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What to Do in Pittsburgh, PA
Shop the Strip District
Predominately located between 11th and 33rd Street, most shops and businesses are on either Smallman St. or Penn Ave. Whether you’re looking for souvenir shops, specialty grocery stores (aka the Mac and Cheese grocery shop), restaurants, pubs or breweries.. there’s something here for you.
Parking is probably the biggest issue when visiting the strip district if you’re driving. During busy hours you can circle around every street for what seems like hours and never find a spot for street parking. There are multiple parking garages or paid parking lots you can use, but the cost of that can add up quickly. It can be worth it to park a few blocks away where the garages are cheaper if you don’t mind walking.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Strip District is busiest from late-morning to early-afternoon, and many of the shops only stay open during these hours. Most pubs and restaurants will stay open throughout the evening, but don’t be surprised if you show up after 3 PM and most places are closed for the day.
Check Out the Murals Near the Strip
When you’re walking along the Strip, you’ll likely notice tons of murals painted on the sides and back of buildings. Most of the murals are Pittsburgh themed or related showcasing the culture and history of the city through art.
Keep an eye out for the Martin Luther King Jr. mural, as well as the “The Strip” mural (shown above).
Lunch at Primanti Bros.
Primanti Bros. is probably the most popular place to stop for local food. They are known for “The Pittsburger” (topped with fries and slaw) and frequently visited by many Pittsburgh athletes and celebrities. Don’t forget to grab a Yeungling while you’re here, the favorite beer of many locals!
Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers Game
If you’re a sports fan (like me), you’ll likely be interested in attending a game whenever you’re in a new city that happens to have a sports team. My husband and I actually have it on our bucket lists to attend a game at every MLB ballpark and every NFL stadium!
Depending on what time of year you’re visiting Pittsburgh, you can go to either a Pirates game or a Steelers game. Games are always easy entertainment for a few hours and a great way to enjoy local food and brews. Another perk of going to a Pirates game is that you get one of the best views of the city from right inside the ballpark!
Dinner at Burgatory
This one is a must for us every time we visit Pittsburgh. Boozy shakes and custom burgers? Yes, please! There are multiple restaurants located throughout Pittsburgh making it easy to find one near you. We usually stop here right before or after we head to a Pirates or Steelers game since there’s one right down the street from the ballpark and the stadium.
Andy Warhol Museum
If you’re a fan of Andy Warhol, this one is a must-see. This museum has the largest collection of Andy Warhol’s art and has a whole seven floors dedicated to showcasing his collection. If you’re a student, make sure to bring your ID for half off admission!
Heinz History Center
Located on Smallman Street, this is the perfect stop after a day on the Strip! It’s not just about the history of Heinz Ketchup, I promise. There are exhibits on the Vietnam War, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Slavery and Freedom, Glass Works, and there is even an interactive sports exhibit with the history of all of the Pittsburgh sports teams.
The Milkshake Factory
It’s no ordinary milkshake shop, I promise. They not only have some of the best shakes, but they also have a HUGE selection of chocolates and other sweets. The milkshakes aren’t your typical boring flavors, which I loved. I had the ‘Bananas Foster’ which was the perfect combo of banana, caramel, and cinnamon. Yum!
Point State Park
If you’re looking for a great spot for a picnic lunch, this is it. Come sit by the huge water fountain where you’ll have views of the Duquesne Incline, the many bridges of Pittsburgh, and the spot where all three rivers meet. If you’re looking for a different take on the view, you can even rent a kayak and take in the views from the actual river!
Duquesne Incline
This is one of my favorite places to visit in Pittsburgh. I have to come here every time I’m in the city. If you ask me, the Duquesne Incline is where you’ll find the best views in all of Pittsburgh. It only costs $5 round trip to take the cable car up to the viewpoint and back, or just $2.50 for a single ride up or down. Just make sure you bring cash and the exact change!
The cars move up and downhill very slowly, so you are able to enjoy views of downtown Pittsburgh the whole trip. Not going to lie, the wooden cable cars seem pretty wobbly at times and might make you a bit nervous if you don’t like heights. If this is the case, I’d suggest not looking out the windows on the way up, haha!
Once you make it to the top, you’ll walk through what is basically a mini museum explaining the history of the cable cars (which date back to the 1800s!) and out onto the observation deck. From here you get an amazing view of downtown Pittsburgh where you can see Heinz Field, PNC Park, Three Points Park (where the rivers meet), and you can try to see how many bridges you can count from here! Pittsburgh has more bridges than almost any other city in the world.. 446 to be exact!
Kennywood
I feel like you really can never go wrong with an amusement park. Especially if you’re like my husband and I, and love roller coasters. This one is especially fun if you’re traveling with kids. They even just recently opened a Pittsburgh Steelers themed ride!
For more info or to purchase tickets, click here.
Randyland
Randyland is such a unique, quirky, fun little place to visit. It’s technically considered an art museum, and rightfully so. This outdoor creation is owned and run by local Randy Gilson, and is home to many unique works of art, not to mention tons of Instagram-worthy photo ops.
Admission is always free and you can typically find street parking nearby. It’s not what you would probably expect from an “art museum” but this art project, which has taken over a few homes right in the middle of a suburban neighborhood, is definitely worth a visit.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
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Don’t forget to check out these other posts:
- The Best Places to Eat in Pittsburgh
- Where to Go for The Best Views in Pittsburgh
- Road Trip Essentials and Tips
