Things to Do in Pittsburgh, USA
Pittsburgh used to be the steel city, and it still wears that history proudly, but it has remade itself as a river town with a strong food scene, serious museums and a laid back charm that surprised me at every turn. I came for a long weekend and stayed a week. The city sits where three rivers meet, so water shapes almost everything you do here. Here is how I fell for Pittsburgh.
Ride the Duquesne Incline for the View
The best way to see Pittsburgh is from above, and the Duquesne Incline, a funicular that has climbed the hillside since 1877, does exactly that. I rode it up to the observation deck on Mt Washington and watched the three rivers flow together below, with the downtown skyscrapers rising from the point where they meet. It is the classic Pittsburgh view and the reason I understand this city better than I did from street level. Go at sunset if you can, when the bridges light up.
Walk the Point State Park
At the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers sits Point State Park, a green wedge where the city’s founding settlement began. I walked out to the fountain at the very tip, where the water from the two rivers visibly swirls together, and it is a simple, satisfying thing to watch. The park is free and easy to reach on foot from downtown, and it makes a good start or finish to a day of exploring.
Visit the Andy Warhol Museum
Pittsburgh is the birthplace of Andy Warhol, and the museum dedicated to him occupies a converted warehouse on the North Shore. I spent a whole afternoon here and could have stayed longer. The seven floors take you through his prints, his films and his obsession with fame and money in a way that is fun even if you are not an art person. The gift shop is worth a browse for the same reason. It is easily one of the best museums I have visited in the United States.
See Phipps Conservatory and the Parks
Phipps Conservatory, set in the green Schenley Park area, is a glasshouse garden that has been growing since 1893. The plants change with the seasons, which means repeat visits always feel fresh. I was lucky enough to catch the winter light show and the spring orchid display, and both were stunning. The surrounding parkland is crisscrossed with trails and is a pleasant escape from the city, so plan to spend a few hours beyond the greenhouses themselves.
Eat Like Pittsburgh Does
Pittsburgh has a real food identity, and I wanted all of it. The city’s claim to culinary fame is the Primanti Brothers sandwich, a stack of meat and fries and coleslaw stuffed between two thick slices of bread, and it is exactly as good as it sounds after a day of walking. Beyond that, the neighbourhoods each have their own scene. I ate pierogies in the Strip District, thin crust pizza in the South Side and a seriously good cup of coffee from a roaster on the North Side. Give yourself room to graze.
Stroll the Strip District Markets
The Strip District, once the city’s warehouse and market heart, is now a wonderful morning out. The produce market, the Italian grocers and the Eastern European delis all spill onto the street, and I found myself buying things I had no plan for, from fresh pasta to smoked sausage. Go hungry and go early, before the weekend crowds build. It is the most energetic part of the city and the best taste of how Pittsburgh actually lives.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Pittsburgh is very walkable in the centre, but the hills and the river crossings mean you will use the bridges and the stairs more than a flat city. Comfortable shoes are essential. The city is served by buses and a light rail system, and the downtown area is compact enough to cover on foot. Summer and early autumn are the best times for weather, though the winter light shows at Phipps are a real draw. And bring a jacket, because the rivers keep the air cooler than you expect.
Pittsburgh does not need to shout about itself. The hills, the bridges and the river breezes do the talking, and the food keeps you coming back. I would happily go again, and with that list, I have plenty of reasons to.
Get Out on the Water
Because the rivers define Pittsburgh, the best way to understand it is to get onto them. I took a kayak out along the Allegheny in the late afternoon, paddling under the bridges and past the stadium district, and it gave me a completely different sense of the city’s scale and its industrial past. Several operators offer hourly rentals and guided tours in the warmer months. Even a quick ride across the river on the ferry gives you the buzz of being out in the middle of it all. The water brings the whole place together in a way that no single hilltop view quite manages.
