Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is a large metro city (2+ million) that feels like a smaller town. The neighborhoods set it apart as there are 90 of them! Each neighborhood has it’s own unique charm but one similarity is the sheer amount of hills, hills, hills. They are everywhere but they add so much charm with the green trees, windy streets, and historic houses. Pittsburgh has everything you’d want from outdoor parks to cute neighborhoods to fun restaurants and funky museums so let’s get into it with our recommendations!
Getting to Pittsburgh
You can fly right into the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). The city does have a decent bus system and at under $3 a ride, it’s a great value. They also have a limited light rail but depending on where you are going, the bus may be a better option. As with most of the US, it may be more convenient if you have a car to drive around while here. Most places we went offered free parking so it wasn’t hard to find a spot.
What’s the Weather Like
In Pittsburgh, the summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold and grey. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically ranges from 23°F to 83°F. The best time of year to visit Pittsburgh for outdoor activities is from May to September. The worst time to visit is the winter with blistering cold temperatures and limited sun shine making it feel pretty gloomy.
Visiting in the Summer
If you are looking for a fun, outdoor day, let me suggest an excellent 1 Day Itinerary that allows you to experience the outdoors and some top spots in the city.
Start your day at Bike Heaven for the World’s Largest Bicycle Museum and Shop. This quirky museum is 2 floors of the most interesting bikes and paraphernalia. They’ve done a great job of putting up descriptions and signs to help you understand the significance of the items. It’s a donation based entry.
Then for $10 an hour, you can rent bikes from the museum. Right behind the museum, you can connect to the Three Rivers Water Trail bike path that goes along the Ohio River.
If you take the path north, you’ll dead end about a mile up at the old Western State Penitentiary, the State Correctional Institute (SCI) that closed in 2017. But here you’ll find the Prison Cat Cove, a few shelters for the outdoor cats that have been living on the prison grounds since 1882.
Head back south, following the bike path on the river about 2.5 miles and make a stop at the statue of Mr. Rogers. Yes, the children’s television show we all know and love. Fred McFeely Rogers filmed his beloved kids show here in Pittsburgh and he is honored throughout the city but this statue on the river is a great dedication to him and his work.
Now one of the best parts of the Three Rivers Water Trail bike path is that you can cross the bridges on this trail. First you’ll take the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Stop at Fort Pitt at Point State Park. This is conveniently located between the two bridges and is a great rest spot and scenic view to both sides of the river. Originally a fort, there is a museum dedicated to the historical conflicts between the British, French, and Native Americans that shaped this region.
Once you’re ready to go, ride up the Fort Pitt Bridge over to Duquesne Incline. Opened in 1877, the Duquesne Incline has a long history. It has been used as cargo transport, worker transport (workers lived on top of the hill with mills and factories down by the river), and now is mainly used as a tourist attraction. You can ride to the top for some amazing views on the way up.
Use a lock that the Bike Museum gave you with your rental to lock your bikes up. A ride is currently $2.50 each way so $5 round trip. Make sure to have exact change. For example if you have 3 people which would cost $15, you cannot give the attendant a $20. She will make you go to a machine that turns bills to coins and then you’ll have a bunch of coins in your pocket. No credit cards but they do take the bus pass so if you have that already, use it here by just tapping.
At the top of the hill is a small museum in the entrance of the station with information and history of these funiculars, or inclines as they are called. There is also an observation deck to get some great views. Coming out of the station, I recommend you walk left toward Mount Washington and Shiloh Street for some great views along the way. There are many interesting houses built on the cliffside and they have built up some great view points like Grandview Overlook. Also while you are up here, grab some lunch at any of the delicious restaurants. We recommend Gordo’s Tacos for their lunch special and delicious tacos!
Once you’re done with your walk and viewpoints, reverse your route to make your way back to the Bike Museum and Shop to return your rental bikes.
Additional Things To Do
St. Anthony’s Chapel, while the outside doesn’t look any different than a normal Catholic church, inside you’ll find 5,000 relics, the largest collection of Catholic relics outside of the Vatican itself. This makes for a fascinating stop. With limited hours, make sure you plan to go on Saturday – Thursday between 12pm-3pm.
Randyland – If you’re looking for a colorful, free outdoor art space, look no further than Randyland. Folk artist Randy Gilson transformed this landmark building, filled with vividly colored, upbeat murals & objects into a wildly colorful and fun space to take pictures.
Carnegie Science Center is a museum & research center that features rotating science-related exhibits, a planetarium, live shows & kids programs. It’s right on the river so you’ll pass it on the bike path. You’ll notice the working submarine in the river!
The live music scene is thriving here in Pittsburgh with live music almost every night of the week. Check it out.
If professional sports are your thing, don’t miss a game: Pittsburgh Steelers football, Pittsburgh Pirates baseball, and the Pittsburgh Penguins for ice hockey.
