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Get to know the city: What Pittsburgh Is Best Known For
Essential Information: When to Visit | Essential Travel Info
FAQs: Your most frequently asked questions
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What Pittsburgh Is Best Known For
There’s a wealth of experiences in store for all kinds of visitors. We’ve selected what we think your clients will love most.
Arts & Culture
Food & Drink
Pittsburgh is known far and wide for its diverse, world class food and drink offering which is celebrated in its fun and flavoursome festival programme and the mouth-watering food tours offered by local operator ‘Burgh Bits & Bites. The Strip District area is home to the city’s prime local foodie hotspots, a place clients will find celebrated Polish and Italian delis alongside local legends such as Primanti Brothers, with its famous grilled-meat sandwiches (google them!); the Enrico Biscotti Co; and classic diners such as DeLuca’s. If it’s liquid lunch they’re after, Pittsburgh is one of the best places in the U.S. to hail the ale, with more than 40 craft breweries in the wider Allegheny County area. There’s no shortage of fun and flavourful food-themed events either, from the two Pittsburgh Restaurant Week events, held in January and August, to August’s Pickleburgh and September’s dumpling-tastic Pierogi festival.
Sports
Some joke that it’s a drinking town with a sports problem, alluding to the excellent nightlife and fierce focus on its local sports teams. But their love and support of their teams, who all play in black and gold – the only US city to boast this, is no joke! Chiefly the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL), six-time Super Bowl champions; Pittsburgh Pirates (baseball), five-time World Series champions; and Pittsburgh Penguins (Ice Hockey), five-time Stanley Cup champions. Even if you don’t catch a game, their stadia make for interesting tours, particularly PNC Park, home to baseball team the Pirates. Send clients looking to uncover more on the city’s major sports obsession to Western PA Sports Museum, part of the Heinz History Center.
Outdoor Recreation
Wrapped in rivers, intertwined with trails and packed with parks, Pittsburgh is full of outdoor adventure. Bike, walk or rollerblade miles of riverfront trails, soaking in fantastic urban views. Bicycle rentals are available along the trail. Guided hikes offer another way to see the city. Rent a kayak and paddle your way along the river. Pittsburgh boasts a lush and diverse landscape and is filled with endless recreational opportunities for every outdoor enthusiast.
For clients really looking to get out into the surrounding nature, and get some miles in their legs, suggest the multi-day Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail. This epic route combines with the C&O Canal Towpath to connect Pittsburgh with Washington, D.C, the fall colours of autumn offering one of the most dramatic times to experience it. Pittsburgh was once served by a large number of inclines, ferrying workers to and from the centre. Today just two remain, The Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines, the ‘Mon’ being the oldest continually operating funicular in the U.S. Riding these inclines is more than just a great experience and photo opportunity, it’s a convenient way to access the outlying districts.
When To Visit
Pittsburgh offers a dynamic blend of culture, history, and innovation year-round. Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant arts scene in the summer or the picturesque foliage in the autumn, there’s never a wrong time to explore the Steel City’s charm.
Spring (10 to 27°C)
Spring is a magical time to visit Pittsburgh as the city shrugs off its winter weather and spring showers while temperatures rise and its parks burst into bloom. Seasonal highlights include the North Shore’s magnificent cherry blossoms and the wildflowers atop Mount Washington, with more flowery fun on tap at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, in the Oakland district. Also a great time to catch a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at the stunning venue of PNC Park.
Summer (17 to 28°C)
Summer in Pittsburgh is all about embracing the outdoors, from catching a live music show to maxing out the three rivers. Popular picks include stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking excursions; sightseeing or dinner boat tours, as offered by local operators such as Kayak Pittsburgh and Gateway Clipper; or simply hiking and biking the extensive riverfront trails.
Autumn (8 to 17°C)
the city’s parks and the surrounding area run to reds, gold and copper, the ‘fall foliage’ providing a stunning backdrop to the cityscapes, making for epic photos and outdoor activities and more than offsetting the impact of the cooling temperatures. Clients looking to make the most of the spectacle should hotfoot it to the city’s impressive green lungs such as Frick, Schenley and Highland Park. Better still, suggest clients head to the hills for a commanding, front row view, possibly riding one of the remaining historic funiculars, such as the Duquesne Incline, to the ridgeline. Fall festivals are another draw, from Three Rivers Beer Week to pre-Halloween events such as the Monster Pumpkins Festival. Plus, autumn is a fantastic time of year for sports fans, the first Monday in September marking the start of football season for the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers, six-time winners of the Superbowl.
Winter (-5 to 4°C)
Pittsburgh enjoys decent snowfall each winter, the city looking extra magical under a blanket of the white stuff, and it’s the perfect time to catch a Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey game. Better still, clients can strap on some skates and hit the ice themselves at UPMC Rink at PPG Place, near Market Square in Downtown. Visitors should also consider following the locals to Pittsburgh’s parks for some sledding or sledging fun. Flagstaff Hill at Schenley Park and Blue Slide Park at Frick Park are among the top spots while Boyce Park is known for its snow tubing.
Essential Travel Information
- There are 6 flights from the UK to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) per week from April to September and 4 per week from October to March
- Entry requirements just the same as any USA destination – A ESTA waiver is required
- Pittsburgh is on Eastern Standard Time (EST) – GMT-4
- Currency = US Dollar
- Language = Yinzer (Pittsburgh’s take on English)
Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Pittsburgh from the UK
British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow 6 times a week. It’s currently the only international flight landing into Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), meaning that customs queues are non-existent and travellers can get from the plane to their downtown hotel in 60-90 minutes.
Where is Pittsburgh located?
The city is located in Western Pennsylvania. It’s perfect to be twinned not only with East Coast cities such as Boston, New York, Washington or Philadelphia, but also with wider trips to the west such as Chicago, Cleveland or looking north to the Great Lakes.
What's the recommended length of stay for people visiting Pittsburgh?
Any duration from 2 nights to a week, depending on whether people are travelling as a city break, twin or multi-centre. 4 nights is probably ideal to make sure clients have time to enjoy all of the food and drink on offer, take in a sports game (season dependent), enjoy the various museums and explore all the different neighbourhoods.
What's the weather like?
For detailed weather by season, check out the ‘When To Visit‘ section.
Where's the best places to stay in the city?
Pittsburgh has great hotel options throughout the city, so it really depends what clients are looking to do whilst in destination. From walkable Downtown, with its Cultural District, public art and Point State Park, through to the foodie Strip District and Lawrenceville with its hip bars, boutique shops and street art. North Shore is the place for sports lovers, whilst for art it’s North Side, home to The Andy Warhol Museum, Randyland and the Mattress Factory. North Side and North Shore hotels are also well-placed for family-friendly attractions such as Carnegie Science Center and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh while South Side and South Shore properties are convenient for outdoorsy options such as the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.
Is Pittsburgh expensive?
Pittsburgh is a great cost-effective option. Food, drink and attraction prices are lower than what you’d find in the region’s ‘big’ cities. The theatre scene is a great example of this, as Pittsburgh’s district is used as a launchpad for Broadway musicals, meaning customers can see a Broadway production and cast at about a third of the price. Accommodation wise, the city is awash with offerings from major names such as Hilton, Marriott and IHG, and whilst the offering may be lacking in the five-star segment it more than makes up for it in other areas, offering remarkable value.
Visual Assets, Training & Key Contacts
Training Requests
Visit Pittsburgh Pros and become a destination expert. For in-person training requests, email Will Hall.
