Things to do in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is home to many great attractions. While you are not in the classroom, we encourage you to explore the city and enjoy your time here. Since Pittsburgh is in the mountains, surrounded by three rivers, and is a large cultural hub, there’s something for everyone!
Transportation
While Pittsburgh’s LRT (light rail train) service may not serve most of the city, the bus system is well developed and easy to use. We recommend using Google Maps to help you navigate transport here. We also recommend purchasing a Connect Card, which will save you a few dollars if you’re planning on making multiple trips. You can purchase a Connect Card at United Check Cashing on Forbes Ave, which is just a short walk from Bouquet Gardens.
Oakland
Home to the University of Pittsburgh, Oakland has many great restaurants and attractions. Popular restaurants in the area include Roots, (salads and bowls), Ali Baba (Middle Eastern food), Oishii Bento (Japanese & Korean), and The Porch (sit-down restaurant across the street from the Cathedral). Oakland is also home to some great museums, including the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and Phipps Conservatory. North Craig Street is home to the labyrinthine Caliban’s Book Shop, where you can find vintage records, rare books, and other treasures.
Shadyside and Squirrel Hill
Home to many great restaurants and boutique shopping, Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are Oakland’s closest, coziest neighbors. Restaurants in Shadyside include Noodlehead (Thai, cash-only), Fujiya Ramen, and Muddy Waters (a Cajun oyster bar). You can also head to Walnut Street for shopping in Shadyside. In Squirrel Hill, you can find many restaurants around both Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave., including Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33, African Eats Cuisine, and Dobra Tea (a tea shop with an expansive collection of teas). If Oakland feels just a bit too big city for you, take a bus heading outbound to escape for an afternoon. There are many different buses that will take you, so we recommend using Google Maps to find the closest one. Shadyside is also just a mile and a half walk from campus.
Strip District and Lawrenceville
Looking for some delicious food and handmade art? Look no further than the Strip District. Simply park your car, take an Uber or Lyft, or take the 54 bus from Fifth at Bigelow, and take a walk up and down the market. The strip is most active on Saturday and Sunday mornings, so we recommend grabbing brunch at one of the authentic, Pittsburgh style diners DeLuca’s or Pamela’s.
Lawrenceville is an up-and-coming area with great restaurants and entertainment. Nestled among quirky shops and inventive restaurants, Arsenal Bowl is a fun, energetic take on an old-fashioned bowling alley. Row House Cinema is a single screen movie theatre with a new theme every week. These quirky attractions are set against local historic breweries: Church Brew Works and Arsenal Ciderhouse. Each is housed in a beautiful historic site, with locally made brews and delicious food. Reservations are recommended for Church Brew Works, as they tend to fill up quickly.
Southside
With a strong reputation for great (and not-so-great) bars, East Carson Street is the place for night life. If you’re not so keen on bars, check out South Side Works, a shopping and dining complex just down the street. With crowd-pleasers like Hofbrauhaus and The Cheesecake Factory, along with a massive movie theatre and plenty of shopping, you’re sure to find something for everyone. Parking is free on the weekends, or take the 75 bus from Fifth at Tennyson.
Downtown
Pittsburgh’s Cultural District is home to various public art galleries, which you can feel free to wander into while you’re in the city. Downtown also boasts a magnificient view from the point where the three rivers converge. Take a walk past Gateway station toward Point State Park, where you can dip your toes in the fountain and enjoy the view. Just take any inbound 71 or 61 bus from Fifth Ave. Upcoming concerts and events in the city can be found on the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust calendar.
North Side
Though a bit of a hike, the North Side is a newly blossoming cultural hub. Take in a Pirates game at PNC Park, where even the cheapest seats afford you a great view of the city. Go a bit further into the North Side, where you’ll find the National Aviary. Just past the Aviary are the Mexican War Streets, a block of historic homes that have been decorated and converted in the last twenty years. The Andy Warhol Museum holds the largest collection of Warhol’s art and archives in the world. The Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum, installation lab, and artists’ residence known for its Yayoi Kusama and Greer Lankton installations. Just a block up the road lies a different type of installation: Randyland. Part roadside attraction, part public garden, Randyland is home to artist Randy Gilson. After buying the property on a credit card in the nineties, Randy transformed his courtyard into a public art space and community garden, free to the public. We recommend driving or taking an Uber or Lyft to the North Side, as it requires a bus or train transfer.
Highland Park
The highlight of this 380-acre park is the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. First opened in 1898 and home to over 400 species, the Zoo has a long history of giving the public a chance to see and learn about a wide array of animals. Stop by to catch a glimpse of some white-bellied pangolins and immerse yourself in the natural world with the Zoo’s interactive exhibits. While you’re in the neighborhood, consider exploring the rest of Highland Park, which includes two large water reservoirs, a bike track, walking trails, and a swimming pool. To get to this area of Pittsburgh, you can take the 75 bus from Fifth at Bellefield. If you’re interested in driving, free parking is available in the Zoo’s main parking lot.
Station Square
A hub of history, Pittsburgh’s Station Square was once the place to greet newly arrived passengers who had journeyed along the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Today Station Square is a hotspot for dining and entertainment, and the remnants of its industrial past are intertwined with restaurants and specialty shops. Whether you’re interested in Italian fare like Buca Di Beppo or a cornerstone of American dining like Hard Rock Cafe, it’s likely that Station Square’s assortment of restaurants offers something that suits your tastes.
Want a bird’s-eye view of Pittsburgh? From Station Square, you can access the Duquesne Incline, where cable-powered cars allow visitors to ascend the bluffs that overlook the city. Open 365 days a year, the Duquesne Incline takes sightseers up to Mount Washington and offers a stunning, panoramic view of Pittsburgh’s skyline. Getting to Station Square requires a brief transfer from bus to train. Take any 61 or 71 bus inbound from Bigelow and Fifth, and get off at Steel Plaza. Then take the T from the Steel Plaza Station to the Station Square Station.
Special occasions / Curated dining
Some of our personal favorites for dining in and around the University are:
Curiosities
This list would be incomplete without the inimitable Trundle Manor, a roadside attraction and curiosity collection curated by Mr. Arm and Velda Von Minx. Tours are by reservation only, and it’s customary to donate $20 per person, though other donations are also welcome. Located in Swissvale, you will likely need to drive or take an Uber or Lyft to visit Trundle Manor, but it is well worth the trip.