Things to do in  Pittsburgh

Home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz Field can pack in more than 65,000 fans on game day. Seats in this stadium on the banks of the Allegheny River offer views of the city skyline and riverfront. The venue also hosts large concerts and University of Pittsburgh football games.

One of the few of its kind in the US, the Duquesne Incline is a particularly scenic way to get up to Mt. Washington. Built in 1877—and refurbished in 1963— this cable car shuttles passengers from Pittsburgh’s South Shore neighborhood to an overlook with panoramic views of the city and its rivers. At the top, explore the museum dedicated to Pittsburgh history and inclines around the world, as well as the machine room to admire the funicular’s inner workings.

Mt. Washington is a hilltop neighborhood directly south of downtown Pittsburgh. Towering 450 feet (137 meters) above the Ohio and Monongahela rivers, some of the earliest settlements in the city were here. The former Coal Hill was renamed Mt. Washington in the 1800s, a call back to when General George Washington first visited the area during the American Revolution.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of America's most historic public gardens, full of exotic plant species since 1893. Its elaborate 15-acre (six-hectare) layout features mostly floral exhibits, as well as steel and glasswork Victorian greenhouse architecture. The conservatory was founded in the late 19th century by local steel magnate Henry Phipps and later given to the city of Pittsburgh. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as one of the greenest buildings in the country with a LEED-certified visitor center and production greenhouse.

A century-old structure on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the soaring Cathedral of Learning features a late Gothic Revival design and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This 42-story structure is one of the tallest educational buildings in the world and is a must-see for architecture lovers and first-time visitors to Pittsburgh. Marvel at the lofty Commons Room, the Nationality and Heritage Rooms—each showcasing a specific global culture—and the panoramic 36th floor.

Station Square is a mixed-use complex featuring shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located in the South Shore neighborhood along the Monongahela River, the area was originally designed as a railroad complex for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad in the late 1800s and was redeveloped in the 1970s as a commercial space. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular gathering spaces for locals and visitors alike.

The Kamin Science Center (formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center) is a multi-floor museum and research center featuring family-friendly exhibits, a planetarium and observatory, and a huge cinema theater. Located next to Acrisure Stadium on the bank of the Ohio River, the center opened in 1991 as the third of the Carnegie Institute’s four museums in Pittsburgh.

What began as one American café in London has spread around the world. Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh offers the classic food and rock ’n’ roll atmosphere found in the franchise’s many restaurants. With an industrial interior and outdoor patio, the eatery offers a comfortable spot to grab a bite. Plus, its exposed-brick stage hosts live entertainment on a regular basis.

America's largest aviary—and the only “national” one in the country—this Pittsburgh destination gets visitors up close to more than 150 species of birds from across the globe, many of which are endangered or threatened. From the Andean Condor to the fairy bluebird, plenty of wild and colorful winged creatures make the aviary their home.

Sitting at the confluence of three rivers, Point State Park is one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved landmarks. With a fabulous public fountain, excellent trails, boating, fishing, and kayaking opportunities, and even ruins of 18th-century forts—never mind the great views in nearly all directions—this is one Pittsburgh spot where there’s plenty to see and do.

With nearly 40,000 fans clamoring in the stands, PNC Park—home to the Pittsburgh Pirates—should be a mega-stadium, but the highest seat is just 88 feet (27 meters) from the field. And with views to downtown Pittsburgh, plus an endless supply of Primanti Bros. sandwiches, it’s easy to spend a day at the ballpark.