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Pittsburgh travel guide: it’s time for this seriously cool city to shine
Enjoy wonderful architecture, world-class museums and gourmet food
You could be forgiven if you haven’t really considered Pittsburgh for your next holiday. Located in western Pennsylvania, it has been long overlooked for trans-Atlantic city breaks, but this is about to change.
Decades ago Pittsburgh was best known as a soot-stained industrial hub, producing the coal and steel needed to build a growing country. Now, after its industry widely closed down, it has a new multi-faceted identity as a student town with wonderful architecture, world-class galleries and gourmet food – all served with a down-to-earth attitude that is warm and welcoming. This is Pittsburgh’s time to shine, and it is a seriously cool city to visit.
The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh
(Image credit: Jin Wu)
Museums in Pittsburgh
He once said everyone would experience 15 minutes of fame, but Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol has long exceeded those expectations. At the Andy Warhol Museum, which is the largest gallery dedicated to a single artist in America, you can learn about his life, and it is home to some of his most famous works.
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At the Carnegie Museum of Art, you can see more traditional masters like Claude Monet or Edgar Degas, as well as scientific discoveries such as the first Tyrannosaurus rex ever uncovered.
Opened on 15 October, one of Pittsburgh’s newest attractions is the Moonshot Museum, which is connected to local aerospace technology firm Astrobotics. Here visitors can watch real scientists and engineers work on pieces of technology that are going to travel 400,000 miles to the moon.
Hire at bike and ride the Great Allegheny Passage
What to do
If you believe the best way to get to know a city is through your stomach then look no further than ‘Burgh Bits and Bites food tours. You can explore areas across the city, but the Strip District tour will give you an insight into how immigration shaped Pittsburgh’s food scene, with tastings as varied as Italian deli meats and Mexican tamales.
When visiting Pittsburgh one thing you cannot escape is the passion for sport. All of the major teams wear black and gold, and when a big game is on the entire city stops. The biggest spectacle is reserved for the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL team, and if you can get a chance to take in a game it is worth checking it out. If you want to blend in, pick up T-shirts, caps and other merchandise from the stalls that pop up in the Strip District.
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Hire bikes from Golden Triangle Bike Rentals and ride the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail that ends in downtown Pittsburgh. You can do the whole thing or just a small section, stopping off at breweries along the way.
Get out of the city and head to the Laurel Highlands for some fresh air and stunning views. You can also visit some of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous properties, including Kentuck Knob and his masterpiece Falling Water. Learn more about how he used the countryside around him to create modernist pieces that have stood the test of time.
Rooms at Tryp by Wyndham Pittsburgh have funky décor
(Image credit: wyndhamhotels.com)
Where to stay
Cosy Lawrenceville is one of the coolest neighbourhoods to stay in, with its array of independent boutiques, hip restaurants, and bars. Rest your head at Tryp by Wyndham Pittsburgh, which has free breakfast pastries, a rooftop bar and funky déco throughout. Rooms start from $159 (£141) per night.
A sandwich at Primanti Bros must on your Pittsburgh foodie list
(Image credit: Primanti Bros)
Where to eat and drink
The best views can be found at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto on top of Mount Washington, which you can reach via the 19th century Duquesne Incline. It has 360-degree views of Pittsburgh’s skyline and some of the best seafood in the city. Don’t miss the quirky and award-winning Angel Food Grilled Cheese Sandwich dessert.
Local institution Primanti Bros has to be on your Pittsburgh foodie list. It has a simple concept: choose a filling, like pastrami, and every sandwich comes with the same extras – sweet ‘n’ sour slaw, tomato, provolone cheese, and fries on home-made bread. Delicious.
Pamela’s P&G Diner is the spot to grab breakfast, particularly before a game. Its speciality is thin, crepe-style pancakes that President Barack Obama enjoyed so much on his visit that he flew the cooks to Washington to make for him and his guests. If that’s not an endorsement then what is?
For some of the best BBQ and southern food in the city, head to Walter’s Southern Kitchen. Pop by and sit outside in their garden for a true American experience.
The city of Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline
How to get there
In June Pittsburgh became more accessible to the UK with the reinstatement of British Airways’s direct flight from London Heathrow to Pittsburgh International Airport. Operating year-round on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, fares start from £505 return.
Jaymi McCann is a freelance journalist who writes extensively on travel for The Week, as well as publications including The Telegraph, National Geographic, Rough Guides, The i Paper and The Mail on Sunday. She has a degree in English literature from the University of Glasgow, a master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London, and 15 years of experience on Fleet Street. She specialises in writing about Scotland, as well as cruising, city guides and foodie travel. Jaymi loves to discover new places, particularly in Switzerland, Germany and southern Europe. Her Glasgow guide for The Week won a gong at the annual Media Getaway Awards.
