Things to do in Pittsburgh

40 activities, venues and outings in Pittsburgh, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

DoNorth Side
Acrisure Stadium
Acrisure Stadium, renamed in 2022 from its original name of Heinz Field, the home of one of the winningest NFL franchises of all time and the heart of the fiercely loyal Steeler Nation, is where the Pittsburgh Steelers football team play their home games. The stadium is also the home of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team. The stadium is massive and a "Great Hall" on the east side of the stadium holds a collection of Steelers and Pittsburgh Panthers memorabilia. Be aware that all Steelers home games sell out, so if you want to go, try to get your tickets early or on a resale website, or scalp.
ames afternoons and evenings; call for schedule
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville
Attack Theater
A modern dance company that frequently incorporates original music and multimedia in their performances. They do performances across Pittsburgh, but most are held in their home in the Strip District.
DoDowntown
Benedum Center
A large and very historic theater, built in 1927 and faithfully restored. The Benedum is home to the Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.
DoDowntown
Byham Theater
A grand historic theater with many lavish decorations, the Byham plays host to a variety of events.
DoSouth Side
Gateway Clipper Fleet
Offers a variety of sightseeing, dining, and entertainment cruises on the three rivers of Pittsburgh using old-fashioned paddle wheel boats. There are also dinner and dance night cruises, where you can eat galumkies (Polish stuffed cabbage) and polka away the evening on the river.
One-hour sightseeing cruise $20 adult, $10 children (click on link to see schedules and prices for other cruises)
Do
Golden Triangle Bike Rental
There are additional seasonal locations at the South Side Works mall and next to PNC Park on the North Shore.
Hours vary by season
DoDowntown
Harris Theater
Built as a movie theater, the Harris plays both movies and live performances.
DoDowntown
Heinz Hall
A magnificent concert hall, Heinz Hall is the home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
DoNorth Side
Manchester Craftmen's Guild
MCG Jazz
Great live jazz from some of today's living legends and an eclectic gallery featuring renowned contemporary artists and student showcases.
DoNorth Side
PNC Park
The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, known locally as the "Buccos" or "Bucs", play their home games here. Their ballpark is widely considered one of the most beautiful in the major league, with a stunning view of downtown past the outfield. If you don't make it for a game, you can still take a tour of the stadium on non-game days during the season; check the website for a schedule.
Games afternoon and evenings; call for scheduleTickets $15-250 (bleachers to club seats), Ballpark tours $9 adults, $7 seniors/children
DoDowntown
PPG Paints Arena
Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL hockey club; renamed from "Consol Energy Center" in October 2016. The arena also hosts many other events including basketball and concerts — both rock and classical. Check the link for the current event schedule.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville
Pittsburgh Glass Center
A nonprofit, public access glass studio and gallery dedicated to teaching, creating and promoting glass art. The more-than 16,000-square-foot building is one of the top glass art facilities in the country and houses state-of-the-art studios in hot glass, flameworking, coldworking, casting and kilnworking.
DoOakland
Pittsburgh Playhouse
Home to The REP, a professional theatre company and three student companies of Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts.
DoSouth Side
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
A professional soccer team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United Soccer League. The Riverhounds play their home games at the 3,500-seat Highmark Stadium in Station Square.
Tickets $10-20
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville
Quantum Theatre
A local experimental theater company that puts on regular performances around Pittsburgh, particularly in the East Liberty area.
DoNorth Side
Rivers Casino
A casino with a lot of slot machines and table games, a sportsbook and a few restaurants and bars overlooking the river.
DoSouth Side
Segway Pittsburgh
Offering guided segway tours of the Downtown area and segway accessories.
Prices vary by tour; check website for details
DoDowntown
Wood Street Galleries
A contemporary art gallery with some interesting exhibits, with a focus on new media.
Tue-Thu 11AM-6PM, Fri Sat 11AM-8PM
DoOakland Not mapped
Annual Pitt Jazz Seminar & Concert
Held each fall for over 40 years, the four-day Annual Jazz Seminar and Concert combines the best in scholarship, performance, community involvement, cultural diversity, and musicianship with some of the nation's biggest names in jazz.
DoDowntown Not mapped
Anthrocon
One of the world's two largest furry conventions (along with Midwest Furfest), held in Pittsburgh since 2006. Over 17,000 attended in 2024, and over 3000 costumed mascots and fursuiters participate in the parade. The all-ages event is held in late June or early July each year. Most events require a paid membership, available in advance or in limited numbers onsite; the parade and block party afterwards are open to public.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville Not mapped
Art All Night
A free, non-juried art exhibit held in April that runs 24 hours straight and features artwork from everyone who submits something.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville Not mapped
First Fridays
Unblurred
The first Friday of every month, especially from April to October, Penn Avenue between Allegheny Cemetery and Pacific Ave comes alive with galleries opening to the public from 6 to 10 and sometimes later. Eclectic art exhibitions, frequently with complimentary beer, wine, and light refreshments (bring small bills for the donation jar), open to the public. Especially notable are VaultArt Studio, featuring works by artists with disabilities (often at affordable prices for purchase) and LIKELIKE, a short block off the main drag, exhibiting experimental, independent video games. Be prepared to bump into temporary street booths promoting causes, selling homemade food, or selling their own artistic products.
DoOakland Not mapped
Ionsound Project
Performs innovative concerts, commissioning works of new music, collaborating with artists in a variety of disciplines, and exploring the boundaries between concert and popular music.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville Not mapped
Lawrenceville Artists’ Studio Tour
In October the public is invited into the working studios of neighborhood artisans.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville Not mapped
Little Italy Days
Held in late summer, it is meant to celebrate Bloomfield's Italian heritage. Liberty Avenue becomes filled with street vendors selling carnival food, art, souvenirs, and alcoholic beverages (many of which can be legally consumed on-site). Live music is also performed, as well as contests and other activities. It has become substantially less "Italian", however, tilting towards a broader but also more generic mix of vendors. Controversial in the neighborhood, many local merchants shut down for part or all of the now-four-day festival.
DoOakland Not mapped
Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theater
An acclaimed theatre company, frequently ranked among the city's best, that regularly performs in the Stephen Foster Memorial.
DoOakland Not mapped
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Held in July, is a vintage car festival that includes parades, a vintage car show along Walnut Street in Shadyside and a road race through Schenley Park.
DoOakland Not mapped
Ruckus (formerly Friday Nite Improvs)
Pittsburgh's longest-running theatrical/comedic production is also the city's only all-audience participation comedy improv show. Takes place, you guessed it, every Friday night during the school year.
11PM$3
DoSouth Side Not mapped
South Side Soup Contest
One Saturday in February is a yearly soup contest held in the South Side. For $25, participants can try nearly 30 different soups from various restaurants. The restaurants make the soup and serve samples in nearby stores. This event is a great way to try soups from many of the restaurants as well as see many of the stores that make up the South Side.
DoSouth Side Not mapped
South Side Step Trek
Every October in the South Side is a tour of the South Side Slopes. The event takes place on a Saturday. Participants are given a map and can walk guided trails of the South Side Slopes. Water stations are setup along the way. This is an excellent way to see the South Side Slopes.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville Not mapped
The Joy of Cookies Cookie Tour
A shopping and cookie-tasting event that takes place in December in Lawrenceville and attracts people from all over the Pittsburgh area.
DoDowntown Not mapped
Three Rivers Arts Festival
Provides eleven days of art through the month of June for the people with a mix of art, live music, food, and festival fun. The most popular parts of the Three Rivers Arts Festival are the program of free outdoor concerts, and the vibrant artist market where artists from all over the country display and sell their wares. The festival is located around Point State Park and the Gateway Center. On weekends, street closures will expand the area, creating a plaza to accommodate the larger events.
DoDowntown Not mapped
Three Rivers Regatta
August event around Point State Park and just across the river on the North Shore, this massive event plays host to a lot of music, food, stunt shows, boating events, and family activities.
DoOakland Not mapped
University of Pittsburgh Department of Music Performances
The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music has multiple performance groups including the University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, String Quartet, Carpathian Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, African Music and Dance Ensemble, Gamelan Ensemble, Women's Choral Ensemble, Chamber Music, and the renowned Men's Glee Club and Heinz Chapel Choir.
DoOakland Not mapped
University of Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt Panthers
Oakland used to be home to all of Pittsburgh's major sports teams. Although their vintage stadiums have been demolished, and the University's football team now plays its games in Heinz Field on the city's North Shore, you can still cheer the remainder of the school's teams, including its nationally regarded basketball program, in its on-campus sports facilities. The Petersen Event Center is home to both the men's and women's basketball teams which play schedules against the nation's top collegiate competition and command a large fanbase in Western Pennsylvania. Adjacent to the Petersen is the and, home to the gymnastics, swimming, wrestling and volleyball teams. Behind Trees Hall is the, home to the baseball, softball, and soccer teams.
DoOakland Not mapped
University of Pittsburgh Stages
Throughout the year, "Pitt Stages" performs various productions and student laboratories ranging from classic revivals to cutting-edge contemporary pieces. Venues include the historic theaters located in the Stephen Foster Memorial, the department's primary facility, to the black-box Studio Theatre located in the basement of the Cathedral of Learning.
Mon–Fri noon–5PM and 1 hr prior to performance
DoDowntown
August Wilson Center for African American Culture
Theater.
DoNorth Side
Kayak Pittsburgh
Kayak on the Pittsburgh rivers.
Open during summer months, Mon-Fri 11AM-dusk, Sat Sun 10AM-duskSolo kayaks $16/hour, $8/additional half-hour; tandem kayaks $21.50/hour, $10.75/additional half-hour
DoDowntown
O'Reilly Theater
Home to the Pittsburgh Public Theater.
DoStrip District-Lawrenceville Not mapped
Halloween Parade
Held annually, it is Bloomfield's largest nighttime parade.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Pittsburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0).