Pittsburgh is a “city of neighborhoods.” These are the best ones

12.09.2024 - 16:53 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 10, 2024 • 5 min read

Residents love to tell you that Pittsburgh is a “city of neighborhoods.” And it’s true.

The Steel City boasts 90 different districts, many of them defined by the waves of immigrants who came to work in the countless factories and steel mills that once made Pittsburgh the industrial capital of the USA . First-time visitors may not realize they’ve crossed from Shadyside into East Liberty or Bloomfield into Friendship – but locals sure do. Each sliver of Pittsburgh has a well-developed character, and lifers can trace neighborhood borders down to individual stop signs and fire hydrants.

While locals could (and do!) argue all day about the “best” parts of Pittsburgh, certain areas are definitely easier to visit and more rewarding for newcomers. Consider these neighborhoods the best starting points, as you untangle the streets, hills and bridges that make Pittsburgh so much fun to explore.

Best neighborhood for arts and entertainment

The nickname for Downtown Pittsburgh is the “Golden Triangle,” a reference to the arrowhead of land where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers merge to become the Ohio River. The tip of this land mass is Point State Park – or simply “the Point” – where generous paths and lawns have replaced colonial-era Fort Duquesne. Sparse remains of a later stronghold, Fort Pitt , now serve as a museum dedicated to Pittsburgh’s frontier past.

Most of Downtown (delightfully, it’s pronounced “dahntahn” in these parts) is crowded with skyscrapers, representing a wide range of architectural styles. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has transformed this once-blighted urban core into the Cultural District, a corridor busy with art galleries and performance spaces.

Standout venues include the Greer Cabaret Theater , a cocktail lounge that also stages variety shows; the voluminous SPACE Gallery , used for art installations; the Arcade Comedy Theatre , beloved for its sketch and improv shows; and the ship-shaped August Wilson Center , a multi-purpose facility dedicated to African American culture (and named after the great playwright, a Pittsburgh native who set most of his plays here). 

Best neighborhood for sports and culture

On any given weekend, tens of thousands of sports fans flock to the Northside to catch a Steelers game in  Acrisure Stadium or a Pirates game at PNC Park . ESPN viewers are well acquainted with the Northside skyline, thanks to sweeping aerial shots on game days. Ticket holders flood the parking lots for tailgate parties, and stands are awash in gold, with spectators waving their “ Terrible Towels ” in support of the legendary football team.

Pro athletics aside, the Northside is packed with activity all year long. The Andy Warhol Museum is a