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Region of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Photo: Ainulindale, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
North Side is an area of Pittsburgh, just across the Allegheny River from Downtown. In years past it was the independent city of Allegheny, but has long been incorporated into the City of Pittsburgh itself. Today it is home to many of the city's museums, the stadiums of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Steelers, historic neighborhoods and much development, including a splendid riverfront promenade.
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Pittsburgh's oldest park, the commons is a historic and very lovely park with lush green lawns, sculptures, and a small lake among its many shady trees.
The only "national" aviary in the entire country, this small but splendid place has lots of exotic birds to enjoy - eagles, penguins, lorikeets, parrots, flamingos, etc. A couple of exhibits allow you to stroll through with birds flying around you, and the aviary offers a constant program of feeding times and bird shows to enjoy throughout the day, bringing you even closer to their lovely birds.
This seven-floor museum is like no other art museum, to say the least. The collection covers Warhol's entire life, and as you walk through the galleries you'll hear the sounds of Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, opera singers, classic Hollywood movies and many other influences on Warhol's career as you view celebrity portraits, films, room installations, album covers, and many other works from one of America's greatest pop artists.
A great place to learn about science, this huge (five floors) museum has exhibits aimed toward both children and adults dealing with many aspects of science and technology. Some of the highlight exhibits include a model railroad village, an aquarium, a robot exhibit, and numerous theaters and stages for science demonstrations, as well as a large-screen theater. Another attraction is a World War II submarine, the USS Requin, moored in the Ohio River just aside of the Science Center itself.
A children's museum with a pretty wide variety of great, interactive exhibits, including a recreation of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, a hall full of optical illusions, a waterplay area, a stage, a workshop full of pulleys and gears, as well as plenty of art and outdoor exhibits.
The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that exhibits room-sized works called installations.
These streets are so called because they were named for the battles and generals of that war by the original developer in 1848. Today they are notable for fine examples of the restoration of old urban homes. The neighborhood has a dedicated website Mexicanwarstreets.org and holds annual house tours which bring in tourists from surrounding states. Neighbors celebrate the unique architectural heritage here in a neighborhood some could compare to Boston’s Beacon Hill or Greenwich Village, without the million dollar price tag.
Situated along the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, this park offers a chance to get close to the rivers and enjoy excellent, unobstructed views of downtown. A trail runs the length of the park, which stretches from the Carnegie Science Center to beyond downtown, and there are numerous lawns and public artworks, as well as boat tie-ups and facilities for canoes and kayakers. The Water Steps, just west of PNC Park, is a large interactive fountain which children often play in during the summer.
A large wooded and hilly park with an extensive network of trails, a swimming pool, a playground, and great views of Pittsburgh.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the University of Pittsburgh's Neoclassical observatory, completed in 1912, was home to several historically significant astronomers such as Samuel Langley and John Brashear. The observatory is still actively engaged in conducting astronomical research.
Located on Troy Hill, this chapel, dedicated to "The Wonder Worker" Saint Anthony of Padua, houses the largest collection of relics outside the Vatican.
Herr's Island
A small island in the Allegheny River just off the North Shore, Washington's Landing is a small, mixed-use community with lovely views of the river and Downtown. A trail runs along the island, and the island is also home to a large marina as well a rowing club. You can get there by driving up Ohio Street to 31st Street and getting off just before the bridge, but another option is to walk or bike up the North Shore Riverfront Trail past Downtown, which allows you to experience a very scenic stretch of river, then enter the island via a pedestrian-only bridge at the southern end of the island.
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.
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.
A casino with a lot of slot machines and table games, a sportsbook and a few restaurants and bars overlooking the river.
Kayak on the Pittsburgh rivers.
MCG Jazz
Great live jazz from some of today's living legends and an eclectic gallery featuring renowned contemporary artists and student showcases.
A restaurant serving German food with a long history.
Pennsylvania Brewing Company
Craft brewery serving various ales and lagers brewed at this location. Offering traditional food favorites from Germany and Eastern Europe and hosts an annual Oktoberfest.
Built in 1888 as a Benedictine monastery, the historic building is now a modern hotel.
By public transit
From Downtown, the 8, 11 and 16 Port Authority bus routes are good, frequent routes which will bring you directly to the North Side. The 8 is also the best option for visiting Riverview Park.
On foot
Due to the proximity of most North Side attractions to Downtown, it is quite easy to get from there into North Side by walking., and 9th St. Bridges - have pedestrian walkways.
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Pittsburgh · International · PIT
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