Pittsburgh is one of the better-value cities in the northeastern United States, and it is possible to fill several days with free or inexpensive sights. The city's parks are generous, some museums are free to enter, and several attractions give children free entry. This guide shows where to save and where it is worth spending.
Free parks and viewpoints
Point State Park, a 36-acre park where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio, is free and open daily from sunrise to sunset, with a 150-foot fountain, a 1764 blockhouse and wide river paths. Schenley Park in Oakland covers 456 acres of woods and trails, with a Visitor Center and cafe that is open daily, and is free to enter. Both are good for picnics and for a long walk between sights. Ohiopyle State Park, in the Laurel Highlands, is also free to enter if you have a car, with waterfalls and overlooks.
Free museums
The Frick Pittsburgh in Point Breeze is free to enter, with an art museum, a car and carriage museum, a greenhouse and gardens on the grounds of Henry Clay Frick's Victorian estate, and free parking. Tours of the mansion, Clayton, are ticketed, so budget a little if you want them. It is closed on Mondays. Check also for free days at other museums: the Regional Asset District offers RAD free days at several venues, and the Fort Pitt Museum lists free entry on certain Thursdays and Sundays under its RAD Pass.
Free for children
The Heinz History Center, the Fort Pitt Museum and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Museum all have rules that reduce costs for families. At the History Center and the Fort Pitt Museum, visitors aged 17 and under are free, which makes them some of the cheapest family days in the city. Soldiers and Sailors offers reduced rates for children from five to seventeen and free entry for military and veterans. Check the sites for current rules, as programs change.
Cheap thrills
The Duquesne Incline costs only a few dollars each way, takes cash or a ConnectCard rather than cards, and runs every day of the year until after midnight, and it gives you the best view of the city. The T light rail is free within downtown, connecting Market Square with the North Shore and Station Square. Walking is the best transport: the yellow bridges across the Allegheny are free and make a good loop with views of the stadiums. The Strip District is free to stroll, with samples at some stalls and inexpensive street food.
Where it is worth paying
A few experiences are worth the money. The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie museums in Oakland are the cultural highlights of the city; the Carnegie ticket covers two museums, and weekday afternoons are half price. Phipps Conservatory is warm and green in winter. A guided walking tour such as the Best of the Burgh walk is among the cheaper paid tours and a good way to start. For most visitors, three paid attractions and a long list of free ones is a satisfying mix.
Saving on hotels and food
Hotels in Pittsburgh are generally cheaper than in most large cities, and the Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown includes a hot breakfast and an evening Kickback with hot food and drinks, which can replace two meals. The Hampton Inn and Suites Pittsburgh Downtown offers an indoor pool, free breakfast and a high guest rating. Parking is the hidden cost downtown, so stay near the T or the Strip and skip the rental car unless you plan a day in the hills. Eat your largest meal at lunch, when many restaurants run cheaper menus, and graze in the Strip for dinner.
A few more savings
Many hotels offer free breakfast, which makes a real difference over a few days, and some provide a shuttle or discounted parking, so ask when booking. Public transit is inexpensive, and day passes make sense if you plan several bus rides to Oakland. Look for community and library events too: Pittsburgh has a strong calendar of free festivals, markets and outdoor performances in summer, especially in the parks and on the riverfronts, so check local listings as you plan. Bring a refillable water bottle and a picnic, and enjoy the views, which cost nothing.
A free day
A simple budget day: morning in Point State Park and the Strip District, lunch from the stalls, an afternoon at the Frick Pittsburgh or Schenley Park, and a ride on the Duquesne Incline for sunset. It costs very little and shows you the city's rivers, hills and food in one go. Keep the paid highlights for the other days, and book them early.
