Pittsburgh in Three Hours

Here are our top five picks from Pittsburgh’s year round events, attractions, and unique points of interest.

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Even if you don't have a little one to entertain, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. On a beautiful Pittsburgh afternoon there is nothing better than learning about unique animals and meandering the lovely 2 mile zoo loop on a handicap accessible path. In the new Jungle Odyssey, you are surrounded by lush green trees, cascading waterfalls and you can even see the animals by zip line! For a more personal experience, you can even schedule animal encounters!

Attend A Sporting Event

Pick your poison - we've got the award winning Steelers (football), Penguins (hockey), and Pirates (baseball) teams. No matter what time of year you're in Pittsburgh, you can witness black and gold champions at play. If you're a sports history buff, don't forget to visit the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum as it has an immense collection of one-of-a-kind sports artifacts and interactive exhibits.

Learn at a Museum

If you think we have a lot of sports to choose from, just wait until you attempt to select a museum to visit. Our family-friendly offerings include the Children's Museum, and Carnegie Science Center. History buffs will love Fort Ligonier, Senator John Heinz History Center, and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. If you're an art lover, try Carnegie Museum of Art or The Warhol Museum.

Relax at Kennywood & Sandcastle

Kennywood is a Pittsburgh tradition - a wonderful historic amusement park created in 1898 and updated many times since. There are 31 major rides, from classic attractions like Noah's Ark to thrill rides like the Black Widow, with fun for every age. Sandcastle is a classic Pittsburgh transition story - an old railroad yard that serviced the US Steel Homestead Works mill along the Monongahela river. Today, Sandcastle is a lovely water park and one of the best places to visit in Pittsburgh, with a mushroom pool, lazy river, and wave pool.

Explore a Pittsburgh Neighborhood

The thing about Pittsburgh is that you could spend your entire three hours in one singular neighborhood -- and we have 90 to explore! Each diverse area offers so many hidden gems and unique experiences to any visitor. Go to Oakland and tour the Cathedral of Learning for an example of wonderful Gothic architecture, and take in Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum or perhaps its concentration of world class universities. From downtown you could cross a bridge and visit Pittsburgh's North Side or South Side neighborhoods. Lawrenceville's trendy boutiques (including a store all about zombies!) and eateries is a draw for many. Pittsburgh is far more than just the tall buildings of its downtown, so take a few hours and fall in love with our neighborhoods, too.