Overview
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.
12 sights · 5 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about North Side
Allegheny Commons
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.
National Aviary
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 w…
Andy Warhol Museum
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, o…
Carnegie Science Center
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 …
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
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 pulley…
Mattress Factory
The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that exhibits room-sized works called installations.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 21°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Pittsburgh)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PIT Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LBE Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Latrobe — 34 mi away. Directions
From Downtown there are several bridges you can use to cross the Allegheny River. The most direct is I-279 (the Fort Duquesne Bridge), a freeway bridge that will connect directly to the stadium area and with other freeways heading north. Another fast option is the I-579 bridge, another freeway which takes you directly from the Downtown area into North Side. From Downtown directly there are three bridges which carry street traffic - the 6th St. Bridge (also known as the Roberto Clemente Bridge), 7th St. Bridge (or the Andy Warhol Bridge), and 9th St. Bridge (or the Rachel Carson Bridge). All three are nearly identical historic steel suspension bridges of an interesting design. The 6th St. Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic during Pirates and Steelers games.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Allegheny Commons, National Aviary, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
- Lunch Max's Allegheny Tavern
- Afternoon PNC Park, Kayak Pittsburgh
- Evening Penn Brewery
Day 2
- Morning Riverview Park, Allegheny Observatory
- Afternoon Manchester Craftmen's Guild
Day 3
- Morning St. Anthony's Chapel
- Afternoon Washington's Landing
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
From Downtown there are several bridges you can use to cross the Allegheny River. The most direct is I-279 (the Fort Duquesne Bridge), a freeway bridge that will connect directly to the stadium area and with other freeways heading north. Another fast option is the I-579 bridge, another freeway which takes you directly from the Downtown area into North Side. From Downtown directly there are three bridges which carry street traffic - the 6th St. Bridge (also known as the Roberto Clemente Bridge), 7th St. Bridge (or the Andy Warhol Bridge), and 9th St. Bridge (or the Rachel Carson Bridge). All three are nearly identical historic steel suspension bridges of an interesting design. The 6th St. Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic during Pirates and Steelers games.
To the west of Downtown is the West End Bridge, which crosses the Ohio River and connects to the South Side area. To the east of Downtown are two bridges which link the North Side to the Strip District - the 16th St. Bridge and the 31st St. Bridge.
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. The 54 will get you directly from the Strip.
The Port Authority "T" light rail line goes from downtown underneath the Allegheny River to the North Side, with two stops. The North Side Station puts you within easy walking distance of PNC Park and the Andy Warhol Museum, while the Allegheny Station serves Acrisure Stadium, the Carnegie Science Center and Rivers Casino.
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. Four bridges - the I-279, 6th St., 7th St., and 9th St. Bridges - have pedestrian walkways. During Pirates and Steelers games, the 6th St. Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic, making it a pedestrian bridge.
See
See National Aviary
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.
See Andy Warhol Museum
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.
See Carnegie Science Center
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.
See Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
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.
See Mexican War Streets
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.
See North Shore Riverfront Park
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.
See Allegheny Observatory
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.
See Washington's Landing (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.
Do
Do 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.
Do 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.
Eat
Eat Max's Allegheny Tavern
A restaurant serving German food with a long history.
Drink
Drink Penn Brewery (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.
Sleep
Nearby
Green Tree
City / town · 2 listings · 4 mi away
Ross Township
City / town · 1 listings · 5 mi away
Mt. Lebanon
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
Robinson Township
City / town · 4 listings · 7 mi away
Coraopolis
City / town · 3 listings · 10 mi away
West Mifflin
City / town · 4 listings · 10 mi away
Franklin Park
City / town · 10 mi away
Sewickley
City / town · 1 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.