Hidden Gems and Unique Things to Do in Pittsburgh

I would describe Pittsburgh, PA as a city with Midwest hospitality…with a little grit.

Pittsburgh is a blue-collar city that’s a great place to visit for diverse interests and cultures including art, history, sports, great food and so much more.

I’m sharing more about the best-hidden gems and unique things to do in Pittsburgh.

Thanks again to Visit Pittsburgh for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.

See Dinosaurs and More at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

The Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is one of the country’s largest collections of dinosaur bones.

Are the dinosaur fossils on display real?

What’s unique about the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is that most of the exhibition’s dinosaur skeletons are REAL.

In fact, 75% of 230 objects on display are original fossils from one of the finest paleontological collections in the world.

Dinosaur fans of all ages will enjoy learning more about the unique types of dinosaurs on display.

Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems

Another literal gem at the museum is the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems within the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The exhibit features more than 1,300 specimens from around the world.

The gems and jewelry section doesn’t allow photography but it’s worth seeing for yourself!

How long does it take to visit the Carnegie Museum of Natural History?

It’s recommended to allow 3-4 hours to explore.

You’ll want to allow several hours to explore this 115,000 sq. ft museum with 20 galleries. There are about 10,000 specimens on a rotating display and 22 million specimens in total.

Admire the Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Art

4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 

Admission includes both the Carnegie Museum of Art AND the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

You can see a variety of art mediums including sculptures, art on the walls, and architectural design featured.

I didn’t anticipate such incredible and grand architecture inside this building.

It’s as if you’ve been transported into other parts of the world as you step into these gallery spaces.

Take a Guided Tour of The Clemente Museum

3339 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

Learn more about the life and achievements of Pittsburgh baseball legend Roberto Clemente on and off the baseball field on a guided tour.

The museum isn’t open to the public and you need to book a guided tour before your visit via email at info@clementemuseum.com or by using the website’s scheduling form.

The Clemente Museum is located inside the historic Engine House 25 building.

The museum houses the world’s largest exhibited collection of Roberto Clemente memorabilia on and off the baseball field.

This is the largest museum dedicated to a single player, known for his generosity and humanitarian efforts including service to his home country of Puerto Rico.

Roberto Clemente was drafted to The Pirates baseball team in 1954.

The museum tour takes you on a journey from his humble beginnings, and the adversity he faced including racial injustice, baseball achievements, humanitarian efforts, personal life, and his tragic death.

“The Great One” nickname is justified because Roberto Clemente received every possible award given in Major League Baseball in his 18-year career.

Tour guests can park for free in the lot located next to the building. The guided tours last around 90 minutes and are recommended for ages 12 and up.

The guided tour of the museum is a nice addition for baseball fans in town to watch the Pirates play a baseball game at PNC Park.

Tour and Tasting in the Wine Cellar at Engine House 25

Wine and baseball?

Historic Engine House 25 houses both a museum AND an urban winery.

You can book a tour of the Clemente Museum AND enjoy a selection of Engine House 25 Wine!

The lower level of Engine House 25 is a beautiful and popular space for private special events and gatherings.

The grapes are sourced from premium growers in California, Chile, and South Africa and are pressed and bottled in-house by hand.

The winery uses old-world techniques for aging wine for 18-24 months using a combination of French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels.

The two house tours and tastings at the museum require a minimum of 10 people and a cheeseboard is included.

Art is Everywhere at Randyland

1501 Arch St, Pittsburgh, PA 

If you love eclectic art, Randyland is the perfect place to visit!

Randyland is a free and unforgettable experience created by Randy Gilson.

In 1995, he took an abandoned building scheduled to be demolished and transformed it into a destination helping positively transform a neighborhood.

Randyland is described as an “Outdoor Museum/Yard Filled With LOTS Of Recycled, Repurposed, Found, Dumpster TREASURES, PAINTED IN 100s OF HAPPY BRIGHT COLORS.”

There’s so much to see and take in at Randyland from the moment you approach the outdoor museum.

It’s like walking into a kaleidoscope where each step reveals something new to pique your curiosity.

Even though Randyland is free to visit, donations are accepted if you want to help contribute to its future.

Visitors from around the world make it a point to stop by Randyland. There are even signs on the wall to prove it.

Randyland boasts the largest international welcome wall in America. Each sign represents the country of someone who has visited Randlyland.

International guests can paint a sign with the symbol of their country with the word welcome in their language and English.

Learn About the Houses at the City of Asylum

408 Samsonia Way, Pittsburgh, PA

Located within walking distance of Randyland, houses at the City of Asylum have been built to create a community that protects and celebrates freedom of creative expression.

The City of Asylum Exiled Writer and Artist Residency Program provides sanctuary to endangered artists and writers.

The program ensures that artists can continue to create, without the fear of their voices being silenced.

The program’s mission is to “help each artist and writer create and transition to an independent life in exile from their home countries due to the threat of persecution of their work.”

Be on the lookout for signs on the buildings to help you learn more about the story of each home and its former residents.

The story of the artist Huang Xiang who lived in “House Poem” is really moving.

The Mattress Factory Contemporary Art Museum and Commonplace Coffee are two noteworthy stops in the neighborhood that you can walk to from Randyland.

See a Beautiful Variety of Birds at the National Aviary

700 Arch St, Pittsburgh, PA 

The National Aviary was founded in 1952 and is the only independent indoor nonprofit aviary in the United States.

The 40,000 sq ft building also has bragging rights as the country’s largest aviary.

It’s recommended for guests to allow 1.5 – 3 hours to visit the National Aviary, home to more than 500 birds and animals.

There are more than 150 species of birds represented from around the world at the aviary.

One of the popular animals at the aviary ironically isn’t a bird, it’s actually a Linnaeus’s Two-toed Sloth. The National Aviary offers several animal encounters for an additional fee including sloth encounters.

Make sure that you plan ahead if you want to experience an animal encounter during your visit.

See Iconic Works of Art at The Andy Warhol Museum

117 Sandusky St, Pittsburgh, PA

Learn more about the life and works of artist Andy Warhol, a leader in the pop art movement in the 1960s.

One of the unique things about the museum is that it’s the largest museum in North America dedicated to a single artist.

You’ll begin by learning more about the artist and his early life and childhood. Andy’s roots were in Pittsburgh before moving to New York City as an adult.

There are seven floors of art and archives to discover during your visit.

The museum strives to be inclusive for all abilities and offers accessibility accommodations for guests with special needs during their visit.

One of my favorite accessibility accommodations was the touchable tactile art exhibit showcasing three-dimensional reproductions of signature works.

When visually impaired guests use The free Out Loud audio guide app they’ll hear vivid visual descriptions and guided tactile narration of these works.

I appreciate their impressive efforts to make art truly accessible for everyone!

The museum recommends starting with the exhibits on the top floor and working your way down.

You don’t miss Andy Warhol’s personal Time Capsules collection which is truly fascinating.

Before you leave, stop by the Warhol Store gift shop stocked with unique one-of-a-kind items. You can also shop online if you don’t have room in your luggage to bring your items back.

Explore the City of Bridges

Pittsburgh is known as the “City of Bridges.” Pittsburgh has 446 bridges, more than any other city in the world. For perspective, Venice, Italy has 435 bridges.

You can see the Andy Warhol Bridge, one of the three Sister Bridges in downtown Pittsburgh painted in Aztec gold.

The Andy Warhol Bridge is on Seventh Street. The other Sister Bridges are on Sixth Street (the Roberto Clemente Bridge) and the Rachel Carson Bridge on Ninth Street.

There are sidewalks on all of the Sister Bridges for pedestrians to use.

Reminiscence at the Bicycle Heaven Museum

1800 Preble Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

This hidden treasure is the gift of going down memory lane.

There are bikes to draw in all ages within the world’s largest bicycle museum and shop.

I was specifically looking for my beloved childhood bike, the Huffy Capri 10 speed…and I might have found it if given a few more hours to explore.

Owner Craig Morrow turned one discarded bike in 1996 into a collection of more than 6,000 bicycles in the museum that was founded in 2011.

His bicycle collection is rideable art. The two floors of the bike museum are bursting with an assortment of popular, rare, and collectible bikes.

You’ll want to read the bike description tags and ask Craig some of his favorite stories if you’re fortunate enough to get a few moments with him.

See some of the most famous bikes from movies in person including the Pee-wee Herman bike from the movie “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure!”

After you visit the Bicycle Heaven Museum, check out Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff, located next door.

It features an assortment of music and entertainment memorabilia spanning several decades.

Explore the Senator John Heinz History Center

1212 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 

You can learn about Pittsburgh’s 250-year history at Pennsylvania’s only affiliated Smithsonian Institution, the Senator John Heinz History Center.

You’ll want to allow 2-3 hours to go through this museum with over 40,000 artifacts!

There is a lot to see on the 6 floors of the museum. There are permanent and temporary exhibits, including the Heinz exhibit on America’s favorite ketchup brand and more founded in Pittsburgh.

Other highlights include interactive play at Kidsburgh, and exhibits From Slavery to Freedom, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, We Can Do It World War II, and Fort Pitt: Keystone of the Frontier.

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Exhibit at Senator John Heinz History Center

There is an incredible exhibit dedicated to Pittsburgh’s hometown hero Mister Rogers.

The museum has the largest collection of original items from the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood television set that will take you down memory lane.

This exhibit instantly brought me back to memories of watching the show as a child.

The Mister Roger’s Neighborhood exhibit includes:

• The entryway and living room set that Mister Rogers walked through to begin each show with a life-like figure of Mister Rogers dressed in his iconic style
• King Friday XIII’s Castle
• The Great Oak Tree – Residence of Henrietta Pussycat and X The Owl
• Picture Picture, the display that helped Mister Rogers teach children using interactive media
• McFeely’s “Speedy Delivery” tricycle
• The sweater worn by Mister Rogers
• Puppet characters -Dr. Bill and Elsie Jean Platypus, Grandpere Tiger and Cornflake “Corny” S. Pecially
• A variety of additional items from the “Neighborhood of Make-Believe,” including King Friday XIII’s telephone, Henrietta Pussycat’s outfit, Chef Brockett’s hat, Harriett Elizabeth Cow’s desk, and the bench that Mister Rogers sat on during each show.

Another notable tribute to Mister Rogers in the Pittsburgh area is the “Tribute to Children” sculpture.

The ten-foot bronze sculpture of Fred Rogers is at North Shore Drive (located between Heinz Field and PNC Park).

Celebrate Sports at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum

A 20,000-square-foot museum within a museum! The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum has two floors inside the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Sports fans of all ages will find more than 70 interactive sports-themed activities.

The museum highlights professional sports teams in Pittsburgh, legendary high school athletes, and incredible athletes who played for Negro League baseball.

Champions from golf, racing, and boxing are also featured.

Ride the Duquesne Incline

1197 W Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA

Enjoy scenic views of downtown Pittsburgh during a ride on the Duquesne Incline.

The incline dates back to 1877 and is in operation now thanks to the rescue and restoration from local residents in 1963.

The Duquesne Incline is a working museum. History meets function because people still use the incline for their everyday public transportation needs.

Tour and Tasting at Wigle Whiskey

2401 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA

Enjoy a tour and tasting at Wigle Whiskey pronounced (wiggle).

The artisan small-batch whiskey distillery is located in The Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh honoring its namesake Phillip Wigle.

On the tour, you’ll learn about Wigle’s role in the American Whiskey Rebellion and how American whiskey was born in Pittsburgh.

After you learn about the history, you’ll learn more about the modern-day production of small-batch artisan whiskey.

The one-hour tour is limited in size and takes you through the whiskey-making process from “grain to glass.”

The tour ends with a special tasting of their award-winning rye and bourbon whiskey, gin, rum, and other spirits. 

Dine at Wigle Whiskey Tasting Room and Kitchen

In addition to whiskey, Wigle Whiskey has amazing food worth planning a lunch or dinner stop around.

During our visit, we tried the following:

• Fritters (if you see them on the menu get them!)
• Crispy cheese curds
• Sweet potato hummus
• Fried Chicken sandwich
• Mac + cheese

Some menu items change seasonally so be on the lookout if you have a few favorites.

You can’t go wrong with a specialty cocktail or a whiskey flight if you want to experience more than one flavor.

If you want to try a few of their more unique flavors, I recommend trying their Pickle Whiskey or Ginger Whiskey.

There is a gift shop where you can purchase your favorite spirits or bring some back as gifts.

Discover Local Craft Beer on the Pittsburgh Brewery Trail

Speaking of drinking, if you’re a craft beer fan, Pittsburgh has you covered with over 40 breweries throughout Allegheny County.

The Pittsburgh Brewery Guide gives locals and tourists an excuse to discover other neighborhoods around Pittsburgh.

Each craft brewery that you visit has a unique personality and origin story to share.

Get Your Stamps on The Pittsburgh Brewery Guide

If you’re visiting multiple breweries, I recommend purchasing a Pittsburgh Brewery Guide at any participating breweries in town.

You can learn more about each brewery’s history and amenities within the guide and write notes in your guide to help recall your favorites.

When you visit one of the breweries in the guide they will stamp their designated page.

The new version of the Pittsburgh Brewery Guide offers more ways to earn prizes.

Popular and Hidden Gem Restaurants in Pittsburgh

When I visit a city I like to find some of the favorite local restaurants to visit.

Eat at the Original Primanti Bros

46 18th Street, Pittsburgh, PA (in the Strip District)

There are several Primanti Brothers restaurants throughout Pittsburgh and even in other states.

To truly appreciate the restaurant’s roots, experience your first Primanti Brothers sandwich at The original Primanti Brothers location.

Joe Primanti’s restaurant started with a small sandwich cart feeding blue-collar workers during the Great Depression that later expanded.

The fries are located INSIDE the sandwich which is a unique twist that makes it easier for restaurant patrons to take their meal to go.

The sandwich is made with fresh Italian bread, tomatoes, sweet and sour house-made coleslaw, fresh-cut fries in the middle, melted provolone cheese, and your grilled meat of choice.

Guests also have the option to add an egg to the sandwich which I’m told enhances the flavor.

A sandwich with fries inside is an acquired taste, much like our beloved Cincinnati-style chili. If you’ve never tried Primanti Brothers, it’s a rite of passage to experience at least once.

Kelly O’s Diner Featured on The Food Network

Kelly O’s Diner is a local favorite that has also been featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and Triple D Nation.

This woman-owned and operated family business has no shortage of wonderful breakfast menu items that will leave you full for hours.

Your hardest decision might be if you want to go there for breakfast or lunch.

If you want to try one of the menu items featured on Triple D Nation and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives they are listed in a special section on the menu.

I opted to try the biscuits and gravy because it was featured on one of the shows.

You can’t go wrong with the biscuits and gravy served with home fries made in-house.

Breakfast With a Twist at Square Café in East Liberty

134 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

This popular breakfast stop includes vegan and vegetarian options. Meat eaters will still find plenty of options they will love too.

Thankfully I was joined for breakfast by a table of “food sharers” and were able to try several menu items.

I’m so glad that we shared because everything was SO GOOD! I highly recommend trying their Pierogies!

Stay at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh

620 William Penn Pl, Pittsburgh, PA

Located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, Kimpton Hotel Monaco has reimagined a building that dates back to 1903.

The hotel is stylish and eclectic with art installations and vibrant colors throughout, without compromising comfort.

I love it when rooms are attentive to detail in both form and function.

I could easily charge my phone by my bed AND I had a bedside light inside a bright yellow birdcage.

You’ll notice a bird theme in the art throughout the hotel which is a nice tribute to the city with a National Aviary.

During your stay, I highly recommend making a reservation for dinner at The Commoner open for breakfast, dinner, and weekend brunch.

I suggest getting several appetizers and small plates to share with the table.

Kennywood Amusement Park

4800 Kennywood Blvd, West Mifflin, PA (Less than 25 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh)

This amusement park has a 125+ year history for entertaining generations of families.

Kennywood has over 40+ attractions and rides, including thrill rides, water rides, 8 roller coasters, and more!

Save on Additional Tours Around Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh is only an hour from Laurel Highlands if you want to continue exploring beyond the heart of downtown Pittsburgh.

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