Here’s Where to Stay in Pittsburgh, According to a Local

9 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s Downtown is located at the convergence of the three rivers: the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio. The neighborhoods radiate out from that central location.

Downtown

👉 Best Area for First-Time Visitors ✨ Best Downtown Hotels: Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh • The Industrialist Hotel • Fairfield by Marriott

Downtown Pittsburgh is the optimum area to lodge if you’re a newcomer visitor. It is a central location so you can explore surrounding neighborhoods in the vicinity. Many ponder whether Pittsburgh is safe, particularly in a congested place like Downtown. The response is yes; generally, Pittsburgh is secure to inhabit and visit.

If you are staying at a hotel in the downtown area, there are excellent restaurants and attractions nearby. The Wyndham Grand and the Courtyard by Marriott are two very good options situated in a prime locale.

Downtown is also close to the baseball and football arenas as well as the hockey venue, so it’s a good place to lodge if you’re coming to see a game or a concert.

While in Downtown, one can see The Point, where the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela Rivers converge. During summer, the rivers are a fun place for water activities like boating and kayaking.

Pros of Staying in Downtown:

• Central location for other neighborhoods
• Close to many attractions
• Has eateries and attractions within walking distance

Cons of Staying in Downtown:

There can be traffic, especially during weekdays
• Hotels can be pricey
• Some crime in the area

Shadyside

👉 Best Area for Shopping and Dining Pleasures✨ Top Accommodation Choices in Shadyside: Hyatt House • Two-Bedroom House Rental • One-Bedroom House Rental

Shadyside is a stylish and cozy Pittsburgh neighborhood. It is a more affluent area and is situated close to Oakland, Downtown, and Squirrel Hill. Shadyside is mainly residential.

Walnut Street in Shadyside is the main commercial area where you’ll find many bars, restaurants, and shops. Ellsworth Avenue also has restaurants and stores worth exploring.

Explore Roslyn Place while you’re here. This is the last wooden streetway in Pittsburgh and one of the last wooden avenues in the country. Shadyside is easily accessible via public transit, but possessing a motor vehicle to travel between neighborhoods remains a good plan.

There weren’t many hotel selections in Shadyside, but this Two-Bedroom House Rental is just a few minutes from Walnut Street.

The Mansions on Fifth Avenue is an exceptional boutique hotel if you’re looking for unique lodging alternatives. The hotel often caters brunch for special events and can also serve as a venue for weddings, anniversaries, and other memorable occasions.

Pros of Staying in Shadyside:

• Central location for other neighborhoods
• Close to popular attractions in town

The neighborhood had many restaurants, bars, and shops.

Cons of Staying in Shadyside:

• It is a primarily residential neighborhood
• Hotels and restaurants can be pricey

Lawrenceville

👉 Best Area For Young People | ✨ Best Lawrenceville Accommodations: TRYP by Wyndham • Butler Street 1 Bedroom • Central Lawrenceville Rowhouse

Lawrenceville has been revitalized into one of the hippest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. This neighborhood attracts many younger individuals with its nightlife, restaurants, and local stores.

Market Public Domicile is a favored gathering place. Rowhouse Cinemas is a cool, arthouse theater that often shows old and cult movies. This neighborhood even has bowling and an arcade, so there is plenty to do in Lawrenceville!

Many attractions are located along Butler Street, which makes this one-bedroom rental unit an ideal place to lodge. The TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh Lawrenceville also offers excellent accommodation with a popular rooftop bar overlooking the neighborhood.

Lawrenceville is centrally situated. You can easily access the Strip District, East Liberty, Highland Park which is home to the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Shadyside, and more.

Pros of Staying in Lawrenceville:

• Lawrenceville is in a central location
• It’s a walkable neighborhood

Cons of Staying in Lawrenceville:

• The neighborhood can have a lot of traffic
• Eateries and bars can be crowded, especially on weekends

North Shore

👉 Best Area For Sports Fans | ✨ Best North Shore Hotels: Hyatt Place • Residence Inn • Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Pittsburgh is renowned as the City of Champions, so you must see a sports contest while you’re in town. If you have interest in sports, the North Shore is the optimum place to stay. This is the site of the city’s football stadium and baseball arena. Hyatt Place is within walking distance of both.

Even if you don’t have tickets for a game, plenty of sports bars like Tequila Cowboy, will show all the action. The North Shore also has many restaurants that are great for a night out.

North Shore is also home to the Children’s Museum and Science Center, which are great outings for families. You can walk along the river and get great views of the Point as well. The North Shore is right across the river from Downtown.

Pros of Staying in North Shore:

• Close to the stadiums
• Many bars and restaurants
• Near Downtown

Cons of Staying in North Shore:

• May need a car to get to other neighborhoods
• It can become loud and busy on weekends and when sporting events are occurring

Mount Washington

👉 Best Area For Breathtaking Views | ✨ Best Mount Washington Lodgings: Home with Yard • Two-Bedroom with Panorama • Colorful Residence

Mount Washington has excellent prospects of Pittsburgh. This area is situated south of the city and it`s elevated on a mountain, so it overlooks Downtown and the Point. From here, you can observe the silhouette, the arenas, and distant into the suburbs surrounding the city. Get good views from the overlook or from lodgings like this two-bedroom house.

This area is a great place for celebrations and special occasions. There are upscale restaurants that have unblocked views of the city. Mount Washington is also a great place to watch fireworks when they’re ignited at The Point.

When visiting Mount Washington, I highly suggest experiencing the iconic cable cars. These trolleys are an essential part of Pittsburgh`s past and provide a unique way to view the city. While there are no hotels situated within Mount Washington, guests do have the option to book temporary lodging options.

Pros of Staying in Mount Washington:

• Great views of the city
• Luxury restaurants
• Close to Downtown

Cons of Staying in Mount Washington:

• Use of a vehicle would be needed to access the city center and other neighborhoods
• Expenses can be elevated, particularly during holiday periods and special events

Squirrel Hill

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨Best Squirrel Hill Accommodations: Luxurious Home • Country Residence • Flat near the Park

Squirrel Hill is a favored residential area in Pittsburgh. This is one of the most common locations that people decide to settle down in. It is within city boundaries but still has a cozy, small-town feel. It’s more sparse in terms of lodgings, but it’s a great neighborhood to establish long-term residency in.

The neighborhood contains many locally-owned shops and eateries. Forbes Avenue and Murray Avenue serve as the main thoroughfares through the community and where its business district is found.

Squirrel Hill sits in a very convenient area close to other popular neighborhoods, like Downtown and Shadyside. This neighborhood is also home to Schenley Park and Frick Park, providing plenty of greenery to enjoy.

If you’re looking for an area that is more peaceful but still in close proximity to many attractions, Squirrel Hill is worth considering. I recommend lodging like that luxury residence. Squirrel Hill features residences and homes that can be rented, so it is a good choice for family vacations.

Pros of Staying in Squirrel Hill:

• Squirrel Hill is in a convenient location
• The neighborhood is walkable
• Many restaurants and shops
• Public transportation through the bus system

Cons of Staying in Squirrel Hill:

• It can be an expensive area
• Personal vehicle often needed to access other areas.

Strip District

👉 Best Location For Proximity | ✨ Top Strip District Hotels: Hampton Inn & Suites • AC Hotel by Marriott • Homewood Suites by Hilton

If there is one area that maintains some of Pittsburgh’s historic character, it’s the Strip District. This neighborhood is home to many culturally diverse grocery stores and old marketplaces as well as contemporary restaurants and distilleries.

The Strip District is where one can purchase goods and meals made locally in Pittsburgh. Pamela`s is one of the most visited breakfast locales in the city and seeing it is highly proposed. Sports equipment representing the Steelers and other teams can be obtained from neighborhood retailers. Travel to the Heinz History Center to learn regarding Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania history.

The hotels ” Auberge Saint-Antoine” , ” Le Capitole Hôtel” , and ” Fairmont Le Château Frontenac” as well as ” Monastère des Augustines” are listed.

Pros of Staying in Strip District:

• Walkable neighborhood with many restaurants, breweries, and bars

The location was conveniently near other popular neighborhoods.

Cons of Staying in Strip District:

• It can be a busy area
• Most businesses close in the early afternoon

Oakland

👉 Ideal Location for College Visits & Budget-Conscious Travelers | ✨ Top Oakland Accommodations: Hampton Inn • Residence Inn by Marriott • Hotel Indigo

Oakland is regularly perceived as Pittsburgh’s university town. The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are both situated in this neighborhood, so college students often roam, study, and reside in the area.

Furthermore, here is Gion Corner, a performance complex introducing long-held Japanese cultural customs through displays of flower preparation, tea ceremony traditions, music, dancing, and bunraku (Japanese puppet theater). Shijō-dōri goes west from Yasaka-jinja and creates the main road through Gion, at some point crossing the Kamo River and penetrating Central Kyoto (see above). The Gion segment is lined with shops, renowned snack and dessert shops, and the grand Minami-za Theater for kabuki performances.

Though Pitt and CMU are prominent features of the neighborhood, they’re not the only ones. Oakland is also home to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. The Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning display architecture and culture from around the globe. The Phipps Conservatory has beautiful plants and floral exhibits.

Pros of Staying in Oakland:

• Conveniently located to other neighborhoods 
• Numerous points of interest and in a walkable neighborhood
• Inexpensive dining and shops
• Great for college students and young adults

Cons of Staying in Oakland:

• Traffic can be heavy
• University events can impact traffic, parking, and pricing

South Side

👉 Best area for nightlife | ✨ Best hotels in the South Side: The SpringHill Suites • The Holiday Inn Express Hotel • The HYATT House

South Facet is the area to head to if you’re searching to spend an evening out in Pittsburgh. The region is a hot spot because of its thick selection of bars and clubs on Carson Street. My partner and I just spent an evening at Club Cafe, seeing local musical acts.

The area can get a little boisterous on weekends, and many college students spend their nights out here. But bars aren’t the only thing the South Side has. There are also restaurants and coffee shops where you can spend the day and shops to explore.

South Side is also near neighborhoods such as the Downtown area and Mount Washington, and across the river from places like Squirrel Hill. Lodge at the HYATT House or SpringHill Suites so you won’t have to travel far after an evening out.

Pros of Staying in South Side:

Great restaurants, bars, and clubs for nightlife
• Walkable neighborhood
• Close to other areas of Pittsburgh

Cons of Staying in South Side:

• It can get rowdy on the weekends
• Some instances of petty crime

Tips for Staying in Pittsburgh

Stay Centrally

Pittsburgh divides into neighborhoods each with unique appeal. Choosing lodging centrally located grants easy access throughout elsewhere. Travel between districts usually consumes 10 to 20 minutes.

Bring a Car or Rent a Car

Pittsburgh is a fairly auto-centric city. While it does have public transportation, such as a bus system, a vehicle is generally the most dependable way to get around. An automobile is necessary to reach neighborhoods outside of city limits.

Venture Out Into the Neighborhoods

While there is plenty to do within Downtown Pittsburgh, the city has significantly more to offer beyond those limits, so it’s worth exploring and venturing into surrounding neighborhoods.

You’ll Need a Few Days

There is such a lot to do in Pittsburgh that you’ll need a few days to really understand the city well. I recommend staying between three and five days at a minimum, but you’ll want to return to explore more.

Keep an Eye on Events

Pittsburgh has lots of happenings including sports games, concerts, and festivals. These can be very fun but they bring a great deal of traffic. Keep an eye on occasions that might affect your trip with higher lodging costs and more people out and about.

FAQs

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Pittsburgh has a distinguished background with enjoyment activities and an animated nightlife scene. If you’re considering where to remain in Pittsburgh, you will have numerous choices. Traveling more around Pennsylvania? Check out our guide on where to stay in Philadelphia next!