One Day in Pittsburgh - Our Ultimate Travel Guide
WHAT TO SEE IN PITTSBURGH
What To Expect From Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s Economic Transformation: From Steel to Innovation
We visited Pittsburgh in August, and it was a very hot day. The best time to visit Pittsburgh is during spring (April to June) or fall (September to November). According to Kim, the weather is mild during these seasons, making it perfect for outdoor activities like walking around the city’s parks or taking a river cruise. Our first destination was downtown Pittsburgh.
First Stop: Pittsburgh Downtown
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Address PPG Place
1 Third Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA
Second Stop: The Strip District
Before our visit, Kim asked us about our interests, and as you may already know, we love exploring local food, markets, and modern districts. Luckily, the Strip District has it all! Today, it’s filled with international grocery stores, cafes, and some of the best food spots in Pittsburgh. But in the past, it was a bustling industrial area and wholesale market. Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Strip District was packed with warehouses, mills, and factories, producing steel, glass, and iron.
1. The Robert Wholey's Meat & Seafood
You might wonder why The Robert Wholey’s Meat & Seafood Market is part of our one-day Pittsburgh itinerary. What made it so special for us? Honestly, it was just the vibe! We love visiting places filled with locals, and this grocery store had a cool atmosphere.
Plus, the food selection was incredible, from fresh crabs and seafood to vegetables, spices, and even popcorn. If you have friends who love grilling, you’ll definitely find the perfect souvenir here!
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Address
1711 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
08:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sunday
09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Website
https://wholey.com/
2. Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.
We continued our way through the Strip District to the next international grocery store. This time, we stopped at the Italian supermarket Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.—a must-visit spot for food lovers exploring Pittsburgh in one day!
Locals probably love this place for its fresh handmade mozzarella, authentic Italian sausages, and an incredible selection of olives. If you’re looking for a taste of Italy in Pittsburgh, this is the place to go! We couldn’t resist and grabbed some olives and tomato sauce for our dinner.
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Address
2010-2012 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
08:00 am – 04:00 pm
Sunday
09:00 am – 02:00 pm
Website
https://www.pennmac.com/
3. Enrico Biscotti
Another dish we had to try was Biscotti, the traditional Italian almond biscuits from the city of Prato, Tuscany. They are twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, and crunchy. We really liked them, but yes, they are definitely dry! Haha!
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Address
2022 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
08:00 am – 04:00 pm
Sunday
09:00 am – 04:00 pm
4. Pittsburgh Popcorn Co.
Yes, Kim was serious about showing us plenty of food spots. Keep in mind, lunch is still coming! But don’t worry, there’s only one more stop after this one. When Kim told us we were heading to the best popcorn store in Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Popcorn Co.  – we wondered, what could be so special about popcorn? Turns out, it’s all about the special flavors!
Have you ever tried Oreo popcorn, sour cream popcorn, or vanilla honey popcorn? We hadn’t until then—and it was amazing! The best part? You can try small portions in the store before deciding. Every week they have new “Flavors of the week“!.
We grabbed some and later enjoyed it on the boat. If you’re not into experimenting, don’t worry, they also have classic sweet and salty popcorn. We personally love the salty one.
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Address
209 21st St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Friday
10:00 am – 05:00 pm
Saturday
09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sunday
10:00 am – 04:30 pm
Website
https://pghpopcorn.com/
5. Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop
When planning your USA trip, you’ll quickly realize that it is not a budget-friendly destination. That’s why we were so happy when Kim went with us to Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop! For just $5, you can fill your own candy box—and the selection is huge! It’s also a great place to find fun souvenirs or gifts for friends.
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Address
2124 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Sunday – Thursday
09:00 am – 07:00 pm
Friday – Saturday
09:00 am – 08:00 pm
Website
https://pghpopcorn.com/
6. Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar
Long before we arrived in Pittsburgh, Kim had already told us about Primanti Bros., known for offering the best sandwich in town. The location in the Strip District is the original birthplace of this sandwich and one of the best food spots in Pittsburgh. Their signature sandwich is made with grilled meat, cheese, oil and vinegar-based coleslaw, tomato slices, and French fries, all put between two slices of Italian bread. We arrived just before the rush hour and were lucky to get a table. By the time we finished, people were already waiting in line outside.
The sandwich was super tasty and really filling! Vicky and I were glad we shared one. And if you’re wondering why fries are on the sandwich…it all started when a trucker brought in frozen potatoes. They fried them, put them on a sandwich, and it became a hit because it was easy to eat with one hand while driving! Honestly, we made a huge mess—coleslaw was falling out everywhere!
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Address
46 18th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Sunday – Thursday
08:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday – Saturday
08:00 am – 02:00 am
Website
https://primantibros.com/
7. Heinz History Center
If you are into history and culture, visit this museum! The Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh has cool exhibits about Heinz ketchup, sports, and the city’s past.
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Address
1212 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Sunday
10:00 am – 05:00 pm
Third Stop: Randyland
From the Strip District, we continued our tour to Randyland, a place we really liked. On the way, we had a perfect view from the Veterans Bridge of the former Heinz Company building, where one of the world’s most famous ketchups was once produced.Â
Kim slowed down so we could snap some cool shots! Today, the old production hall has been repurposed into apartments, offices, and commercial spaces, now known as the Heinz Lofts.
Randyland
If you want to see something truly unique, visit Randyland! A guy named Randy had nothing but started collecting things he found on the streets of Pittsburgh—old lamps, bicycles, musical instruments, signs, mannequins, and more. Today, it’s one of America’s most colorful public art displays, attracting visitors from all over the world. The entrance is free!
If you’re lucky, like Kim on her last visit, you might even meet Randy himself. She said he takes his time to share his incredible story. Randyland is more than just a museum. It shows that no matter how hard life gets, passion and hard work can create something amazing.Â
One artwork stays in our minds:
“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.“
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Address
1501 Arch St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
10:00 am – 09:00 pm
Sunday
12:00 pm – 09:00 pm
Website
https://randyland.club/
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Fourth Stop: Sports in Pittsburgh
Sports are a big part of Pittsburgh’s identity, just like in most major American cities. Pittsburgh is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who play at Acrisure Stadium. However, most people still call it Heinz Stadium, as it was known from 2001 to 2022. The stadium, located right by the Allegheny River with 68,000 seats, is an ideal venue. Besides Steelers football games, it also hosts “soccer” matches when top European clubs visit the U.S. for their summer tours.
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Addresses
Steelers
Heinz St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, United States
Fifth Spot: Best Pittsburgh Viewpoint
Sixth Spot: River Cruise And Dinner
Kim and Margaret had already surprised us a few times, but what came next topped everything. Kim told us that her brother Cliff owns a boat and would love to take us out on the water. Even though she is not a big fan of boats, she agreed and made this unforgettable experience possible for us. Of course, you won’t be able to take the exact same tour, but there are many local tour operators offering similar routes.
During the tour, we also stopped at the Point State Park Fountain, which marks the meeting point of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.
With a slight sunburn, we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh for dinner. This were our visits 189 and 64. If you want to learn more about our hobby, click here. Kim even surprised us with a gift! After a delicious meal at the now-closed Hard Rock Cafe, the tour was about to end.
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Address Point State Park Fountain
601 Commonwealth Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States
Seventh Spot: Pittsburgh Viewpoint
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Addresses
Monongahela Incline at Lower Station
Pittsburgh, PA 15203, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
5:30 am – 12:45 am
Sundays and holidays
08:45 am – 12:00 am
Website
https://monongahelaincline.com/hours.html
Grand Concourse
100 W Station Square Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, United States
Opening hours
Monday – Wednesday
11:30 am – 09:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday
11:30 am – 09:30 pm
Sunday
09:00 am – 08:30 pm
Happy Hour
Monday – Friday
03:30 pm – 06:30 pm
Quick Summary
This was our one day in Pittsburgh. What can you take away from it? It’s definitely worth spending one day in Pittsburgh, as you can see, there’s so much to experience. Having a car is definitely helpful to explore the city. The food was diverse and more than just burgers and fries.Â
A huge thank you again to Kim and Margaret, who put together a Pittsburgh itinerary for one day that we could never have done on our own. Also, thank you to Cliff, who we will remember for his cheerful personality.
We came for the Hard Rock Cafe, but we’ll hopefully return one day because of the new friends we made. Thank you!
Thanks For Reading
This Post Has 4 Comments
lived in Pittsburgh all my life I have been too most of the items on your list except for randyland which I have driven by many times maybe I’ll have to stop it
We are happy that you know many places. If you have any more suggestions, feel free to write them in the comments!
Let us know if you like Randyland as much as we do! 🙂
And when you get home, you can watch the movie now renamed “ A wedding for Bella” filmed at Enrico’s Biscotti.
Thanks for taking the time to write a comment! We’re definitely going to check it out 🙂 All the best to you, and feel free to check out our other blog articles too. Greetings from Vicky & Malte!