Touring the ’Burgh: 6 Tours to Take Around Pittsburgh
Look inside the Steelers' locker room or explore Pittsburgh's architectural history with these various tours around town.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
Want to get inside the Steelers’ locker room? There’s a tour.
Want to sample an array of tasty bites in the Strip District? There’s a tour.
Want to scope out some of the breweries along our riverfront trails? There’s a tour.
Whether you’re visiting Pittsburgh for the first time or want to discover more about your home city, you’ll find myriad tours of the Steel City by foot, bike and boat. We sent reporters out on several of them; not only did we all see and learn something new, we got a chance to meet the local tour guides who are serving as ambassadors to our fine city.
1. ‘Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tours
SAMPLE FRESH MEATS AT PARMA SAUSAGE ON THIS FOOD TOUR | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER
The Strip District is known for its weekend hustle and bustle, but I prefer visiting on Monday mornings.
Shop and restaurant owners wave hello as they open their doors. You can smell fresh coffee brewing, feel a gentle breeze as cars whiz by on Penn Avenue and hear a low buzz as the city slowly comes to life. There’s even ample parking.
2. Acrisure Stadium Ultimate Tour
STEP INTO THE STEELERS’ LOCKER ROOM ON THIS ACRISURE STADIUM TOUR | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY
In case you were wondering, yes, one of the giant Heinz ketchup bottles is still at Acrisure Stadium. Erin, our guide for the stadium’s 90-minute Ultimate Tour, told us that fact early on. Most of those working at the stadium were as blindsided as the rest of the city on July 11, 2022, when the Steelers announced the stadium name change, ending 21 years as Heinz Field.
“Well, it’s still Heinz Field to us,” a woman in the tour group called out.
3. Bikes & Brews Tour
BIKING AND BEER COME TOGETHER WITH THE BIKES & BREWS TOUR | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN
Warning: There’s a chance the Bikes & Brews Tour may go over its allotted time.
That’s not because of poor organization or other glitches. It’s because participants on this 9-mile tour, which includes four beer stops on the North Side, Millvale and Lawrenceville, become fast friends and are simply having too much fun. That might just inspire you to stick around longer than the 3 ½ hours promised.
4. Doors Open Pittsburgh Boat Tours
LEARN THE HIDDEN STORIES BEHIND THE CITY’S GRAND STRUCTURES WITH DOORS OPEN PITTSBURGH’S BOAT TOURS | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER
With all due respect to local tourism companies past and present, some tours of Downtown can tend toward the same old highlights. Inclines, stadiums, the Point — yes, us locals know the general history.
It’s understandable; many tours have to cater to tourists and thus have an obligation to keep things broad. Fortunately, though, there’s an alternative for locals looking to dive deep. If you want the blow-by-blow of local history — from railroad wars to historic curiosities, from pre-Revolutionary scuffles to modern makeovers — sign up for one of the boat tours offered by Doors Open Pittsburgh.
5. Downtown’s Best Special Places and Spaces Tour
STOP BY THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON THIS DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH WALKING TOUR | PHOTO BY RUBY SIEFKEN
It was during the 1950s that Pittsburgh leaders put the brakes on the ubiquitous wrecking ball that was sweeping across America in the name of urban renewal to replace old buildings with characterless structures. The result is the preservation of our some of our most exquisite architecture, which is presented on several walking tours sponsored by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
One of these tours, “Downtown’s Best: Special Places and Spaces,” provides a comprehensive look at a variety of architectural styles in the Golden Triangle, from exterior brickwork and building spires to the intricate details on elevator doors and heating vents.
6. PNC Park Tour
STEP INSIDE PNC PARK LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH THEIR TOURS | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY
It’s an uncharacteristically warm day for early March in Pittsburgh. About a dozen of us are gathered around the statue of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ legendary left-fielder, Willie Stargell, just outside PNC Park’s Left Field Gate. Among the group is a family from Montreal with a stroller and two older children wearing Pirates T-shirts and hats, one holding a baseball.
A few minutes before noon, we’re called inside to start our 90-minute, off-season tour of PNC Park. I look out over the baseball field. Tour guide Bob assures us that, yes, there is a field of Kentucky Bluegrass out there, but unfortunately it’s under a tarp to prepare for the coming season.
