Many people don’t think of Pittsburgh as a tourist destination, but Steel City offers frugal travelers both attractions and deals. To offset admission to Carnegie museums, including the Andy Warhol Museum (see discount days), include these free attractions.
Mount washington
Mount Washington (locals call it Mon) offers the best views in Pittsburgh. Formerly called Coal Hill, a nod to the early days of mining, the Mon oversees all three rivers and the city itself. There are quaint (ie expensive) restaurants and shops in the area.
Travelers on an extreme budget can go up and down the Mon on foot or by car. However, for $ 1.75, using the funiculars or slopes is an experience. The Monongahela Slope (shortened the Mon Slope), opened in 1870, is the steepest and oldest slope in the US It runs on the oldest cable car operation in the country. Take the half hour ride up and hike down to save money.
Point State Park
Point State Park sits at the tip of Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle (or Central Business District), a popular tourist destination. This is where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet.
Point State Park is not simply a free green space, it is a historic site commemorating the French and Indian War. Throughout the park there are restored Fort Pitt bastions and 23 monuments and plaques that allow walkers to walk through history. Highlights include Fort Pitt Blockhouse, one of western Pennsylvania’s oldest authentic buildings, and of course the massive fountain.
Entrance to the park is free.
The historic and artistic center of Frick
Located 20 minutes east of downtown Pittsburgh and accessible by public bus, the estate of industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick is a great day trip into the past. There is an admission fee to Clayton, the main property, but the grounds of the Frick Art & Historical Center, the Frick Art Museum, the Automobile and Carriage Museum, and the Greenhouse are free and well worth a visit.
Check the schedule of free talks from volunteers.
Pittsburgh is much, much more than Steel City. Art, history and nature offer the frugal traveler some attractions to fit their budget.
