Book a flight to Pittsburgh with Qatar Airways

On your trip to Pittsburgh, just over the Allegheny River you’ll find the National Aviary, opposite the History Center. This is home to more than 600 species of exotic birdlife, ranging in size from Andean Condors to thumb-sized humming birds. The Aviary has a walk-through that makes it a great place for an afternoon’s educational stroll and lets you get closer to the birds than you would expect.

At the other extreme is the Andy Warhol Museum. The works of the immortaliser of Campbell’s Soup cans and Pittsburgh’s most famous son are preserved here in the world’s biggest collection of Warhol memorabilia.

"The Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History are home to fabulous dinosaur exhibits and much else besides, and is particularly great for kids of all ages thanks to its wide range of interactive exhibits."Another brilliant and innovative art experience can be had at the Mattress Factory, considered the best showcase for contemporary art in the States.

Pittsburgh is also a huge sports city and known for their black and gold colors.  The Steelers of the NFL, Penguins of the NHL, and Pirates of MLB play in the city so be sure to check out a game when you’re in town.

No trip to Pittsburgh is complete without taking a ride on a restored incline up to the summit of Mt Washington. Just cross the river from downtown to get up there and enjoy the unparalleled views, as well as a selection of excellent restaurants at the top of what was once a ‘coal hill’.

The Strip is Pittsburgh’s atmospheric, bohemian warehouse district where you can grab a fresh biscotti and coffee and stroll with the locals around colourful flower and fish markets, arts and crafts shops and street stalls of all descriptions.

Another great place for a stroll is the Phipp’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which consists of a series of Victorian-style glass conservatories, home to a bewildering array of orchids, bonsai and other exotic flora. There’s also a Discovery Garden for the kids, where they’re encouraged to muck about and explore the wonderful world of gardening for themselves.

The traditional varieties of Pittsburgh’s extensive cuisine derive from and reflect the city’s multicultural heritage. Lots of it came with European migrants in the early part of the 20th century, and dishes like Pierogis, which was once an obscure specialty, are now very common in the restaurants and cafés here.

Other Pittsburgh dishes that were developed here specifically include fare that was the staple diet of the traditional blue-collar worker when this city was a heavy industry powerhouse based on steel production. 

Hot dogs and chicken are firm favourites, and Polish dishes of onion, potatoes, cheese and sauerkraut can be found everywhere from haute cuisine establishments to small cafés and street vendors.

In the Shadyside neighbourhood of the city, the boutique shops of Walnut Street are a joy to wander around if you’re travelling to Pittsburgh with shopping in mind. You can find many of the USA’s more upscale chains in the city’s malls, and for arts and crafts you should pay a visit to Lawrenceville, between Bloomfield and the Strip District. Butler Street consists of numerous small, private stores that specialise in hand-made furniture, crafts and designer wear.