StayAreas logoStayAreas

Where to stay in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a city of rivers, bridges and hills, and its neighbourhoods feel very different. Stay Downtown for the theatres, Point State Park and a walk over the bridge to PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium; in Oakland for the universities, the Carnegie Museums and Phipps Conservatory; or in Shadyside and East Liberty for leafy streets, boutiques and restaurants. The airport is about 30 minutes west of downtown.

Find your area, then your hotel

Tap one of our picks, or any area, to see its hotels on the map, what it costs, where we'd book and how long it takes to get around.

In short: our pick for each kind of trip. Tap one to see why.

The verdict

The Golden Triangle between the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, with Point State Park, the Cultural District's theatres, Market Square and the bridges to the North Shore's stadiums.

  • Stay here if
  • First-time visitors
  • Sports fans
  • Theatre-goers
  • Look elsewhere if
  • You want neighbourhood character
  • You want lively streets every night
  • You want leafy, quiet streets

Minutes to the sights

  • Market Square8 minwalk
  • Duquesne Incline11 min
  • PPG Paints Arena14 minwalk
  • Andy Warhol Museum15 minwalk
  • Strip District16 min
  • Acrisure Stadium18 min

Stations and airports

0 min to Downtown Pittsburgh. The T light rail is free between downtown and the North Shore. The Duquesne and Monongahela inclines climb Mount Washington, and the 28X Airport Flyer runs to the airport and Oakland.

  • From Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)28X Airport Flyer bus from the airport to downtown40 min

Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Minutes planned with the Transitous (MOTIS on published GTFS timetables and OpenStreetMap) for a weekday, including walking and waiting · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more

Pittsburgh questions

What is the best area to stay in Pittsburgh for first-timers?

Downtown puts the big sights within easy reach and is 0 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh.

Which area of Pittsburgh has the cheapest hotels?

Shadyside & East Liberty and Downtown, with budget hotels from around $140 and mid-range around $175–$205 a night.

Where should families stay in Pittsburgh?

Oakland has the best mix of parks, calm streets and sights for kids. Shadyside & East Liberty are good alternatives.

Is it worth staying outside central Pittsburgh?

It can save around $45 a night on a mid-range room compared with Oakland, but adds travel time. Shadyside & East Liberty is 20 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh.