Pittsburgh has been rated a top worldwide tourism destination by a new National Geographic magazine.
Andrew Nelson’s “Here Not There” explores 100 unexpected travel spots, including Pittsburgh. VisitPittsburgh, the region’s tourism office, claims the book capitalizes on the growing trend of “destination dupes,” offering guests options to congested, pricey, and predictable hot locations.
Pittsburgh is marketed as a “hilly tech town” with steep neighborhoods, waterfront views, and tech start-ups. Pittsburgh even has its own Oakland.
“For those who haven’t gone, Pittsburgh is a revelation—like San Francisco, it combines forward-thinking technological sectors with some of the most historic and community-minded 19th-century districts found anywhere. “And, of course, hills,” Nelson stated in a VisitPittsburgh press release.
Although San Francisco is known for its steep streets, Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Beechview area is the steepest street in the country, with a 37% slope. But there’s more than just hills; the piece highlights must-see destinations such as the Carnegie Museums, Phipps Conservatory, and Botanical Gardens.
VisitPittsburgh said the award reflects the “exciting energy” around travel in the Steel City.
“What an incredible honor to have Pittsburgh featured in such an esteemed travel publication,” stated VisitPittsburgh President and CEO Jerad Bachar. “We worked hard to present Pittsburgh as a tourist destination that will surprise and thrill visitors, and this recognition demonstrates our region’s ability to do so. Pittsburgh, located in the heart of the East Coast, is a city where technology meets recreation, Warhol meets whiskey, and unexpected adventures abound.
At VisitPittsburgh’s annual meeting this week, the agency said that the area generated over $6.4 billion in 2023.