Inside Things to do in Pittsburgh: Rainy and Winter Day Activities
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Learn more about the top inside things to do in Pittsburgh when it’s cold or raining outside!
If you’re from Pittsburgh, you’ll know rainy and gloomy days are pretty common throughout the year. Pittsburgh weather can be weird, man. One day is the dead of winter and another day it can feel amazing outside. Well, when it’s a rainy day in Pittsburgh, sometimes it can be hard to find fun things to do indoors. Over the years of spending rainy days in Pittsburgh inside, we have compiled a list of our favorite inside things to do in Pittsburgh for those rainy or cold days.
Thankfully, Pittsburgh is full of fun inside things to do for those days where it’s too cold or rainy to get outside! Here is our list of the best indoor things to do in Pittsburgh!
Top Indoor Things to Do and Activities in Pittsburgh for Gloomy Days
Explore a Museum
Pittsburgh is blessed to have world-class museums, which are a perfect way to spend a day inside. One of the best parts of Pittsburgh’s museums is its diversity. You can easily dig up ancient history at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, or you can visit something offbeat like Bicycle Heaven. Pittsburgh’s diverse museums are a great way to spend a rainy day inside.
Learn more about Pittsburgh’s awesome museums!
Get Artsy
During a rainy day, you can also stir up some creativity by visiting one of Pittsburgh’s many creative classes. From getting boozy at Painting with a Twist to making your own candle the Candle Lab, Pittsburgh offers a range of ways to get creative! Check out one of these artsy indoor activities in Pittsburgh:
- Color Me Mine
- The Candle Lab
- Pittsburgh Glassworks Center
- Painting With a Twist
- Paint Monkey
- Kiln in Time
Check out One of Pittsburgh’s Many Bowling Alleys
Like going to the movies, bowling is always a good idea for rainy days in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is home to a number of bowling alleys so take your pick!
Throw Some Axes
We judged it at first, but ax-throwing is a lot of fun! Ax throwing has become HUGE among young adults because let’s face it, throwing things mixed with drinking and friends really is a great time! So if you’re looking to do something kind of trendy and very hipster Millvale is home to Lumberjaxes where you can do axe throwing and curling!
Go to the Movies with a Twist
Going to the movies is always a great indoor activity for rainy days, but why not support some local businesses in the process? Pittsburgh is home to a few privately owned theaters that offer more than your regular movie theater.
- Row House Cinema: Indie theater in Lawerenceville showing classic movies, documentaries, and indie films
- Manor Theater: a locally-owned movie theater in Squirrel Hill that offers a wide dining menu and bar
- Rangos IMAX Theater: an IMAX theater screening documentaries and classic movies at the Carnegie Science Center (you do not need to buy tickets for the museum to see a show!)
Indoor Mini Golf at Puttery
Did you Pittsburgh will be opening its first indoor mini golf location? Puttery Pittsburgh is about to open in the Strip District and will be another awesome indoor activity in Pittsburgh. Puttery locations are for 21+ and offer drinks, food, and multiple indoor mini golf courses.
Go Duckpin Bowlings at Shorty’s Pins x Pints or Pins Mechanical Co
Pittsburgh now has two locations for duckpin bowling! Shorty’s Pins x Pints and Pins Mechanical Co are two great places to spend time inside on a rainy or snowy day. Warm up with some drinks and have fun playing games with family and friends!
Warm-up in Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
With its lush greenery, colorful flowers, and sweet smells, the inside gardens at Phipps can brighten any rainy day. Strolling through the flowers at Phipps Conservatory a great indoor thing to do in Pittsburgh.
Visit the National Aviary
The National Aviary is another one of our favorite inside spots in Pittsburgh! The National Aviary is the perfect indoor activity in Pittsburgh because you can see 90% of the birds by staying inside! Here you can birds from the tropics to deserts to the rainforest. Throughout the day, the Aviary offers interpretive talks, animal encounters, and animal feedings.
Check Out Events at the David Lawerence Convention Center
Whether it be ComicCon, Anthrocon, a car show, home and garden show, or the annual BeerFest, Pittsburgh’s Convention Center is almost always hosting some kind of event throughout the year. So check out what’s going at the Convention Center during the next rainy day in Pittsburgh.
Play Old school Arcade Games at Games n’at
UPDATE: Games n’at has retired 🙁 which we are very sad about. However, consider supporting Coop De Ville, which offers a more modern twist on Games n’at. And they
Games n’at is one of the best Pittsburgh hidden gems. This little BYOB arcade is as Pittsburgh as it gets featuring old school games, duckpin bowling, and pinball machines. Grab a 6 pack or a bottle and visit Games n’at the next time you need something to do in Pittsburgh during a rainy day!
Visit One of Pittsburgh’s Wineries, Breweries, or Ciderhouses
Pittsburgh is full of local wineries, breweries, and cider houses, so why not get your drink on during a rainy cold day in the city? While this is only a few of the many places to drink in Pittsburgh, we’ve been to the following wineries breweries, and cider houses and highly recommend them!
- Courtyard Winery in the Strip District
- Pittsburgh Winery
- Threadbare Ciderhouse
- Arsenal Ciderhouse
- Full Pint Brewery
- Wigle Whiskey
- Grist House
See a Show or Live Performance
Pittsburgh’s cultural district offers a diverse range of performances and shows from the ballet to the symphony to Broadway hits. Check out one of Pittsburgh’s performances and theaters to see what’s going on tonight in the city!
Climb Higher at Ascend
Ascend is Pittsburgh’s indoor rock climbing gym where you can take classes, boulder, and climb. Ascend offers day passes and memberships.
Practice Your Swing at TopGolf
Golfing the rain is no fun, but you can practice your swing at TopGolf, a premier driving range with food, drinks, and lounge areas. Located in Bridgeville, TopGolf is a great rainy day activity in Pittsburgh!
Get a Group Together and Try the Escape Room
If you’ve never done an escape room before, spend your next rainy day in Pittsburgh puzzling your way out of Pittsburgh’s Escape Room! Full of riddle, gadgets, and puzzles you’ll use you and your group’s brainpower to escape! Pittsburgh has three Escape Room locations that offer rotating themes.
How will you spend the day indoors in Pittsburgh?
What other inside things to do in Pittsburgh do you enjoy? Let us know in the comments!