Pittsburgh Tour Company Offers Hop on Hop Off Fun

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What You Can See on a Pittsburgh Tour Company Bus

One of the best things about the Pittsburgh Tour Company bus tour is that it covers a large area of the city, more so than you likely would see in a single day exploring otherwise.

Over the course of the roughly 2 1/2 hour bus ride, you cover a loop featuring South Side, North Side, the Strip District, Downtown Pittsburgh, the Hill District, and Oakland- some of the most popular neighborhoods in Pittsburgh for visitors to explore.

Along the way, you'll get a chance to see many highlights of these neighborhoods with a birds' eye view from the top level of the double decker bus, including Acrisure Stadium (home of the Steelers), PNC Park (home of the Pirates), PPG Paints Arena (home of the Penguins), the the National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Three Sisters Bridges, Strip District shops, Downtown Pittsburgh (great skyscraper views!), the Cathedral of Learning, the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Phipps Conservatory, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, South Side's business district, as well as the Inclines, to name a few. (Click the previous links to read more about each attraction.)

For those who purchase the hop-on, hop-off option, you'll have the chance to get off at 21 locations around the city, many next to the highlights mentioned above (however, there are some major logistics issues to keep in mind that we'll talk about later).

On my own tour, I noticed many guests were taking the Just the Tour option, which, while it does not allow for hop-on, hop-off, gives a really good feel for all things Pittsburgh, with narrated history from the on-bus guide as well- perfect for those who want to get a robust feel for Pittsburgh without a car.

Admittedly, while this tour is designed with tourists in mind, and was perhaps a bit more expensive than I'd prefer, it was still quite fun for me to hop on and take a ride around the city, grab lunch in Oakland, and enjoy some views of Pittsburgh that you just don't really get to see all the time otherwise.

How to Get the Most of the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Before booking a ticket with the Pittsburgh Tour Company, there are a few things you should know.

First, the company offers two styles of tours. The first is the traditional hop-on, hop-off tour, where you can get on and off their buses throughout the day. The second is a “Just the Tour” option for a slightly reduced price that includes a ride around the city without getting off.

It is important to book the correct ticket, as you'll be given a color-coded wristband based on the ticket type. One lets you get back on the bus, the other doesn't.

Second, buses operate on a fixed timetable, pending traffic. Generally speaking, the route follows roughly 21 stops over a period of about 2 1/2 hours. Buses generally run from 9 am to 7 pm and offer pickups at any given stop in approximately 1 hour 15 minute intervals- totaling just seven stops at each location throughout the day.

As you can quickly tell from that, it is impossible to get off at every stop, and, honestly, you probably don't need to get off at some anyway unless you're staying nearby. 

Things get tricky as some highlights lend themself to better use of a 75-minute stop, whereas others may require two bus cycles (~ 2 1/2 hours) if you really want to explore. Phipps, the National Aviary, the Duquesne Incline, or a quick lunch / walk around many neighborhoods are all doable in 75 minutes, with the caveat that you need to be somewhat fast and hope they're not busy. The Carnegie Museums, the Heinz History Center, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Strip District may require longer.

I got off in Oakland to grab a quick lunch and walk through the Cathedral of Learning, for example, and was admittedly somewhat tight on the 75 minutes before the next bus- and that's without trying to visit a museum, too. 

Even for those taking an entire day, you may only be able to get off two, possibly max three times, and that's if you're strategic. But your mileage will vary based on your interests in exploring. Suffice it to say, we can understand why so many visitors take the Just The Tour option for the 2 1/2 hour ride to not eat through a full day.

• Note: Remember that if you ride until the end of the day, buses terminate at SouthSide Works (typically at 7 pm). So if you're getting off, be mindful that the last pickup at any given spot is a fair bit earlier. If you miss the last bus, you may have to find alternative transit back to your starting point.

Third, the guides will be the first to recommend not sitting at the front of the bus on the upper level. While it does seem attractive to have the giant window in front of you if it is available, some opaque walls on both sides can obstruct views. 

I sat about four rows back, on the right side when facing forward, and thought it was a great spot to take in the sweeping views. I'd argue the right side of the bus is slightly better for seeing the highlights, but it is probably pretty close, such that almost every side has a great view when traveling around town. 

Truly, there is no bad view from the bus on the upper deck.

Finally, the itinerary generally shows a start location at SouthSide Works, but you can select any pickup location to start, whether you are doing Just the Tour or the full hop-on, hop-off package. So be sure to look for that drop-down selection when booking your tickets and make sure you select your appropriate pick-up location and time. 

From there, you just need to arrive at the pickup location about 10 minutes early (most stops have signs, but admittedly, both of my stops did not), and wave down the bus driver when you see them coming- they'll stop for you!

Overall, the Pittsburgh Tour Company offers a fun way to get to know the city of Pittsburgh, and can be a good option for visitors who want to quickly check out neighborhoods you may not otherwise get to see- particularly for those exploring without a car or who want to see the highlights on a first day visiting before deciding where to explore later on in your trip.

If you're doing the full hop-off, hop-on, be sure to plan your route strategically, be aware of the somewhat limited pickup times, and plan for a full day out to get your money's worth by maximizing your stops!

The Pittsburgh Tour Company is located at 2720 Sidney Street in SouthSide Works. For those looking to hop on and start at a different location, be sure to select the appopriate location and time when booking.