National Geographic has named the Steel City one of the 25 premier travel Lonely Planet recognized Pittsburgh as one of its top 10 “must-visit” global destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Manila, and Vancouver, B.C.
Other U.S. locations included on the National Geographic list are the Badlands in North Dakota, Route 66 in Oklahoma—as the historic highway marks its centennial—and the island of Maui in Hawaii.
National Geographic stated that these cities and regions were “hand-picked” by the publication’s global network of explorers, photographers, and editors.
Why visit Pittsburgh? The magazine characterizes the city as “a postindustrial city with a thriving cultural scene — and a head of steam.”
Rather than focusing solely on the city’s transition from a steel-based economy to a tech hub or its passionate sports culture, the magazine emphasizes Pittsburgh’s robust arts scene and lively neighborhoods.
“Steel mills once shaped outsiders’ whole impressions of Pittsburgh, but today the city increasingly defines itself by embracing the venerable cultural institutions that industrial prosperity helped build. At the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, it’s easy to spend a day admiring just the marquee collections of Impressionist works and dinosaur fossils (though there’s plenty more to see). Next year’s Carnegie International, held every four years, is one of the contemporary art world’s most talked-about exhibitions.”
The article further commends the $60 million expansion of The Andy Warhol Museum, which is set to introduce a new performing arts venue to the North Side’s Pop District, and the National A
It also notes the ongoing construction efforts to prepare Downtown for the NFL Draft and suggests that visitors ride the Duquesne Incline from Mount Washington for the best panoramic views of the Golden Triangle.
“It’s an incredible honor for Pittsburgh to be included among National Geographic’s Best of the World 2026,” said Jerad Bachar, president & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH.
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