Pittsburgh winters are not usually extreme, temperatures staying a few degrees above freezing. In spring things warm up quickly and summers are hot and sunny, with fairly low humidity. Pittsburgh receives heavy rainfall, which is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but late spring and summer tend to be wetter.

Downtown Pittsburgh is compact and designed to be enjoyed by pedestrians, with parks and plazas spaced out between the office towers and shopping streets. If you need to travel a little further, however, descend to the subway, known in Pittsburgh as the 'T', a small but clean and reliable light rail system that covers a four-stop loop. A branch of the subway also crosses under the Monogahela River and emerges above ground to serve the southern suburbs. The city has an extensive bus network with multiple routes connecting downtown to the attractions on the north side, Oakland and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Central Business District is a Free Fare Zone and buses are free from 4am to 7pm daily, while the 'T' is free 24 hours a day. Visitors are always particularly keen to ride the historic Duquesne and Monongahela Incline cars up Mount Washington for a breathtaking view. Pittsburgh's taxi cabs need to be called by telephone or hired at a taxi rank.

English is the most common language but Spanish is often spoken in south-western states.

The US Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.