As in the rest of the United States, the phone number to dial for emergencies is 911.
Pittsburgh is routinely ranked as one of the safest cities among others of comparable size in the US. Most areas of the city are safe for tourists, and most of the unsafe areas are residential, so tourists are unlikely to visit these areas. Nevertheless, the following neighborhoods should be avoided (especially at night), notably the Hill District (the area between Downtown and Oakland), Homewood and nearby Lincoln Larimer and parts of East Liberty, some parts of the North Side and the South Side (such as Carrick), and the adjacent towns of Wilkinsburg and Hazelwood. Other areas in the suburbs to avoid include McKeesport, Homestead(on the opposite side of the tracks from The Waterfront), and McKees Rocks Common sense guidelines regarding safety apply at all times.
On Sundays in the fall and winter, some fans of the local football team (the Steelers) tend to get out of hand. While the great majority won't bother you, it is suggested that out of town fans do not wear the clothing of the team they are playing that day or that of their main rivals (the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns) at any time. You will likely run into crazed fans who will pick fights or ridicule you--at the very least.
As with any city, Pittsburgh has a fair share of homeless people. Many will ask for money, but being kind and respectful will keep you safe.
Whether driving, bicycling, or walking, watch out for drivers making the "Pittsburgh Left" (see By Car, above).
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Pittsburgh
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Pittsburgh - updated Apr 2024
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Pittsburgh Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
