Next to Market Square, the plaza at PPG Place turns into an outdoor ice rink each winter — the UPMC Rink at PPG Place, ringed by glass spires with a Christmas tree in the middle. It has been voted the most beautiful outdoor rink in the country, and standing in it at dusk you stop arguing with that.
The season is longer than people think
The rink opens in November and runs into late February — which means it is not just a Christmas thing. Some of the best skating here happens in January and early February, when the holiday crowds have gone home, the ice is quiet, and Downtown belongs to whoever turns up. If you are visiting Pittsburgh in the depths of winter, this is the answer to “what is there to do.”
Practical notes
Skate rental is on site, so bring nothing but gloves. Go at dusk if you can — the lights come on and the glass starts throwing everything back at you. Weekend evenings in December are the busiest sessions of the year; weeknights and January are calm.
Market Square is a few steps away, newly renovated and open again, which makes the natural plan obvious: skate, then eat. Our Pittsburgh food guide covers the walk from the rink.
Build a winter weekend around it
In season, pair it with the Holiday Market and the lights or the Nutcracker at the Benedum. After the holidays, pair it with a Penguins game and a museum — a Downtown winter weekend that costs less and feels emptier, in the good way, than the same weekend in December. Full season rundown in our Christmas in Pittsburgh guide.
Where to stay. Rivers & Steel City Homes offers full homes across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area — parking, a kitchen, and room for everyone who travelled in. 2,700+ guests since 2018; book direct and save 5–15% over Airbnb and VRBO. Lock in your dates at riversandsteel.com/search.
More to plan your trip: Things to Do in Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh Food Guide. Ready to visit? Find your stay »
