Market Square

The people who know Pittsburgh know that the city's skyline is one of the best in the nation. However, most people think the buildings are best enjoyed from a distance, either viewing them from nearby Point State Park or from the increasing elevation of the Monongahela Incline. Market Square is a gem of an urban park that sits right smack in the middle of downtown. It is the perfect place to get outdoors to enjoy your lunch all while being surrounded by the Steel City's largest and most impressive edifices.

Parking and Public Transportation at Market Square
Driving downtown and trying to find parking is hard enough for locals, let alone tourists. Get off at the Gateway Station if riding the local subway. The subway is free if you stay within the "Golden Triangle," which comprises of Downtown and North Shore stations. If you plan to drive, the garage on Stanwix Street can be reasonably priced ($5-$10), if you visit after 4 p.m. on weekdays. Avoid meters, which are $4-$6 an hour and enforced until 10 p.m.

Best and worst time to go to Market Square
The square is most alive when filled with people. Try to avoid mid-day work hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on weekdays so you can be a part of its energy. Lunch time in the warm months is also a good time because all the Downtown workers come to the square to enjoy their lunch break. In December, a holiday village is set up with kitschy shops and an ice rick surrounds a giant Christmas tree.

Admission to Market Square
The square is free to visitors 365 days a year. The square also has four different entrances, so getting inside is free and easy.

Must see/do at Market Square
Look up! Market Square is surrounded by some of Pittsburgh tallest and most striking buildings. PPG Place looks like a futuristic castle in the sky. Enjoy the view with some grub, too. There are dozens of options, most of them national chains, but to eat like a Yinzer, grad a french fry and coleslaw filled sandwich at Primanti Bros, located right on the square.

Other places to visit near Market Square
If you want a little natural beauty to counterbalance your urban jungle marvels, head just a few blocks west to Point State Park. Large grassy expanses filled with trees and an impressive fountain sit right at the convergence of the iconic three rivers. A short walk, or even quicker free subway ride, to the North Shore gets you to PNC Park and Heinz Field. There you can partake in the passion that is Pittsburgh sports; cheer on the Pirates or Steelers respectively.

Insider tip to visitors to Market Square
If you want to hang around the area for lunch, dinner, or night-time entertainment, try to avoid the cafes and restaurants in the immediate area. They are not terrible, they are just mostly national chains that you can get in any city. By traveling just a few blocks to Sixth Street and Penn Avenue, you can enjoy some the best the 'burgh has to offer and establishments Pittsburghers are proud to call their own.

Author's bio: Ryan Deto, originally from California, has been exploring the streets of Pittsburgh for more than four years. He has been published in "LA Weekly" and has traveled to more than a dozen countries and more than 40 states throughout America.