This guide covers everything you need to visit The Andy Warhol Museum: admission prices, opening hours, how to get there from downtown Pittsburgh, and which galleries to prioritise. I explain why Warhol’s hometown museum holds the world’s largest collection of his work, what masterpieces to see, and how long to spend. Here’s what first-time visitors should know.
Why Pittsburgh houses the definitive Warhol collection
The Andy Warhol Museum opened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May 1994, seven years after Warhol’s death. The museum is located in the artist’s hometown where he was born Andrew Warhola in 1928 to Slovakian immigrant parents. Warhol lived in Pittsburgh until moving to New York City in 1949 to pursue his commercial art career.
The seven-storey museum houses over 900 paintings, approximately 2,000 works on paper, 1,000 published and unique prints, 77 sculptures, 4,000 photographs, and 4,350 Warhol films and videos. This represents the most comprehensive collection of a single artist’s work held by any museum worldwide. The collection spans Warhol’s entire career from 1940s student drawings through his final works in 1987.
The museum operates as one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh alongside the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Carnegie Science Center. This affiliation means combination tickets offer access to multiple institutions. However, the Warhol Museum maintains its own distinct identity and programming.
Andy Warhol Museum admission prices and opening hours
Andy Warhol Museum admission prices for 2025:
- Adults: $25
- Seniors (ages 65+): $13
- Students with ID: $13
- Children and youth (ages 3-18): $13
- Children under 3: Free
- Carnegie Museum members: Free admission
The museum is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm on most days, although it is closed on Tuesdays and opening is extended to 10:00pm on Fridays. The museum closes on Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Last admission is at 4:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door. Online booking provides no discount but guarantees entry during busy periods when special exhibitions or events attract crowds. Most weekdays see light visitor numbers allowing walk-up purchases without issues.
The building and gallery layout
The museum occupies a renovated industrial warehouse building on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, across the Allegheny River from downtown. The 88,000-square-foot facility spreads across seven floors. This unusual vertical layout means visitors take lifts or stairs between galleries rather than walking through connected rooms on a single level.
The galleries are organised thematically rather than strictly chronologically, though Warhol’s career development remains traceable throughout the floors. Each floor typically focuses on particular periods, techniques, or subject matters from Warhol’s prolific output.
Not all 900-plus paintings are displayed simultaneously. The museum rotates works regularly to prevent light damage and allow showing different aspects of the collection. Return visitors see different pieces on subsequent trips. This rotation policy means guidebooks listing specific works may not accurately reflect current displays.
Andy Warhol Museum: Must-see works and highlights
Campbell’s Soup Cans appear throughout the collection in various iterations. Warhol’s signature subject receives extensive coverage, showing how he returned to this motif repeatedly throughout his career. The museum owns multiple versions including early hand-painted cans and later silkscreen variations.
Self-portraits from across Warhol’s career demonstrate his evolution as an artist and his changing self-presentation. Early 1960s self-portraits show Warhol as a young commercial artist. Later works from the 1980s present him as an established art world figure. The self-portraits reveal Warhol’s constant engagement with questions of identity, celebrity, and image-making.
Marilyn Monroe prints showcase Warhol’s silk-screen technique and his fascination with celebrity culture. The museum owns multiple Marilyn works including colour variations and experimental versions. These works followed Monroe’s death in 1962 and established Warhol’s celebrity portrait genre.
Elvis Presley paintings demonstrate Warhol’s seriality technique. Multiple Elvis images appear side-by-side showing the repetition that became Warhol’s signature approach. The silver backgrounds and repeated figures create rhythms across large canvases.
Disaster and Death series presents Warhol’s darker subject matter. Works depicting car crashes, electric chairs, and race riots reveal the artist’s engagement with violence and mortality. These pieces contrast with the glamorous celebrity portraits and consumer product images that dominate popular perception of Warhol’s work.
Film and video works occupy dedicated screening rooms. Warhol produced hundreds of experimental films including the notorious eight-hour static shot of the Empire State Building. The museum regularly screens selections from this vast film archive. Check the daily schedule for screening times.
Getting to the Andy Warhol Museum from downtown Pittsburgh
The Andy Warhol Museum is located at 117 Sandusky Street on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, directly across the Allegheny River from downtown. The yellow-and-silver Seventh Street Bridge (also called the Andy Warhol Bridge since 2005) connects downtown to the museum neighbourhood.
Walking from downtown: The walk from Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh takes approximately 15 minutes. Head north on Sixth Street, cross the Andy Warhol Bridge, and turn left on General Robinson Street. The museum appears on your left. The bridge offers excellent views of Pittsburgh’s rivers and downtown skyline.
By bus: Pittsburgh Regional Transit operates multiple bus routes serving the North Shore. Routes including the 6, 11, 16, and 40 stop near the museum. Single fares cost $2.75 for adults. Day passes cost $7 and provide unlimited rides.
By car: From downtown Pittsburgh, cross the Seventh Street Bridge and turn left onto General Robinson Street. The museum operates a parking lot at 117 Sandusky Street. Parking costs $8 per day. Street parking is also available on surrounding blocks with metered spaces.
By light rail: The “T” light rail system serves downtown Pittsburgh extensively but does not directly reach the North Shore. The closest station is North Side, requiring a 15-minute walk to the museum. Most visitors find buses or walking more convenient than light rail for reaching this location.
Special exhibitions and programmes
The museum hosts 2 to 3 temporary exhibitions annually. These special shows explore specific aspects of Warhol’s work, present works by contemporary artists influenced by Warhol, or examine themes related to Warhol’s era and interests. Recent exhibitions have covered topics including Warhol’s photography, his commercial illustration work, and his influence on subsequent generations of artists.
Public programmes include artist talks, film screenings, workshops, and educational sessions. Friday evening programmes during extended hours feature music, performances, and social events. These “Good Fridays” transform the museum into a cultural gathering space. Check the museum calendar for current programming.
Educational programmes for schools and groups provide guided tours, studio workshops, and curriculum materials. Teachers can book programmes aligned with art education standards. These educational offerings make the museum valuable for students studying modern art, American culture, or 1960s history.
The museum shop and café
The museum shop occupies the first floor and sells Warhol-related merchandise including books, prints, posters, clothing, and accessories. The shop specialises in items featuring Warhol’s iconic imagery including Campbell’s Soup, Marilyn Monroe, and cow wallpaper patterns. Prices range from affordable postcards to expensive limited-edition prints.
Many items are produced in collaboration with contemporary designers who create products inspired by Warhol’s work. The shop represents one of the better museum stores in terms of interesting, well-designed merchandise rather than generic tourist goods.
The Café at The Warhol serves coffee, light meals, sandwiches, and pastries. The café occupies a bright space with large windows overlooking the street. Menu items reference Warhol’s obsessions including “Campbell’s Soup” and items named after Factory personalities. Café prices reflect museum venue positioning at $8 to $15 for meals.
How long to spend at the Andy Warhol Museum
Seeing the highlights of the Andy Warhol Museum requires approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. This allows seeing the major works, reading key interpretive texts, and viewing at least one film screening. Visitors with casual interest in Warhol or modern art find this duration sufficient.
Serious art enthusiasts can easily spend 3 to 4 hours exploring thoroughly. Reading all interpretive materials, watching multiple films, and examining the depth of the collection requires time. The museum rewards close looking and repeat visits reveal details missed initially.
Families with children typically spend 90 minutes to 2 hours. Children often find Warhol’s bright colours and recognisable imagery engaging. However, the conceptual aspects of his work may not resonate with younger visitors. The museum provides family guides and activities designed for children.
Photography and visitor guidelines
Photography for personal use is permitted throughout most of the museum. Flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are prohibited. Some temporary exhibitions may restrict photography depending on loan agreements with other institutions. Always observe signage in each gallery.
Video recording is not permitted. This policy protects copyright in Warhol’s film works and prevents disruption to other visitors. Museum staff will ask visitors recording video to stop.
Large bags and backpacks must be checked at the coat room near the entrance. Free lockers are available. The museum cannot accommodate large luggage or suitcases. Plan accordingly if visiting as part of a travel day.
Food and drinks are prohibited in galleries. The café provides dining space, and outdoor seating is available during pleasant weather. Water bottles must remain in bags rather than carried openly through galleries.
Accessibility and facilities
The Andy Warhol Museum provides full accessibility throughout all seven floors. Lifts serve all levels with wheelchair-accessible doors and controls. Gallery spaces accommodate wheelchairs and mobility devices with wide aisles and turning spaces.
Wheelchairs are available for loan free of charge at the visitor services desk. Limited quantities mean availability is not guaranteed during busy periods. Visitors requiring wheelchairs should call ahead to reserve.
Accessible toilets are located on multiple floors. Baby-changing facilities are available in accessible restrooms. The museum welcomes families with young children, though the vertical layout means considerable lift usage when visiting all floors.
Assistive listening devices for gallery programmes and tours can be arranged by contacting the museum in advance. Audio guides are not currently available, though interpretive texts throughout galleries provide comprehensive information.
Combining with other Pittsburgh attractions
The North Shore neighbourhood contains multiple attractions within walking distance. Combining the Warhol Museum with other nearby sites creates full-day Pittsburgh experiences.
PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates baseball stadium) and Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers football stadium) are both approximately 400 metres from the museum. Game day visits create energetic neighbourhood atmospheres, though crowds and traffic increase significantly.
The Carnegie Science Center is 800 metres west along the riverfront. This hands-on science museum features interactive exhibits, an OMNIMAX theatre, and the USS Requin submarine. The combination ticket mentioned earlier provides admission to both the Warhol and Science Center.
Point State Park marks where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio River. The much-loved fountain and historic Fort Pitt location are approximately 1 kilometre from the museum. The riverside walk connecting them provides pleasant urban scenery.
The Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh concentrates theatres, galleries, and performance venues. The Benedum Center, Heinz Hall, and Byham Theater all host performances. Combining afternoon museum visits with evening performances creates comprehensive cultural days.
Elsewhere in Pittsburgh, top attractions include the Cathedral of Learning, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Duquesne Incline funicular.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to book tickets in advance? Advance booking is not required except during special exhibitions that generate heavy attendance. Most days allow walk-up ticket purchases without waits. However, online booking guarantees entry if you’re visiting on a specific day with limited flexibility.
How long should we spend there? Allow 2 to 2.5 hours for highlights, or 3 to 4 hours if you’re seriously interested in Warhol’s work. Families with children typically spend 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Is it the world’s largest Warhol collection? Yes, definitively. The museum houses over 900 paintings and thousands of works on paper, prints, photographs, and films. No other institution approaches this comprehensiveness.
Can we see the Factory? The Factory was Warhol’s New York studio, not located in Pittsburgh. The museum recreates aspects of the Factory environment through exhibitions and programmes, but the actual historic Factory no longer exists as it was demolished decades ago.
Are the famous works on display? Many are, though not all simultaneously. The museum rotates works regularly. Major pieces including Campbell’s Soup Cans, Marilyn Monroe prints, and significant self-portraits are usually on view, but specific works cannot be guaranteed.
Is photography allowed? Yes, for personal use without flash, tripods, or selfie sticks. Some temporary exhibitions may restrict photography. Video recording is not permitted.
Can children visit? Yes, and admission for ages 3 to 18 costs $13. Children often enjoy Warhol’s bright colours and familiar imagery. However, the conceptual aspects may not engage younger children. Family guides and activities are available.
Is there parking? Yes, the museum operates a parking lot at 117 Sandusky Street costing $8 per day. Street parking with meters is also available on surrounding blocks. Weekday parking is generally available, though game days at nearby stadiums create challenges.
How does it compare to the MoMA Warhol collection? The Museum of Modern Art in New York owns important Warhol works and presents them in the context of broader modern art movements. The Warhol Museum offers unmatched depth and comprehensiveness focused entirely on Warhol. Art enthusiasts should visit both, but the Pittsburgh museum is definitive for understanding Warhol completely.
Exploring Pittsburgh
You can explore Pittsburgh with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Pittsburgh experiences include bike tours full of stories, guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.
For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.
