WiFi hot spots -- places where you can pick up a wireless Internet connection on your laptop or PDA -- are pretty easy to find in Pittsburgh. Coffee houses, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and other establishments offer wireless Internet access -- for a fee. It's the free WiFi hot spots that are a bit harder to find. But if you're willing to spend a little more time looking, free wireless Internet is here in Pittsburgh. Here are some of my favorite free WiFi locations in greater Pittsburgh.
It's not just one free WiFi hot spot. WiFi Downtown Pittsburgh offers two free hours of wireless Internet access daily in outdoor locations throughout the the entire downtown Pittsburgh area, including the North Shore and lower Hill District. If you sit near a window, you can pick up the free WiFi in some indoor locations as well.
The Pittsburgh International Airport has been offering free Wi-Fi in its food court since 2003 and in its terminals since 2004, making it the first major airport in the country to offer free WiFi access.
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh provides free wireless Internet service available for use with your personal computer while you are visiting the Main Library in Oakland or the Brookline, Downtown & Business, East Liberty, Lawrenceville, Squirrel Hill and Woods Run locations. Or check out this list for other
Allegheny County public libraries with free Wi-Fi.
This coffee and sandwich chain offers free Wi-Fi to customers, and has many Pittsburgh area locations. Their Web site only claims free WiFi at their Monroeville location, but I know the Homestead location also has it.
One of the early adopters of free WiFi in Pittsburgh, this popular South Side coffeehouse offers unlimited free wireless Internet access, great coffee, and a relaxed, funky atmosphere.
Caribou Coffee offers free Wi-Fi service through Wandering WiFi at some of its coffee shops nationwide. The first hour is free, and you can keep on using it after that as long as you make a store purchase of at least $1.50 for each hour you're there. Pittsburgh Caribou Coffee locations with free WiFi include Oakland & Forbes, Brentwood, and Robinson Township.
The 1-acre grand entrance to Schenley Park features movable chairs and cafe tables, dining kiosks, public restrooms and year-round free wireless Internet access. A great place to hang out on a sunny afternoon.
Located in the heart of the Pittsburgh cultural district, the luxury Omni William Penn hotel has free Wi-Fi Internet access available in its public areas, including the spacious, comfortable lobby.
Where else can you get franks, fruit shakes, and free Wi-Fi in one place? Hot Dogma, located in the basement of Trinity Cathedral in Downtown Pittsburgh, of course!
Relax and surf the Internet while grabbing a bite with the free WiFi hotspots in the Food Court and next to Starbucks at the Mall at Robinson .
