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December 2023 by Tanya Bass
The rooms themselves are lovely. I've been in them many times and had classes in several of them years ago. However, the current policies make them almost impossible to access. The only way to get to see them is to go on a tour which is ery limited. There is no self-touring option. And the rooms are all locked unless there are classes in session and I don't want to disrupt classes. Very poorly organized, it used to be so much better.
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October 2023 by Sarah Kostelac
I've been coming here since I was a little kid and have loved seeing all the new ones added over the years. I went today to see the newest room and it was fabulous as always. Had a fantastic tour from Abby who was very knowledgeable and let the group choose which rooms we wanted to see. Some of the older rooms aren't quite as wheelchair accessible due to ADA not being a thing when they were built but Abby was very accommodating and shifted some things around so I could get in. Everyone should go see the rooms if they can.
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August 2023 by Elise Forbes
Do not take the guided tour!!!!! We saw 6/31 rooms and wasted time with the most irrelevant history lessons. Instead go during the semester on Friday between 3-5pm. The classrooms will mostly all be unlocked and empty.
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June 2023 by Julia Goncharenko
Highly recommended! It’s one of the most impressive places in Pittsburgh! Be advised that you need to book a guided tour in advance. You should fill out a reservation form online and in 30 min you’ll receive a confirmation letter by email. Payment will be done on arrival at the gift shop inside the Cathedral of Learning. Also it is better to visit the place on weekends when there are no students in the building. The Nationality Rooms are real classrooms at the same time, so you won’t be able to enter the room if there is a class in there.Also be advised that you won’t be able to see all 31 Nationality Rooms because the tour takes 1,5 hour only. When the tour starts your guide will ask you which rooms would you like to see, so check the university website and make your preferences before the visit. In my opinion, the most impressive ones are German, Austrian, Ukrainian, Syria-Lebanon and Turkish.
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September 2022 by Vincent L.
While the Nationality Rooms - and the Cathedral of Learning in which they're housed - might be well-known to those from Pittsburgh, I hadn't heard about them until I did some online searching for unique sights to see.And what a treasure they are. They consist of dozens of classrooms in the lower floors of the Cathedral of Learning - itself the most prominent landmark on the University of Pittsburgh campus - that have been created over a number of decades to reflect individual countries. Importantly, these are absolutely not exercises in cultural appropriation, but are instead the result of significant input from local communities (i.e. Turkish, Polish, Indian, even early American), sources from the actual countries depicted, and academic sources here at the university itself.The result is a gorgeous collection of functional classrooms that will be sure to inspire students and professors alike. Classes don't even have to relate to a specific room; for example, you could have a math or physics class in any of the rooms, as long as the professor has managed to secure it for the term. See the attached pictures for glimpses of all these individual treasures. Make this part of your agenda if and when you're in Pittsburgh. You need to reserve a spot on a free tour via the University website ahead of time. The tour guides themselves are very knowledgeable and actively pass on learnings and insights from previous guides to new ones. My guide, a female graduate engineering student, was especially enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Otherwise, if you don't have a University ID, you won't be able to enter the Cathedral at all. A most fitting venue for my 9400th Yelp review!
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April 2022 by Arden Steffen
This was just fantastic! Our tour guide Katelyn was great and we got to see so many cool rooms. What a wonderful place to go to college.
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November 2021 by James Chase
I think this is the greatest place to go to college that I have ever seen, tho I've never been there.Even tho this is an unsolicited comment I would send my kids there anytime.
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September 2021 by Nupur B.
The Nationality Rooms in Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning are a hidden gem. We visited Pittsburgh's Cathedral a while ago and still remember the Nationality Rooms (and not to mention the very Hogwarts-like lobby as soon as you enter the cathedral !!)We opted for a self-guided audio tour ($4 per person) which gave us access to the 1st floor along with the 3rd floor. I would recommend this but you can also skip paying entirely and visit the 3rd floor only which is free. You can also opt for a guided group tour. There is a customer service kiosk/ help desk near the gift shop in the main lobby.It's a great way to learn about different cultures through an immersive experience. Each of these rooms is decorated, designed and architected differently based on the country. If you are in the area definitely pay a visit. It is worth it. Tip: Be sure to check the schedule as the classrooms maybe in use by the university !
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July 2020 by Yeimi Pena
We had the chance to visit the National Rooms and the experience was great! Each room had a guide who explained the details of the room as well the Christmas customs for each country that the room represents. "Christmas at the Nationality Rooms is a treat for the decorations, descriptions, food, dance and other activities. The first Sunday of December you'll get even more at their annual open house"
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July 2020 by Joseph Gazarik
Annette was an excellent and knowledgeable docent. She took her time and spent well over 2 hours giving us detailed information on the 18 nationality rooms on the first floor. I then self toured the 13 remaining rooms on the 3rd floor.Highly recommended!
