Our Glasgow Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for this Scottish city. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Glasgow!
Plan your visit to Glasgow
Famous for its architecture, arts scene, culture, sports, shopping, street art, world-class museums, shipbuilding heritage, whisky, Billy Connolly and rich history Glasgow is often overshadowed by the Scottish capital Edinburgh.
However it is a city which has undergone significant regeneration and has emerged as a tourist destination worth including in any Scotland travel itinerary.
In our Glasgow Travel Guide, we cover everything you need to know to plan your visit including what to see, how to get around, best tours and day trips, where to stay plus recommended places to eat and drink.
What you will find in this complete Glasgow Travel Guide
Map of Glasgow
Glasgow travel guide – Visiting Glasgow FAQ’s
☀️ When is the best time of year to visit Glasgow?
For warmer days and longer hours of daylight plan to visit Glasgow from June to August. In the winter Scotland is cold and hours of daylight are reduced which can limit the time to sightsee. Spring months from March to May can also be a pleasant time to visit.
Glasgow hosts many sporting, cultural, theatrical and musical events throughout the year (the city is a UNESCO City of Music) Read about events planned in Glasgow for 2022/3.
Read more about the best time to visit the UK in our detailed guide.
📍 What is the best way to explore Glasgow?
Whilst the centre of Glasgow is pretty walkable you will need to use either public transport or a cab to get around to all the sights. It really is too far to walk from the centre to attractions such as the Glasgow Botanical Garden, Kelvingrove Museum or Riverside Museum.
There is a good public bus network and an underground train network too but we found the best way to get around was to take the hop-on hop-off bus.
- Tip – We recommend taking the hop-on hop-off city sightseeing bus around the city. This is a great way to see the highlights and attractions of Glasgow and the most efficient way to travel the city as a visitor.
- We took the bus ourselves during our recent visit to Glasgow and enjoyed the live commentary as we toured the city. It is worth noting that while there are plenty of buses they do get busy, especially during the summer months so start out as early in the day as possible to make the most use of your ticket.
- There are some excellent Glasgow walking tours available including street art focussed.
🚂 What is the best way to travel to Glasgow from London?
🚆 By train
Glasgow is around 4 hours 30 mins by direct train from London Euston to Glasgow Central. Click to book tickets with Omio.
The Lowlander service of the Caledonian Sleeper also travels between the two cities. Click to book tickets on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel ebook which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.
🚗 By car (road trip option)
If you are planning a Scottish road trip why not include some time in Glasgow? If you prefer to avoid driving in the city perhaps start your holiday in Glasgow and collect your rental car when you are ready to commence your road trip. We did this recently in Edinburgh and it avoided any issues finding accommodation with parking.
🚗 There are a multitude of car rental companies to choose from in the UK. We recommend comparing prices and deals on Discover Cars before making your booking.
⭐️ Attractions and things to do in Glasgow
Popular attractions in Glasgow include:
- The Glasgow Cathedral
- Glasgow Necropolis
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- George Square
- Central Chambers
- Glasgow Botanical Gardens
- Glasgow street art
⭐️ Read more about these landmarks, sights and attractions in our one-day Glasgow itinerary.
🍛 Where to eat in Glasgow
What to eat & drink
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Haggis
- Neeps and tatties
- Scottish breakfast
- Cullen Skink
- Deep-fried Mars Bar
- Whisky
Afternoon Tea
- Willow Tea Rooms – Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired tearooms & giftshop
- House for an Art Lover – Art Nouveau cafe
- Cranachan Cafe – Princes Square
- Red Bus Bistro – Take a vintage Routemaster bus tour and enjoy afternoon tea as you see the sights!
🏨 Accommodation in Glasgow
| Hotel | Rating | Cost | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| CitizenM Glasgow | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $$ | Book here |
| Radisson Blu | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $$$ | Book here |
| Motel One | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $$ | Book here |
| The Z Hotel | 👍 | $ | Book here |
| Crowne Plaza Glasgow | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $$ | Book here |
| Kimpton-Blythswood Square | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $$$ | Book here |
| easyHotel Glasgow city | ⭐️⭐️ | $ | Book here |
| Ibis Budget Glasgow | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $ | Book here |
| Grasshopper Hotel | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | $$ | Book here |
➡️ More accommodation options in Glasgow
More special stays – Accommodation Guide for Scotland
Glasgow Travel Guide – Best tours and day trips
Glasgow is ideally located to use as a base from which to explore Scotland by train, car or bus. Popular day trips from Glasgow include:
- Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands Tour – Discover the magnificent beauty of Loch Lomond National Park, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, the Great Glen, Loch Ness and Pitlochry on a guided tour from Glasgow. Learn about history and folklore.
- Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour – Explore the land and legends of Scottish heroes William Wallace and Rob Roy and experience the natural beauty of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs on this tour from Glasgow.
- Glenfinnan, Mallaig and Glencoe Adventure Tour – Journey through the rugged Highlands towards Glenfinnan, famous for its viaduct (the Harry Potter bridge). Pass through dramatic Glencoe, see the Hogwarts Express, and spend time in scenic Mallaig.
- Culzean Castle, Robert Burns Country & the Ayrshire Coast – Explore the Ayrshire Coast, the birthplace of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, on this full-day tour from Glasgow. Home to Culzean Castle and romantic countryside, you’ll find the region to be as captivating as described in the poems of Robert Burns.
Enjoy your visit to Glasgow
This guide will have provided inspiration plus practical information to help plan your visit to Glasgow. You will find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your travels around Scotland in these travel guides: