All citiesGlasgow Things to do and walking itinerary
United Kingdom Glasgow travel guide
23 things to do in Glasgow, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
All Glasgow guide sections (10)
Top things to do in Glasgow
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: Opened in 1901, the museum hangs Dalí's Christ of Saint John of the Cross a few rooms from its natural history halls. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Glasgow School of Art: Charles Rennie Mackintosh's school building has been a construction site since the 2014 and 2018 fires. The interior is closed, but the facade can be seen from Renfrew Street. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Glasgow Cathedral: The only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to come through the 1560 Reformation almost intact. (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Glasgow Necropolis: A Victorian cemetery opened in 1833 on the hill behind the cathedral, with monument-lined paths and views over the city. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Riverside Museum: Zaha Hadid's transport museum opened on the Clyde in 2011, with trams and steam locomotives inside. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow: The city's Catholic cathedral on the bank of the Clyde, completed in 1816. (visit ≈ 35 min)
- St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow: The Episcopal cathedral on Great Western Road, designed by George Gilbert Scott. (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Gallery of Modern Art: Contemporary art in a neoclassical building on Royal Exchange Square, where the Wellington statue outside usually wears a traffic cone. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- George Square: The main square in front of the City Chambers, with Walter Scott's column at its centre. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens: The West End gardens are known for the Kibble Palace, a Victorian glasshouse. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery: Inside the University of Glasgow, this is Scotland's oldest public museum, opened in 1807. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Burrell Collection: Thousands of objects left to the city by shipowner William Burrell, in Pollok Country Park, reopened after renovation in 2022. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Glasgow Central Mosque: The city's main mosque on the south bank of the Clyde, opened in 1984. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Glasgow Science Centre: A science centre on the Clyde opened in 2001, beside the Glasgow Tower that turns into the wind. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Kelvingrove Park: A Victorian park along the River Kelvin, just behind the Kelvingrove museum. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Garnethill Synagogue: Opened in 1879, this is the oldest synagogue building still standing in Scotland. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Luke: Built in Dowanhill in 1877 as a Presbyterian church, it has been the Greek Orthodox cathedral since 1953. (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Britannia Panopticon: The Trongate hall is among the oldest surviving music halls, and Stan Laurel made his stage debut here. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Queen's Cross Church: The only church by Mackintosh that was built, now home to the Mackintosh Society. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Tron Theatre: A theatre working inside the former Tron church on Trongate. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Tall Ship Glenlee: A three-masted sailing ship launched at Port Glasgow in 1896, moored outside the Riverside Museum. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Bellahouston Park: The park that hosted the 1938 Empire Exhibition, home to the House for an Art Lover built from Mackintosh's drawings. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Queen's Park: A Southside park with city views from its hilltop, near where the Battle of Langside was fought in 1568. (visit ≈ 45 min)
2-day Glasgow walking itinerary
Starting point: Merchant City. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated. Distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.1 km · 12,280 steps · 2 h 2 min on the way): St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow → Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum → St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow → Glasgow School of Art → Gallery of Modern Art → George Square
- Day 2 (≈ 2.7 km · 3,690 steps · 37 min on the way): Glasgow Cathedral → Glasgow Necropolis
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Glasgow
- Loch Lomond: Britain's largest freshwater lake by area, with trains from Glasgow to Balloch on its shore. (visit ≈ 240 min, 41 km from the centre)
- New Lanark: The cotton-mill village where Robert Owen built schools and housing for his workers, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (visit ≈ 180 min, 37 km from the centre)
Where to stay in Glasgow
- Merchant City: Bars and restaurants in old merchant warehouses, right by George Square.
- Around Glasgow Central: Walking distance to both main stations and Buchanan Street.
- Finnieston: Restaurants along the west end of Argyle Street, a few minutes from Kelvingrove Park.
Getting from the airport to Glasgow
- Glasgow (GLA): Glasgow Airport Express bus (500) ≈ 15-30 min
Getting around
The city's only metro is a 15-station loop linking the centre with the West End, nicknamed the Clockwork Orange for its orange carriages. Kelvingrove and the Riverside Museum are free to enter. Rain is frequent, so a waterproof jacket beats an umbrella. Heading on to Northern Ireland? Cairnryan port is about 2 hours' drive south, with ferries to Belfast and Larne.
Classic places to eat
- Cail Bruich: Michelin-starred tasting menu on Great Western Road.
- Unalome by Graeme Cheevers: Michelin-starred modern cooking with Scottish produce in Finnieston.
- Sebb's: Near George Square, given a Bib Gourmand in 2026.
Day trips
- Antonine Wall: 16 km from the centre
- Stirling Castle: 35 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting Glasgow
- Fine: Carrying pepper spray or certain knives (locking or over 3 inches) is illegal.
- Fine: Smoking is banned in pubs, restaurants and enclosed workplaces.
- Warning: Traffic drives on the left. Look right first when crossing.
- Warning: Any drone of 100 g or more needs a CAA Flyer ID. If that drone has a camera or weighs 250 g or more, you also need an Operator ID. Flying is restricted around airports.
- Stand on the right on escalators. People walk on the left.
- The drinking age is 18. You'll be asked for ID if you look young.
Extra rules for Scotland
- Fine: Scotland's drink-driving limit is lower than England's.
- Scottish banknotes are legal, though shops in England sometimes refuse them.
- Shops can sell alcohol only between 10:00 and 22:00.
- Emergency: 999
- Plugs: G, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Restaurants often add 10–12.5% service. No tip is expected at a pub bar.
Sources: GOV.UK: Visit the UK, City of Edinburgh Council: Visitor levy, Wikivoyage: United Kingdom, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı: Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only. Rules change, so check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Glasgow travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Glasgow?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 18 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Antonine Wall and Stirling Castle).
- What are the top things to do in Glasgow?
- Highlights: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Necropolis and Riverside Museum. The map has 23 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Glasgow?
- Merchant City: Bars and restaurants in old merchant warehouses, right by George Square. Other options: Around Glasgow Central and Finnieston.
- How do you get from the airport to Glasgow city centre?
- Glasgow (GLA): Glasgow Airport Express bus (500) ≈ 15-30 min
- How do you get around Glasgow?
- The city's only metro is a 15-station loop linking the centre with the West End, nicknamed the Clockwork Orange for its orange carriages. Kelvingrove and the Riverside Museum are free to enter. Rain is frequent, so a waterproof jacket beats an umbrella. Heading on to Northern Ireland? Cairnryan port is about 2 hours' drive south, with ferries to Belfast and Larne.
- What is the emergency number in Glasgow?
- Emergency: 999.
- Do you tip in Glasgow?
- Restaurants often add 10–12.5% service. No tip is expected at a pub bar.
Routes that include Glasgow
Nearby cities
Edinburgh · Belfast · Inverness · Liverpool · Manchester · Dublin · Galway · Cardiff
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