Glasgow

glasgow scotland
Glasgow is a busy and growing area with the University being the heart of the city. It is the largest city in Scotland, along the River Clyde and the main source of Scotland’s industrial needs. With plenty of parks, historical monuments and museums, there is plenty to do here, and for a low-cost, if not for free. Don’t forget to walk into a pub or two, if not for the great food than to talk to a friendly local who will tell you the spots you have to hit before leaving town.

Typical Costs

  • Hostel Prices: You can find dorm rooms for $20 USD.
  • Budget Hotel Prices: Some hotels in the center of the city start at $80 a night. Hotels that are out a little ways are cheaper and start their rates at $50.
  • Average Cost of Food: Glasgow offers diverse restaurants and for every price range. If you stick to a casual dining or pub, you can get a great meal (pubs offer wonderful food and their local cuisine dishes are usually excellent!) for $16 USD.. A week’s worth of groceries costs $48-64 USD.
  • Transportation: You can buy a roundabout ticket for unlimited travel in and around Glasgow for $5.50 USD per day. The city of Glasgow is pretty compact so as long as you’re in the West End or the City Center, you can get anywhere you need to go by foot.

Top Things to Do

  • Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – The museum is free and it hosts an extensive art gallery. Don’t forget to see the Dr. Who exhibit! It’s pretty cool, especially if you like sci-fi.
  • People watch at George Square – Right in the heart of Glasgow, this park is a great place to eat and people watch, try a local beer, or admire the nearby council buildings’ architecture. During the summer time, it can get crowded with people.
  • Spend the day at Linn Park – Linn Park is a fabulous park that has beautiful scenery and many different walking paths along Cart River. It’s great in the summer time.
  • Barras Weekend Market – It can be a little crowded but its fun to go through the endless clothing, furniture and local treats. It’s beats in the early morning when the crowds are few.
  • Visit the University of Glasgow – Aside from it being a beautiful university, the neighborhood is surrounded by shops, restaurants and parks. They offer tours that explain the history and architecture of the university.
  • Glasgow Green – One of Glasgow’s most historical parks, it was used for cattle and sheep grazing in the 19th century. Now, it’s a great place to spend the day having lunch and people watch.
  • Gallery of Modern Art - A great day trip for seeing spectacular sculpture and paintings, and to learn about Scotland’s most influential artists. There is no entrance fee.
  • Glasgow Cathedral – The cathedral is a fine example of Gothic architecture dating from medieval times and built on a site first consecrated in 397 AD. It’s one of the oldest in Scotland.
  • See a Soccer Match – Glasgow has three soccer clubs, the most famous of which are the Celtics and Rangers. There is an intense rivalry between the two teams and seeing a match between the two is one of the wildest things you can do in the city.

Budget Tips

  • Visit the free museums – Glasgow offers a free entrance for most of their museums. You can easily spend half a day wandering through and admiring the great Scottish artists and never pay anything.
  • Visit the West End – This bustling area of Glasgow is filled with bohemian shops and restaurants and a great chance to people watch. The places here tend to be cheaper than in other parts of the city.