Glasgow is a busy and growing area, with a university and the River Clyde finding spots at the heart of the city. With plenty of parks, walking trails, historical monuments, outdoor tours, and museums, there is plenty to do here for practically nothing. I love the vibe here. It’s an ex-industrial city reviving itself as an art and tech hub that gives it a “city on the move” feeling to it. While Edinburgh may be the capital, Glasgow exemplifies the urban soul of Scotland, and shouldn’t be missed!
Glasgow
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Glasgow
1. People watch at George Square
2. Relax in Glasgow Green
3. Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
4. Spend the day at the Loch
5. Visit Glasgow Cathedral
Other Things to See and Do
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1. 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.
2. Shop at Barras Weekend Market
It can be a little crowded, but it’s fun to pass through the endless stalls of clothing, furniture, and local treats. It’s best in the early morning when the crowds are thinner.
3. Visit the University of Glasgow
Aside from it being a beautiful university, the campus lies in an area that’s surrounded by shops, restaurants, and parks. Campus staff offer tours that explain the history and architecture of the university.
4. Wander through the Gallery of Modern Art
A great day activity which allows you to see spectacular sculpture and paintings, and learn about Scotland’s most influential artists. There is no entrance fee.
5. See a soccer match
Glasgow is famous for its love of soccer. The city 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 here. There are three stadiums in the city, each for a specific club, so it’s difficult for there not to be a match, especially if you’re here during the summer!
6. Take in some live music
Glasgow has a pretty decent music scene, with venues catering to different styles and experiences. For something small and intimate (but far from chic), check out a gig at King Tut’s bar, or for a bigger (or artistic) event, visit the SWG3 warehouse.
7. Enjoy the nightlife
Glasgow is by far the best place to party in Scotland. With cheap bars and massive clubs, it’s easy to dance the night away here. Make sure to go to a bar before you head to a club, as the drinks once you get on the dance floor are often more expensive. Nice ‘N’ Sleezy and the Garage are Glaswegian institutions and generally you’ll have a good time at either.
Typical Costs
Budget hotel prices – Hotels around the city center start at 70 GBP but go up in price quite quickly, while hotels that are further away from the city center can cost between 30-50 GBP. All hotels have WiFi, almost all have parking spots, and a large number have bars and restaurants. Use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. Airbnb is fairly popular here, although there are very few shared rooms available. To rent a private room in Airbnb will cost 35 GBP on average, while entire houses start at 70 GBP.
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 10 GBP. Fish and chips from a local takeaway will run around 5-7 GBP. A week’s worth of groceries will cost about 55 GBP at an average store, but if you go to budget grocery stores like Lidl or Iceland you’ll likely pay less.
Transportation – 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. However, if you don’t want to walk, there are quite a few options for traveling around Glasgow. There’s a subway that runs a circular route around the central area of the city, which costs either 1.60 GBP for a single ticket, 3.00 GBP for a return ticket, or 4.00 GBP for an all day ticket. If you want to travel to areas further away from the city center, you can buy a roundabout ticket for unlimited travel in and around Glasgow for 6.60 GBP per day. Airport shuttle tickets cost 7.50 GBP. Bike rentals are also available in the city for around 20 GBP per day.
Suggested daily budget
40-50 GBP / 49-61 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
Money Saving Tips
- Visit the free museums – Glasgow offers free entrance for most of its museums. You can easily spend half a day wandering through and admiring the great Scottish artists and never pay a thing.
- Visit the West End – This bustling area of Glasgow is filled with bohemian shops and restaurants and great chances to people watch. The places here tend to be cheaper than in other parts of the city.
- Eat in the pub – The best food is often in the pubs and you’ll pay a fraction of the price than you would in a proper restaurant. Also, pubs generally give you a true taste of Scottish culture. Scotland is pub-land.
- Visit the free museums – TThe public museums in Scotland are free – take advantage of this awesome opportunity!
- Picnic in the park – There are many parks in Glasgow, and almost all are free to enter. Take advantage of this free outing – bring your lunch and admire the lakes, rivers, and nearby castles.
- Couchsurf – The best way to save money on accommodation in Glasgow is to stay with a local. Not only will you save a few bucks but you’ll get some local insight into the city. This is the best way to get off the tourist trail and find out about some of the city’s hidden gems.
- Save money on rideshares – Uber is way cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi. The Uber Pool option is where can you share a ride to get even better savings (though you can get your own car too). You can save $15 off your first Uber ride with this code: jlx6v.
My Must Have Guides For Traveling to Glasgow
How to Get Free Flights
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Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel
Kristin Addis writes the solo female travel column for this website and her detailed guide addresses all the concerns women have about traveling and gives the specific advice and tips you need to conquer the world and stay safe.
How to Teach English Overseas
This book will teach you everything you need to know about landing your dream job and features interviews with dozens of teachers, recruiters, detailed information on the top teaching destinations, sample resumes, advice on nailing your interview, and much more.
How to Travel the World on $50 a Day
My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach how to master the art of travel so that, no matter how long you want to travel for, you’ll save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experience.
Articles About Scotland
Booking Resources
