The 17 best things to do in Glasgow, Scotland

Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow is sometimes overshadowed by Edinburgh, its Fringe-holding, parliament-hosting, castle-crowned neighbor to the east. But travelers who visit the “Dear Green Place” – the literal translation of Glaschu, Glasgow’s Gaelic name – quickly fall for its charms. 

Alongside a rich industrial and maritime history, and proud anti-establishment traditions, the city has been going through a decades-long transformation, best experienced in the revamped Merchant City district and along the revitalized waterfront of the River Clyde. It’s irrefutably one of the top places to visit in Scotland.

Dive into this agreeably down-to-earth city with our pick of the top things to do in Glasgow. 

1. Admire the medieval majesty of Glasgow Cathedral

The dark interior of Glasgow’s 12th-century cathedral conjures up a sense of medieval might that sends a shiver down your spine. Backed by the elegant tombs of the city’s most famous cemetery, it’s a shining example of Gothic architecture and, unlike nearly all of Scotland’s other cathedrals, it survived the turmoil of the Reformation almost intact.

The cathedral is divided by a 15th-century pulpitum (choir screen), and its restored ceiling retains many of its 14th-century timbers. Note the modernist stained glass, including Francis Spear’s 1958 work The Creation, which fills the west window. The University of Glasgow was founded at the cathedral’s upper chapter house in 1451. 

The ancient lower church, reached by descending a stone stairway, contains a forest of pillars surrounding the tomb of St Mungo, the city’s patron saint, who founded a monastic community here in the 6th century. Don’t miss the nearby Glasgow Necropolis, containing the elaborate 19th-century tombs of the city’s wealthy industrialists. 

Planning tip: To get more from the necropolis, you can buy a guidebook to the 60 most prominent monuments, or book yourself onto a private guided walking tour. 

2. Take in the treasures of the revamped Burrell Collection

Set inside Pollok Country Park, the world-renowned Burrell Collection displays the stunning art collection of wealthy industrialist Sir William Burrell, who collected all manner of art from his teens until his death at 96. This idiosyncratic museum hosts an extraordinarily wide-ranging collection, taking in everything from Chinese porcelain and medieval furniture to 16th-century tapestries and Impressionist paintings by Cézanne and Dégas.

Planning tip: Spend a full day here and take the time to wander in the beautiful park surrounding elegant Pollok House, with its planted beds and shaggy Highland cattle. 

3. Walk in the footsteps of Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Great cities are defined by their architects, and in Glasgow, Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928) is the one to watch. Mackintosh studied at the Glasgow School of Art, where he met and married the influential artist and designer Margaret Macdonald (1864–1933), creating the so-called “Glasgow Style” – an innovative offshoot of art nouveau incorporating influences from the Arts and Crafts movement and Japanese design. He also created the striking ornamental font used on buildings across the city. 

Created by Mackintosh as the new premises for his alma mater in 1896, the grand Glasgow School of Art building on Renfrew St came to define the British art nouveau style. Tragically, fires in 2014 and 2018 destroyed the under-reconstruction interiors. Work is now underway to repair the damage, but this will not be completed until at least 2030. 

Also noteworthy is Mackintosh’s first building, the Lighthouse, designed in 1893 as the headquarters for the Glasgow Herald newspaper, and today housing Scotland’s Centre for Architecture and Design. At the time of writing, the building was closed to the public – check the website for reopening announcements.

Until these sights reopen, you can get your Mackintosh fix at Mackintosh at the Willow, a skillful reconstruction of the 1903 tea room designed and furnished by the architect for restaurateur and patron Kate Cranston. Book a 45-­minute guided tour around the impressive interiors, or stop in at the tea room for breakfast, lunch or coffee and cake. 

Detour: Designed in 1901 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald, the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park was constructed in the 1990s using designs based on the original plans. Buses 9, 10 and 38 all run here from the city center.

4. Visit a tenement time capsule

From the outside, Tenement House looks like many other Victorian-era buildings in the center of Glasgow, but step inside and you’ll enter a time capsule of city life in the early 20th century. Agnes Toward, a fiercely independent Glaswegian woman, lived in this four-bedroom flat between 1911 and 1965, and her home remains much as she left it, complete with cabinets of long-expired condiments, medicines and cleaning products. 

Planning tip: For a relaxing lunch close to Tenement House, drop into Singl-End Garnethill, with hearty soups and home-baked bread. 

5. Have a blow on the bagpipes

If you love the sound of Scotland’s national instrument, Glasgow’s Museum of Piping, part of the National Piping Centre, will lead you through the history of the Highland bagpipes, with recordings of classic pipe tunes and displays of historic pipes from Scotland and as far afield as Poland, Hungary and Spain. Explore the museum on a “Meet the Piper” guided tour and you can have a go on the pipes yourself at noon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Planning tip: If you come to Glasgow in August, you can hear some of the world’s best pipers at the World Pipe Band Championships and the week-long Piping Live! festival.

6. Take a pub crawl around Glasgow’s top music venues 

Glasgow is the king of Scotland’s live music scene. Start a musical tour with a late-afternoon gig at music bar MacSorley’s on Jamaica St, then stroll up to Stereo for a drink – plus optional (excellent) vegan meal – then pop into the nearby Horseshoe Bar, dating from the late 1800s and with the longest continuous bar in the UK.

Moving on, sample the citrussy Session IPA at Shilling Brewing Co, a brewpub housed in a grand former bank building, then head two blocks west and one north to the Pot Still, a time-warp whisky bar. Take an offbeat breather at The butterfly & the pig before a 10-minute stroll to Nice N Sleazy, a student favorite on the rowdy Sauchiehall strip. 

End your evening at Glasgow’s premier gig venue, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, which hosts bands every night of the week. The list of big-name artists who kicked off their careers here includes Radiohead, The Killers, Pulp, My Chemical Romance, Florence & The Machine and Snow Patrol.

Planning tip: New musical talent is constantly emerging in Glasgow; the Gigs in Scotland website is a good place to find gigs by up-and-coming bands. 

7. Appreciate eclectic art in Merchant City 

Named for the wealthy 18th-century merchants who swelled Glasgow’s coffers with the proceeds of the tobacco and sugar trade, Merchant City is a great spot for art buffs. Classical architecture meets provocative art at the Gallery of Modern Art, where modern works from local and international artists are displayed in a graceful neoclassical building on elegant Royal Exchange Sq. 

Outside the museum stands a legendary horseback statue of the Duke of Wellington, which is invariably crowned with a traffic cone, placed there by locals – an iconic symbol of the Glaswegian sense of humour and defiance. 

Similarly eccentric, the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre is one of Glasgow’s most fascinating attractions. Founded by Russian-born sculptor and mechanic Eduard Bersudsky. Wondrous figures called “kinemats,” sculpted from scrap metal and carved wood, perform humorous and tragic tales of the human spirit. 

Planning tip: After browsing the artworks, indulge in afternoon tea at the Corinthian Club, a spectacular former bank building from Glasgow’s golden age of trade. 

8. Discover globe-trotting treasures at the Kelvingrove 

Built in grand style during the age of empire, the intriguing Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum covers a huge range of subjects sourced from around the world, covering everything from archaeology to natural history, in an accessible and modern way that acknowledges the sometimes dubious sourcing of treasures in Victorian times. 

You’ll find extraordinary works of fine art sitting alongside a century-old stuffed elephant, and Micronesian shark-tooth swords alongside a WWII Spitfire fighter plane. Arguably the highlight of the museum is Salvador Dalí’s powerful Christ of St John of the Cross, depicting a crucified man-god looking down through an infinity of sky. 

Planning tip: Come at 1pm Monday to Saturday (or 3pm Sunday) to hear a free organ recital at the museum.

9. Admire the architecture around George Square

Stately George Square is dominated by grand civic buildings, a lion-guarded war memorial, and statues of famous Glaswegians and Scots, from Robert Burns and James Watt to Sir Walter Scott. The square has traditionally been the gathering place for rallies and demonstrations, and it’s a popular filming location, cropping up in Succession and World War Z.

Pay close attention to the City Chambers, built in the 1880s with a French-­inspired blend of neoclassical and neo-Renaissance motifs. It was opened by Queen Victoria in 1888 after going five times over budget. Tours allow entry to the interiors, but all are welcome in the foyer, with its red granite columns, caryatids and elaborate mosaics paying homage to the city’s achievements.

Planning tip: To see the lavish interiors and murals beyond the lobby of the City Chambers, you’ll need to join one of the free guided tours and 10:30am and 2:30pm Monday to Friday. 

10. Go shopping on Glasgow’s Style Mile

Edinburgh may have the Royal Mile, but Glasgow has the Style Mile – a vibrant shopping district, centered on the so-called “Golden Z” formed by Sauchiehall St, Buchanan St and Argyle St. Opened in 1827 and attended by top-hatted door staff, the beautiful Argyll Arcade runs between Argyle and Buchanan Sts, lined with jewellery and watch retailers and visited by couples browsing for wedding rings. 

For cool glad rags on the Style Mile, from global brands to local designers, seek out the unmissable peacock facade of the historic, wrought-iron-filled Princes Square shopping center. Then there’s Buchanan Galleries, with a John Lewis and myriad high street brands, plus more along nearby Sauchiehall St. 

10. Learn about world faiths at St Mungo’s

Set in a reconstruction of the bishop’s palace that once stood in the forecourt of Glasgow Cathedral, St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life & Art audaciously attempts to capture the world’s major religions in one artistic nutshell. Exhibits explore the similarities and differences in how various religions approach common themes such as birth, marriage and death. 

Planning tip: Combine a visit to St Mungo’s with a turn around Glasgow Cathedral and the Glasgow Necropolis. 

11. Drop into Glasgow’s oldest house

In the immediate vicinity of the city’s oldest building (Glasgow Cathedral) stands the city’s oldest house, Provand’s Lordship is a rare example of medieval domestic Scottish architecture. Built in 1471 as a manse (minister’s house), it retains its historic low ceilings and doorways, along with period furnishing and artefacts and audiovisual ­exhibits offering insights into the building’s history. 

Detour: Behind Provand’s Lordship, the St Nicholas Garden recreates a 15th-century hospital garden; look out for the carved stone Tontine Heads, removed from Glasgow’s original 1750s Town Hall.

12. Take a stroll around Glasgow Green 

Established by the Bishop of Glasgow in the mid-15th century, Glasgow Green is the city’s oldest public park and a much-loved venue for strolling, dog walking and summer festivals. It’s home to such city landmarks as the 19th-century McLennan Arch and the 40m-high Nelson Monument. 

The highlight here is the grand, red sandstone People’s Palace with its domed glasshouse, known as the Winter Gardens. The palace is currently closed for a major refurbishment and due to reopen in 2027, when visitors will again be able to explore its fascinating museum of social history.

Detour: For an encounter with an ancient – well, prehistoric – woodland, head to Fossil Grove in Victoria Park, about 2 miles west of Glasgow University, where a pavilion protects a grove of fossilised, 330-million-year-old Lepidodendron stumps. 

13. Go vintage shopping in the Barras

Visiting the Barras market is an essential Glasgow weekend experience. The Barras preserves a democratic old-time feel with its no-nonsense stalls, traditional cafes and a sense that some of the wares might have fallen off the back of a truck. 

Disguised by an unremarkable facade, the paradise of the past that is Randall’s Antique & Vintage Centre has some two-dozen vendors peddling an excellent range of vintage objects. And look out for BAaD (Barras Art & Design), with its pop-up stalls, regular weekend events, busy courtyard bar and menu of fusion food.

Planning tip: While you’re here, check out upcoming gigs at the Barrowland Ballroom, a vintage old dance hall and iconic music venue.

14. Take in the sights of Glasgow Harbour

Once the vital hub of Scottish ship-building and trade, the docks and shipyards on the River Clyde have seen extensive redevelopment and investment since falling into disuse in the 1970s, including futuristic event venues like the OVO Hydro arena and the­ SEC Armadillo auditorium. 

Accessible via a footbridge close to the Govan subway station, the zigzagging Riverside Museum was a creation of the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, with a fascinating series of cars made in Scotland, plus assorted railway locos, trams, buses, bikes (including the world’s first pedal-powered bicycle from 1847) and model Clyde-built ships. 

Moored outside the museum is the magnificent three-masted tall ship, the Glenlee, launched in 1896. On board are family-friendly displays about the ship’s history, restoration and shipboard life during its heyday. 

Planning tip: At the heart of the Clydeside redevelopment, the Clydeside Distillery is an imaginative revamp of an old pumphouse, offering one-hour tasting tours. 

15. Investigate the hands-on Glasgow Science Centre

The brilliant Glasgow Science Centre will keep the kids (and the adults) entertained for hours. It brings science and technology alive through hundreds of interactive exhibits on four floors – a bounty of discovery for inquisitive minds. There’s also an IMAX theatre, a rotating 127m-high observation tower, a planetarium and a Science Theatre with live science demonstrations. 

Planning tip: To reach the Science Centre, hop on bus 90 from Union St in the center.

16. Take a Cruise ‘Doon the Watter’

Taking a trip “doon the watter” (ie along the River Clyde) was a mainstay of Glasgow working-class holidays from the late 1800s until the 1950s. It’s a tradition preserved by the Waverley – the last surviving seagoing paddle steamer in the world. Daily summer cruises steam out from Glasgow to the islands of Bute, Great Cumbrae and Arran, and several mainland towns, leaving from the Science Centre quay. 

If your appetite has been whetted for all things nautical, sign up for a trip with Seaforce Powerboats. Departing from the quay by the Riverside Museum, these high-speed RIBs take visitors on a swift tour around the Science Centre, Finnieston Crane, the Clyde Arc bridge and the old shipyards, or three-hour cruises downstream to spectacular Dumbarton Rock. 

Planning tip: Seaforce Powerboats runs trips year-round, but call ahead as departures are dependent on the weather and sailing conditions.

17. Enjoy an evening of Scottish drama

In the heart of Glasgow’s Southside, the Citizens Theatre has been Scotland’s flagship theater company since it was founded in 1943, presenting a packed program that includes both contemporary versions of classic plays and first performances of new Scottish drama, with a socially responsible ethos. 

Since 1945, the company has been based at the second-oldest working theater in the UK. Opened in 1878, but extensively renovated from 2018 to 2025, the building retains a wealth of Victorian architectural features, including the original proscenium arch. It’s one of the few buildings to survive from the time when the Gorbals was a tenement slum. 

Planning tip: See the website for upcoming events with a Scottish flavor – a drama about the Lockerbie tragedy was chosen for the reopening show in 2025. 

This article was adapted from Lonely Planet’s Scotland guidebook, published in June 2025.