When we planned a day trip to Glasgow, we knew we wanted to experience a mix of the city’s rich history, vibrant local culture, and stunning architecture. As Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow has a reputation for great places to explore, from grand Victorian buildings in the city centre to the leafy paths of Kelvingrove Park.
With only a short time, we focused on a few highlights while leaving room for future adventures—there’s just so much to see, from Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpieces to street art scattered across the heart of Glasgow.
One thing that really surprised us was how much we enjoyed Glasgow compared to Edinburgh. The city felt less touristy and more “real.” While Edinburgh is undeniably beautiful, Glasgow felt like a city we could truly explore and enjoy at our own pace, and we’re already planning to stay longer there next time.
Whether strolling along Buchanan Street, taking in the views of the River Kelvin, or wandering through Kelvingrove Art Gallery, there’s always something to spark curiosity.
Getting Around Glasgow
With only a day to explore, we wanted to make the most of our time in Glasgow without feeling rushed (although we kinda were). One of the best ways to see the highlights is the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus. It’s a convenient way to navigate the heart of Glasgow and gives you the flexibility to stop at attractions like Kelvingrove Art Gallery, George Square, or the University of Glasgow without worrying about parking or public transport.
***However, as of May 2026, George Square is currently closed for relandscaping and beautification. The route for this bus has changed slightly and takes much longer than it did the first time we did it. The stop at the square no longer exists. The route in full is about 2 hours due to all of the construction going on in Glasgow. Just be aware!
We found that the bus also doubles as a guided tour, with interesting commentary about the city’s history, grand Victorian buildings, and other treasures tucked along Buchanan Street and the Merchant City. Even if you’re just hopping on for a short walk around one neighborhood, it’s a smart way to get a feel for the city’s layout and energy.
Of course, public transport in Glasgow is another option, with the subway and buses making it easy to explore beyond the city centre. Bus passes for a day are £6.50, or you can tap on and off. We also used Uber and the Freenow app to get around. But mostly, we walked. The city is flat and walkable and safe.
Where to stay in Glasgow: Our Recommendations
Glasgow has a great range of accommodation across every budget, and location really matters here — the city centre is compact and walkable, so staying close to Buchanan Street or Glasgow Central Station puts you within easy reach of almost everything covered in this guide. Here are our picks at three different price points.
Premier Inn Glasgow City Centre (St. Enoch Square)
We are big Premier Inn fans, and for good reason — reliable, clean, comfortable, and genuinely great value. We stayed at the Premier Inn on St Enoch Square on our most recent visit, and it was an excellent base. The location is hard to beat: St Enoch underground station is steps away, Buchanan Street is a five-minute walk, and you are right in the heart of the city centre with easy access to everything.
The rooms are what you expect from Premier Inn — well laid out, great blackout curtains, and a solid bed. The breakfast is hearty and a good way to set yourself up before a full day of exploring. If you are watching your budget without wanting to sacrifice comfort or location, this is our go-to.
There is also a Premier Inn at George Square, just a short walk away near the Merchant City, which is another excellent central option if the St Enoch property is fully booked. Both are consistently well-reviewed and offer the same reliable Premier Inn standard.
Mid-Range: Maldron Hotel Glasgow City
For a step up in space and amenities without crossing into full luxury pricing, the Maldron Hotel Glasgow City on Renfrew Street is one of the best options in the city centre. It is a modern, purpose-built 4-star property with 300 spacious rooms, a gym, a bar, and a breakfast that reviewers consistently rave about.
The location is excellent — within five minutes’ walk of Buchanan Street, close to the Theatre Royal and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and about ten minutes on foot from both Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street stations. If you are planning to attend a show or concert during your visit, this puts you right on the doorstep.
Rooms are clean, modern, and notably well-soundproofed for a city centre hotel — something that matters when Glasgow’s weekend buzz is in full swing. Staff are consistently praised for friendliness and helpfulness, and the hotel has a welcoming, unfussy atmosphere that suits both leisure and business travellers.
Splurge-Worthy: voco Grand Central Glasgow by IHG
If you want to stay somewhere that genuinely feels like Glasgow — grand Victorian architecture, high ceilings, chandeliers, a sweeping staircase, and 19th-century railway history built into every corner — the voco Grand Central is the answer. This iconic 4-star hotel sits directly beside Glasgow Central Station, making it arguably the most convenient hotel in the city for arrivals by train.
The building itself is a landmark. Originally built as part of the station complex, the Grand Central has hosted royalty, musicians, and dignitaries — and the famous Wall of Fame in the lobby reflects that history. The rooms are elegant and well-appointed, and the Champagne Bar is the kind of place you pop in for one drink and end up staying for two hours.
It was named Scotland’s Leading Conference Hotel at the 2025 World Travel Awards, which speaks to the quality of service. For a special occasion, a birthday trip, or simply if you want your Glasgow stay to feel like an experience rather than just a place to sleep, the Grand Central delivers. Buchanan Street, George Square, and the Merchant City are all within a ten-minute walk.
💡 Tip: Book well in advance for weekend stays — this hotel fills up quickly, and rates climb significantly on peak weekends.
Whichever option you choose, staying central means less time commuting and more time exploring — and Glasgow rewards every extra hour you give it.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Our first stop was the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and we were especially excited to see the Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibit. As soon as you step inside, it’s clear why this museum is one of the best places to experience fine art and design in Glasgow.
The Mackintosh exhibit is a highlight, showcasing iconic furniture, glass windows, and early 20th-century designs that helped shape the city’s artistic identity. Although it is not the largest Mackintosh exhibit and much of it was artifacts by others that were influenced by his designs, it was worth the venture. Next time, we plan to visit his house and the Glasgow School of Art, and maybe even the University of Glasgow, where there is a full-scale recreation of a Mackintosh home. You could also take a Mackintosh Private tour, which also takes you to the Willow exhibition.
We were lucky to catch the organ recital at 1 pm, which added a magical soundtrack to our visit. While we had to rush off for tea afterward, I would highly recommend setting aside a few hours to explore the museum fully. There’s so much to see, from Salvador Dalí pieces to the Scottish Colourists, and you could easily spend a whole afternoon wandering through the galleries.
Even in the short time we had, Kelvingrove gave us a real taste of Glasgow’s local artists, international artists, and the city’s history. Next time, we plan to take it slower and soak in every corner, from the main building to the surrounding Kelvingrove Park.
The Hunterian Museum and the Mackintosh House: For the Real Fans
If our first visit to Glasgow gave us a taste of Charles Rennie Mackintosh through the exhibit at Kelvingrove, this second visit gave us the full picture — and the difference between the two experiences is significant.
The Kelvingrove Mackintosh display is wonderful, but it sits within a much broader museum context, with works from other artists and a wide exploration of the Art Nouveau style and its influences. The Hunterian, by contrast, is focused and immersive.
The centrepiece is the Mackintosh House, a faithful reconstruction of the Glasgow home that Charles Rennie Mackintosh shared with his wife and fellow artist, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, built using original fixtures, fittings, and furnishings.
Walking through it feels less like visiting a museum and more like stepping into a private home. The rooms have a cohesion and intimacy that no traditional display case can replicate. Everything, including the furniture, the light fittings, the colour palette, and the carefully placed decorative pieces, all work together as Mackintosh intended. Margaret’s contribution is also given space here, which felt important and long overdue.
Our honest verdict: if you care about Mackintosh at all, you need to see both. Kelvingrove gives you the broader context and the sweep of the movement; the Hunterian gives you the man, the marriage, and the home. Together, they tell a complete story. The Hunterian is located on the University of Glasgow campus, which is itself stunning and worth a wander.
Admission to the Hunterian Museum is free, but entrance to The Mackintosh House is £12 per adult and £8 for concessions (student, senior, etc). Check the Hunterian website for current opening times before you go.
Tea at the Willow Tea Rooms
After Kelvingrove, we made our way to the Willow Tea Rooms on Buchanan Street for our 2 pm reservation. The moment we stepped inside, we were transported back to the early 20th century. The room is beautifully decorated in the original Mackintosh style, with elegant woodwork, geometric designs, and subtle glass windows that showcase his distinctive aesthetic.
We decided to try both a savory and a sweet tea, and each was as delightful as the atmosphere itself. Sipping our tea surrounded by the iconic Mackintosh décor made it feel like more than just a break; it was a full experience of Glasgow’s local culture and design heritage.
Even if you’re not a tea aficionado, this is one of the best places in the city to soak up the history while enjoying a relaxing treat.
It’s easy to see why the Willow Tea Rooms remain a must-visit stop for anyone interested in Mackintosh, fine art, and Glasgow’s blend of historic charm with modern energy.
Pollok Country Park and the Famous Highland Coos
We had been looking forward to Pollok Country Park since our first visit, and it did not disappoint. Just a short ride from the city centre, Pollok feels like stepping into a completely different world, with wide open green space, ancient woodland, and a sense of calm that is hard to come by in the middle of a busy Scottish city.
Pollok House, the elegant 18th-century mansion at the heart of the park, was closed for renovations during our visit, so we weren’t able to go inside- something worth checking before you go. But honestly, the grounds more than made up for it. The gardens surrounding the house are beautifully kept, and there is something lovely about wandering the paths with no particular agenda, just taking it all in.
The real highlight, though? The Highland cattle. Our good friend Sheila, who was with us for the trip, completely fell for them — and honestly, who could blame her? These magnificent, shaggy-haired creatures were right up at the fence, utterly unbothered by the attention.
With their long fringes and enormous horns, they are every bit as photogenic as you hope they’ll be. Sheila’s moment with the coos was one of those spontaneous, joyful travel memories that you simply can’t plan for. It was so special; there were tears.
If you are visiting Glasgow and you love green space, wildlife, and a break from the city buzz, Pollok Country Park is absolutely worth the trip. Give yourself a couple of hours at least, especially if Pollok House has reopened by the time you visit.
You can easily take a bus or train to get close to the park. We Ubered since Sheila’s husband, Chris, had a knee injury. The best time to see the coos is around 9 am or around 3 pm when they come to the fences for feeding.
The Glasgow Mural Trail: Street Art at Every Turn
One of the things we love most about Glasgow is how creative it feels, and nowhere is that more evident than on the Glasgow Mural Trail. We set off with Google Maps and a loose plan, and what followed was one of the most enjoyable few hours of the whole trip.
The murals are scattered across the city, particularly through the Merchant City and surrounding streets, and what strikes you first is the sheer scale of them. These are not small pieces of graffiti tucked away in alleyways.
They are enormous, building-sized works of art that stop you in your tracks. Turning a corner and suddenly finding yourself facing a five-storey mural is a genuinely thrilling experience, and it happened again and again.
We did not manage to find every mural on the trail. The route covers a lot of ground, but that was part of the fun. The ones we did find felt like little discoveries, each one different in style and subject.
The trail is completely free, totally self-guided, and an ideal way to explore the city on foot while soaking up Glasgow’s vibrant contemporary culture.
Our tip: use Google Maps to plot the murals in advance, but don’t be rigid about it. Leave room to wander, double back, and get a little lost; that is when Glasgow is at its best. You can also book a guided street art tour if you’d prefer someone to bring the stories behind the murals to life.
Afternoon Whisky Tasting at The Pot Still
After our tea, we headed to The Pot Still Pub, a great place in Glasgow to experience some local flavor. We met a friend there, which made the stop even more enjoyable, and took the opportunity to do a short whisky tasting.
The pub has an impressive selection, with local whisky alongside other Scottish favorites, and the knowledgeable staff was happy to guide us through the different flavors and histories of each dram.
The atmosphere is cozy and classic, a perfect contrast to the bright elegance of the Willow Tea Rooms earlier in the day. For anyone interested in sampling Scotland’s iconic whisky or experiencing a true slice of local culture, this is definitely one of the top things to do in Glasgow, whether you’re on a day trip or staying longer.
Day trip from Glasgow: The Highlands Tour
We had originally planned a simple day trip to Loch Lomond. What we actually did was something far more ambitious, and one of the most spectacular days either of us can remember.
We booked a guided tour out of Glasgow, which turned out to be the best decision we could have made (for a day trip). The route took us first along the shores of Loch Lomond, where we walked beside the water and took in the stillness of it, that particular Highland quiet that no photograph can fully capture. But that was just the beginning.
From Loch Lomond, we headed deeper into the Highlands to Glencoe, where the Three Sisters, the three great ridges of Bidean nam Bian, rise from the valley floor in a way that is genuinely humbling. Glencoe carries a weight to it, both geological and historical, and standing in that glen with a knowledgeable guide to bring the stories to life made it even more powerful.
Then came the road north, one of the great drives in Scotland, skirting a chain of lochs with Ben Nevis keeping watch to the east, all the way to Fort Augustus on the southern tip of Loch Ness. Yes, we looked for the monster. No, we can neither confirm nor deny anything.
The journey home took us back through Perth, where we made one more stop that delighted us every bit as much as the dramatic scenery: more Highland coos. Shaggy, serene, and completely indifferent to how much we loved them.
We are planning a full dedicated post on this Highland route, with all the details, the stops, and everything you need to plan it for yourself, so watch this space. But if you are visiting Glasgow and you have even one free day, do not spend it in the city. Get out into the Highlands. You will not regret it for a single second.
We went with a guided tour and would strongly recommend doing the same; the roads through Glencoe and along the loch-side routes are stunning but require confidence behind the wheel, and having a guide means you get the history and the stories as the landscape unfolds around you.
We will share the specific tour details in our full Highland post and podcast, but in the meantime, day tours from Glasgow to the Highlands, Glencoe, and Loch Ness are widely available and easy to book.
More Glasgow: What’s still on our list
Even though we packed a lot into our day trip, there were still so many places in Glasgow that we didn’t get to explore this time. For our next visit, we’d love to spend more time checking out:
- Glasgow Cathedral and the final resting place of St. Mungo, to soak in some of the city’s years of history.
- The Burrell Collection is a treasure trove of international artists and one of the greatest art collections in Scotland.
- Ashton Lane and the Merchant City for more lively cafés, local beer, and hidden corners of Glasgow’s west end.
- A visit to Clydeside Distillery for more whisky tasting!
Glasgow is a city that rewards repeat visits; even after a full day, we felt like we’d only scratched the surface. Each of these spots promises a mix of history, culture, and unique experiences that make the city such a perfect place to explore.
Our day in Glasgow gave us just a taste of what this Scottish city has to offer, but it was enough to make us want to return. What struck us most, though, was the atmosphere. Glasgow felt less polished and touristy than Edinburgh, but in the best way—it was vibrant, creative, and full of real life. If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, don’t overlook Glasgow. It might just surprise you the way it surprised us!
Outside of Glasgow
If you are interested in more day trips outside of Glasgow, check out our posts on Strathaven and Dunblane. Dunblane is about an hour bus ride from Glasgow, and Strathaven about 45 minutes out of town on the C3 bus. Both are lovely villages and get you more in touch with the true Scotland.
Planning a UK trip? We also have posts for London, York, Oxford, and the Cotswolds.
Find out more about Scotland and the UK with our podcast
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Shelley is a full-time traveler, writer, and podcaster based in Portugal, where she lives with her wife and their beloved bulldog, Scoot. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Shelley is a former history teacher who swapped the classroom for cobblestone streets and passport stamps. These days, she explores Portugal and Europe in search of fascinating stories, unforgettable sights, and local flavor—then shares it all through her blog and podcast, Wandering Works for Us, where curiosity meets adventure (and sometimes wine).