35 Things to Do in Glasgow (By a Local)

👉 Jump to: Things to Do | Museums & Culture | Food & Drink | Entertainment & Nightlife | Free Things | With Kids

It’s not hard to find incredible things to do in Glasgow, but it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where I come in.

As a Glasgow native, I’ve compiled a list of all the must-do, unmissable attractions of the city. Plus, I’ve included hidden gems only locals know about. 

This former European City of Culture is packed with museums, galleries, and street art. It has a thriving music, comedy, and nightlife scene, plus an abundance of green spaces and spectacular sporting events. 

This guide and my article on where to stay in Glasgow will help you plan the best trip.

Best Things to Do in Glasgow

Glasgow Necropolis

The perfect spooky spot for views over the east of the city.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 287 5064 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 4:30 pm Mon-Sun | Entrance: Free 

A graveyard might be an unusual recommendation for tourists, but the Glasgow Necropolis isn’t your typical burial ground. 

Set on a hill overlooking Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis attracts visitors seeking a quiet spot to explore. The graveyard contains thousands of monuments of various sizes and styles. Be sure to look for the small Jewish section lower down in the site.

Glasgow Necropolis was immortalised in Glaswegian writer Alasdair Gray’s groundbreaking novel Lanark, and it remains a well-loved local landmark. It’s also one of the best spots to go if you want to visit Glasgow affordably.

For more creepy Glaswegian history, check out the Gothic Glasgow walking tour.

Glasgow Cathedral

Explore history in the oldest building in Glasgow.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 552 6891 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 3:13 pm Mon-Sat, 1 pm – 3:15 pm Sun | Entrance: Free 

Not only is Glasgow Cathedral the oldest building in Glasgow, but it’s also one of only two cathedrals in Scotland that survived the Reformation intact, making it a true gem. 

The medieval structure was consecrated in 1197 on the site of an even older cathedral and dedicated to St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow. Down in the crypt below the cathedral, you’ll find St Mungo’s tomb next to the serene and bright Blackadder Aisle, built during a later extension to the cathedral. 

Pollok Country Park

A breath of fresh air, this sizeable park on Glasgow’s south side is home to a flock of Highland cows.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 287 5064 | Website | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free 

If you want a near-guaranteed sighting of a Highland cow, head to Pollok Country Park. This beautiful green space also hosts the grand manor Pollok House and the recently refurbished Burrell Collection, also included in this list. 

Pollok is a popular spot for strollers, joggers, and cyclists, with plenty of winding trails to follow. You might even be able to spot a Highland calf if you time your visit right!

Barras Market

A cultural gemstone, the Barras has the most eclectic collection of goods to be found anywhere in Glasgow.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 552 4601 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: Free 

The Barras, as it’s known to locals, is a true Glasgow institution. So, be sure to include it in your Glasgow itinerary! This sprawling flea market is open every Saturday and Sunday and sells pretty much everything you could ever ask for. 

There are second-hand stalls selling videos, records, clothing, and trinkets. You’ll find small businesses showcasing local artists and designers as well as street food stands. 

Events are held throughout the year to mark festivities such as Pride and Christmas and to promote culture, including the annual Hong Kong weekend. This is the ultimate spot for treasure hunters. 

Invisible Cities Walking Tour

A tour company with a social conscience. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 07500 773709 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: £15-17

Invisible Cities is a tour guide company with a twist — all tour guides are people who formerly experienced homelessness. These tour guides get training to show people around their cities, highlighting lesser-known history or personal connections to certain areas. 

There are three tours on offer in Glasgow: The People of Glasgow tour, the Riverside tour, and Alternative Glasgow. Revenue goes towards supporting the tour guides.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

A tropical paradise in the heart of the West End.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 276 1614 | Website | Hours: 6:30 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free 

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are a green oasis in the West End of the city. On sunny days, people flock to relax and sunbathe on the lawns. On cold ones, there’s always shelter in the greenhouses. 

Kibble Palace hosts a forest of tree ferns interspersed with beautiful marble statues, as well as a pond filled with koi fish. In summer, the gardens stage performances of Shakespeare classics. In winter, there’s GlasGlow, a nightly light show. 

Museums & Culture

The Hunterian Museum

Scotland’s oldest public museum, the Hunterian’s collection shows various displays – from Roman ruins and anatomy specimens to Baroque masterpieces.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 330 4221 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, Closed Mon | Entrance: Free 

The Hunterian has one of the most diverse collections of any museum in Scotland, ranging from art to surgical displays to historical artefacts.

The collection is so vast that it is displayed in six venues. The main ones are the Hunterian Museum and the Hunterian Art Gallery, both located on the University of Glasgow’s West End campus. 

One of the most impressive displays in the Hunterian Museum is parts of Antonine’s Wall, the fortification that was the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire when it was built. Also fascinating—if a little gruesome—are the scientific instruments used in the development of modern medicine in Glasgow. 

The Hunterian Art Gallery features works by Scottish and international masters, including Rembrandt, Whistler, and Mackintosh. The gallery also deliberately tries to showcase work by women and other people who are less well-represented in art collections. 

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

This grand Victorian museum contains breathtaking paintings, fascinating zoological exhibits, and a decommissioned Spitfire plane.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 276 9599 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Fri & Sun | Entrance: Free 

I may be biased, but I truly believe Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has one of the finest collections of art in Europe. Plus, if you time your visit right, you’ll be able to hear the daily organ recital in the grand entrance hall. I can attest that it still gives you goosebumps no matter how often you listen to it. 

My personal favourite piece in the gallery is Salvador Dali’s otherworldly (and controversial) Christ of St John of the Cross, which has been on display in Glasgow since 1952. You also can’t miss the RAF Spitfire plane, which flew just after the end of World War 2, or the divisive floating heads art installation. 

👉 Local Tip: If you stand to either side of Christ of St John of the Cross, you can still spot the vertical line where the painting was mended after being slashed by a visitor in 1961.

The Burrell Collection

The Burrell Collection has one of the most impressive arrays of ancient, medieval, and modern treasures.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 287 2550 | Website | 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Fri & Sun | Entrance: Free

The Burrell Collection was gathered by a Glasgow shipping tycoon, Sir William Burrell, who donated it to the city in 1944. The extensive collection of historical exhibits and paintings includes over 9,000 objects, which are on display in a dedicated museum. 

There are incredible pieces on display in the Burrell Collection. This includes artwork by Degas and Cezanne, a vase that belonged to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and Chinese pottery from the Ming Dynasty. 

The venue itself is a work of art designed to make the most of its peaceful surroundings in Pollok Park (also on this list). If that wasn’t enough, the collection also hosts temporary exhibitions, so you’ll never run out of things to see.

Tenement House

A time capsule of life in the early 20th century, Tenement House is a gem for history lovers.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 333 0183 | Website | Hours: 10am – 5pm Mon-Sun | Entrance: £10 Adult, £7.50 Concession

Tenement House is a total rarity. It’s a time capsule of life in a typical middle-class Glaswegian tenement flat in the early 20th century. This home was lived in by one woman for over 50 years until 1965 and has been preserved in that state ever since. 

Everything is immaculately maintained and offers a window into the life of an independent woman through her everyday objects. 

Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

This modern art museum is a landmark of the past and a signpost to the future of art.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 287 3050 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Fri & Sun | Entrance: Free 

Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, or GOMA, stands in one of its most iconic historic buildings. Inside, you’ll find permanent displays of work from local and international artists and an array of temporary exhibitions. 

Outside, you can’t miss the ubiquitous Duke of Wellington statue – always with a traffic cone on his head. He’s an icon of Glaswegian humour.

Riverside Museum

Take a trip back in time at Glasgow’s enormous transport museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 287 2720 | Website | Hours: Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Fri-Sun | Entrance: Free 

The Riverside Museum has become a landmark on the banks of the River Clyde, housed in a custom-built site that was designed to resemble waves moving along the river. 

Here you can see thousands of transport and technology objects from different periods of Glasgow’s history, including trams and a steam locomotive. History buffs will love a visit to the Riverside Museum’s recreated street scene, complete with an old-fashioned subway stop, a pub, and a sweet shop. 

Glasgow Film Theatre

An independent cinema showing new arthouse films and lesser-known classics.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 332 6535 | Website | Entrance: £11.50 Adult, £8.50 Concession 

Glasgow’s most well-known independent cinema has been on the go since 1939 and has lost none of its unique charm since. Each February it hosts the Glasgow Film Festival in addition to showcasing international cinema, retrospectives, cult classics, and local films year-round. 

If you get lucky, you might be able to catch an actor or filmmaker Q&A session at the GFT, or get involved in community filmmaking efforts. 

Scottish Football Museum

Learn about the history of football in Scotland and tour the national arena. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 616 6139 | Website | Hours: One tour per day Mon-Fri, 11 am / 12:30 pm / 2 pm / 3 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: £8 

The Scottish Football Museum is inside Hampden Stadium, where the Scotland National Team plays home games. The museum covers over 150 years of Scottish football history and highlights the greatest Scottish players of all time. 

You can see the original Scottish Cup, the world’s oldest national football trophy, and tour the stadium itself, including the changing rooms and warm-up area. This is a must-see for all fans of the beautiful game. 

👉 Local Tip: See Glasgow’s football highlights in style on a Glasgow Football Taxi Tour.

Celtic Park Tour

See behind the scenes in Scotland’s biggest football stadium and learn about over 130 years of history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0871 226 1888 | Website | Hours: 11 am / 1:30 pm Mon-Thu, 11 am / 1:30 pm / 3:30 pm / 4:30 pm Fri, every 30 minutes 10 am – 6 pm Sat, every 30 minutes 10 am – 3:30 pm Sun | Entrance: £17.50 Adult, £12 Children, £15.50 Concessions

Glasgow is famous (or infamous!) for its football rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, which dates back over 100 years. Luckily both clubs offer guided tours of their stadiums so you can hear an account of the derby history from either side and learn about their most significant achievements. 

At Celtic Park, the tour includes visits to the boardroom, tunnel, dressing room, and dugout. You’ll walk through with a guide who explains key moments in Celtic’s history, including the legendary 1967 European Cup win. 

👉 Local Tip: Try to brush up on some football knowledge before attending any games or visiting supporters pubs – we take the beautiful game very seriously in Scotland!

Rangers Museum

See inside the other top-flight football team in Glasgow and enjoy football games in the Rangers Museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 580 8500 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat, 10 am – 8 pm Thu, 10 am – 4 pm Sun | Entrance: £11.50 Adult, £6.50 Child/Concession

Visitors who want to explore the blue side of Glasgow can take a guided tour of Ibrox Stadium, home of Rangers Football Club. On the tour, you’ll visit the dressing rooms, tunnel, and trophy room, with an option to also visit the Rangers Museum. 

Along with items from the Rangers’ history, the museum features interactive activities to test your footballing ability.

St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

St Mungo Museum features a totally unique collection and spotlights some incredible works of religious art.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 276 1625 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Fri & Sun | Entrance: Free 

The St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art is one of Glasgow’s most underrated attractions. This building in the historic medieval quarter was built in the style of the former Bishops’ Castle and named after the city’s patron saint who brought Christianity to Glasgow. 

The displays in the museum traverse different faiths and religions across various eras. Highlights include an otherworldly statue of Shiva and a striking, modern geometric Islamic painting.

National Piping Centre

This bagpipes teaching school also contains a museum on the history of bagpipes. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 353 0220 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri, 9 am – 3 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: £5

The National Piping Centre is a hub for bagpipe lessons and competitions, an impressive event venue, and a home for the Museum of Piping. The museum has several sets of bagpipes dating back to the 18th century and artefacts from the late 19th-century composer John MacColl. 

The collection includes instruments from the European bagpipe tradition. As a bonus, visitors can try out the practice chanter and bagpipes. During the summer, guided tours are offered covering the basics of bagpipes – the perfect experience for a beginner piper. 

Food & Drink

Mackintosh At The Willow

Mackintosh At The Willow are the most elegant tea rooms in Glasgow, designed by the visionary architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 204 1903 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free 

The Mackintosh At The Willow isn’t just a convenient spot to try a bit of cake. These Art Nouveau tea rooms are the only surviving tea rooms by internationally acclaimed Glaswegian architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, built in 1903 and restored in the 2010s to their original glory. 

Visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea in a timeless setting, right in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre. Booking in advance is advised. In addition to the restaurant, there are daily guided tours and an exhibition of the history of the building. 

Drygate Brewery Tour

Take a tour of this trendy craft beer brewery or enjoy a drink on the outdoor patio. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 212 8815 | Website | Hours: varies, check website | Entrance: £20

You have to take a trip to Drygate Brewery if you’re a beer lover. This craft beer maker is housed in a funky converted box factory with a unique industrial beer garden. Inside, there’s a 24-tap beer hall and even more bottles to choose from. 

To get a closer look behind the scenes, take a guided tour of the brewery. You’ll be able to see the equipment used to prepare the craft beers and then have a tutored tasting of the common flavours. 

The Clydeside Distillery

This modern distillery builds on the legacy of whisky-making in Glasgow’s industrial heart. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 212 1401 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5:30 pm daily | Entrance: From £19.50

You can find the Clydeside Distillery in the old Pumphouse near Clyde Walkway. Here, embark on a distillery tour or a guided whisky tasting session to learn about the history of the site and the drams on offer. 

The distillery launched a new single malt whisky only a few years ago, the first in Glasgow for over 100 years. Best of all, you can enjoy a dram while admiring the beautiful views of the river flowing by. 

Entertainment & Nightlife

Barrowland Ballroom

This beloved concert venue has an electric atmosphere. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 552 4601 | Website | Hours: Dependent on shows | Entrance: Gig tickets vary

Barrowland Ballroom is legendary among Glaswegians of a certain age for its former life as a dance hall. But it’s much better known now as an iconic concert venue. 

The atmosphere at a gig is never better than when you’re at the Barrowlands, and the acoustics are strikingly crisp. Turn up to a show here and you’ll have no choice but to call out for “one more tune.”

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut

This tiny gig space has hosted some of music’s biggest stars before their big break.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 846 4034 | Website | Hours: Dependent on shows | Entrance: Gig tickets vary

Blink, and you’ll walk past it. King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut doesn’t look like much from the outside. In fact, it’s barely visible from the street. Yet there’s a lot more than meets the eye at this cosy music venue.

King Tut’s has a legendary track record of hosting bands right before they become stars. These have included Paramore, Pulp, and Paolo Nutini. Oasis were even signed while playing at the venue. It’s a favourite spot for some of music’s biggest stars, and if you catch a gig there, you might just find the next big thing.  

Ashton Lane

This cobblestoned lane is packed with lively bars, popular restaurants, and an independent cinema.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free 

Ashton Lane is one of the prettiest spots in Glasgow – a little cobblestoned lane that runs parallel to the lively Byres Road in the West End. Here, you can find the Grosvenor Picture Theatre, Glasgow’s oldest cinema and one that has retained much of its old-school charm. 

Enjoy one of the city’s best meals at Ubiquitous Chip, one of my picks for the best restaurants in Glasgow! Spot some murals by renowned local artist Alasdair Gray – or make a night of it in Jinty McGinty’s beer garden. 

SWG3

These former warehouses have been transformed into a collection of art spaces and entertainment venues.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 337 1731 | Website | Hours: Dependent on shows | Entrance: Gig tickets vary

You’ll rarely find a quiet night at SWG3. These former warehouses which face out towards the River Clyde are known for their live music shows, boozy bingo, and electronic club nights. 

During the day it’s a different story – this refurbished space is a thriving arts venue and one of the most cutting-edge places in Glasgow. The arts initiative Yardworks hosts a two-day festival each year to promote street art and graffiti, where artists can paint and mingle. 

SWG3 also boasts two permanent gallery spaces to showcase bold contemporary art for all those innovators out there. 

The Stand Comedy Club

A true comedy institution where tomorrow’s stars first take to the mic. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: Dependent on shows | Entrance: Gig tickets vary

The Stand Comedy Club was originally an Edinburgh institution – the first dedicated comedy club in Scotland. By 2000, the venue had opened in Glasgow, and they never looked back. The venue has a legendary standing among local comics, some of whom go on to have huge success. 

Seven nights a week, you can watch total comedy newcomers or established names trying out new material in an intimate basement. I would personally recommend the weekly Red Raw beginners’ night. For the price of a pint, you can watch ten acts with varying degrees of success. 

Free Things to Do in Glasgow

Mural Trail

Spot over 30 stunning pieces of street art spaced across Glasgow City Centre.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free 

Glasgow’s been undergoing a bit of a facelift in recent years, and the Mural Trail is one of the results of that work. Local artists have been encouraged to create murals throughout the city centre that represent notable Glaswegians, mark significant events in Glasgow’s history, or simply add a bit of colour to the streets. 

There are 32 murals on the trail that runs through some of the liveliest parts of the city. The mural trail is a fun list to tick off as you explore the heart of Glasgow. Alternatively, embark on the Glasgow Street Art Daily Walking Tour for some expert knowledge on the murals.

Glasgow City Chambers Tour

Catch a glimpse inside the ornate heart of Glasgow City Council.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 287 2000 | Website | Hours: 10:30 am / 2:30 pm Mon-Fri | Entrance: Free 

Glasgow City Chambers is an iconic landmark of the city, making up one side of central George Square. It is a working building, housing Glasgow City Council and hosting official city events. 

Twice-daily tours can offer an exclusive look inside the grand building and its stunning stained glass windows. The highlight of the tour for me was the marble staircase – one of the largest in Europe. 

Provand’s Lordship

The oldest house in Glasgow has been given a new lease on life.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 276 1625 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Fri & Sun | Entrance: Free 

Provand’s Lordship is the oldest house in Glasgow and one of only four medieval buildings still standing in the city. It has recently undergone an extensive repair and improvement project, which has given the site a major facelift. 

The house has been stocked with historic furniture and paintings, but the real charm is the architecture itself, from the snug, low doorways to the spiralling staircase. Make sure not to miss the tranquillity of the St Nicholas Garden with its stone mask art.

Glasgow Women’s Library

A unique treasure trove of women’s history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 550 2267 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm Tue-Wed & Fri, 10 am – 7 pm Thu, 12 pm – 4 pm Sat | Entrance: Free 

Glasgow Women’s Library is unique in the UK, as the only accredited museum dedicated to women’s lives and achievements. 

As well as loaning books out like a traditional library, Glasgow Women’s Library showcases an archive of women’s history. This includes Suffragette memorabilia and 1970s Scottish Women’s Liberation newsletters. 

The library also has a packed calendar of inclusive events such as crafting sessions, conversation cafes, and art exhibitions. It’s an absolute gem for those interested in women’s history and contributions to Glasgow.

Things to Do With Kids

Glasgow Science Centre

With plenty to offer for children and adults alike, you’ll never run out of things to do at the Glasgow Science Centre. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 420 5000 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 3 pm Wed-Fri, 10 am – 5 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: Adult £15.50, Child £12, Concession £13.80

The Glasgow Science Centre is the place to be for budding astronauts, biologists, physicists – you name it! Interactive science games and activities stretch over an expansive three floors, with striking views over the River Clyde. 

One highlight is the enormous planetarium, which offers full dome projections of space alongside live shows. Also on offer are full-motion flight simulators, optical illusion experiences, and architecture games. The Science Centre is an adventurous kid’s dream. 

Glasgow Tower

Experience a groundbreaking engineering feat at the world’s tallest fully rotating structure.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 420 5000 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 4:30 pm Wed-Sun during summer | Entrance: £9.50

It’s hard to miss the Glasgow Tower, which has the honour of being Scotland’s tallest building. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also in the Guinness World Book of Records as the tallest fully-rotating freestanding structure in the world.

This observation tower rotates routinely to face the wind and offers unparalleled views of the River Clyde. Plus, it’s an engineering marvel. 

The Craft Pottery

Get creative by painting or making pottery with the whole family. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 243 2823 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Tue-Sun, Closed Mon | Entrance: £5 plus cost of piece of pottery

Craft Pottery is my go-to recommendation both for family-friendly activities and date nights. You can unleash your inner artist by painting ready-made pottery, from bowls to decorations, mugs, and more!

Bring some drinks and snacks and you can make a night of it. Plus, you’ll have something practical to bring home once your creations have been fired a few weeks later. 

Queen’s Park

An event-packed community park perfect for picnics. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0141 276 1476 | Website | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free 

Queen’s Park is a local hot spot for summer barbecues and winter strolls. The park plays host to events throughout the year. Attend a free outdoor film series each July, regular craft markets and art fairs, and occasional tented gigs at the Queen’s Park Arena. 

Climb to the flagpole in the centre of the park for expansive views of Glasgow’s Southside, or simply stroll around the duck pond and playpark for a breath of fresh air. 

Theatre Royal

The oldest working theatre in Glasgow is home to the world’s best opera singers and ballet dancers.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 0844 871 7677 | Website | Hours: Dependent on shows | Entrance: Gig tickets vary

Culture hounds, the Theatre Royal is for you. Glasgow has a strong theatrical history and the Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre still in operation in the city. The building is now owned by the Scottish Opera and is also home to the Scottish Ballet. Additions were made to the building in the 2010s, creating a spectacular foyer leading to the classic auditorium. 

With internationally renowned shows year-round, the Theatre Royal offers the most sophisticated entertainment in Glasgow.  

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I hope this guide has inspired you to explore the best of Glasgow and make the most of your time in the city. Looking to add a day trip or two to your itinerary? Check out my guide to the best day trips from Glasgow!