Things to Do in Glasgow For First-Time Visitors
This article has links to products and services we love, which we may make commission from.
Scotland’s biggest city is known for its music venues, culinary scene, and diverse areas. Less “touristy” than the capital, Edinburgh, Dear Green Place in the west of the country offers a mix of ancient attractions, museums and galleries, and a little bit of banter; often referred to as the friendliest city in Scotland. Let’s find out the very best things to do in Glasgow for those visiting for the first time.
Note: I “grew” up in Glasgow at university, first as an undergraduate, then as a post-grad.
Need help planning your trip to Scotland?
Let’s hop on a video consultation call and work out your itinerary together.
Why not join me in my free Facebook group, too?
What to Do in Glasgow During Your First Visit
The Glasgow Necropolis
The first stop is the Victorian Necropolis, which doubles up as a stunning city viewpoint.
The path up takes less than 20 minutes, but you’ll want to stop and have a read of the interdenominational gravestones; locals have been put to rest here since 1832.
Monuments scattered around the Necropolis were designed by the greatest architects in the country, Charles Rennie Macintosh (Glasgow School of Art Building), Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson (Great Western Terrace), and John Thomas Rochead (Buckingham Terrace).
You also get sweeping views over the Glasgow Cathedral and the Provand’s Lordship, the oldest remaining house in the city, which is also a museum open to the public.
Museums & Galleries
You could spend the weekend in Glasgow and still not visit every museum and gallery in the city.
In the City Centre, visitors can see exhibitions at the Gallery of Modern Art, where the famous Duke of Wellington has a traffic cone on his head, or head to the West End to the Kelvingrove Gallery to see Sophie Cave’s Floating Heads or Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross.
On the banks of the River Clyde, you’ll find the Glasgow Science Centre and Riverside Museum, as well as venues along Exhibition Way, which we’ll discuss below.
I’ve always been fond of the People’s Palace at Glasgow Green, which shares local stories in Glasgow over the decades.
However, it is closed for refurbishment – I’m looking forward to seeing the new changes!
Other museums and galleries include The Burrell Collection, St. Mungo Museum Of Religious Life & Art, Hunterian Art Gallery, The Tenement House, Glasgow Women’s Library, and the Scottish Football Museum.
Glasgow’s art isn’t all hidden behind closed doors; there is also a city-wide street art mural trail with some familiar faces!
Street Art Trail
If you prefer contemporary commentary and colossal-sized art, keep your eyes on the ends of buildings.
The award-winning work of local and international graffiti and street artists includes pieces by Smug (unofficially called St Mungo after the city’s patron saint), Rogue (The World’s Most Economical Taxi), and Conzo Throb and co-artist Ciarán Glöbel (Are Ye Dancin’?).
Gable ends are also sprayed with murals celebrating the life of Billy Connolly, the comedian and national treasure.
Three artists, including Connelly’s late friend John Byrne, depicted their versions of how they saw Connelly, and each varies wildly!
Listen to Live Music
Many Scots visit Glasgow to see bands and artists at intimate venues and huge arenas.
You’ll find live music most nights of the week at venues such as the Barrowland (Ballroom), King Tuts, Nice N Sleazy, The Howlin’ Wolf: Bar, Kitchen, Juke Joint, McChuills, and Saint Luke’s & The Winged Ox.
International acts fill the likes of the OVO Hydro, SEC Armadillo, and Hampden Park, and DJs take over SWG3, Sub Club, and The Arches.
For folk music, go to Finnieston’s “Highland Triangle,” The Ben Nevis Bar, The Islay Inn, and The Park Bar.
Or, if you want to go to “the dancing”, Sloans puts on a Friday night ceilidh where you can try your hand a Scottish country dancing.
There’s even a music walking tour led by former music journalists!
Glasgow is one of very few destinations to be named a UNESCO City of Music.
Dine Out
Most people spend the weekend in Glasgow shopping, dining out, and doing a spot of bar hopping, and with so much choice between all cuisines, it’s easy to get your culinary cravings fixed.
Some of the most famous Scottish restaurants just so happen to be two of the city’s oldest: Ubiquitous Chip (West End) and The Buttery (Anderston).
Both require reservations, so plan ahead.
For more relaxed dining, I love The Smokin’ Fox (City Centre), and The Butterfly and The Pig (City Centre) was always a go-to for family visits when I lived in Glasgow.
You can honestly get any type of meal in Glasgow, and I am still dreaming about the pasta at Sugo.
Do you know that chicken tikka masala is said to have been invented here?
And, if you need to soak up the alcohol after an evening “oan it,” chippies that serve kebabs, pizza, and chips and cheese stay open past club closing time, unlike Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh!
Afternoon Tea
A unique dining style in the UK is afternoon tea, where friends catch up over savoury snacks and sweet treats on stacked plates.
Most afternoon teas include trays of small sandwiches, sausage rolls (meat in pastry), and delectable cakes.
Plus, warm scones with cream and jam.
This is all washed down with tea selected from a menu and, if celebrating, a glass of fizz.
Glasgow visitors can enjoy afternoon tea at The Willow Tea Rooms (City Centre), opened by Kate Cranston, whose brother was a tea merchant and is said to have opened the very first tea room.
Cranston’s tea rooms were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, an unknown designer at the time, so diners can try delicious food and appreciate the interiors.
The Willow Tea Rooms also has premises in Edinburgh, where there are many prestigious afternoon tea spots, such as The Balmoral and The Colonnades at the Signet Library.
Pub Crawl
Scots are known for being partial to a drink or two, and Glasgow is an excellent base for a pub crawl.
It even has a local twist: the Clockwork Orange Sub Crawl, in which folk get off at every tube stop and have a drink at the closest pub.
There are fifteen stops! I managed 14 and had a chippy at the final one when we did this to celebrate graduating from university.
However, you don’t have to travel far to find a collection of pubs within stumbling distance of each other.
Merchant City and the Trongate (City Centre) have pubs such as Blackfriars, Rab Ha’s, or the lively Maggie’s Rock n Rodeo.
This is also where you’ll find most of the city’s gay bars and clubs like Katie’s, Polo, and Speakeasy.
The East End is home to the live concert institution of the Barrowlands and trendy bar, The Gate, or Drygate Brewery, and Saint Luke’s for drink and food.
The Southside has exploded over the past decade, but The Allison Arms and Church on the Hill still stand among the newer, hip bars.
Finally, the West End offers a mix of student pubs and cocktail bars around Byres Road, Great Western Road, and Finnieston.
Glasgow’s West End
If people watching and mooching about are travel priorities, the West End is worth adding to your itinerary.
This is where the University of Glasgow is located, and you may have seen its cloisters before as they are one of the most photographed places in the city.
They’ve appeared on many TV shows, such as Outlander and The Buccaneers.
Byres Road is lined with bars and restaurants, and at the top of the street, a converted church turned music and wedding venue (Oran Mor).
Ashton Lane, behind Byres Road, is a cute cobbled street with fairy lights and entertainment.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens at the top of Byres Road is one of the most popular Glasgow activities that is often seen on social media, especially its Kibble Palace glasshouse.
Finally, Finnieston is often at the forefront of foodie trips for its intimate restaurants that usually require a reservation.
Finnieston is also home to Dockyard Social, a cool shed with street food and DJs, and SWG3, the city’s biggest dance venue.
You can get to the West End via the subway, which stops at Hillhead on Byres Road or Kelvinhall on Dumbarton Road.
Glasgow’s West End made it to our list of best attractions in Scotland.
The Southside
The Southside is home to Queen’s Park, which has ample space for sunbathing on a rare sunny day, lovely city views, and a duck pond with swans.
After a stroll, pop into one of the many Shawlands cafes dotted along Pollokshaws and Kilmarnock Road, have a pint at a traditional old man’s pub, or a craft beer and cocktail at a more contemporary spot.
There are also a couple of vintage stores and gift shops.
Get to the Shawlands (Southside) from the City Centre by bus or train.
Leave Glasgow
Once you’ve had your fill of city life, Glasgow is a great jumping-off location for the countryside.
It is less than an hour’s train ride to Balloch in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.
Here, you can catch a cruise with narration from the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.
Editor note: In mid-March, friends tried to dine without making reservations and were unsuccessful, so it is best to book a table if you plan to eat in Balloch.
For more helpful tips like this, read our guide on the best time to visit Scotland.
Other day trips from Glasgow include a train ride to the majestic Kelpies in Falkirk (Hiya Scotland’s logo) or a seaside adventure to Largs.
If you want to see more of the country’s cities, public transport makes it easy to reach Edinburgh and Stirling.
Final Words
It’s challenging to pinpoint exactly what to do in Scotland’s largest city, as the best trips tend to involve wandering around and stumbling upon Glasgow attractions, bustling bars, and the local banter!
However, I completely understand if this is not how you travel, as I, too, am an over-planner who would have massive FOMO if I wasn’t armed with some ideas and a map.
Any questions or comments? Just leave them below this guide. I love to hear from you.
Our Scotland Articles
You may also like my Welcome to Scotland Mini-Course: 6 free lessons. Join here.
