The best tips & sights in Glasgow: On the road with Julia!
I started my exploration tour of Glasgow. Unfortunately, the weather still did not play along, but that’s how it is in Scotland. Rain and dramatic clouds are just part of it.
#1 St. Mungo’s Cathedral
Glasgow was the last stop on my Scotland tour. Accordingly, I had already seen and experienced quite a bit! Topping that was difficult. So it was not surprising that Glasgow could not inspire me at first. Maybe I was tired from what I had already experienced, plus gray clouds and rain: I would have loved to snuggle up in bed! However, that was not an option. In 2 days the return flight left and I wanted to give Glasgow a chance to excite me.
The medieval church is not located directly in the city center; you can reach it by bus or a walk. After the death of St. Mungo in 600 A.D., the present cathedral was built in place of the chapel erected by him. It is one of the few Gothic buildings that has survived the centuries.
104 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5UB
Typical for gothic churches is the gloominess, so no charm at first sight here either. It is all the more beautiful that the darkness is disturbed by colorful light from the stained glass windows. The most beautiful part of the cathedral for me was the chancel with an ornate wooden vault adorned with various coats of arms.
#2 Necropolis
Crossing a bridge in front of the cathedral, you reach the Glasgow Necropolis, the largest cemetery in the city. The bridge is also called the Bridge of Sighs because it leads directly to the cemetery where over 50,000 dead people began their final journey. Here you will find wonderful Victorian pavilions, monuments and crypts lined up on the hill.
At the top of The Craigs hill is the pillar of the reformer John Knox, but he is not buried here at all. Previously, the site was to be used as a park, not a cemetery, and the monument was the focal point. Only in the 19th century, after a tender among architects, the park was transformed into a cemetery.
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#3 George Square
George Square is located in front of the City Hall, it is Glasgow’s central square and a very popular meeting place. In the square there are monuments and statues of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and James Watt, a famous Scottish inventor. Here you can listen to bagpipers and watch the hustle and bustle of the city.
The building of the former Bank of Scotland now houses a pub, The Counting House. The perfect place to take a little break and have a beer in an impressive atmosphere.
#4 Glasgow Green
In 1450 the king donated the park to the people, at that time the area was still more meadow than park. Over time, many sights were added. For example, the Nelson Obelisk, the McLennan Arch and the Doultain Fountain, a fountain dedicated to the then Queen Victoria for her Jubilee. Here is also the magnificent winter garden made of iron and glass.
#5 Street Art in Glasgow
Glasgow is famous for its street art pieces, which are spread all over the city. These murals make the otherwise somewhat gray city wonderfully colorful. While exploring the city, one always discovers one of the impressive works.
One artist in particular stands out: Smug. He is responsible for many murals in Glasgow, including probably the most famous, a man in a red cap with a sparrow on his finger.
To explore Glasgow, I recommend taking your cue from the street art pieces while also discovering the classic landmarks.
You can also find more about Glasgow’s street art on Julia’s blog Delicious Stories: Streetart Tour through Glasgow .
Culinary Highlights: Restaurant tips for Glasgow
You can always convince me with food, so I also started searching for culinary highlights in Glasgow. Even though I struggled to find restaurant tips while researching before the trip – I was not disappointed on the spot! Glasgow has something for everyone, whether classic, modern or international.
Chaakoo Bombay Cafe
Delicious Indian food in an impressively stylish ambience. Classic design, top service and great value for money.dishes from £7.
79 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5TF
Bread Meats Bread
Award-winning burgers, hot dogs and poutine are available at Bread Meats Bread. There are a total of 3 branches in Glasgow. Simple, modern design, fast service and excellent burgers. Just the thing during a city trip. Burgers from £8.50.
Ardnamurchan
Modern Scottish cuisine and a great ambience. Here, the inexpensive lunch menu is especially recommended. I treated myself there to fresh mussels in white wine sauce and a juicy steak. Lunch menu from £20. Dishes from £15.
325 Hope St, Glasgow G2 3PT, Scotland
Shopping in Glasgow
Glasgow is one of the shopping capitals of Great Britain, along with London and Birmingham. So if the weather is bad, no problem, shopping is always possible. The shopping district with many stores and malls stretches between Sauchiehall and Buchanan Street.
Buchanan Street is a beautiful pedestrian street with beautiful architecture and very good shopping opportunities, which invites you to stroll.
Stay overnight in Glasgow
For the last few nights of my trip, I opted for a slightly more comfortable option. There would have been plenty of affordable Airbnb options as well. However, I decided on the Motel One right next to the main train station. You know exactly what to expect there, and the location was perfect—both for exploring the city and for the concert at the O2 Academy that I wanted to attend.
At the reception I got a city map and some very valuable restaurant tips on request.
From Glasgow Airport to the city
The quickest way to get into the city from Glasgow Airport is to take the Glasgow Airport Express. During the day it runs every 10 minutes, at night every hour. Travel time from the airport to the Buchanan Bus Station in the city is 25 minutes. Depending on the location of your accommodation, you can also get off at Glasgow Central or Queen Street Station. Tickets are available from the bus driver or in advance online.
You can also find more Scotland travel tips on Julia’s blog Delicious Stories: Scotland – An unforgettable road trip
Or are you looking for more inspiration for unusual city breaks in Scotland? Then perhaps Aberdeen would be something for you: Tips for the Silver City Aberdeen
About the guest author Julia
- 34 years
- Munich kid
- Trained as a travel agent, studied tourism management, now work as IT project manager in a tourism company
- I’ve had my food & travel blog Delicious Stories since 2015.
- I love to travel and have adventures. I’m always on the lookout for culinary highlights, which regularly escalates into extensive research before each trip. My itineraries are often based primarily on restaurants, and then I look at what there is to see and otherwise experience.
Click here to visit Julia’s blog Delicious Stories
