Queen's Park
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
48 Hours in Glasgow
When it comes to spending a couple of days in Scotland's largest city, Glasgow has plenty going on to keep you on your toes. It's the full package, with world-class museums and galleries, striking architecture, wonderful parks, unique attractions, high street, designer and independent retailers, as well as an excellent range of bars, pubs and restaurants. Our Glasgow 2-day itinerary is not nearly enough time to squeeze it all in, but you can definitely give it a good go!
- Start / Finish
- Glasgow West End / Glasgow
- Days2
- Distance13Miles21km
- TransportWalking
- Main themeSightseeing
- Highlights
- Museums & Galleries
- Green spaces
- Live music
- Areas covered
- West
Day 1Art galleries & gardens in Glasgow
If visiting the city for two consecutive days, a good idea is to take advantage of the 'hop on hop off' City Sightseeing tour bus, which takes in a number of Glasgow's attractions. Alternatively, you can use the Glasgow Subway to get round the city centre and the west end.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum Glasgow West End
Exterior of the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Glasgow's trendy West End is home to Kelvingrove, a free museum packed with over 8,000 intriguing objects and artefacts. The museum houses an extraordinary collection of art, from the Dutch Old Masters and the French Impressionists, to perhaps its most famous piece, Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali.
Find out more about Kelvingrove Art Gallery & MuseumArgyle Street,Glasgow West End,G3 8AGGlasgow Botanic Gardens Glasgow West End
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Explore the pathways of Glasgow Botanic Gardens to see their collection of flora and shrubs before visiting Kibble Palace, an exquisite restored Victorian glasshouse. If you're feeling peckish, the tearoom offers a tasty selection of cakes, sandwiches, teas and coffees.
Find out more about Glasgow Botanic Gardens730 Great Western Road,Glasgow West End,G12 0UEGallery of Modern Art Glasgow City Centre
A large sandstone building with pillared entrance area and a tall cupola feature on the roof. Lots of people can be seen milling aorund the outside of
GoMA is Scotland's most visited art gallery and the centre for Glasgow's extensive modern and contemporary art collection. Found in the heart of Glasgow in Royal Exchange Square, with the famous Duke of Wellington Statue guarding out front (usually with a traffic cone atop his head), GoMA is free to enter.
Find out more about Gallery of Modern ArtGallery of Modern Art,Royal Exchange Square,Glasgow City Centre,G1 3AHUNESCO City of Music Glasgow
Glasgow Music City Tours showcase, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
Glasgow's reputation for live music is legendary; so much so that the city has been given UNESCO City of Music status.
Why not catch a gig or a concert in one of its amazing venues? The OVO Hydro hosts all the big-name stars. You can experience roots, classical and world sounds at the Glasgow Royal ConcertHall, or see up-and-coming indie artists at the small but perfectly formed King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.
Find out more about UNESCO City of Music
Day 2The story of Glasgow
We hope you've got enough energy for another packed day of culture and sightseeing! Enjoy more of Glasgow's free cultural attractions, and uncover more about the life and work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Riverside Museum and Tall Ship Glasgow City Centre
Riverside Museum
The Riverside Museum is a visual feast - the building itself is one of the most striking modern buildings in Scotland. Inside, the museum houses all kinds of exhibits related to transport. Vehicles, bikes, and locomotives dating from different periods can be found. In addition, you can also explore the Clyde-built Tall Ship, which is berthed alongside the museum.
Find out more about Riverside Museum and Tall Ship100 Pointhouse Place,Glasgow City Centre,G3 8RSHouse for an Art Lover Glasgow South Side
House For An Art Lover
Just south of the River Clyde, explore the works of one of the city's favourite sons, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The beautiful House for an Art Lover is a stunning Mackintosh design. Although it wasn't actually built in his lifetime, it's a true art nouveau dream fully realised, with the building and furnishings working in complete harmony.
Find out more about House for an Art LoverBellahouston Park,10 Dumbreck Road,Glasgow South Side,G41 5BWThe Burrell Collection Glasgow South Side
The Burrell Collection
Visit The Burrell Collection in the heart of Pollok Country Park. This recently refurbished building is home to one of the greatest art collections with thousands of objects spread across 24 galleries and spanning more than 6,000 years of history. You'll find famous artworks from Rodin, Degas and Cézanne, as well as medieval, Chinese and Islamic art.
Visit The Burrell CollectionPollok Country Park,2060 Pollokshaws Road,Glasgow South Side,G43 1ATPeople's Palace Glasgow East End
A red sandstone Victorian era building with a large dome sits in the the background, with an elaborately carved terracotta fountain surrounded by wate
Top tipIf you are feeling thirsty afterwards, grab a pew at the WEST Brewery bar, set in the beautiful Templeton Building on the edge of the Green.
Head to the People's Palace on historic Glasgow Green, a fantastic free museum where you can learn the story of Glasgow's people (have you heard that they are amongst the friendliest people on the planet?!).
Find out more about People's PalaceGlasgow Green,Glasgow East End,G40 1ATWest End, Glasgow Glasgow
Friends enjoying a night out in Ashton Lane in the West End of Glasgow
Alternative optionIf you fancy being at the heart of the action, then why not explore the Merchant City area, chock full of trendy cocktail and wine bars, clubs and restaurants?
Head to Ashton Lane, a pretty cobbled pedestrian street near Byres Road, which has a great mix of bars, pubs and eateries, as well as a cinema, or try the Finneston area - it has built up a reputation for being home to a number of the city's best new restaurants.
Find out more about West End, Glasgow
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