One Day in Glasgow | A Local’s Kick-Ass Itinerary

Statue of Wellington on horse with cone on head in Glasgow

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Glasgow is a Scottish city with sass. Every visitor’s itinerary features the capital, Edinburgh, and rightfully so, as it is beautiful and steeped in history, but Glasgow is real, and Glasgow is raw.

It’s a big city with contrasting neighbourhoods, deadly music and art scene, and most importantly, people with banter.

Edinburgh is Paris, Glasgow is Berlin, and here is your one-day in Glasgow itinerary curated with love by me, Gemma, the Fifer who ‘grew up’ in Glasgow.

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Don’t Skip This City 

I (Gemma) moved to Scotland’s Dear Green Place at 17 to attend the University of Glasgow and didn’t leave until my late 20s when I moved to the dark side: Edinburgh. I now reside in Fife.

Glasgow is where I met my lifelong friends, formed my political views, danced around my handbag, gained weight by eating chips and cheese, and lost weight running around Kelvingrove Park.

When I drive into Charing Cross, the same feeling consumes me—that feeling that I’m home.

Personally, I don’t think one day in Glasgow is enough to really understand why it is special, but I understand itinerary time constraints; I’ve been there.

This itinerary recommends various options for your day trip to Glasgow, so you can pick and choose what suits your travel needs.

Covering Glasgow’s top attractions, the appeal of the five main neighbourhoods, food recommendations, which Glasgow pubs to party at, and where to get the perfect shots.

This guide will also cover Glasgow’s past, which some would like to hide, its involvement in the slave trade.

Glasgow’s Neighbourhoods 

In Scotland, we don’t use the term neighbourhoods but from my extensive travel in North America, I understand categorising areas of a city is the easiest way to help visitors find their bearings.

Glasgow does have distinct areas that can be zoned off, making it an easy task.

Beginning with the City Centre, you will find both train stations, Glasgow Central and Queen Street at George Square, and the Buchanan Bus Station.

There are three main streets, starting with Argyle Street, which runs from the West End to the East, Buchanan Street, and Sauchiehall Street.

You will find Glasgow’s main shops on these three streets, along with bars and restaurants.

One of the main drags of pubs and clubs for younger revellers is located at the top of Sauchiehall Street, after the shops.

Like with all cities, you want to veer off the big streets to discover the unique pubs like the Butterfly and the Pig, which features mismatched furniture from your Gran’s house, and the gay institution, The Waterloo.

Behind Buchanan Street are the upmarket Merchant City bars, clubs, restaurants, and Strathclyde University.

This is the area of Glasgow most associated with its slave trade involvement.

At the end of Argyle Street to the east is the Trongate; check out the Clutha for a welcoming local bar and the Tron Theatre for shows, which takes you along the infamous Barras weekend market, a real Glasgow tradition and passes the Barrowlands, a true Glasgow establishment which houses music gigs, and into the East End.

Don’t miss Barras Art and Design’s (BaAd) internal courtyard for drinks and shopping.

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The Barras Glasgow

The East End is also home to Glasgow Cathedral, Provand’s Lordship (oldest house in Glasgow), Glasgow’s necropolis, Glasgow Green (park), the People’s Palace, and two breweries.

Running parallel to Argyle Street is Glasgow’s River Clyde.

Bridges take you over to our third neighbourhood, the Southside.

The Southside has its own parks, Queens and Pollok.

Most bars and restaurants surround Pollokshaws Road; check out the Glad cafe for vegan cakes and intimate gigs.

The West End of Glasgow is where you will find many of the city’s students and a stylish crowd.

The main street is Byres Road, which is always busy with brunchers and shoppers.

Visit Oran Mor for gigs, and don’t miss the cute cobbled street, Ashton Lane, for drinks under the fairy lights.

In summer, you can find a beer garden on Ashton Lane and a small cinema called the Grosvenor.

Along the back of Byres Road is Great Western Road, packed with vintage shops, furniture stores, and food stops.

The University of Glasgow is located behind Ashton Lane on University Avenue.

From there, you can reach Kelvingrove Park and Museum or Woodlands Road, where you can watch comedy shows at The Stand.

To get back into town, head down to Charing Cross.

However, we are not quite finished with the West End yet because, at the bottom of Byres Road, you will find Argyle Street, which runs into the Finnieston neighbourhood.

Finnieston used to be known as the Teuchter or Highlander Triangle because of the three pubs, the Park Bar, The Islay Inn, and Snaffle Bit playing trad music, especially around Celtic Connections time.

However, this area has exploded in the past years.

If you are in town for ethically sourced food, hop into the food trucks at Dockyard Social and drink, or try Strip Joint for dirty burgers and cocktails.

Finnieston Road leads to the Clyde, the Ovo Hydro, Glasgow SECC, Clydeside Distillery, and the Transport Museum.

Getting Around Glasgow

Glasgow has an extensive network of bus routes, trains, and also our beloved underground, aka the metro or subway.

Our underground is not tricky to navigate.

It only goes around in one loop and then back around the other way.

It is affectionally known as the Clockwork Orange, and if you want to spend your one day in Glasgow boozing, you should play the Clockwork Orange drinking game.

The game involves getting off at each stop and having a tipple!

If you want to learn more about the city while saving time and your feet, check out the Glasgow hop-on/off bus, which includes an audio guide.

One Day in Glasgow – City Centre and the East End

Morning in Glasgow

Kick-off with a full Scottish breakfast, stacked French toast at Café Gandolfi (Albion Street), or eggs at the trendy Wilson Street Pantry in the Merchant City.

You’re going to need the energy.

Next, it’s a visit to one of Glasgow’s points of interest, the Gallery of Modern Art on Royal Exchange Square.

This museum is located in the former Cunninghame Mansion, home of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a tobacco and sugar merchant and one of the prolific merchants of the transatlantic tobacco trade.

Grab a picture of the iconic scene featuring the Duke of Wellington with a cone on top of his head; it’s a must-do for your first Glasgow travel trip.

How do they get it up there?!

Glasgow Duke of Wellington Statue with cone on head

Next, mooch through the Merchant City, keeping your eyes peeled for the street art murals and more links to Glasgow’s slave trade involvement, such as (Tobacco Lord, James) Wilson Street and (John) Glassford Street (tobacco plantation owner in Virginia and Maryland).

It would be great to see Glasgow following in the footsteps of Bristol in England, which has a museum called The Georgian House Museum that documents what a plantation and slave owner’s home may have looked like around 1790.

Street art mural with nature on end of building in Glasgow

Afternoon in Glasgow Itinerary

Go slightly off-piste to grab a sandwich at the chic takeaway Piece, jamming to the tunes while you wait on your ‘Jerk Off’ or a roll at the Wes Anderson-style Off The Rails cafe, grab a vegan lunch at The Glasvegan at St Enoch Square, or try the steak pie at The Smokin’ Fox.

Head back east via Argyle Street towards the Trongate and onto Barrowlands Park.

Count the bands you’ve seen, then promise to return to watch one live at the Barrowlands.

Walk towards the Barrowlands; if visiting on a weekend, swing by the Barras Market to experience this Glasgow institution set up by Maggie McIver, who died a multi-millionaire in 1958.

If you love music, you should join the Glasgow City Music Tours, which are run by music journalists and complement Glasgow’s UNESCO City of Music status.

Grab a bite to eat at BaAd or continue to your next stop on your Glasgow itinerary.

From here, you have two options – park, palace, and a pint or God’s house, the graveyard, and gin.

Barrowlands Park Glasgow on a sunny day

Option 1: Glasgow Green, Breweries and Lunch

Glasgow Green is where you will find the People’s Palace, which houses a really interesting exhibition on life in Glasgow throughout the ages.

Look out for the washing line poles in the Green, too; locals used these to dry their clothes!

Take a well-deserved pit stop at West Brewery or Drygate Brewery. Both serve food, beer, and other drinks.

The Palais on Duke Street (Denniston) is another hip lunch option.

Doulton Fountain, Glasgow Green park

Option 2: Cathedral, Necropolis, and Provand’s Lordship

Walk towards Castle Street to see Glasgow’s Cathedral; tours are available (one hour long), and donations are welcomed.

Behind the Cathedral, you will find Glasgow’s Necropolis, the giant graveyard that overlooks the city.

From up on the hill, you will get some of the best views of Glasgow, so have your camera ready.

End this history tour at the oldest house in Glasgow, Provand’s Lordship, across from the Cathedral, and since you are here, it would be rude not to pop into St Mungo’s Museum to see the Egyptian mummy.

This 2-hour walking tour features the above Glasgow landmarks.

It is run by a real Glaswegian who is happy for you to ask them any question about life in the city!

Glasgow Cathedral blue sky

Take that extra 5-minute walk to see St Mungo himself sprayed on the end gable.

This is not the official name of this street art mural, but it is what locals affectionately call it.

Head back to the Merchant City to enjoy whisky cocktails at Buck’s Bar or classic drinks and bar food at Bar Home.

For a real culture shock, head to the charming Alpen Lodge (25A Hope St) for its banging jukebox and live music on weekends if you can squeeze in.

Sticking around for the evening?

You’ll find live music at The Howlin’ Wolf: Bar, Kitchen, Juke Joint.

Is it Friday?

Then get yer dancin’ shoes on because Friday night is ceilidh night at Sloan’s.

Add a meal on to make a full night of it.

The above itinerary is ideal for those prioritising Glasgow tourist attractions; if you don’t mind seeing the cathedral and museums, check out the option below.

Read next: Dreamy Weekend Trips in Scotland.

Man looking at bird aka St Mungo Street Art

One Day in Glasgow – City Centre and the West End

Morning Itinerary

If a visit to the West End is a must, follow the above morning itinerary, then hop on the underground (subway/metro) at the Argyle or Buchanan Street stations and get off at Hillhead on Byres Road.

Afternoon Itinerary

You can enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes, restaurants, or pubs, such as Hillhead Bookclub or Hanoi Bike Shop.

Walk through Ashton Lane to University Avenue, aiming for the University of Glasgow’s cloisters for Hogwarts vibes.

Head down the hill and take a right to Kelvin Way, where you will find the Kelvingrove Museum.

Browse the 22 galleries, including work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Salvador Dali, and my favourite, the Floating Heads by Sophie Caves.

It’s free to enter, by the way.

Take a stroll through Kelvingrove Park, then if hungry/thirsty, dine/drink at Lebowskis; White Russians are a must!

If visiting over the weekend, reserve a spot at Dockyard Social for truck food and booze.

Or, if you have a sweet tooth, reserve a table at The Hidden Lane Tearoom for an afternoon tea.

This great tradition can also be enjoyed at the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired Willow Tearooms in town.

Staying around to go to ‘the dancing’?

Floating Heads Installation by Sophie Cave at Glasgow Kelvingrove Museum

Glasgow Clubs

  • SWG3: Specialist nights such as Bongo’s Bingo, disco, techno, and live bands
  • Sub Club: Longest-running underground dance club in the world
  • Arta: live music in the Merchant City, mixed age groups
  • The Berkeley Suite: Thursday-Monday dance and alternative music
  • Speakeasy: LGBT+ nights Thursday-Sunday
  • Boteco Do Brasil at the Merchant City

Things to Do at Night in Glasgow That Don’t Involve Dancing

  • Bowling, but cool kid strikes at VEGA Glasgow
  • Vintage movie house, Grosvenor Cinema
  • Drinks and films at Everyman Glasgow
  • Theatre at the King’s Theatre, The Pavilion, Citizens Theatre or The Tron
  • Bar hopping in town, check out Shilling Brewing Company for craft beer, Kong for rooftop cocktails, and Stereo for vegan
  • Ceilidh at Sloans
  • Bingo, not for the fainthearted

Dining Out

  • Ashoka
  • Buck’s Bar
  • Cafe Andaluz
  • Hanoi Bike Shop
  • Home
  • Mikaku
  • Nonna Said
  • Nippon Kitchen
  • Platform at iconic arches of Central Station
  • Sloans
  • Stravaigin
  • Suga Pasta (I still think about this pasta often)
  • The Gannet
  • The Smokin’ Fox
  • Ubiquitous Chip

Final Words

As you can see, Glasgow in a day is a challenge, but it gives you a nice taste of what the city has to offer.

As we say in Scotland, haste ye back – and I’m confident you will return for more because of Glasgow’s miles better, a reference to the 80s Glasgow tourism campaign.

17 thoughts on “One Day in Glasgow | A Local’s Kick-Ass Itinerary

  1. Keith Van Tassel says:

    After visiting Ireland last October, I can’t get that part of the world out of my mind, all the green (I’m now in the desert of Abu Dhabi). I’ve been to UK a few times, never been much north of London. But maybe this summer, I’ll get to Scotland…rent an RV (can I?). I dream of Skye.

    • Gemma I Two Scots Abroad says:

      You can and should Keith! Skye is beautiful but also very busy in summer. I’m going Arran this May which will be new for me. Lewis and Harris is also said to be stunning. We did the North Coast 500 last summer, never seen anything like it (you can read about it here!) Agree, Ireland is super green and also one of the friendliest places I’ve visited and so hospitable.

  2. Lauren says:

    25 countries (so far) and still home is my favourite, although I’m from the North East my favourite city in Scotland is definitely Glasgow and it’s where I hope to move to when I return from this wee backpacking adventure. The people, the food (I ask for curry sauce on top of my chips and cheese haha!!) and of course the Barras, hopefully one day I can call it home like you did for many years!

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