A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kos vs. Glasgow for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Kos or Glasgow?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Glasgow can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Kos

Kos is a beautiful, ancient, and cultural island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Glasgow

Glasgow is a cultural, historic, and high energy city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, live music, and food.

Kos and Glasgow: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kos or Glasgow?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Glasgow than Kos, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Glasgow is better known for its nightlife, music, historical sights, and big city activities, while Kos is more popular for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Kos is well known for its sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. Glasgow is well known for its rich culture, its beautiful Victorian and art nouveau architecture, and its large student population. Also, Glasgow is famous for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

How is Kos different from Glasgow?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Glasgow and Kos. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kos or Glasgow?

Kos is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Kos has many famous sights for visitors. The small island is packed with archaeological sites and interesting history. Famous places worth visiting include the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient Agora, Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, and so many more!

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Glasgow. The city is rich in culture and offers many fascinating sights including the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Necropolis.

Is the Food Better in Kos or Glasgow? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kos is a must-visit destination for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Kos is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The cuisine relies heavily on locally harvested ingredients with many dishes featuring cheese, seafood, vegetables, olive oil, and potatoes. The dishes are influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisines and common dishes include moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki. Popular seafood options are prawns, squid, lobster and octopus. A great way to enjoy a sampling of local dishes is to visit an ouzeri, which is a Greek taverna that serves mezza style meals with small dishes that you can share.

Glasgow offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's food scene continues to grow and innovate. You'll find plenty of seafood options as well as international cuisine and everything from fine dining to local cafes.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Nightlife?

Glasgow is very popular for nightlife. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Glasgow is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has some of the best nightlife in the entire country. There are clubs, bars, techno warehouses and more. Some of the best clubs include Sub Club, The Berkeley Suite, and The Garage.

The people in Kos know how to have a good time. For such a small island you'll find a huge party scene during the peak summer months. There are almost nightly parties, beach raves, and late night clubs throughout the summer months. The bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around a couple of streets in the center of Kos Town, but Kardamena is also a lively party area. It's popular with British tourists who head here for the all-night clubs.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Music?

Glasgow is very popular for live music. However, Kos is not a live music destination.

Glasgow is known as a music capital around the world. Known to some as "the city of music", you'll find a wide range of music venues, live shows, festivals, and even a great underground music scene.

Kos is not a live music destination.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Resorts?

Kos is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Glasgow is not a resort destination.

Kos has a few great resort options. It's a smaller island and there aren't as many resorts here as there are on some of the larger Greek islands. Some of the best resort areas include Lamp and Psalidi to the northwest, Tigaki on the west coast (a good option for families), as well as Mastihari and Marmari which both have relaxed atmospheres. The younger crowd often hangs out around Kardemena on the east coast.

Glasgow is not a resort destination.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Kos is a must-visit destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Glasgow is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel to Kos specifically to enjoy its famous scuba diving and snorkeling areas. There are countless snorkeling sports around the island where you can immerse yourself in the undersea world. Popular snorkeling areas include Camel Beach and Limnionas Beach. Make sure you understand the water conditions before heading into the water.

Glasgow is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Beaches?

Kos is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Glasgow is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Kos are among the best in the world. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy with various shades of color. There are touristy beaches with plenty of amenities as well as less frequented beaches that offer a quieter and more remote atmosphere. Some of the most visited beaches on the island include Agios Stefanos, Kardamena, Kefalos and Lambi while some of the more peaceful areas are Cavo Paradiso and Helona Beach.

Glasgow is not a beach destination.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for its Old Town?

Glasgow is a city with good options for its historic old town. However, Kos does not have a historic old town.

Glasgow is a good destination for visiting its old town. High Street is one of the oldest and most well known streets in the city.

Kos does not have a historic old town.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Hiking?

Kos is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Glasgow is not a hiking destination.

Kos has hiking trails worth exploring. This is a great walking island with a number of easy walks or hikes that take you along the coastline or through interesting landscapes.

Glasgow is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kos or Glasgow?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Kos and Glasgow.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kos. There are a number of traditional items that you can pick up while you're in town. Fun souvenirs include jewelry, leather items, and perfumes.

Glasgow offers some nice shopping areas. The city has independent boutique shops as well as major brands. Head to the "Style Mile" for some of the best shopping. It's a district that offers pedestrian-friendly shopping and includes high end boutiques and independent markets. Also check out The Barras Market, Buchanan Street, and High Street.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Families?

Both Kos and Glasgow are notable to visit with kids.

Kos is a family-friendly island. It's comparable to other Greek islands when it comes to kids' activities. Kos Town can get a bit lively at night so if you want to avoid the party crowds, then those areas are easily avoided. Popular activities include exploring ancient ruins, going to the Kos Archaeological Museum, visiting The Castle of the Knights, and of course, hanging out at the beach. One of the best family-friendly resort areas is Tigaki along the west coast.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Glasgow. The city has some family-friendly museums including the hands on The Burrell Collection, the Glasgow Science Center, and The Riverside Museum. If you have older kids who enjoy the water, there are some water activities in town. Check out Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow Wake Park or Outdoor Pursuits. There are also climbing gyms and skate parks.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Couples?

Kos is great for couples. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Kos is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. This small island offers beautiful beaches and plenty of ancient ruins to explore. Kos Town is where you'll find the liveliest atmosphere but for some of the best resorts you'll want to stay in one of the resort suburbs like Lampi or Psalidi.

Glasgow is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy a museum or one of the parks around town. There are also river cruises and spas. For a more locally specific activity, check out the Bothwell Castle.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kos is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Kos. It's a small island but has a few hostels and a variety of apartments available for rent. Despite its small size, there are areas where you'll want to have a car if you wish to explore, but if you stay in town you'll find getting around fairly easy. The island attracts its share of young travelers and you'll find plenty of people to hang out with.

Glasgow is a good island to visit for backpackers. There are a good number of hostels around town as well as a good social scene, making this a decent option for backpackers.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Students?

Glasgow is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Kos is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Glasgow. The city has the second largest student population in the UK, so you'll find plenty of students to hang out with.

Kos is not popular with students.

Is Kos or Glasgow Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both Kos and Glasgow.

Visitors to Kos can move around easily with public transportation. Buses connect many of the tourist destinations including beaches, cultural sights, are resort areas.

The public transit in Glasgow can get you around easily. The subway is convenient in the city center, west end, and southside. There are also buses throughout the city.

Is Kos or Glasgow a more walkable city?

Kos and Glasgow are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Kos is very walkable. It's small size means it's possible to explore parts of the island on foot or bicycle. There are some beautiful walks on the island, but some areas will require a car or bus.

Glasgow is a very walkable island. The city center is generally walkable and can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Kos Worth Visiting? and Is Glasgow Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Glasgow or Kos?

How long in Kos or Glasgow?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kos and Glasgow. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Kos than in Glasgow. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Kos, and 2-3 days is enough time in Glasgow.

Families should spend more time in Kos than Glasgow. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kos, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Kos than Glasgow. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Kos that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kos than Glasgow if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Kos.

One day in Kos or Glasgow?

In Kos, you'll find shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Glasgow, there's plenty to do. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Kos or Glasgow?

In Kos, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kos has to offer.

Many people visit Glasgow for a weekend. With nightlife and live music around the friendly city of Glasgow, there's plenty to do. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Kos or Glasgow?

Kos is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kos has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

The destination of Glasgow offers live music and food. It offers something for everyone. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Kos or Glasgow?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kos. Many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting Kos. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Glasgow, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kos and Glasgow, we can see that Glasgow is more expensive. And not only is Kos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kos and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Glasgow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Glasgow than you might in Kos.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kos Expensive? and Is Glasgow Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kos or Glasgow?

Glasgow has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Kos. When comparing the sizes of Kos and Glasgow, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.