Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Glasgow?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Glasgow?

Many travelers spend two to three days in Glasgow during their visit. After all, the high energy city has plenty to explore such as the nightlife scene, the live music, and the famous sights and museums.

Glasgow is a culturally rich and lively city in Scotland. There's a large student population and a great party scene, but there is also a lot of history and architecture. It's a port city that sits beautifully along the River Clyde.

Do you have one or two days to visit Glasgow? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Glasgow?

As a medium-sized city, Glasgow offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the high energy city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.

How to spend a day in Glasgow

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Glasgow a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The city is rich in culture and offers many fascinating sights including the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Necropolis.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Standing Stones, Inveraray and Kilchurn Castles & Highland Tour starting Glasgow ($70)
  • Oban, Glencoe, Highlands Lochs & Castles Small Group Day Tour from Glasgow ($73)
  • Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond Walk & Whisky Distillery Tour from Glasgow ($70)

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

Glasgow is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The city center is generally walkable and can be explored on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Glasgow?

Since it's a medium-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Glasgow. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great nightlife and fun live music, visitors can enjoy the charming old town, big city activities, and food by staying for a weekend.

Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow University, Scotland Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow University, Scotland

How to spend 2 days in Glasgow

With a weekend (two to three days) in Glasgow, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

Perhaps the most famous place in Glasgow is Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

Live music is very popular in Glasgow, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. 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.

Public transit in Glasgow is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The subway is convenient in the city center, west end, and southside. There are also buses throughout the city.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Glasgow, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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