Glasgow in 1 Day: all you need to know

The largest city in Scotland, Glasgow, will conquer you from the first moment. In its streets you will discover a rich architectural sample that combines 19th century Victorian, medieval, industrial and modern styles. You will find natural areas, historical, sports and leisure destinations.

There are many things to do in Glasgow during a day, such as visiting the Cathedral, the Necropolis, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Celtic Park stadium, the Tennent's Brewery, among other interesting destinations that I will tell you about in a moment.

Glasgow Cathedral, located about 5 minutes drive from the city center, is a good destination to start the day. This place opened in 1197 is a jewel of Gothic architecture and one of the oldest buildings preserved intact in the city.

Inside the cathedral you will have the opportunity to contemplate a series of stained glass windows, sculptures, a medieval crypt and the tomb of Glasgow's patron saint, St. Mungo.

This is a must-see place due to its historical, religious and cultural importance. Such is the value of this cathedral, that it is usually incorporated into the itinerary of any guided tour of Glasgow.

Information of interest

• Price: entrance to Glasgow Cathedral is free, but if you want to enhance the experience you can purchase an audio guide for about 2 €.
• Opening hours: open from 10:00 to 16:00 (Monday to Saturday) and from 13:00 to 16:00 (Sunday).
• Address: Glasgow Cathedral, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0QZ, United Kingdom.

From the Cathedral you will have to walk approximately 9 minutes to reach the next destination, the Glasgow Necropolis. This is a 19th century Victorian cemetery.

This necropolis houses the remains of at least 50,000 people. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to discover different artistic and architectural styles through the series of tombs and funerary monuments erected there.

For example, some of the outstanding works you will see in the Necropolis are the following:

• The Celtic Cross by Scottish architect and designer Charles Mackintosh.
• The Baroque tomb of John Henry Alexander, who in his lifetime was the former manager of Glasgow's Theatre Royal.

Information of interest

• Price: admission is free.
• Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (daily).
• Address: Glasgow Necropolis, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0UZ, United Kingdom.

If you want to discover the brewing culture of Glasgow, then when you leave the Necropolis you should walk about 14 minutes along John Knox St and Duke St. You will find the historic Tennent's Brewery. There, you will be able to delight your palate with various types of bottled and draft beer.

During the visit to Tennent's Brewery in Glasgow you will learn about the history of this emblematic place, established in the city in 1556 by Robert Tennent and becoming a family business that has managed to transcend over time.

It is an important craft brewery where you will discover the process of making the famous dark-colored drink. You will also learn how this industry contributed to the country's economy.

Information of interest

• Price: Admission to Tennent's Breweries is free (bar and restaurant area). However, the cost of guided tours of the brewery can start at around €28 per person.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Address: Caledonian Breweries, 161 Duke St, Glasgow G31 1JD, UK

This day's adventure exploring the city continues at Celtic Park Stadium, located approximately 12 minutes drive from the previous destination. This is an ideal place if you are a Scottish soccer enthusiast or are in Glasgow with children, as they will have a blast touring the stadium if they enjoy the sport.

Upon arrival at the stadium, home of Celtic FC since 1892, you will discover every nook and cranny of this impressive building, capable of holding an average of 60,000 spectators. You will see the press room, the changing rooms and walk through the tunnel to the pitch.

The visit to Glasgow's Celtic Park stadium or "The Paradise", as the fans call it, can be made at any time of the year, as long as there is no game on that day. In addition, you should take into consideration that this type of tours are usually guided.

Information of interest

• Price: the guided tour of the Celtic Park stadium can have a cost of 24€ per person.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm.
• Address: Janefield St, Glasgow G40 3RE, United Kingdom.

About a 7 minute drive from Glasgow's Celtic Park stadium, along London Rd/A74 and Brook St, you will find the People's Palace and Winter Gardens. This is an important history museum showing what the city and its inhabitants were like from 1750 to the present day.

In the museum you will discover the industrial past and local culture and get a clear picture of how the inhabitants lived, worked and entertained themselves. You will see engravings, photographs, films, furniture, tools and many other objects.

In addition to viewing the exhibits, you can recharge your batteries in the cafeteria area or take a stroll through the beautiful winter garden adjacent to this building erected in 1898. You will be amazed by the variety of tropical and exotic plants.

Information of interest

• Price: admission to the People's Palace and Winter Gardens is free.
• Hours: the opening hours of the People's Palace and Winter Gardens are Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Fridays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Address: Green, Templeton St, Glasgow G40 1AT, United Kingdom.

Merchant City is the next stop on your tour of Glasgow. This vibrant shopping and cultural destination is located about a 10-minute drive from the People's Palace and Winter Gardens. You can enjoy the architecture, satisfy your taste buds and do some shopping.

In this neighborhood you will find a series of renovated 18th century buildings, home to restaurants serving local and international cuisine, cafes where you can experience a Glasgow afternoon tea and bars where you can relax with a cocktail.

You will also see fashionable shop windows, stores, the City Hall dating from 1882 and the Old Fruit Market which, although today is a concert hall, still retains its balcony, vaulted ceiling and cast iron columns.

Information of interest

• Price: admission is free to the Merchant City Neighborhood.
• Hours: Accessible 24 hours a day, but stores have opening hours varying from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm or later.
• Address: Merchant City, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

From the Merchant City Quarter, you will need to walk approximately 6 minutes either in the direction of Queen St or along Glassford St and Ingram St, whichever is more convenient for you, to reach the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art In this precinct you will see permanent and temporary exhibitions with art from all over the world.

When you arrive at the Gallery of Modern Art, also known as GoMA, the first thing that will catch your attention is the peculiar equestrian sculpture with a traffic cone, which welcomes you. Inside the museum you will enjoy a total of four galleries with installations, sculptures, paintings, etc.

Also, in GoMA you can approach the library area. And, if you want to take an art sample with you, there is a gallery where you can buy an exclusive range inspired by the exhibited collections.

Information of interest

• Price: The Gallery of Modern Art offers free admission.
• Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Monday to Thursday and Saturday) and 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (Friday and Sunday).
• Address: 111 Queen St, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH, United Kingdom.

Just about a 3-minute walk from the Gallery of Modern Art is George Square, named after King George III. This is an emblematic place of the city, which is surrounded by historic buildings and interesting monuments.

You can sit on one of its benches and contemplate the surroundings: the Town Hall building with its Victorian architectural style, the monument to the fallen in World War I and II which is framed by a pair of lions or the Christmas market square if you visit Glasgow in the winter season.

This is the main square of the city. A must-see destination, frequented daily by dozens of locals and tourists. In fact, George Square is usually among the destinations incorporated in the different routes of the best tours of Glasgow.

Information of interest

• Price: George Square in Glasgow is free admission.
• Opening hours: George Square is open all day.
• Address: Glasgow G2 1DH, United Kingdom.

At least a 3-minute walk from George Square, Buchanan Street, considered the commercial hub of Glasgow, begins. This is a place to shop, take pictures and sit in a café and enjoy a drink with a classic stuffed pastry.

Along your walk down Buchanan Street, be sure to check out the old blue police box, especially if you are a fan of Dr. Who, the 1960's British TV series where this type of box represented a time machine.

You can also wander into Buchanan' s alleyways and get a closer look at its picturesque and original murals. Ideal if you are interested in taking a street art tour of Glasgow.

Information of interest

• Price: Admission to Buchanan Street is free.
• Hours: Buchanan Street is open all day.
• Address: Buchanan St, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

A final place to end this day's itinerary is Mackintosh Lighthouse, very close to the Buchanan. You will see the skyline of the city of Glasgow from a high point, getting a different perspective of the whole place, which at sunset takes on a great attraction.

The building is a work of British architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, built in 1895 and used as the headquarters of the local newspaper The Glasgow Herald. This lighthouse stands out for its modern style and spiral staircase, which you must climb to access the viewpoint.

When you reach the top of the lighthouse, considered by many as the best place to admire the city, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the architectural contrast of Glasgow and take amazing pictures.

Information of interest

• Price: admission to Mackintosh Lighthouse is free.
• Hours: 10:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday.
• Address: 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow G1 2NU.

The Glasgow sightseeing bus is a good alternative to move around the city during your 1 day stay. You will travel long distances, getting a significant time savings that you can use to discover more destinations.

You can buy a 24-hour pass and travel around the city on the second floor of a bus, also having the opportunity to get on and off at approximately 22 free stops that incorporate the Glasgow Cathedral, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Merchant City Quarter, George Square, Buchanan Street, etc..

Glasgow is a very well connected place so you will find several means of transport to move around the city without inconvenience. Some of them are:

• The public bus network, which connects the different neighborhoods, shopping areas and tourist destinations. This transport is operated by First Glasgow.
• Cabs, which stand out as a personalized and fast service. You can catch one on the street, in the vicinity of any attraction.
• The Nextbike bicycle system, which allows you to rent equipment and move freely in a sustainable way. In fact, this is such a popular mode of transport that you will see many bike tours around Glasgow.
• The light rail, which allows you to move around the city center thanks to its circular route.