Medieval Glasgow and the Merchant City

Great Itineraries

To take advantage of Glasgow's wealth of cultural sites and shopping, you could easily spend four or five days here, but it's possible to see the city's greatest hits in only two days.

If You Have 2 Days

On the first day explore the core of historic Glasgow—the medieval area, dominated by Glasgow's cathedral, and Merchant City. Shoppers should head for Buchanan Street, including the Princes Square development and the Buchanan Galleries. Art lovers should make a beeline to the Burrell Collection in Pollock Country Park on the South Side. On the second day, see the West End, including the artwork and Charles Rennie Mackintosh furniture at the Hunterian Art Gallery. If you haven't yet seen the city-center parks, venture to Glasgow Green, the art collections at Pollok Country Park, or the House for an Art Lover, at Bellahouston Park. Remember that Glasgow's pubs and clubs serve up entertainment until late in the evening.

If You Have 5 Days

Five days will allow enough time to enjoy more of Glasgow's key museums and cultural attractions: the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, and the McLellan Galleries, in the city center; or the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, to the east. You could easily take a full day to see the cluster of West End museums by Kelvingrove Park (the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Hunterian Art Gallery, and Hunterian Museum, and the Museum of Transport). For a good day trip take the hour-long train ride to Wemyss Bay, and from there take the ferry to the Isle of Bute, where you can visit Mount Stuart, a spectacular, stately Victorian home.