I haven't been to both cities. I've been to Edinburgh and really liked it. I worked with a woman from Glasgow who recommended I not visit there because it was industrial and a bit depressing. I followed her advice.

Zeppole, do you mean the Water of Leith, wshich is really quite a small river only visible if you are on a street or path right next to it ? Or do you mean the Firth of Forth ?

BTW I like both cities, go to Glasgow frequently and would quite happily live there, but I think Janis's point is most important - things are more spread out in Glasgow and it takes more "work" to get around from place to place, whereas Edinburgh has all its main attractions fairly close together in the centre, so is better for a first / short visit.

I may have meant the perch of Arthur's seat looking over the loch!

But it is the aspect of the Firth of Forth that is so impressive.

I was put off Edinburgh from almost the minute I stepped off the train and found myself confronted with bagpipe playing and kilts. I managed to get away from the "hen and stag party destination" feel of much of the guidebook recommended walks, and found truly delightful aspects --- but my reactions (and confusions!) are really neither here nor there.

People travel for all kinds of reasons, and the hardest traveling approach for me to understand is the one that goes to a place without already having specific reason for doing so. I go to Edinburgh to see Robert Adam architecture and to Glasgow to see Mackintosh. There are of course a dozen other reasons to go to either city -- and the general beauty of Edinburgh is certainly something to glimpse -- but to me the question "Glasgow or Edinburgh?" begs another question about personal interests, not a tourist shout out about which is the better tourist town.

But I do think I'm well in the minority on this one (and I don't mean just is making a case for Glasgow). That a city is touted as having everything a tourist wants makes me more wary than anything else.

Also, just as an aside, I appreciate warnings about difficult infrastructure, and just gave one myself in another thread about day trips in Tuscany, but that can get ridiculous too. I watch threads about Italy where people are encouraged to go to one Italian lake or town over another because the parking is better.

If you take the approach that you are looking to fill a day with easy sightseeing, and not have missed the main "must-sees," you'll have a certain kind of traveling experience. I post here on the assumption that there are at least some travelers in search of other experiences. I'm not out to convert, but before I recommend Edinburgh over Glasgow, I at least want to ask if somebody is interested in Mackintosh. For others on Fodor's, the value system always seems to be "you'll love it!" because it's full of certifiable tourist attractions.

ttt

I also have to say, having just looked more carefully at this thread, that the accusation of Janis that I was misleading any poster and it isn't "nice" is -- well, cowpocky, or whatever that is she likes to say.

Janisj's advice for the UK rarely deviates apart from detail from the tried-and-true tourist checklist one finds in commercial guidebooks ---- go to the London eye, see the palace, the castle, this is the tourist destination, yada yada.

The tried and true is tried and true for a reason. It's precisely what a lot of people want-- "Tell me what to do" . To me it is somewhat surprising people log on to a message board to be told the tried and true, and no doubt some people actually do believe that not to repeat the tried and true is not nice and misleading.

But it is actually helpful to open up the discussion and describe the differences between the cities and to put up links and information about Glasgow as a tourist destination. It might actually save some people from going to Edinburgh who would -- in reality -- be more tickled to visit Glasgow. And after all, it is their vacation, not janisj idea of herself as the ultimate tourist mother hen that is the point.

Your turn, janis.

Since this question might come up again on Fodor's, this deserves to archived, from a blog by a resident of Scotland and crime fiction enthusiast:


"But first, just the facts ma’am. Scotland is home to around 5 million people. Edinburgh, the nation’s capital in the east, has around 450,000 residents in its 264 square kilometres. Glasgow, in the west, is only 175 square kilometres but is Scotland’s most highly populated city with around 600,000 residents. A 50 minute train journey separates the two cities, but they’re separated by a heck of a lot more than that. Glaswegians say that the best thing to come out of Edinburgh is the train to Glasgow. Not surprisingly, the phrase is repeated slightly differently if you’re from Edinburgh.


"Edinburgh is really dramatic and scenic. It’s built on 7 hills and there are some really spectacular views. And it has a castle, lots of tourists, and more than a few blokes in skirts wailing on bagpipes. It’s also the home of Scotland’s new Parliament (personally I think that’s because politicians are too scared to come to Glasgow). ...

"Glasgow is, and always has been, an industrial city and a centre of trade (originally built up by tobacco merchants who built themselves swanky houses and tried to outdo each other). It was also a major shipbuilding city, before shipbuilding went into decline. It used to be very grimy, with all the buildings covered in centuries of dirt and soot but in the 1980s there was a major city wide clean up and all the buildings were steam cleaned and rejuvenated.

"Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have wonderful old buildings in the city centre. A lot of these used to be fancy townhouses, but are now mostly offices. I prefer Glasgow’s buildings - most of the city centre of Edinburgh is made of gray stone, and looks spectacular but cold. Glasgow is known for its blond and red sandstone buildings and it feels altogether warmer.

"And it’s not only the buildings. There’s a lot of rivalry between Glasgow and Edinburgh and a lot of this is due to the perceived differences between its residents. Edinburgh and its people are seen as snooty, middle class, reserved, cold, serious, elegant, more refined. Glasgow and its people are seen as down to earth, working class, humorous, livelier, warm, friendlier.

"There’s an old saying amongst people in Glasgow that there’s more fun to be had at a Glasgow stabbing than at an Edinburgh wedding. That tells you a lot about both places. I would like to add that I have been to an Edinburgh wedding and I had a whale of a time. I’m unable to vouch for the fun factor at a Glasgow stabbing. Perhaps my invitation got lost in the post. And I’m not even going to mention the football rivalry.

Glasgow drunks are funnier than Edinburgh drunks. If you get stuck next to one on a Glasgow bus, he’ll be more likely to sing you a Frank Sinatra favourite (My Way is the chosen anthem amongst Glasgow drunks – “Hand na-ow, the hend is ne-ah”) than anything else. An Edinburgh drunk might treat you to an aria from Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Edinburgh likes to see itself as the cultured city, which is why they have a month long festival in August, just to prove it.

"There’s a lot to see in Edinburgh. Apart from the castle, there are some really great historic buildings, a Museum of Childhood, the cemetery where bodysnatchers Burke and Hare plied their trade and some underground streets which were supposedly blocked off during the plague and the residents left to die a slow painful death (did I mention that Edinburgh was less friendly than Glasgow?). There’s also the Heart of Midlothian. As well as being a football team, this is a paving slab which is in the centre of Edinburgh, it’s heart shaped, and it’s supposed to be at the heart of Midlothian (the district Edinburgh is in). So, unable to come up with something witty or apt, they called it the Heart of Midlothian. It’s supposed to be good luck if you spit on it and means you will come back (Rome gets a lovely fountain full of coins, Scotland gets a bit of stone covered in spit - lovely - no wonder we had the plague).

I once took a friend through to Edinburgh and told her this story, so she decided to spit on it for good luck. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very good luck for her, as the wind was blowing quite strongly and, well, to be frank, she didn’t check the wind direction very carefully and she ended up with a faceful of spit – only some of which was her own. In Glasgow, we don’t have a special place to spit, people just do it wherever they like. I suppose that’s another cultural divide between the two cities.

Glasgow is not as rich in historical culture, and consequently doesn’t have as many tourist attractions, although it does have some great museums and galleries. It also has better shopping. Much better shopping. Glasgow also has better clubs (although if you go to some of them, you might be able to test out the Glasgow stabbing/ Edinburgh wedding theory). Most of them are not places to go to when you’re sober. And if you do, you’ll hurriedly remedy that in a bid to forget the whole horrendous experience.

The traditional view of murder on the east and west coasts is that in Edinburgh the murders are carried out in secret behind the locked doors of elegant Georgian houses, whereas in Glasgow it’s all drugs, razor gangs and Taggart drawling “There’s a boady in thuh riv-uh”. Needless to say, there are plenty of net-curtained suburbs in Glasgow, and the regal Georgian terraces in Edinburgh are just as likely to house brothels and drug dealers as the housing estates are.

Don't I waffle on? ..."

And she forgot to mention the museums in Glasgow are free.

But,

back to the "no-brainer" approach to travel

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...,page-EMF.html

LoL! Zeppole. That made me laugh. I won't weigh into this debate other than to say that for the majority of tourists, and I accept Zepp that's a generalisation, Edinburgh gives more immediate impact for a one day visit. Even as a Glasgow resident I would concede that.

From a native perspective its a pretty old argument. Both cities these days try to work in partnership and sell the two city idea. Not many places where you have two such contrasting and fabulous cities less than an hours train journey apart.

Having been to BOTH places if I had only one day I would choose Edinburgh. Glasgow is wonderful and the people of both cities are about the nicest I have encountered. Glasgow is more of a "City" however and consequently would require more then one day to fully enjoy (though I spent 4 days in Edinburgh with a couple side trips and it was wonderful). whatever you choose...enjoy!

Thank you, welldidntknowthat!

I honestly do feel badly about lighting into janis that way about the standard advice, but at least let's all recognize that the proximity of the two cities means you really aren't stuck with your first choice, but also that the division of opinion about these two cities is hardly a "no-brainer."

People might like to have ALL the information about which city has the free museums, the better shopping, the particular attractions, the better infrastructure, the more compact layout, the least tourist tat and perhaps the juicier creative vibe -- and then decide in the context of the entirely of their own trip.

Embarassing to me to have forgotten it's a firth not a loch, and then thinking Leith not firth, but I would have been more embarassed if I went around implying you can leave your brain elsewhere when picking how you -- personally -- want to spend your time and money abraod.

I agree with you Zeppole. I've had many foriegn visitor friends come over and prefer Glasgow to Edinburgh they just offer very different experiences. Not everyone likes the shortbread tin version of Scotland that so many of our tourist sites sell. But for many Edinburgh and Loch Ness are the boxes that must be ticked and if thats the version of Scotland that they want to see then fair play, it's there to be enjoyed.

Very unfair on Janis - she knows more about Scotland than I do !

Edinburgh's museums are also free.

The olde Scottish saying goes "There is only one good thing that comes out of Edinburgh. That is the train to Glasgow."

If you like the touristy things then Edinburgh is your first choice for sure. http://www.hotels-edinburgh-scotland-hotels.com/

If you things other than shops selling kilts and Scottish flags on tee shirts for a mile, it is Glasgow every time.

Glasgow has regenerated itself into a splendid place to visit. http://www.hotels-edinburgh-scotland...s.com/glasgow/ the attraction down the left hand side of this page are just a small portion of a great big bowl of porridge on offer.

The restaurants are great if you choose carefully. Remember in Scotland you pay for what you get. If you want a great meal it will be value for money but will cost. As anywhere, you can always pick up a burger if you are doing it on the cheap though.

zeppole: I have no idea what the problem is, but : &quot;<i>Janisj's advice for the UK rarely deviates apart from detail from the tried-and-true tourist checklist one finds in commercial guidebooks </i>&quot;

Is just so wrong on sooooo many levels it is beyond comprehension.

I lived in the UK for 5 years and spent most of that time traveling - have visited every country in England, Scotland and Wales, including the most off the beaten path places you could imagine (or perhaps you couldn't imagine them) - have visited Scotland at least 18 or 19 times, from long weekends to 6 week stays - spend a good deal of my time on here trying to get folks off the 1 night/1 night/1 night &quot;tried and true&quot; itineraries they so often start out with - plead w/ folks to avoid the &quot;tartan trek&quot; through Ft William and Loch Ness -

Just about anyone - Glaswegian or otherwise, would advise a one-day, first-time visit is better spent in Edinburgh. You challenged us to say how much time we've actually spent in the place - I hope I've answered that to your satisfaction. But then again I never looked down on a loch from old town Edinburgh either . . . . .

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Hiya, you can enjoy both cities as they are only a 40 min train ride apart, so double check with the scottish turist board whats on when in town also both cities offer midnight murder tours to learn about the depravities of forgone years well worth the pennies for the tour! enjoy and remeber to check the glesga banter! xax

'People might like to have ALL the information about which city has the free museums, the better shopping, the particular attractions, the better infrastructure, the more compact layout, the least tourist tat and perhaps the juicier creative vibe -- and then decide in the context of the entirely of their own trip.&quot;

perhaps, they might read a book if they are so interested in every detail so thy can decide where to spend ONE extra day !

Firstly, I have to declare an intrest, I live in Glasgow and love it, that said Edinburgh is better for a tourist to spend a day in. The castle, royal mile, medieval old town, bagpipes everywhere www.edinburghhotels.uk.com

Glasgow on the other hand is a better place to live in, now I don't feel so bad about betraying ma home city.

Not betrayal just fair comment but remember we know where you live!

Glasgow is improving everyday and the Westend has great nightlife.The river Clyde developments have brought life back to the river. Come and see for yourself the second city of the Empire striking back.