I Spent A Week in Glasgow: Is It Worth A Visit?!

***Please note that this I Spent A Week in Glasgow: Is It Worth A Visit?! Travel Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date dining scene. This travel guide was most recently updated as of September 2026.***

Recently, I spent an incredible week in Glasgow, Scotland. If you’re considering visiting Glasgow, like myself, then this travel guide will help you determine: is Glasgow worth a visit?!

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I Spent A Week in Glasgow: Is It Worth A Visit?!

If you’re traveling to the United Kingdom anytime soon, then look no further than my Sweeney’s Cruise Co. Loch Lomond Review.  

Table of Contents

About Glasgow, Scotland

Getting There

Know Before You Go

Is Glasgow Worth A Visit?!

About Glasgow, Scotland

Proudly known as the United Kingdom’s Friendliest City, Glasgow, Scotland is a city full of character, culture, and warmth. The city is filled with vibrant streets with over 30 colorful murals, over 90 parks, gardens, and green space, and more than 29 museums and galleries (many of which are free!). Alongside offering friendly vibes, green spaces, and colorful streets, Glasgow also boasts a robust culinary scene with restaurants fit for every budget and dish that you can imagine. 

While a friendly and colorful city today, Glasgow’s beginnings date back to the Dark Ages as a medieval city around 1119 when Glasgow Cathedral was built on the site of St. Kentigern’s first church. St. Kentigern is the city’s patron saint. Medieval Glasgow ran from the River Clyde up through the Saltmarket and continued alongside High Street, where development has led to many hidden gems being uncovered via archaeological excavation, towards Glasgow Cathedral. Today, the city of Glasgow boasts a lot of beautiful medieval architecture, including Glasgow Cathedral, Crookston Castle, and Provan Hall.

To this very day, Glasgow remains one of the United Kingdon’s most prominent historic cities. Throughout the city, there are over 1,800 protected buildings by renowned architects which tell the story of Glasgow’s past and present. These buildings include:

• Glasgow Cathedral – Dates back to the early 1100’s and is one of the city’s oldest buildings.
• Glasgow Central Station – Glasgow’s biggest train station, where you can go on a tour beneath the city’s streets and visit railway vaults.
• Glasgow City Chambers – You can admire their beauty in George Square!
• The University of Glasgow – Founded on January 7, 1451, the iconic campus grounds of the University of Glasgow make it the city’s very own Hogwarts!
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – One of Glasgow’s many free museums and most popular attractions with 22 galleries.

In addition to its vast medieval history, Glasgow has a diverse and rich local history, which the locals take pride in to this very day with a melting pot of cultures, stories, and communities that shaped it into what it is today.

Getting There

Whether by air, sea, rail, or road, there are a variety of ways to get to Glasgow, Scotland, including:

• Air – Glasgow is served by 3 international airports which offer direct flights to/from the United States (Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and Edinburgh Airport) that have accessible shuttles, trains, and bus services to/from Glasgow City Centre.
• Rail – Glasgow’s 2 main train stations – Glasgow Central Station and Glasgow Queen Street Station – connect the Scottish city to the rest of the United Kingdom.
• Sea – Ferries from Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland dock at Cairnryan in the southwest of Scotland and offer bus services taking passengers straight into Glasgow City Centre.
• Road – Via Scotland’s extensive road network, Glasgow is linked to several major cities in the United Kingdom, including: Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Carlisle, and Newcastle.

For more detailed information on getting to/from Glasgow, Scotland, look no further than here.

Know Before You Go

Here are a few things to know before your visit to Glasgow, Scotland:

• Scotland is apart of the United Kingdom, which means that if traveling from outside of the United Kingdom (aside from Irish citizens), you will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or a standard UK visitor visa before traveling. Visitors must apply for an ETA before their trip, which they can use for an unlimited amount of visits until their ETA expires. Apply for your UK ETA here.
• Scotland, like the rest of the United Kingdom’s, currency is the British Pound Sterling. It is worth noting that Scottish bank notes look different from English ones, but they are valid legal tenders across the entire United Kingdom.
• Credit cards are widely used across the city of Glasgow, but if you do choose to withdrawal cash, then it is highly advised that you only withdrawal cash from an ATM at a bank in order to avoid scams. 
• Most of the city’s museums are free – including the well-known Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and Glasgow Cathedral.
• Be sure to pack your rain gear! Precipitation happens year-round at practically anytime, any day and can happen unexpectedly, so come prepared.
• Glasgow City Centre is a highly walkable city, especially around Buchanan Street, Merchant City, and the West End. 
• Ubers are highly accessible (and much more affordable than major American cities such as Washington, DC and New York City) throughout the city of Glasgow.

For more information and tips for your visit to Glasgow, then look no further than this resource to prepare for your trip.

Is Glasgow Worth A Visit?!

YES!!!!

Glasgow is absolutely worth a visit! Glasgow not only has a unique rich history, vibrant arts, and an incredibly vast culinary scene, but its people are extremely friendly and it’s an extremely accessible city to all. I highly recommend you give Glasgow a visit when in Scotland!

Wrap-Up

If you’re wondering: is Glasgow worth a visit?! It’s 10000% yes! Indeed, this vibrant, diverse, and medieval city filled with its delicious cuisine, free sights to see, and kind souls will leave you ready to book your next visit once you leave.

XOXO – Katie <3