Glasgow for first time visitors: Essential city guides | Visit Glasgow

Skip to main content

A red open-top tour bus drives past historic buildings in Glasgow on a sunny day, with people dining outdoors and walking nearby.

Start with the essentials

Top things to do in Glasgow for first-time visitors

Mural on a gable end showing a man known as St Mungo with a beard and red bobble hat looking down at a robin.

Top 10 reasons to visit Glasgow

Two people walk down a paved pathway lined with benches, lush green trees, and a traditional stone building on a sunny day.

Insider tips and local stories

Three people, including an older person and two teenagers, stand smiling in front of a red city tour bus. They each wear matching sunglasses.

Dive into Scottish culture

Scottish experiences in Glasgow

People dance in a circle at a ceilidh, a traditional Gaelic social gathering, in a room with ornate ceilings and chandeliers.

Scottish music experiences

Two men are playing bagpipes indoors. One man has a beard and glasses, and the other is smiling.

7 things you didn't know about Glasgow's Highland cattle

Two Highland cows, with long horns and shaggy brown hair, stand in a field with a blurred background of trees.

Shopping in Glasgow Glasgow leads UK shopping outside London. From independent shops and markets to big-name brands and high-end designer boutiques.

Find out more

Bustling Buchanan Street in Glasgow with shops and pedestrians under a sunny sky.

Explore history and heritage

Glasgow’s history and heritage

The historic Glasgow Cathedral, a medieval Gothic building, with a statue of David Livingstone in the foreground.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh trail

A close-up of a vibrant stained-glass panel with a stylized red rose, set into a dark wooden frame.

Museums in Glasgow

Exterior view of the ornate, red sandstone Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum under a blue sky.

Seasonal inspiration

The arched stone cloister of the University of Glasgow adorned with strings of golden fairy lights in the evening.

Top things to do in winter Glasgow has a packed calender of events, shopping and fantastic places to eat and drink. Check out our guide to the top things to do in the city this winter.

Explore more

Top things to in spring

A group of cyclists riding along a path next to a canal with green trees and bushes lining the banks.

Top things to do in summer

A large pond in a park with a tall church steeple in the background, with people walking and cycling on a path.

Top things to do in autumn

Four glasses of amber whisky are arranged on a wooden serving board with cheese and crackers.

Glasgow's festival and events calendar Glasgow has a spectacular programme of events and festivals. Check out some of the best live experiences to enjoy in the city.

Find out more