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

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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

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.

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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.