How to spend 24 hrs in Glasgow

Often overlooked for the touristy city of Edinburgh, Glasgow is a diamond in the rough.

If you’re traveling to the Scottish Highlands or the Western Highlands, chances are you’ll be spending some time in Glasgow.

To be completely honest I originally thought Glasgow would be boring. I had assumed it was more a residential city and hence there wasn’t much to see.

I ended up falling in love with Glasgow in the short time I had to explore. Having had time to digest my experiences, I definitely want to visit again!

We loved the amazing food, friendly people, free museums and endless parks to explore.

Now, if you’ve only got 24hrs in Glasgow, I’ve put together an itinerary for you…

9 am

Start off your day right with a Scottish Breakfast, including the ever famous black pudding! You’ve only got 24hrs in Glasgow, so eat up 😉

Psst – not sure what black pudding is? My friends, you are in for a surprise! Black pudding is a type of blood sausage, which is made from pork blood, with pork fat or beef suet, and a cereal, usually oatmeal, oat groats or barley groats. It sounds a little offputting, but if you can get past the fact that it’s got blood in it, it’s definitely worth a try!

Our favorite cafes to try black pudding in Glasgow were:

Café Wander

This small basement cafe is super budget friendly. We loved the friendly service and the filling breakfast. Check out the TripAdvisor reviews here. 

Address: 110 W George St, Glasgow G2 1QJ, UK

Opening hours: Mon – Fri 7:30 am – 5 pm, Sat 9 am – 5pm, CLOSED Sun

Café Gandolfi

Also a basement cafe, we loved the decor here – the tables and chairs look like something out of Lord of the Rings. This cafe is so popular amongst Glaswegians that on weekends you’ll need to book a table! Check out the TripAdvisor reviews here. 

If you’re planning to visit Cafe Gandolfi, definitely book ahead… Don’t show up on the weekends without a booking or you’ll find yourself waiting, or you’ll be given a table with a short time frame to enjoy your food (no one wants to scoff down a Scottish Breakfast!)

Address: 64 Albion St, Glasgow G1 1NY, UK

Opening hours: 8 am – 10:30 pm daily

10 am

I’m all for filling up on delicious food but do love to follow-up a delicious meal with a walk. I mean, no matter how many times I try, I can’t quite convince myself that sausages are healthy…

Head to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and make sure to check out Kibble Palace, the indoor greenhouse. This is especially a fun activity to do if it’s cold or raining outside as you’ll be indoors!

Address: 730 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 0UE, UK

Opening hours: the grounds are open 7 am – dusk (all year), with the glasshouses and tea rooms with differing hours depending on the season. Check up-to-date hours at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens website. 

11 am

Make your way to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of Glasgow’s many museums. Entry here is free – a bonus for the budget travelers out there!

Make sure you check out their pipe organ – it was built in 1901 (and if you need a couple of hours to check out the museum, hang around for the daily performance at 1 pm Monday to Saturday or 3 pm or Sundays)

If you’re feeling hungry, stop by the café for a quick meal, and if you’re on a budget make sure to check out the soup of the day. It’s super filling and a great stomach filler on a cold day. We only paid £3.75!

Address: Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AG, UK

Opening hours: Thurs & Sat 10 am – 5 pm, Fri & Sun 11 am – 5 pm, CLOSED Mon, Tues & Wed

Cost: free entry!

3 pm

A 7-minute walk from Kelvingrove is the Hidden Lane Tea Room– located down a lane that’s called… Wait for it… The Hidden Lane! The laneway is filled with local businesses and artists.

Make sure you try the afternoon tea or the dessert tea. Super filling and not too hard on the wallet!

Address: 1103 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8ND, UK

Opening hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm Mon – Fri, 10 am – 6 pm Sat, 12 – 6 pm Sun

4 pm

If you’re feeling full after all that food, now would be a great time to check out all the beautiful architecture at the University of Glasgow. Just a 12 min walk from the Kelvingrove Museum or a 15min walk from the Hidden Lane tea room, the architecture here is well worth the visit.

Make sure you check out the main quadrangle (next to the visitor’s shop) for these beautiful archways. I totally got Harry Potter vibes when visiting here (what is it with universities in the UK being so damn photogenic?!)

5 pm

You’ve spent most of the day walking (talk about an intense 24hrs in Glasgow), so head back to your hotel for some well-needed rest!

If you’re still feeling energetic, take a walk through the Glasgow city center.

Some other great places to explore:

• George Square
• Glasgow City Chambers
• The Princess Square Shopping Centre

6 pm

Now, you can’t finish up your 24hrs in Glasgow without a trip to the pub to fill up on local favorites.

One thing I miss from being at home in Australia is good pub food – as much as I love the US, it’s been a struggle when it comes to pubs!

Our favorite was The Drum & Monkey, a great local pub with seating in the back if you want a sit-down meal. They’ve got an amazing beef pie (with pastry that melts in your mouth) and a great selection of local Scottish favorites (including Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties!)

Address: 91 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5TF, UK

Opening hours: 12 – 11 pm Sun – Thurs, 12 – 12 am Fri – Sat

I loved my time in Glasgow, and I wish I had planned my stay for longer. It’s an unassuming city that you can’t help but fall in love with!

Psst – are you planning a trip to Glasgow? Here are some helpful links!

Heading to Glasgow?  Book your hotel room now!
Don’t forget to pick up a guidebook: this is my favorite Scotland guidebook! 
Want more Scotland tips? Check out my posts here