Official Sightseeing
Tours of Scotland since 1907

Tours from Glasgow

Scotland’s largest city and an excellent starting point for exploring the Highlands and western Scotland.

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Discover Glasgow – Scotland’s Largest City

Glasgow combines magnificent Victorian architecture, outstanding museums, legendary music venues and one of Scotland’s liveliest restaurant and nightlife scenes.

Once one of the world’s great industrial cities, Glasgow reinvented itself as a centre for culture, shopping, entertainment and the arts. Today you’ll find impressive architecture by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, internationally renowned museums and galleries, colourful neighbourhoods and a character that’s unmistakably Glaswegian.

The city’s location in western Scotland also makes it an excellent departure point for sightseeing. Our guided tours from Glasgow can take you from the bustle of the city to the beautiful shores of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the dramatic landscapes of Glen Coe, Loch Ness and the Highlands, or onwards to the Western Highlands and the Isle of Skye.

Glasgow is an ideal base for combining a Scottish city stay with an unforgettable journey into the Scottish Highlands.

Top 10 Attractions in Glasgow

01

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

One of Scotland’s most popular free attractions, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is housed in a magnificent red sandstone building in Glasgow’s West End.

Kelvingrove’s collections range from fine art and Scottish history to ancient Egypt and the natural world. Among the best-known exhibits are paintings by Salvador Dalí and the Glasgow Boys, historic armour and a 1944 Spitfire suspended above the museum’s West Court. More than 20 galleries cover subjects ranging from art and archaeology to animals and natural history.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
02

Glasgow Cathedral

One of Scotland’s finest medieval buildings, Glasgow Cathedral has survived largely intact since the Reformation and stands close to the historic heart of the city.

Glasgow Cathedral dates mainly to the 12th and 13th centuries and is one of Scotland’s finest medieval buildings. Look out for its Gothic stonework, stained-glass windows and the Lower Church. The cathedral is closely associated with St Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint, whose tomb is traditionally believed to lie within the building.

Glasgow Cathedral
03

Glasgow Necropolis

On the hill behind Glasgow Cathedral stands the Glasgow Necropolis, a large Victorian cemetery noted for its elaborate monuments, statues and memorials.

The cemetery is the burial place of many prominent Glaswegians. Its winding paths pass an impressive collection of Victorian monuments, while the higher ground provides views of Glasgow Cathedral and the surrounding East End.

04

Riverside Museum

Glasgow’s award-winning Riverside Museum tells the fascinating story of the city’s connections with transport, shipbuilding and engineering.

Its extensive collection includes historic cars, bicycles, trams, locomotives and other vehicles, while recreated streets offer a glimpse of Glasgow life in years gone by. The museum’s striking modern building stands beside the River Clyde, where Glasgow’s world-famous shipbuilding industry once flourished.

Riverside Museum
05

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities. Founded in 1451, It’s also one of the oldest in the English-speaking world.

It moved to its present location in the 19th century, where its Gothic Revival buildings have become a Glasgow landmark, particularly the spire of Bute Hall, a familiar feature of the city skyline.

Visitors can walk through the cloisters and courtyards and take in the views over Kelvingrove Park. The university is also home to the Hunterian Museum, Scotland’s oldest public museum.

06

The Burrell Collection

Set within the beautiful surroundings of Pollok Country Park, the Burrell Collection is one of Glasgow’s great cultural treasures.

The museum displays artworks and historic objects collected by wealthy Glasgow shipping merchant Sir William Burrell and his wife, Constance. Its diverse collection includes medieval art, stained glass, tapestries, paintings and objects from ancient civilisations, all displayed within an award-winning museum surrounded by woodland and parkland.

The Burrell Collection
07

George Square

At the heart of Glasgow City Centre, George Square has traditionally been the city’s main civic space and is surrounded by impressive Victorian buildings.

Glasgow City Chambers fills the eastern side of the square, which is also lined with statues and monuments to well-known figures from Scottish history. The central statue, which sits atop an 80 ft (24 m) column, is of Sir Walter Scott.

Also located in George Square is Queen Street Station, one of Glasgow’s main railway stations with links to Edinburgh and the Highlands.

08

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are a peaceful green space beside the River Kelvin in the heart of the city’s West End.

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have an extensive collection of plants, mature trees and several glasshouses. The best-known of them is Kibble Palace, a magnificent Victorian glasshouse containing tree ferns and plants from around the world.

09

Gallery of Modern Art

Located near George Square, the Gallery of Modern Art is commonly known as GoMA. It is one of the city’s main galleries for modern and contemporary art.

Located within a superb neoclassical building, the gallery hosts a changing programme of exhibitions featuring local and international artists.

Outside stands the statue of the Duke of Wellington, usually topped with a traffic cone. What started as a prank has become an unofficial Glasgow tradition and one of the city’s most recognisable sights.

10

Pollok Country Park

Covering an extensive area on Glasgow’s Southside, Pollok Country Park offers woodland walks, open parkland and attractive gardens just a few miles from the city centre.

The park is home to the internationally renowned Burrell Collection and is also famous for its herd of photogenic Highland cattle. With walking and cycling routes to explore, Pollok Country Park provides an excellent opportunity to combine Glasgow’s cultural attractions with some time outdoors.

Tours from Glasgow - FAQs

Glasgow is famous for its impressive Victorian architecture, outstanding museums, lively music scene and friendly atmosphere. Scotland’s largest city also has strong connections with architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Today, visitors can enjoy world-class art collections, excellent shopping, colourful neighbourhoods and an impressive choice of restaurants, bars and entertainment.

Definitely, Glasgow offers an appealing combination of architecture, culture, museums, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Many of its leading museums and galleries offer free admission, while attractions are spread across distinctive neighbourhoods such as the City Centre, West End and Southside. Glasgow is also an excellent starting point for exploring Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and the Scottish Highlands.

Glasgow has an excellent selection of museums, galleries and historic buildings. Top attractions include Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, the Riverside Museum, Glasgow Science Centre and the Burrell Collection.

Other places worth visiting include the Merchant City, Glasgow Botanic Gardens and attractions associated with architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. An open-top tour bus is a useful way to see many of the main sights, particularly if you have limited time.

Glasgow is well placed for day trips to the Highlands, including Glen Coe and Loch Ness. Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle make a popular combination.

Other possibilities include the Western Highlands, Glenfinnan, St Andrews and the fishing villages of Fife. Depending on the tour you choose, you can visit castles, lochs, Highland glens and historic towns in a single day.

Yes. You can visit Loch Ness on a full-day tour from Glasgow. The journey takes you through spectacular Highland scenery, and many tours also visit Glen Coe and travel through the Great Glen. Depending on the tour selected, you may also have the opportunity to take a cruise on Loch Ness and go monster-spotting for Nessie.

Yes. If you have more than one day available, multi-day Scotland tours from Glasgow explore the Highlands and Islands. Depending on the itinerary, you could visit the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Glen Coe, the Outer Hebrides or Orkney. Longer tours allow you to travel further and experience Scotland at a more relaxed pace.