Glasgow is the perfect destination for every kind of traveler, and a Glasgow sightseeing tour is the easiest way to dive right in! Whether you're wandering solo, exploring with family, or delving into centuries of history, these buses whisk you through legendary landmarks, vibrant neighborhoods, and unexpected gems, allowing you to discover numerous things to do in Glasgow at your own pace.
Breakfast: Start your day at Cafe Gandolfi, one of Glasgow's oldest family-run restaurants in the Merchant City, serving hearty Scottish breakfasts, excellent coffee, and legendary caramel shortcake in a cozy atmosphere with beautiful handcrafted furniture.
Attraction: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
One of Scotland's most visited free museums, Kelvingrove houses 8,000 treasured exhibits spanning art, natural history, and arms and armor in a stunning Spanish Baroque red sandstone building that opened in 1901.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit during the daily organ recital at 1pm to hear the magnificent 1901 Lewis & Co pipe organ fill the soaring Main Hall with beautiful music, creating an atmospheric cultural experience.
Suggested time to spend: 2.5 hours
Time to next stop: 10-minute bus ride.
Lunch: Stop at Ubiquitous Chip in Ashton Lane, a Glasgow institution since 1971, serving modern Scottish cuisine with seasonal ingredients, renowned for venison, seafood, and vegetarian options in a unique courtyard setting with overhead foliage.
Attraction: University of Glasgow
Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest in the English-speaking world, boasting stunning Gothic Revival architecture designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, featuring soaring towers and cloisters that have inspired the fictional Hogwarts.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: University of Glasgow
Highlights:
Pro tip: Take a free self-guided tour through the historic campus, exploring Professors' Square with its 13 terraced townhouses and the stunning views from the main quadrangle overlooking the city and River Kelvin.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: 5-minute walk through campus.
Attraction: Ashton Lane
A charming cobblestoned West End lane illuminated by twinkling fairy lights, Ashton Lane borders the University of Glasgow and is renowned for its bohemian atmosphere, independent cinema, and cluster of bars and restaurants.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: University of Glasgow
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit during the Ashton Lane Winter Wonderland in late November for the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony, festive market stalls, and appearances from Santa, creating a magical seasonal atmosphere under twinkling lights.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Dinner: Dine at Dishoom Glasgow, located in Glasgow's old Stock Exchange building, serving Bombay comfort food including bacon naan rolls, black daal, house lamb chops, and haggis pau (specially-made Dishoom pork haggis) with excellent craft cocktails.
Breakfast: Begin at Federal Café on Great Western Road, a spacious Scandinavian-inspired café in a historic building with high ceilings serving eggs Benedict, avocado toast, hearty burgers, delicious smoothies, and excellent specialty coffee.
Attraction: Glasgow Cathedral
A magnificent medieval cathedral dating from the 12th century, Glasgow Cathedral is one of Scotland's few churches to survive the Reformation of 1560 completely intact, built on the site where St Mungo established his church in 603 AD.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Cathedral
Highlights:
Pro tip: Take advantage of the free family-friendly treasure hunt available at the cathedral entrance, which keeps children engaged while exploring and learning about the building's fascinating history and architectural details.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: 5-minute walk uphill.
Lunch: Enjoy a meal at Sarti on Wellington Street, a popular Italian restaurant serving authentic pasta, wood-fired pizza, and seafood in a bustling atmosphere with excellent children's menu options featuring smaller portions at half price.
Attraction: Glasgow Necropolis
A stunning Victorian garden cemetery established in 1833 on a prominent hill east of Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis was modeled on Paris's Père-Lachaise Cemetery and contains approximately 3,500 monuments commemorating 50,000 burials.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Cathedral
Highlights:
Pro tip: Join one of the free guided walking tours (check schedules in advance) to discover fascinating stories about notable residents, including William Miller (author of "Wee Willie Winkie"), industrialists, and social reformers buried here.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: 20-minute bus ride.
Attraction: Riverside Museum
Scotland's award-winning transport and technology museum, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the Riverside Museum houses Glasgow's extensive collection of over 3,000 objects reflecting the city's shipbuilding and industrial heritage.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Riverside Museum
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit the interactive exhibits and hands-on activities throughout the museum, and don't miss the opportunity to board the Tall Ship Glenlee (separate admission) moored directly outside for a complete maritime experience.
Suggested time to spend: 2.5 hours
Dinner: Head to The Gannet on Argyle Street in Finnieston, a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant serving modern Scottish cuisine with seasonal ingredients, excellent Scottish seafood, game, and an impressive whisky selection in an intimate, industrial-chic setting.
Breakfast: Visit Riverhill Coffee Bar on Gordon Street near Central Station, a specialty coffee roaster serving excellent espresso drinks, freshly baked pastries, artisan sandwiches, and full breakfast options in a minimalist Scandinavian-style space.
Attraction: Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
Scotland's most visited contemporary art gallery, housed in the grand neoclassical former Royal Exchange building in Royal Exchange Square, GoMA displays local and international modern artworks alongside rotating exhibitions and thought-provoking installations.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: George Square
Highlights:
Pro tip: Admission is completely free, making GoMA an excellent budget-friendly cultural experience, and the library space offers free internet access and a peaceful spot to relax between galleries.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 10-minute walk.
Lunch: Stop at Mharsanta Restaurant & Bar on Bell Street, one of Glasgow's original thirteen streets in the Merchant City, offering Scottish specialities including MacSween's haggis with neeps and tatties paired with Clydeside Stobcross whisky.
Attraction: Glasgow Mural Trail
A vibrant outdoor gallery featuring over 29 large-scale murals created by internationally acclaimed street artists, the City Centre Mural Trail transforms Glasgow's buildings into canvases celebrating local stories, culture, and creative energy throughout the city centre.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: George Square
Highlights:
Pro tip: Download the Glasgow Mural Trail map or join a guided street art walking tour (approximately 2 hours) to discover the stories behind each artwork and potentially spot street artists in action creating new pieces.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 15-minute walk.
Attraction: George Square
George Square is surrounded by magnificent Victorian architecture and features 12 statues commemorating notable Scots, including Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Queen Victoria.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: George Square
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit during winter months (late November through early January) when George Square transforms into Glasgow's Christmas market with festive stalls, an ice rink, and the spectacular Christmas lights switch-on ceremony.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at The Ivy Buchanan Street, offering timeless British classics and Scottish specialties in refined surroundings, perfect for brunch, lunch, and dinner with an extensive vegan menu and impeccable hospitality in the heart of Glasgow's shopping district.
Breakfast: Start at Gusto and Relish in the southside, known for delicious breakfast and brunch options with cupboards full of toys and games keeping kids entertained while waiting for food, plus high chairs and pram-friendly space.
Attraction: Glasgow Science Centre
An award-winning interactive science center spanning three floors with over 400 hands-on exhibits, Glasgow Science Centre makes learning exciting through live science shows, a planetarium, IMAX cinema, and engaging displays covering everything from robotics to renewable energy.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Science Centre
Highlights:
Pro tip: Purchase combination tickets online for the Science Centre, Planetarium, and IMAX cinema for savings, and check the daily schedule for live science shows and demonstrations that captivate children with explosive experiments.
Suggested time to spend: 3 hours
Time to next stop: 5-minute walk along the waterfront.
Lunch: Stop at Dockyard Social in the west end, home to various independent food traders offering burgers, chicken, bao buns, pizza, and ice cream with something to suit everyone, plus year-round kid-friendly events including superhero meet-and-greets.
Attraction: Riverside Museum
A family-friendly transport museum designed by Zaha Hadid, housing over 3,000 vehicles from skateboards to locomotives, Riverside Museum brings Glasgow's industrial and maritime heritage to life through interactive displays and a recreated Victorian street scene.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Riverside Museum
Highlights:
Pro tip: Arrive early to beat crowds, especially during school holidays, and don't miss the opportunity to board the Tall Ship Glenlee, where kids can explore decks, cabins, and participate in treasure hunts and storytelling sessions.
Suggested time to spend: 2.5 hours
Time to next stop: 25-minute bus ride.
Attraction: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Scotland's most visited free museum (outside London) features 22 themed galleries with 8,000 exhibits ranging from a suspended Spitfire to ancient Egyptian artifacts, making art and history accessible and exciting for families.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Highlights:
Pro tip: Pick up free family activity sheets and trails at the museum entrance, designed for different age groups, keeping children engaged while exploring, and visit the basement Discovery Centre with hands-on activities.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Dinner: Walk to Paesano Pizza nearby on Great Western Road, a family-friendly Italian restaurant where kids can watch pizzas being made in the open kitchen, with simple fresh ingredients and a relaxed vibe perfect for families.
Breakfast: Begin at The Glad Café across from Queen's Park, offering delicious brunch and lunch options, homemade cakes, hot drinks, and a family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of space for prams and high chairs after playing in the park.
Attraction: Glasgow Botanic Gardens
A beautiful 200-year-old botanical garden featuring lush green spaces, the magnificent Victorian Kibble Palace glasshouse, and diverse plant collections, including the National Collection of tree ferns in Glasgow's West End.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Great Western Road (10-minute walk to gardens)
Highlights:
Pro tip: Bring bread to feed the friendly squirrels that dart between park benches, visit the café for scones and tea, and admission to the gardens and all glasshouses is completely free, making this perfect budget-friendly family entertainment.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 30-minute bus ride.
Lunch: Enjoy a meal at Grosvenor Café on Ashton Lane, serving pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and more with arts and crafts, free face painting, and games for kids every Sunday, creating entertaining family dining experiences.
Attraction: Pollok Country Park
Glasgow's largest park, spanning 360 acres, Pollok Country Park features woodland walks, gardens, a large adventure playground, Highland cow herds roaming free, and houses the award-winning Burrell Collection museum.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Pollok Country Park entrance (seasonal Yellow Route)
Highlights:
Pro tip: Pack a picnic and spend the afternoon exploring the woodland trails, gardens, and vast open spaces, and bring bikes as the park has dedicated cycling paths perfect for family rides.
Suggested time to spend: 3 hours
Time to next stop: Return bus to city center.
Attraction: Glasgow Cathedral and St Mungo Museum
Adjacent to the magnificent medieval Glasgow Cathedral, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art explores world religions and their art, housed in the oldest surviving house in Glasgow, built in the 15th century.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Cathedral
Highlights:
Pro tip: Combine your cathedral visit with a walk up the adjacent Glasgow Necropolis, where older children will enjoy the Gothic atmosphere and stories about Victorian Glasgow, while younger ones can spot interesting sculptures and monuments.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Dinner: Dine at Sapporo Teppanyaki, where chefs prepare food right before your eyes, with a kids' menu featuring yakisoba noodles and chicken teriyaki plus soft drinks, making Japanese cuisine exciting and accessible for families.
Breakfast: Stop at An Clachan Café in Kelvingrove Park right next to the children's play park, serving delicious sandwiches, pastries, and plenty of kid-friendly options made with locally sourced ingredients.
Attraction: Kelvingrove Park
A stunning 85-acre public park designed in the Victorian era, wrapping around Kelvingrove Art Gallery, featuring playgrounds, skateparks, woodland paths, the River Kelvin, and wide open spaces for family activities.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Highlights:
Pro tip: Combine your park visit with Kelvingrove Museum, which sits within the park grounds, allowing easy transitions between outdoor play and indoor cultural exploration when children need activity changes, or the weather turns.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 20-minute bus ride.
Lunch: Visit Strip Joint in Finnieston, a laid-back bar and restaurant with an onsite record store where kids (welcome before 9pm) can create their own pizzas right at the table, making dining interactive and fun.
Attraction: Glasgow Mural Trail
The City Centre Mural Trail features colorful, large-scale street art perfect for family exploration, including murals depicting wildlife, musicians, and whimsical scenes that engage children while teaching about urban art and Glasgow's creative culture.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: George Square
Highlights:
Pro tip: Download the official Glasgow Mural Trail map or app showing all 29+ murals with family-friendly walking routes connecting the artworks, turning the trail into an urban scavenger hunt adventure for children.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 10-minute walk.
Attraction: The Tall Ship Glenlee
A restored 1896 three-masted barque now permanently moored on the River Clyde next to Riverside Museum, offering families the chance to explore a historic sailing ship with under-5s soft play, family activities, and interactive maritime exhibits.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Riverside Museum
Highlights:
Pro tip: Check the Tall Ship's website for special family event days featuring additional activities, and combination tickets with Riverside Museum offer value for families planning to visit both attractions in one afternoon.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at Cosmo World Buffet, offering a wide international variety perfect for picky eaters, with a chocolate fountain that's a big bonus for kids, all in a family-friendly environment where everyone finds something they love.
Breakfast: Start at Bluebell Coffee in the Ruzafa district, a charming specialty coffee roastery serving chia pudding, salmon toast with beetroot hummus, steamed bao buns, and velvety cappuccinos for the perfect morning fuel.
Attraction: Glasgow Cathedral
A remarkable medieval cathedral built from the 12th to 15th centuries, Glasgow Cathedral is one of Scotland's few churches to survive the Protestant Reformation of 1560 completely intact, standing on the site where St Mungo established Christianity in 603 AD.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Cathedral
Highlights:
Pro tip: Join a free guided tour (check cathedral schedule) to learn about the building's remarkable survival during the Reformation, when most Scottish medieval churches were destroyed, and discover hidden architectural details and historical stories.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 5-minute walk uphill.
Lunch: Stop at Mharsanta Restaurant & Bar on Bell Street, one of Glasgow's original thirteen streets in the historic Merchant City, serving traditional Scottish MacSween's haggis with neeps and tatties paired with Clydeside Stobcross whisky.
Attraction: Glasgow Necropolis
A Victorian garden cemetery established in 1833 by the wealthy Merchants' House of Glasgow and modeled on Paris's Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Necropolis stands as Scotland's first "hygienic cemetery" open to all faiths.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Cathedral
Highlights:
Pro tip: Access the cemetery via the Bridge of Sighs, named for its use in funeral processions crossing the Molendinar Burn, where St Mungo reportedly fished for salmon.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 20-minute bus ride.
Attraction: Riverside Museum
Housed in Zaha Hadid's award-winning 2011 building, Riverside Museum showcases Glasgow's transport and technology collections reflecting the city's crucial contributions to shipbuilding, locomotive manufacturing, and engineering during its "Second City of the Empire" era.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Riverside Museum
Highlights:
Pro tip: The museum stands on the former A. & J. Inglis shipyard site where the PS Waverley (world's last seagoing paddle steamer) was built, connecting modern museum architecture with Glasgow's maritime past.
Suggested time to spend: 2.5 hours
Dinner: Dine at Cafe Gandolfi, opened in 1979 as one of Glasgow's oldest family-run restaurants in the historic Merchant City, serving Scottish classics with modern twists, including excellent seafood and the legendary caramel shortcake.
Breakfast: Visit Federal Café on Great Western Road, a spacious café in a historic building with high ceilings and modern Scandinavian interior serving excellent coffee, hearty eggs Benedict, avocado toast, burgers, and smoothies.
Attraction: University of Glasgow
Founded in 1451 as Scotland's second-oldest university (fourth in the English-speaking world), the University of Glasgow moved to its current Gilmorehill campus in 1870, featuring magnificent Gothic Revival architecture by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: University of Glasgow
Highlights:
Pro tip: Take a free self-guided campus tour exploring Professors' Square with its 13 terraced townhouses, the University Chapel memorial, and the Hunterian Museum founded in 1807 as Scotland's oldest public museum.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 15-minute walk through the West End.
Lunch: Enjoy authentic cuisine at The Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane, a Glasgow institution since 1971, serving modern Scottish dishes with seasonal ingredients in the unique courtyard restaurant with overhead foliage creating atmospheric dining.
Attraction: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Opened in 1901 to coincide with the Glasgow International Exhibition, Kelvingrove was built with Spanish Baroque red sandstone architecture and funded partly by profits from the 1888 International Exhibition held in Kelvingrove Park.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit during the daily organ recital at 1pm to hear the magnificent 1901 Lewis & Co pipe organ with 3,339 pipes, originally powered by water engines and now electrically operated.
Suggested time to spend: 2.5 hours
Time to next stop: 25-minute bus ride.
Attraction: Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
Scotland's most visited contemporary art gallery is housed in the former Royal Exchange (1778), later expanded and transformed into the neoclassical building with a distinctive Corinthian columned facade completed in 1829.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: George Square
Highlights:
Pro tip: Explore the Merchant City surrounding GoMA, Glasgow's historic commercial district, where 18th-century tobacco and sugar merchants built grand warehouses and homes that now house restaurants, bars, and cultural venues.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Dinner: Savor dinner at Rogano, Glasgow's oldest surviving restaurant, opened in 1935 with a stunning Art Deco interior inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner, serving Scottish seafood, including oysters, lobster, and traditional fish and chips.
Breakfast: Begin at Singl-end Café on Renfrew Street in Garnethill, recently refurbished and offering the best spot for brunch with sandwiches, toast, smoothies, kombuchas, mimosas, matcha lattes, and incredible carrot cake.
Attraction: The Tenement House
A preserved Victorian tenement flat owned by the National Trust for Scotland, The Tenement House offers a rare glimpse into ordinary Glasgow life, left virtually unchanged from 1911-1965 when Miss Agnes Toward lived here.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Sauchiehall Street (10-minute walk)
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit during National Trust for Scotland member hours for free admission, or check for special heritage events that bring the tenement to life with costumed interpreters and period demonstrations.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time to next stop: 15-minute walk.
Lunch: Stop at Mackintosh at The Willow on Sauchiehall Street, the reconstructed Charles Rennie Mackintosh tearoom originally designed in 1903 for Kate Cranston, serving afternoon tea and Scottish specialties in authentic Mackintosh surroundings.
Attraction: The Lighthouse (Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture)
Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture, housed in Charles Rennie Mackintosh's first public building (1895), originally designed as the Glasgow Herald newspaper headquarters, features the distinctive Mackintosh Tower offering panoramic city views.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: City Centre stops
Highlights:
Pro tip: Combine your visit with the nearby Glasgow Mural Trail and explore the Merchant City's architectural heritage, including Victorian commercial buildings, warehouses converted to apartments, and the Italian Centre.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time to next stop: 20-minute bus ride.
Attraction: Provand's Lordship
Built in 1471 as part of St Nicholas Hospital, Provand's Lordship is Glasgow's oldest surviving house, offering a rare example of medieval domestic architecture with period furnishings and displays about 15th and 16th-century Glasgow life.
Nearest stop:
City Sightseeing Glasgow: Cathedral
Highlights:
Pro tip: Visit the beautiful garden behind Provand's Lordship, featuring medicinal and culinary herbs used in medieval times, recreating a physic garden typical of the St Nicholas Hospital period.
Suggested time to spend: 1 hour
Time to next stop: 30-minute bus ride.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at The Gannet in Finnieston, a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant serving modern Scottish cuisine showcasing seasonal ingredients, excellent Scottish seafood, game, and an impressive whisky selection celebrating Scotland's culinary heritage.