Glasgow in 1 Day: all you need to know

Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, will win you over from the very first moment. In its streets you'll discover a rich architectural mix of 19th century Victorian, medieval, industrial and modern styles. You will find natural spaces, historical, sporting and leisure destinations.

There are many things to do in Glasgow during a day, such as visiting the Cathedral, the Necropolis, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Celtic Park stadium, the Tennent's Brewery, among other interesting destinations that I will tell you about in a moment.

Glasgow Cathedral, located about 5 minutes drive from the city centre, is a good place to start your day. Opened in 1197, it is a jewel of Gothic architecture and one of the oldest intact buildings in the city.

Inside the cathedral you will have the opportunity to see a series of stained glass windows, sculptures, a medieval crypt and the tomb of Glasgow's patron saint, St Mungo.

It is a must-see for its historical, religious and cultural importance. Such is the value of this cathedral that it is often included in the itinerary of any guided tour of Glasgow.

Useful information

• Price: admission to Glasgow Cathedral is free, but if you want to enhance the experience you can purchase an audio guide for around £2.
• Opening hours: open from 10am to 4pm (Monday to Saturday) and 1pm to 4pm (Sunday).
• Address: Glasgow Cathedral, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0QZ, UK.

From the Cathedral you will need to walk approximately 9 minutes to reach the next destination, the Glasgow Necropolis. This is a 19th century Victorian cemetery.

This necropolis is home to the remains of at least 50,000 people. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to discover different artistic and architectural styles through the series of tombs and funerary monuments erected there.

For example, some of the highlights you will see in the Necropolis are the following:

• The Celtic Cross by the Scottish architect and designer Charles Mackintosh.
• The Baroque tomb of John Henry Alexander, who in his lifetime was the former manager of Glasgow's Theatre Royal.

Useful information

• Price: admission is free.
• Opening hours: 7am-4pm (daily).
• Address: Glasgow Necropolis, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0UZ, UK.

If you want to discover Glasgow' s beer culture, then when you leave the Necropolis you should walk for about 14 minutes along John Knox St and Duke St. You will find the historic Tennent's Brewery. Here, you can enjoy various types of bottled and draught beer.

During your visit to Tennent's brewery in Glasgow, you will learn about the history of this emblematic place, established in the city in 1556 by Robert Tennent and which has become a family business that has managed to transcend the passage of time.

It is an important craft brewery where you will discover the brewing process of the famous dark-coloured drink. You will also learn how this industry contributed to the country's economy.

Useful information

• Price: Admission to Tennent's Breweries is free (bar and restaurant area). However, guided tours of the brewery can cost from around €28 per person.
• Opening times: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm.
• Address: Caledonian Breweries, 161 Duke St, Glasgow G31 1JD, United Kingdom

The day's adventure exploring the city continues at Celtic Park Stadium, located approximately 12 minutes' drive from the previous destination. This is an ideal place if you are a Scottish football enthusiast or are in Glasgow with children, as they will have a blast touring the stadium if they enjoy the sport.

Upon arrival at the stadium, home of Celtic FC since 1892, you will discover every nook and cranny of this impressive building, capable of holding an average of 60,000 spectators. You will see the press room, the changing rooms and walk through the tunnel to the pitch.

You can visit Glasgow's Celtic Park, or "The Paradise" as the fans call it, at any time of the year, as long as there is no match on that day. You should also bear in mind that this type of tour is usually guided.

Useful information

• Price: The guided tour of Celtic Park Stadium can cost up to €24 per person.
• Opening times: Monday to Friday 11.00am to 1.30pm.
• Address: Janefield St, Glasgow G40 3RE, United Kingdom.

About 7 minutes drive from Glasgow's Celtic Park Stadium, via London Rd/A74 and Brook St, you will find the People's Palace and Winter Gardens. This is an important history museum showing what the city and its people were like from 1750 to the present day.

In the museum you will discover the industrial past and local culture, giving you a clear picture of how the people lived, worked and entertained themselves. You will see engravings, photographs, films, furniture, tools and many other objects.

In addition to the exhibitions, you can recharge your batteries in the cafeteria area or take a stroll through the beautiful winter garden next to the building, which was erected in 1898. You will marvel at the variety of tropical and exotic plants.

Useful information

• Price: Admission to the People's Palace and Winter Gardens is free.
• Opening hours: The People's Palace and Winter Gardens is open to the public from Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00. Fridays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm.
• Address: Green, Templeton St, Glasgow G40 1AT, United Kingdom.

Merchant City is the next stop on your tour of Glasgow. This vibrant shopping and cultural destination is located approximately 10 minutes' drive from the People's Palace and Winter Gardens. Enjoy the architecture, satisfy your taste buds and do some shopping.

In this neighbourhood you'll find a series of renovated 18th century buildings, home to restaurants serving local and international cuisine, cafes where you can experience a Glasgow afternoon tea and bars where you can relax with a cocktail.

There are also fashionable shop windows, boutiques, the 1882 City Hall and the Old Fruit Market which, although now a concert hall, still retains its balcony, vaulted ceiling and cast-iron columns.

Useful information

• Price: Free admission to the Merchant City Quarter.
• Opening hours: Accessible 24 hours a day, but shops have opening hours varying from 8am to 10pm or later.
• Address: Merchant City, Glasgow, UK.

From the Merchant City Quarter, you will need to walk approximately 6 minutes either in the direction of Queen St or along Glassford St and Ingram St, whichever is more convenient for you, to reach the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art. Here you will see permanent and temporary exhibitions with art from all over the world.

When you arrive at the Gallery of Modern Art, also known as GoMA, the first thing that will catch your eye is the unique equestrian sculpture with a traffic cone, which welcomes you. Inside the museum you will enjoy a total of four galleries with installations, sculptures, paintings, etc.

You can also visit GoMA's library area. And if you want to take a sample of art with you, there is a gallery where you can buy an exclusive range inspired by the collections on display.

Useful information

• Price: the Gallery of Modern Art offers free admission.
• Opening hours: 10am to 5pm (Monday to Thursday and Saturday) and 11am to 3pm (Friday and Sunday).
• Address: 111 Queen St, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH, UK.

Just a 3 minute walk from the Gallery of Modern Art is George Square, named after King George III. This is a city landmark, surrounded by historic buildings and interesting monuments.

You can sit on one of the benches and take in the surroundings: the Victorian style Town Hall building, the memorial to the fallen in WWI and WWII which is flanked by a pair of lions or the Christmas market square if you visit Glasgow in the winter season.

This is the city's main square. A must-see destination, frequented daily by dozens of locals and tourists alike. In fact, George Square is usually among the destinations incorporated in the different routes of the best tours of Glasgow.

Useful information

• Price: George Square in Glasgow is free to enter.
• Opening hours: George Square is open all day.
• Address: Glasgow G2 1DH, United Kingdom.

At least 3 minutes' walk from George Square, Buchanan Street, regarded as Glasgow's commercial hub, begins. This is a place to shop, take photos and sit in a café and enjoy a drink with a classic stuffed pastry.

Along your stroll down Buchanan Street, be sure to check out the old blue police box, especially if you are a fan of Dr Who, the 1960's British TV series where the blue police box represented a time machine.

You can also wander into Buchanan' s alleyways and get up close and personal with the colourful and original murals. Ideal if you're interested in taking a street art tour of Glasgow.

Useful information

• Price: Admission to Buchanan Street is free.
• Opening hours: Buchanan Street is open all day.
• Address: Buchanan St, Glasgow, UK.

A final place to end the day's itinerary is Mackintosh Lighthouse, very close to the Buchanan. You'll see the Glasgow skyline from a high vantage point, giving you a different perspective of the whole place, which is particularly attractive at sunset.

The building is the work of British architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, built in 1895 and used as the headquarters of the local newspaper The Glasgow Herald. This lighthouse is notable for its modern style and spiral staircase, which you must climb to access the viewing platform.

When you reach the top of the lighthouse, considered by many to be the best place to admire the city, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the architectural contrast of Glasgow and take some amazing photographs.

Useful information

• Entry to Mackintosh Lighthouse is free.
• Opening hours: 10.30am-5pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon-5pm on Sunday.
• Address: 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow G1 2NU.

The Glasgow Sightseeing Bus is a great way to get around the city during your 1-day stay. You'll travel long distances, saving you significant time which you can use to discover more destinations.

You can purchase a 24-hour pass and travel around the city on the first floor of a bus, with the opportunity to hop on and off at approximately 22 free stops including Glasgow Cathedral, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Merchant City Quarter, George Square, Buchanan Street, etc.

Glasgow is a very well communicated place so you will find several means of transport to move around the city without inconveniences. Some of them are:

• The public bus network, which connects different neighbourhoods, shopping areas and tourist destinations. This transport is operated by First Glasgow.
• Taxis, which stand out as a fast and personalised service. You can hail one on the street, in the vicinity of any attraction.
• The Nextbike bicycle system, which allows you to hire equipment and move around freely in a sustainable way. In fact, this is such a popular mode of transport that you'll see many bike tours around Glasgow.
• The light rail, which allows you to get around the city centre thanks to its circular route.