Two days in Glasgow is always too short: the city has so much to offer, between its explosive gastronomic scene, its artistic world renowned for its excellence, its abundant musical universe, its countless parks and monuments, and its geographical location which makes the ideal base for exploring the Highlands and the West Isles of Scotland. From the West End to the East End via the commercial heart and the banks of the Clyde River, here are the essentials of a "Glasgow" itinerary in 48 hours.
The arrival
To save time and to reach the city center from the international airport, consider pre-booking a taxi on an online platform, by email or by phone. If you're coming from Edinburgh, take the train to Glasgow: the quickest take 45 minutes, and can be very expensive if you're traveling during off-peak hours.
At the moment
TO DO
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
What better way to practice your English than to go to a stand-up show? For two weeks in March, the city welcomes rising stars and big names in laughter from around the world, at the biggest festival of its kind in Europe. Not to be missed: the actor Trevor Noah, presenter of the American satirical program "The Daily Show", the Glasgow poet Kevin P. Gilday, and one of the star Scottish comedians, Fern Brady.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival, March 12-29, 2020. 278 High Street, Glasgow, G4 0QT. Information and tickets on the festival website.
AT TABLE
Ox and Finch on Sauchiehall Street. Ox and Finch / Photo press
Ox and Finch
We do not forget a meal at Ox and Finch, which in a few years has established itself as a must on the “Glasgow” culinary scene. On the program: small plates to share Scottish products, such as salmon and lamb, brought up to date, all in a rustic and contemporary decor. There is something for everyone and at very affordable prices: each plate costs on average 9 to 10 pounds. Vegetarians and vegan will not be hungry either with menus specially adapted to their needs.
Ox and Finch, 920 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G3 7TF. Phone: +44 141 339 8627.
THE HOTEL IN SIGHT
One Devonshire Gardens by Hôtel du Vin
Located in Glasgow's West End, One Devonshire Gardens is a 5-star boutique hotel a stone's throw from the Botanical Gardens. The forty or so rooms and suites of elegant Victorian style will allow you to enjoy the city's attractions while being in a cozy cocoon. On site, you will also have access to the hotel restaurant and its whiskey bar.
One Devonshire Gardens by Hôtel du Vin, 1 Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow, G12 0UX. Phone: +44 141 576 2265.
DAY 1: FROM WEST END TO CLYDE: HISTORY AND RENEWAL
First day in Glasgow, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Sebastiaan Kroes / Getty Images
Morning
We start the day's route in Glasgow's verdant West End , which is home to a number of major monuments and museums, and whose restaurants find their place even in the Michelin guides. You can't miss it when you arrive in the neighborhood: the imposing Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum , all of red brick, located in the park of the same name. With collections ranging from Antiquity to Scottish contemporary art, through the Renaissance and taxidermy, you can spend hours there. To see absolutely: the Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí, the works of Vincent Van Gogh, and of course the impressive organ in the hall.
From there, head to the University of Glasgow , which dates from the mid-15th century, about a ten-minute walk. You will see it from afar thanks to the tower of its main building, Gilbert Scott Building, in the very recognizable Gothic style. It is in this building that there is a small treasure: the cloister of the university, that fans of Outlander will recognize. For others, the vault, the pillars, and also the turrets in the outer courtyard will look like Hogwarts (even if the real life of Harry Potter is Edinburgh).
From here, you will be spoiled for choice for a variety of activities, such as staying on campus and visiting the Hunterian Museum , Scotland's oldest public museum, opened in 1807 thanks to the legacy of the anatomist Dr William Hunter. The museum houses a department of art, zoology (arachnophobes, go your way), and a whole lot of curiosity that Dr. Hunter has amassed all his life. A little further outside the campus, you can also discover the Mackintosh House , a perfect reproduction of the home of the very famous Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 - 1928), who contributed so much to art nouveau.
Lunch break
We no longer know where to head, this Glasgow district is full of gourmet pearls. For a nice setting, head to Ashton Lane , a small alleyway full of small pubs and restaurants with rustic airs. Further down Argyle Street , seafood lovers will rush to Crabshakk. Ox and Finch is three minutes away on foot and offers absolutely delicious small plates and excellent wines and cocktails: the restaurant is definitely worth a visit, for lunch or dinner. To end the lunch break with a cup of tea, Roots, Fruits and Flowers is an original option. Otherwise, take a look at Hidden Lane Tea Room , which serves teas, scones and breakfasts in a discreet cul-de-sac that welcomes a community of creatives.
Afternoon
The Riverside Museum, located on the banks of the Clyde and its tributary, the Kelvin, is the work of the late queen of curves, Zaha Hadid. Daniel Davison / Getty Images
We continue our visit to the west of the city by descending on the banks of the Clyde River , thanks to which Glasgow has long been the world capital of the naval industry, and the second city of the British Empire. The opening towards the Atlantic allowed Glasgow to enrich itself quickly and spectacularly, at the time of slavery and colonization in particular.
But today, the landscape has nothing to do with that of a major port and construction site, with the exception of the Finnieston cantilever crane , which can be seen in the BBC Scotland television news. After a strong period of decline, the area has benefited from a gigantic urban regeneration program. There is now the Riverside Museum , dedicated to transport and designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, but also a conference center, a concert hall, the premises of BBC Scotland ... One of the latest additions to the district is the Clydeside Distillery , opened in 2017, which revives the tradition of single malt scotch whiskey made in Glasgow for the first time in a century. For 15 pounds, the guided tour (to book online) will tell you more about the history of the place, the making of whiskey, and ends with a tasting. We cannot recommend too highly the coffee from the distillery, and in particular the "Taste of Scotland" tray, to complete the experience. To taste the house whiskeys, you will have to come back in a few years.
Across the river, the Glasgow Science Center (£ 11.50 for adults, £ 9.50 for children) will delight families with its interactive physics, chemistry and medicine exhibits. The Planetarium (£ 3) is extraordinary, for young and old: it offers participants, installed in inclined seats, to dive into the cosmos, projected on a huge dome 15 meters in diameter to admire constellations and planets .
Aperitif and dinner
To start the evening off right, we go back up to the hyper-center, more precisely to the shopping district of Merchant City . For a drink, take a look at Tabac (with a real light sign from a French tobacco bar) in Mitchell Lane . On the menu: delicious cocktails, excellent wines and a relaxed atmosphere. For the more adventurous, find the hidden cocktail bar in Tabac, which serves CBD cocktails (completely legal in the UK)!
A little further, on Ingram Street , do not hesitate to sip a cocktail at the super Corinthian Club, before going to dinner in the decadent interiors of Hutchesons, specializing in beef.
Evening
The Saint-Georges Tron church in the city center is located near the Queen Street station. Allan Baxter / Getty Images
Glasgow has been, since 2008, a Unesco city of music. It is impossible to leave the city that gave us Belle & Sebastian, Franz Ferdinand, Texas, Mogwai and CHVRCHES without having tasted the incredible musical scene. For this, head to the Old Fruitmarket , a concert hall in the heart of Merchant City, which has kept the charm of the fruit and vegetable market of yesteryear to welcome groups of pop, rock, jazz or world music. Further down the East End, Barrowland Ballroom has been an institution since its opening in 1934: the hall has welcomed international stars such as David Bowie, Muse, the Clash and many others.
DAY 2: FROM MERCHANT CITY TO THE EAST END
Breathtaking view of the whole city from the tower of the Mackintosh center. Kenny_Lam / Visit Scotland
Morning
Start your second day with a hearty breakfast at Cranachan , named after the Scottish dessert made with red fruits, oatmeal, cream and whiskey, in Princes Square Shopping Center . Do not panic: Princes Square has nothing to do with a dark and crowded shopping center. It dates from 1840 and is full of very famous shops and restaurants. From there, two minutes walk away, do not miss the Lighthouse, a museum dedicated to the design and architecture, where you can learn more about the genius of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. For a breathtaking view of the whole city, climb the tower of the Mackintosh center , with its famous spiral staircase.
Lunch break
Direction East End where you will spend the afternoon: jump on bus 18 from Trongate, and go to WEST Brewery. You cannot miss the brasserie: it is located in the magnificent Templeton Building , which opened for the first time in 1892. You can taste German-inspired dishes and beers there, and take a tour of the brasserie.
Afternoon
Saint Mungo Cathedral, patron saint of Glasgow. by Chakarin Wattanamongkol / Getty Images
From West, you will be just two minutes from People's Place, located in Glasgow Green , the city's oldest park since it was created in the 15th century. The establishment has the distinction of being half a museum for the people of Glasgow ("they are what make it unique", according to the city's slogan, "People Make Glasgow"), half winter garden, where you can drink a cafe surrounded by tropical plants.
From there, continue your journey, for about twenty minutes on foot, to go to Saint Mungo Cathedral , patron saint of Glasgow, a very fine example of a medieval cathedral, passing by the iconic Toulez’s brewery , which you can also visit (you must book online). Nearby is Glasgow's oldest house, the Provand's Lordship which dates from 1471, and most importantly the Necropolis: a Victorian cemetery that overlooks the city. From up there, when you see the city's more than 90 parks and gardens, you can see why the name Glasgow comes from Gaelic Glaschu, which means "dear green square".
Address book
Good tables
The Gannet, 1155 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB. Phone: +44 141 204 2081.
Crabshakk, 1114 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TD. Phone: +44 141 334 6127.
Clydeside Distillery, The Old Pump House, Queen's Dock, 100 Stobcross Rd, Glasgow G3 8QQ. Phone: +44 141 212 1401.
WEST Brewery, Templeton Building, Glasgow Green, Glasgow G40 1AW. Phone: +44 141 550 0135.
Hutchesons City Grill, 158 Ingram St, Glasgow G1 1EJ. Phone: +44 141 552 4050.
Cranachan, 2nd Floor, Princes Square, 48 Buchanan St, Glasgow G1 3JN. Phone: +44 141 248 6257.
Go out for a drink… or a cup of tea
Sauchiehall Street, one of the main shopping streets in Glasgow city center. blackjake / Getty Images
Mackintosh at the Willow, 217 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EX. Phone: +44 141 204 1903.
The Hidden Lane Tea Room, 1103 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8ND. Phone: +44 141 237 4391.
Roots, Fruits & Flowers Finnieston, 1137 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8ND. Phone: +44 141 334 3530.
Tobacco, 10 Mitchell Ln, Glasgow G1 3NU. Phone: +44 141 572 1448.
The Corinthian Club, 191 Ingram St, Glasgow G1 1DA. Phone: +44 141 552 1101.
Or sleep?
Motel one
Located opposite Glasgow Central Station, Motel One is the ideal base for exploring the city on foot or by public transport. The rooms are cozy, nicely decorated and equipped with all the basics, while the hotel lobby, where you can have a drink and have breakfast, is spacious, bright, with armchairs where you could stay hours in an industrial setting.
Motel One, 78-82, Oswald St, Glasgow G1 4PL. Phone: +44 141 468 0450.