What to see, what to do in Glasgow: top 10 activities

A wind of modernity is blowing over Glasgow. Long confined to its image as an industrial city, Scotland's largest city has reinvented itself to become one of Britain's most dynamic destinations.

To discover

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Art, architecture, music, gastronomy and nature are now in the spotlight without taking precedence over local traditions, including the inevitable pubcrawl where travelers and locals mix for an unmissable pub crawl.

Read alsoTwo days in Glasgow, Scottish city at the forefront of style

Admire a work by Dali at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the largest museums in Scotland. ANTON IVANOVAnton Ivanov Photo

In the West End, you will discover the impressive art collection on display in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, one of the most beautiful buildings in Glasgow. Visit its 22 galleries to admire Christ of St. John of the Cross, Salvador Dali, as well as exceptional works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Botticelli and Monet. A restored Spitfire aircraft also hangs from the ceiling.

TAKE A FREE TOUR IN GLASGOW

Discover St. Mungo's Cathedral in Glasgow

Inside, you look up to admire the carved stone bosses of the ceiling and one of Britain's finest collections of stained glass windows. Radek Sturgolewski

We head to the city center where Glasgow Cathedral is located, recognizable by its remarkable medieval architecture and dedicated to St. Mungo, the patron saint of the city. Walking down Blackadder Alley, you look up to admire the carved stone bosses of the ceiling and one of Britain's finest collections of stained glass windows.

VISIT GLASGOW BY TOURIST BUS

Getting to the Glasgow Necropolis

This Victorian garden cemetery is inspired by Père-Lachaise in Paris. Peter Reiner

We leave the cathedral to walk between the tombs of the adjacent necropolis. Designed in a neo-classical architectural style, inspired by Père-Lachaise in Paris, this Victorian garden cemetery is the final resting place of the 50,000 people buried there, most of whom are commemorated by grandiose stone monuments.

Visit the Riverside Museum

The Riverside Museum was designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Jeff Whyte

Along the River Clyde, not far from Finnieston's iconic crane, you will discover the original Riverside Museum building, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid.

Inside the museum, there is a range of 3000 objects from Glasgow's rich past. After a walk in an old cobbled street recreating the atmosphere of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, we board a large sailboat floating on the river.

TAKE A WHISKY-THEMED TOUR

Marvel at the Science Centre

There are many interactive exhibits to discover at the Glasgow Science Centre. Richard Johnson

We cross the Millennium Bridge to reach the Glasgow Science Centre, on the south bank. Interactive exhibits covering a wide range of scientific fields allow young and old alike to learn while having fun.

We visit the planetarium, watch a documentary in a 3D cinema and climb to the top of the Glasgow Tower to enjoy a view of the whole city.

TAKE A HISTORICAL GUIDED TOUR

Admire the architecture of The Lighthouse

The Glasgow Lighthouse houses galleries, a small museum, a café and an observation deck. Train arrival

In the heart of Glasgow, near bustling Buchanan Street, The Lighthouse acts as a beacon for Scotland's creative industries by promoting design and architecture through a programme of exhibitions and events. Housed in the former Glasgow Herald building, its four floors house galleries, a small museum, a café and an observation deck from which you can enjoy a superb panorama stretching from Central Station in the south to the Campsie Fells in the north.

Hunt at The Barras Market

Barras Market is an institution in Glasgow. Alexey Fedorenko

In the East End, not far from the city centre, the huge red gates of Gallowgate mark the entrance to Barras Market, an institution in Glasgow. Every weekend, from 10am to 16pm, you can hunt for bargains by strolling between its emblematic arcades in a warm atmosphere.

VISIT TO DISCOVER STREET ART

Hampden Park, Ibrox Park or Celtic Park: join one of the city's stadiums to watch a football match

More than 50,000 fans sing the legendary Flowers of Scotland at Hampden Park on match days. Uslatar

The XV of the Thistle has its ease in the mythical enclosure of Murrayfield, in Edinburgh. So in Glasgow, bet on football instead, the city has no less than three venues worthy of interest. On the benches of Hampden Park, in the Mount Florida district, 52,000 fans sing the mythical Flowers of Scotland on match days of the national team. And just before, you can visit the Scottish Football Museum where the original Scottish Cup, the oldest national trophy in the world, is located.

To attend a match of the two big clubs of the city, head to Celtic Park of Celtic Glasgow, or Ibrox Park, where Rangers, the most successful club in the country, play.

Explore the University of Glasgow campus

The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest English-speaking university in the world. Paul

We continue the discovery of the city by making a detour to the University of Glasgow, the fourth oldest English-speaking university in the world. Founded in 1451, it is distinguished by its magnificent neo-Gothic buildings that house fascinating museums, such as the Hunterian Museum, Scotland's oldest public museum.

We enjoy strolling through the campus that dominates the West End until arriving at the green Kelvingrove Park, located below.

BOOK A GUIDED BIKE TOUR

Leaving the city for Loch Lomond Lake

Loch Lomond is Scotland's largest freshwater lake. Douglas

We take the road north of Glasgow to discover Loch Lomond, the largest freshwater lake in Scotland. Gateway to the Highlands, it is part of the Trossachs National Park and offers a myriad of activities for nature lovers. You can walk or cycle along its banks as you watch the rolling hills reflected in the sparkling waters and marvel at the sumptuous landscapes during a cruise to discover the many islets that dot the lake.

EXCURSION TO THE HIGHLANDS