11 Free things to do in Glasgow

Set at the heart of Pollock Country Park, the Burrell Collection is a treasure trove of centuries of art and history amassed by the shipping tycoon, Sir William Burrell. From Persian carpets and an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus to Impressionist paintings, gleaming suits of armour, and a world-renowned collection of stained-glass art, there’s more to discover than ever before. State-of-the-art digital and interactive elements further enrich the experience, bringing to life the unique tale behind each object on display.  

Visit The Burrell Collection 

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 

With 22 galleries, there’s always something new to discover at this huge museum. Look up to see a restored Mark 21 spitfire dizzyingly suspended from the ceiling, delve into a collection of 5,000 ancient Egyptian artefacts, and marvel at masterpieces by painters as diverse as Titian and Picasso, alongside Salvador Dalí’s mesmerising Christ of St John. You’ll also find elegant furniture by Glaswegian designer and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, as well as museum favourites like the 10-foot-tall Sir Roger, a taxidermied Asian elephant.  

Explore Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Located on the banks of the River Clyde, the appropriately named Riverside Museum reveals how generations of residents once navigated their city. View a stunning wall display of vintage vehicles ranging from a Rolls-Royce Phantom II to a postal van from the Isle of Arran. Climb aboard a Glasgow tram from the 1950s, wander along a recreated cobbled street while peeking in shops from the city’s past, and discover more of the museum’s comprehensive collection, including motorcycles, locomotives, an early fire engine, skateboards and even prams. 

Take in the collections of the Riverside Museum

It’s easy to find the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). Just look for the Duke of Wellington statue out front of the neoclassical building – typically sporting the customary traffic cone atop his head – and enter this former merchant’s townhouse which now houses the city's impressive contemporary art collection. From pop art maestro Andy Warhol to major post-war figures like David Hockney, discover well-known Scottish artists including John Bellany and Ken Currie alongside other thought-provoking works across a range of mediums, from painting and sculpture to immersive light, sound and digital installations.   

Broaden your horizons at the Gallery of Modern Art

Glasgow was once hailed the ‘Second City of the British Empire’, and few buildings reflect the prosperity of this era quite like the magnificent Glasgow City Chambers. Go behind the scenes of its imposing façade on a free tour. Learn more about the building and the city it presides over. Pass through ceremonial rooms adorned with glimmering mosaics and gleaming carved wood, as well as the equally ornate banqueting hall. Finally, ascend the magnificent marble staircase carved from Carrera marble – the largest in Western Europe.  

Take a free tour of Glasgow City Chambers

Glasgow is blessed with many beautiful green spaces, not least Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Follow the meandering paths to experience the natural joys of the season, from verdant green hues and blooming florals to spectacular displays of autumnal foliage. It’s also home to one of Glasgow’s most delightful architectural gems – the Kibble Palace. This Victorian glasshouse is a marvel of curved glass and wrought iron which forms a light-filled dome packed with an extraordinary jungle of plant and tree life, from twisting Australian tree ferns to towering palms and other exotic specimens.  

Pay a visit to Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Step inside Glasgow’s oldest building and into one of Scotland’s best-preserved medieval spaces. One of the few churches in Scotland to emerge from the Reformation largely unscathed, Glasgow Cathedral retains extraordinary details from its ancient past. Walk beneath soaring Gothic arches and vaulted ceilings as light pierces through immense stained-glass windows, illuminating centuries-old masonry. Descend into the atmospheric Lower Church to find the tomb of St Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint, and appreciate modern additions, including a commemorative stained-glass window installed in 2025. 

Discover Glasgow Cathedral

Lose yourself in the cabinet of curiosities of Scotland’s oldest public museum. Tucked away inside the University of Glasgow, get up close to all manner of weird and wonderful specimens, from incredibly well preserved 300-million-year-old sharks to carved Roman altars from the Antonine Wall, to a plethora of fossils and minerals to delicate birds’ nests and scientific instruments. Continue your visit at the neighbouring Hunterian Art Gallery which showcases works by Whistler and the Scottish Colourists, alongside an outstanding collection devoted to Glasgow architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  

Explore The Hunterian

Want to see one of the finest views of Glasgow? Make your way to the flagpole which marks the summit of Queen’s Park for expansive views across Glasgow’s skyline. On a clear day, you can see beyond the city limits as far as the Campsie Fells hill range and Ben Lomond. After you’ve made you way back down, follow the leafy paths alongside the serene ponds and spacious green patches of this beloved park, which on weekends thrums with energy as families, joggers, dog walkers and more trickle in from the city’s southside suburbs.  

Take a walk through Queen’s Park

Museum and galleries aren’t the only places to enjoy Glasgow’s art. This self-guided trail turns a city-centre walk into an open gallery tour, revealing the transformative power of graffiti on urban spaces, with the gable ends of buildings, lanes and unexpected corners adapted into giant canvases for bold public art. Track down local artist Sam “Smug” Bates’s modern-day depiction of the city’s patron saint, Mungo, cradling a robin on the High Street, pose beneath the giant magnifying glass of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, or admire the sprawling University of Strathclyde’s Wonderwall.  

Follow the City Centre Mural Trail

Cross the evocatively Bridge of Sighs from Glasgow Cathedral to start the climb to Glasgow Necropolis, a labyrinthine Victorian cemetery that overlooks the city. Follow winding paths between obelisks and weathered angels solemnly keeping watch over elaborate mausoleums and tombs where some of the city’s most notable residents are laid to rest. As you climb higher, pause among the monuments and soak up the brooding atmosphere, with the medieval Cathedral below and Glasgow’s skyline unfolding in the distance. If you want to learn more about the history of place, join a free tour with Friends of Glasgow Necropolis – donations are appreciated.  

Visit Glasgow Necropolis

This list was created by VisitScotland to showcase a range of experiences. It isn’t ranked in any specific order.