Looking for an IG-worthy destination for your post-pandemic trip? If your ideal vacation includes awe-inspiring architecture, gorgeous parks and gardens, and memorable art and culture trips, then Glasgow is the best place to be.
Glasgow isn’t just the largest city in Scotland — it’s also the epicentre of culture in the country. This gem of a city is home to a wide array of museums, art galleries, music venues, bars, restaurants, and other cultural spaces. If you love sightseeing, you’ll enjoy the city’s striking Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, parks and gardens, and quirky cobbled streets, which are all postcard-worthy.
With so much going on, you’re assured that you won’t run out of beautiful sights to discover and capture. In this article, we’ll uncover 7 of the most Instagrammable places in Glasgow that you shouldn’t miss.
1. Glasgow’s Victorian architecture
Glasgow is known for its rich architectural heritage. Just walk around the city and you’ll witness some of the finest Victorian architecture, beautifully preserved for centuries.
Wander around George Square, the civic heart of the city, and you’ll see the majestic City Chambers. For more than 100 years, the prestigious building overlooking the square has been the headquarters of successive councils of Glasgow. This grand edifice built in 1888 is a symbol of Glasgow’s historic wealth.
You’ll also notice the city’s red sandstone tenements, which is one of the defining features of Glasgow. There’s a chance that your hotel or serviced apartment in Glasgow is housed in one of these iconic buildings.
2. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
No Glasgow vacation would be complete without a trip to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of Scotland’s most popular free attractions. The museum, housed in a charming red sandstone building, is already IG-worthy from the outside. But don’t settle for a glance from the park — you’ll be more amazed once you step inside.
Kelvingrove features an extensive collection of art, natural history, and artifacts from different periods of history. The museum boasts its 22 themed galleries, with astonishing 8000 objects on display, including dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, ancient Egypt artifacts, and artworks from Salvador Dali and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
3. Glasgow Cathedral & Necropolis
Want to travel way back in the Medieval era? Glasgow is home to the only surviving medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland that’s still intact: The Glasgow Cathedral. It’s also the oldest building in Glasgow and one of the best examples of medieval architecture that remains in Scotland.
Adjacent to the elaborate cathedral is the Necropolis, an old cemetery filled with captivating sculptures and tales.
4. Glasgow’s vibrant street murals
Glasgow isn’t just composed of Victorian architecture that provides a glimpse of its wealthy past — Glasgow’s cityscape is a perfect mix of classic and modern. Walk around and you’ll see colourful urban murals painted on some of the walls and lanes, showcasing the city’s vibrant contemporary culture.
Discover these fascinating urban works of art by joining street art walking tours led by passionate locals. You can also download the city centre mural trail map and have your own self-guided tour.
5. The quirky, cobbled streets
It’s impossible to explore Glasgow (or anywhere in Europe) without taking a snap of its attractive, cobbled lanes. These narrow streets are beautifully lined with bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops with charming storefronts.
If you’re in the west part of the city, make sure to visit Ashton Lane, a picture-perfect, little street that’s packed with fascinating places to eat, drink, and party. Another IG-worthy spot in Glasgow is The Hidden Lane in trendy Finnieston. The lane is bursting with life, not just from the multi-coloured frontages but also from the community of artists, designers, and musicians that make up the place.
6. Glasgow’s parks and gardens
Did you know that Glasgow’s Gaelic name means “Dear Green Place”? The city isn’t just proud of its architectural gems — it has a wealth of green spaces that provide an oasis of calm in the bustling city.
Glasgow lives up to its name as it has over 90 parks and gardens to explore. Some of the best ones include Pollok Country Park, Queens Park, Kelvingrove Park set on the banks of the River Kelvin, and Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
7. The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse isn’t an actual lighthouse — it’s a distinctive red-brick building in Scotland designed by renowned architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It houses Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture.
While The Lighthouse looks already striking from the outside, you should step inside and climb up the building to see the magic. Aside from the unbeatable views from the top, the jaw-dropping spiral staircase you can see when you look back down will give you one of the most iconic photographs in Glasgow.
What’s your favourite IG-worthy place in Glasgow? We’d love to hear it in the comments below.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a free-spirited writer who loves exploring the great outdoors. She loves traveling, eating, taking food and streetscape photographs, and simply enjoying new experiences and writing about them. To know more about hotels and travel blogs, you may visit PREMIER SUITES Glasgow George Square.