Weekend tourist getaway in Glasgow, what chilled out things to do for a first timer in 48 hours.

Glasgow is a great city to visit and it's my home town. So let me put my host hat on and advise you on where to go and what to see if you are visiting for 48 hours or a weekend.

Glasgow has some great places to stay in ranging from fabulous hotels to fabulous Bed and Breakfast and guest houses. Hey a B&B and Guest house can be fabulous too. Coming to Glasgow I would recommend staying in either the city centre or the west end.

If you are here for relaxing and sight seeing and non shopping, then I would recommend the City Sightseeing Tour. http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/united-kingdom/glasgow.htm  I'd go for the 1 day unlimited ticket.  Id recommend stops 2 (Glasgow Cathedral), 5 (People Palace, Glasgow Museum how we used to live), 12 (Transport Museum, Glasgow & Scotlands historical modes of Transport,Fabulous views of the Clyde), 16 (Kelvingrove Art Galleries, Modern art and historical art. Works also by Glasgows own Charles Rennie McIntosh)  Stop 15 is also worth stopping at for Byres Rd if you don't wish to do that area at night.   I'd recommend the tour as it gives you a look at the north of the city.

Saturday lets get the shopping out the way, though be prepared for Saturday being very busy in shops. Buchanan Street, Sauchiehall Street, Argyle Street are the places to head to. Buchanan Street is the more up market street. There are plenty of shops with all sorts of price ranges. All around these places there are also great places to eat and drink. You may also venture along to Merchant City which has a great vibe to it and more great restaurants. Princes Square is also worth a visit.

Saturday evening why not visit the West End. Byres Rd is the main focal point with many pubs up and down this road. If you are coming to Glasgow there are a few bars i'd recommend. I'd start of at the bottom of Byres Rd and work my way up 🙂  The Quarter Gill, The Lismore, Three Dolphins, The Aragon, Tennants Bar, Jinty McGuinty's, Oran Mor are all pubs I'd recommend from Partick to Byres Rd.  If you want something to eat and you love seafood not just like but love seafood, then Two Fat Ladies is very good.

Argyle Street from it's split with Sauchiehall Street near the Kelvingrove Art Galleries along to Finnieston for the last 6 or 7 years has been an area that has risen with great places to eat out, whether you like Italian, Indian, Scottish food etc. There is also the long standing pubs which have been there for decades, such as The Park Bar, The Islay Inn and Ben Nevis. These pubs I wholeheartedly recommend for a visit to try a dram or two. There are also some more trendy bars along this way. Fanny Trollopes is very good for food.  If you spend a few hours here and decide to finish the night in the west end why not venture upto Byres Rd around 930pm via taxi. Taxi will only be around £8 max. Stop off at Tennants Bar another great hostelry, then venture into Ashton Lane, with Jinty's McGuinty's a fine Irish pub to visit and why not try one of the other pubs around here. If you wish somewhere late night then The Loft or come out of Ashton Lane and head up to Oran Mor who have a late license, its best to get in before 11:30pm as everyone else has the idea of going here too.

With a lazy Sunday in mind, why not try Lauders in the city centre for a traditional fry up breakfast or Auctioneers near George Sq for a pub lunch. Lets catch the subway and head back to west end. Stop of at Kelvinhall and walk back ten minutes to goto The Art Galleries. Its free to visit and is a beautiful building inside and out. Once finished here we can journey back to the subway and goto Partick Underground and walk across to the Transport Museum which has a collection of all modes of transport from Glasgows history. There are also beautiful views of the Clyde. Go back to subway and take subway upto Hillhead. At the top of Byres Road there if the Botanic Gardens, its a beautiful parked area and again free entry and there are Koi carp to see in the large white greenhouse.  If peckish and you don't want anything in the Botanic gardens Tea Rooms, then there is Cail Bruich for traditional Scottish food, if you like something a bit hotter then try Persia on Great Western Rd. If you fancy a nice walk then there is a walk along the Kelvin at a walkway near the tea rooms in The Botanic Gardens, the walk towards city centre will bring us out near Kelvinbridge Underground. If you are happy to walk further, then follow the path round to Kelvingrove Park. If you are hungry there are some good places to eat on Gibson Street such as The Lebanese worth trying, Stravaigin and Tiffney's  on Otago Street if you are wanting to make it an evening meal.

Saturday night and Sunday night can be swapped around. I quite like a Sunday night in the City Centre particularly Merchant City, it has a very chilled out atmosphere. Bars to try are Maggie Mays for food and live music.  Blackfriars is also good for a few drinks and live music. If you are wanting somewhere trendy then Metropolitan Bar maybe the place for you.  For Spanish food try Cafe Andaluz though i'd suggest booking in advance to be on safe side, there is another Cafe Andaluz in Byres Road also..  If you wish to stick with Scottish fine dining then try Arisaig.  If you are going to be out late then most people head to Arta if you are over 30, best to dress up a little for in here.

So we have had a weekend in Glasgow and it's perhaps not been too touristy but you might feel as though you have lived,breathed, ate and drank in Glasgow.

Haste ye Back as they say.