17 Things to Do in Glasgow in Winter for Solo Travelers

Between festive Christmas markets, cozy pubs, and tons of snuggly Highland “coos”, there’s no shortage of things to do in Glasgow in winter—provided you pack a very warm coat.

In December of 2025, my best friend and I spent five days exploring Scotland’s largest city before continuing on to Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye during a two-and-a-half-week winter trip through the country.

Since we were visiting over Christmas, we got to experience Glasgow during one of the busiest and most festive times of year. Even with some holiday closures, we still managed to squeeze in all the must-sees—whisky tastings, “sub” crawls, incredible Indian food, and everything in between.

Although I didn’t do this particular trip solo, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to come back to Glasgow alone.

If you’re planning a trip to Glasgow in the winter (solo or otherwise), I’m going to show you how to make the most of visiting during the quieter off-season while preparing for the unpredictable Scottish weather.

1. Drink Mulled Wine at the Christmas Markets

One of the first things we did after arriving in Glasgow was head straight for the Christmas markets in search of a piping hot cup of mulled wine.

Not only did it warm us up immediately, but nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like mulled wine. Trust me. 💁🏽‍♀️

We visited both of the city’s two “Winter Wonderland” locations. First up…

📍 St. Enoch Square Christmas Markets: The smaller and quainter of the two, this Christmas market had a few festive souvenir stands, food vendors, and a Ferris Wheel that I absolutely did not go near because I hate those things. 🙅🏽‍♀️

Expected Dates: November 6 – December 24, 2026

📍Glasgow Green Winter Wonderland: Later, we headed over to the massive Christmas market setup at Glasgow Green. This location had tons of carnival rides, games, every food stand you could dream of, an ice rink, and an indoor beer tent with live music.

Expected Dates: November 21 – January 4, 2027

2. Book a Free Walking Tour

As a solo traveler, one of my favorite things to do in any new city is book a free walking tour. Not only does it help you get your bearings right away, but it’s also a super easy way to meet other travelers.

Whenever possible, I always book through Sandeman’s New Europe because I’ve had consistently great experiences with them all over Europe. Their Glasgow walking tour was no exception.

The tour itself is free, but you should still bring some cash for your guide at the end (although sometimes you can tip by QR code).

Our 2-hour tour started in George Square, which unfortunately was under construction during our visit, before continuing through famous parts of the city like Buchanan Street, St. Vincent Street, and Merchant City.

Along the way, we also learned some of the more ridiculous parts of Glasgow’s history—including the story behind the city’s famous conehead statue pictured below.

3. Go on a “Sub” Crawl

One chilly afternoon, we decided to attempt Glasgow’s iconic “Sub Crawl”—which is essentially a pub crawl built around the city’s underground subway system.

The challenge is to stop for a drink at an assigned pub near every subway station, and there’s even a dedicated app for those truly determined drinkers.

Ironically, this ended up being the one and only time we used public transportation in Glasgow because Ubers around the city were so affordable. We tackled the crawl with a new friend we met through TripBFF (my fav app for making friends as a solo traveler).

Unfortunately, we only made it to about three bars before getting hungry and bailing for dinner. However, it was still a great time, and definitely one of the most iconic nightlife experiences in Glasgow!

If you attempt the Sub Crawl in winter, definitely dress warmly since there’s still quite a bit of walking involved. Also—bring cash. We were surprised by how many pubs were cash only.

🚇 If you’re attempting the Sub Crawl as a solo traveler, be sure to abide by my solo travel safety tips! ↗

4. Tour the Glasgow Cathedral

Alright, now onto some Glasgow must-sees regardless of the season. 👏🏼

The Glasgow Cathedral absolutely cannot be missed during your trip. Not only is it one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, but it’s also completely free to visit—which those of us visiting from the U.S. with a brutal conversion rate to the GBP definitely need to take advantage of. 😅

Built in the 12th century, the Glasgow Cathedral is considered the most complete medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland. We popped inside to warm up for a bit, snap a few photos, and learn more about the cathedral’s history before heading over to the nearby Necropolis.

Since the two attractions are only a short walk apart, I’d definitely recommend visiting them together during your time in Glasgow.

**Note: I highly recommend checking the hours online before your visit since they vary greatly by season.

5. Visit the Necropolis

Since this combines a little bit of spook 👻 with some of the best views in the city, you already know I wasn’t about to skip the Necropolis.

This Victorian cemetery is considered one of the most significant cemeteries in Europe, with an estimated 50,000 burials having taken place here over the years.

We popped in and wandered around for about 30–45 minutes admiring the elaborate gravestones, monuments, and panoramic views over Tennent’s Brewery and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary before eventually getting too chilly and deciding to find a pub—like any true Scot would.

6. Order a Scottish Breakfast

If there’s one thing you absolutely need to do during the winter months in Glasgow, it’s eat your fill of hearty Scottish food. And nothing warms you up like a classic Scottish breakfast.

TBH I think a traditional Scottish breakfast is better than an English breakfast. You can fight me on that if you want. 💁🏽‍♀️

We had our first Scottish breakfast at Singl-end in Garnethill. It came with poached eggs, a potato scone, bacon, lorne sausage, haggis, black pudding, grilled tomato, butter beans, and sourdough toast.

I was surprised that I actually ended up really enjoying haggis (more than my friend did). We also both loved the lorne sausage and black pudding.

We were also cracking up when the waitress asked if we wanted red sauce and brown sauce and we responded, “I don’t know, do we want that?” She had to explain she simply meant ketchup and HP Sauce. 😂

7. Visit George Square

Like I mentioned earlier, we were unlucky because George Square was completely under construction during our visit, so we didn’t get a chance to explore it.

The renovations are currently expected to be completed in August 2026, so hopefully you’ll have better luck than we did. 🤞🏼

Even so, George Square is still considered the very center of Glasgow and one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Opened in 1787 and named after King George III, the square has been a filming location for many movies like World War Z, The Flash, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

While it’s not necessarily the best winter activity on its own, there are tons of cozy pubs and bars nearby where you can warm up once the Scottish cold inevitably sets in.

8. Snuggle Highland Coos

The number one thing we wanted to do during our trip to Scotland was get in a proper snuggle session with some adorable fluffy Highland “coos”—which, by the way, is what Scottish people call cows.

We headed over to Pollok Country Park—the best place to see Highland coos in Glasgow—where roughly 50 coos graze the fields around the park.

Unfortunately, winter doesn’t line up with baby coo season, so we didn’t get to see any calves during our visit, but the adults were cute enough to make up for it.

One of them wandered right up to the fence and started scratching his head against it while we stood there taking selfies. I did have to watch out for the horns though because I came dangerously close to getting impaled at one point…but honestly, it wouldn’t be the worst way to go.

The park itself is also surprisingly close to the city center. I think we only paid around £10 for an Uber to get there from central Glasgow.

🐮 Yes—it was a bit chilly at Pollock Park. These electric hand warmers saved my life in the Scotland winter. ↗

9. Do a Whisky Tasting or Distillery Tour

Even though I’m a complete prosecco girl and absolutely not a whisky drinker, I knew I had to do a proper whisky tasting while we were in Scotland.

And it’s true what they say, nothing warms you up in the winter like a wee dram.

We headed over to the Clydeside Distillery on the River Clyde hoping to do their classic whisky tour (£19.50 pp for a 1-hour tour), but unfortunately we arrived too late for the final departure. We didn’t feel like paying £39 each for their chocolate + whisky tour, so we settled in at the bar instead.

With help from the bartender (a student from California 😅), we ordered a whisky flight and an appetizer of cheese, tomato jam, and oatcake crackers.

The whisky was probably very good if you actually like whisky. Unfortunately, I was miserable and had to keep chasing every sip with cheese.

But I accomplished my goal and successfully drank two tiny glasses of authentic Scottish whisky.

🥃 Not only is it a great winter activity in Glasgow, but the The Clydeside Tour is a great opportunity for solo travelers to make friends! ↗

10. Check out the University of Glasgow

People always compare Edinburgh to Harry Potter—and I 100% agree with that—but the University of Glasgow was also giving major HP vibes during our visit.

Considering it’s widely believed to be the visual inspiration for Hogwarts, it’s not too surprising.

This place looks absolutely nothing like any university building I’ve ever seen in the U.S. Walking around the campus felt like stepping into a movie set.

Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the 4th-oldest university in the English-speaking world, and it’s completely free to wander around the grounds admiring the insane Gothic architecture and snapping photos.

11. Try Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Restaurant in Glasgow

After spending a month eating my way through Hanoi’s street food scene, I’ve developed a bit of a habit of tracking down restaurants recommended by the late, great Anthony Bourdain whenever I travel.

So when I learned that the University Cafe was supposedly one of his favorite restaurants in the UK, I knew we had to stop by.

This tiny little hole-in-the-wall spot serves the kind of deep-fried Scottish comfort food that feels designed for drunk students at 2:00 AM. Naturally, we ordered the “Bourdain Special,” which came with battered fish, battered haggis, cheesy chips, curry sauce, and an Irn-Bru.

We also decided to try a pizza crunch—a battered and deep-fried frozen pizza that somehow tasted way better than it had any right to. 😅 If I’d been drinking, I probably could’ve demolished the entire thing myself.

The whole meal ended up being surprisingly affordable and fueled us up for our visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

12. Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

We heard the word “free” and were instantly convinced. 👏🏼

Before our trip, I saw photos of Sophie Cave’s floating heads installation online and immediately added the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to our Glasgow itinerary. It’s so wonderfully creepy.

The gallery is also completely indoors, so it’s perfect for when you just can’t take those frigid temps any longer.

There are tons of cool exhibits and installations scattered throughout the museum, including artwork from Scottish artists and some really interesting historical displays. It’s also not overwhelmingly huge, so you can easily stop by for 30 minutes to an hour to warm up and wander around.

13. Take a Tour of Tennent’s Brewery

We drank plenty of Tennent’s beer during our time in Glasgow because you’ll literally find it on tap at almost every pub in the city.

It’s light, refreshing, and—IMO—way easier to drink than whisky.

Unfortunately, we didn’t end up having enough time to tour Tennent’s Brewery, which I’m still a little bitter about because I absolutely love brewery tours. But if you have more time in your itinerary, I’d definitely recommend adding it in.

The brewery tour lasts around an hour and a half, costs £17 per person, and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how Scotland’s most famous beer is made. You can book tickets directly through the brewery’s website.

👀 Peep us below drinking Tennent’s on our Eating Europe Edinburgh food tour.

14. Admire the Street Art

Glasgow has some seriously impressive street art scattered all over the city. We kept randomly turning corners and finding these massive, incredibly detailed murals painted across entire buildings.

A lot of the artwork is concentrated around Merchant City and the city center, and there’s even an official City Centre Mural Trail if you want to track down some of the most famous pieces.

Three of the murals we found in Merchant City are pictured below.

The mural in the middle was created by a street artist known as The Rebel Bear—an anonymous artist who paints while wearing a bear costume and is often referred to as the “Scottish Banksy.”

15. Try the City’s World-Famous Indian Food

Glasgow claims to be the birthplace of chicken tikka masala…so naturally, we had to try it out for ourselves.

The restaurant that claims to have invented it is Shish Mahal—so I made us a reservation for our very first night in the city.

We got off the airport bus, checked into our hotel as fast as we could, and ran straight to dinner for heaps of chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, and an absolutely massive garlic naan.

My friend’s family is from New Delhi, so I trusted her opinion on the food way more than my own. She thought it was really good, although she actually ended up preferring a different Indian restaurant we found later in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, I thought this was some of the best Indian food I’ve ever eaten in my life. The service was fantastic, the flavors were incredible, and I genuinely wish I could eat it every single day of the week.

16. Enjoy the Pub Culture

I’m no stranger to a good hole-in-the-wall pub, but the UK seriously does pub culture right. There are cozy little pubs on basically every corner in Glasgow, so you never have to look far for a wee dram or a pint of Tennent’s.

Especially during the winter months, when you’ll inevitably need somewhere to thaw out for a bit, I highly recommend spending as much time in Glasgow’s pubs as possible.

Trust me—they’re always a good time.

17. Wander Through the Glasgow Botanic Gardens

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are the perfect place to warm up and pretend it’s the middle of summer for a little while.

They are free to enter and feature several heated glasshouses filled with plants used for conservation, education, and research. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up having enough time to visit during our trip, but if you’re plant-inclined this is definitely one of the best winter activities in Glasgow.

Glasgow for Solo Travelers

Even though I didn’t visit Glasgow solo, I would not hesitate to come back alone after spending a few days exploring the city.

Between the friendly pub culture, walkable neighborhoods, and social atmosphere, Glasgow felt very approachable for solo travelers. We met several girls who were traveling solo during our trip, and everyone seemed to be having a great time!

The biggest downside is really just the cost. The UK is expensive, and if you’re coming from the U.S., not having someone to split accommodation and transportation costs with can add up pretty quickly.

Is Glasgow Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Overall, Glasgow felt very safe during our trip—especially around the city center and major tourist areas.

Before I left, I had heard a few rumors that Glasgow wasn’t a very safe city, fortunately those turned out to be far from the truth.

Just don’t let anyone give you a Glasgow kiss—it’s actually a headbutt. 😂

Even walking around at night after dinner or drinks, I never felt uncomfortable, and everyone we met was super friendly, welcoming, and excited to show us around their city.

That said, it’s still a major city, so use the same common-sense precautions you would anywhere else in Europe. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on your belongings, and always watch your drinks if you’re going out.

Solo Travel Tips for Glasgow

• Book accommodation somewhere central so you can walk to most attractions and avoid paying for too many Ubers. Hostels are best for making friends in a fun and social atmosphere!
• Join a free walking tour early in your trip to get your bearings and meet other travelers.
• Don’t skip the pubs. Glasgow’s pub culture is one of the easiest ways to meet people while traveling solo.
• If you’re hoping to save money, take advantage of Glasgow’s many free museums and attractions.
• Be sure to invest in safety essentials like a power bank, travel medical insurance, and a reliable eSIM (Use code MADI15 for 15% off your first order, or MADI10 for 10% off your second).

Download an eSIM for the U.K.

In 2026, there’s really no excuse for traveling internationally without data. Between navigating between tourist attractions, calling Ubers, and Googling pub recommendations on-the-go, having reliable service makes your trip so much easier.

There are tons of eSIM providers out there these days, but my personal favorite is Airalo. I use their eSIMs basically every time I travel internationally because they’re affordable, easy to install, and save me the hassle of hunting down a local phone plan.

Before your trip to Glasgow, just download the app, choose a Scotland data plan, follow the installation instructions, and you’ll have data ready to go as soon as you land.

📱 Get affordable unlimited data on your trip to Scotland with Airalo eSIMs—use code “MADI15” for 15% off your first order, and “MADI10” for 10% off any additional purchases! ↗

What to Pack

Packing for Glasgow in winter is all about layers and waterproof clothing. The weather changes constantly, and even when it’s not actively raining, the cold wind can be brutal.

If you’re staying in hostels, don’t forget your usual hostel survival kit: a microfiber towel, flip-flops, a combination lock, earplugs, and an eye mask. If you’re staying in hotels or Airbnbs, you can skip most of that—although I still always pack my flip-flops.

A warm waterproof coat is absolutely essential, along with sweaters, scarves, gloves, and comfortable waterproof shoes or boots. You’ll likely spend a lot of time walking around the city, and freezing wet feet will ruin your day very quickly.

• Wellies or snow boots (check the weather!! It didn’t rain for much of our trip, but we did experience deep snow in the Isle of Skye.)
• Electric hand warmers
• Warm jacket
• Waterproof shell
• Wool socks
• Hats, scarves, and gloves
• Kindle Paperwhite (solo travel must-have)
• Apple AirTags so your luggage is never lost
• Downloadable eSIM (I like Airalo—use code MADI15 for 15% off your first order, or MADI10 for 10% off your second)
• Jase Case or travel-size first aid kit
• Power bank
• Voltage adapters (if you’re coming from the U.S.) and a voltage converter for anything that’s not dual-voltage already
• Door stopper alarm (especially if you’re staying solo in an Airbnb)
• Dual-voltage hair tools (leave the Dyson Airwrap at home ladies)
• Carry-on or checked luggage with four wheels—I love my Level8 Freeloop carry-on and my BÉIS The Carry-On
• My free guide to taking awesome travel shots alone

Where to Stay in Glasgow

Choosing the right area to stay in is especially important if you’re visiting Glasgow solo.

I’d recommend staying somewhere central so you can walk to most attractions, avoid paying for too many Ubers, and easily get back to your accommodation after a night at the pub.

📍Budget-Friendly: Revolver Glasgow

If you’re traveling solo and hoping to keep costs lower, Revolver Glasgow is a great option. The property functions as both a hostel and hotel, meaning you can choose between lower-cost shared dorms or private rooms depending on your budget and comfort level.

The rooms are affordable in the off-season, but even the dorms can get pretty pricey in the summer. If you’re traveling with a friend, you might be better off splitting a hotel/vacation rental.

The Revolver checks basically every important solo travel box.

There’s a rooftop hot tub area, a nightclub downstairs if you’re looking for nightlife, a bar and café onsite, coworking spaces, luggage storage, 24-hour reception, in-room security lockers, and plenty of common areas for meeting other travelers.

🏨 Keep costs low and vibes high at the Revolver Glasgow! ↗

📍Mid-Range: Novotel Glasgow Centre

This is where we stayed during our trip to Glasgow, and because we were traveling in the lower-cost winter season, it was an absolute steal.

We paid roughly $200 USD each for six nights in a super centrally located hotel. Considering how expensive the UK is in general, I was shocked by the price tag.

Breakfast was an additional cost, but the one morning we paid for it, it was absolutely delicious.

The Novotel Glasgow also had an onsite fitness center, a lobby bar, and a restaurant, and it was super comfortable for two girls traveling together since they have rooms with separate beds.

🏨 Book your winter stay in Glasgow on Pitt Street in the Novotel Glasgow Centre! ↗

📍Luxury: House of Gods Glasgow

If I had unlimited money, this is 1000% where I would stay in Glasgow.

House of Gods is one of the coolest-looking hotels I’ve ever seen, and the entire place looks like it was pulled straight out of a mob movie.

The decor is maximalist in the best possible way, with dark velvet, dramatic lighting, and insanely over-the-top interiors.

Located in Merchant City inside a historic building, the hotel also has an onsite restaurant, bar, terrace, room service, and a 24-hour front desk. Depending on the room type you book, it’s also not nearly as expensive as you’d expect for a hotel that’s this ridiculously cool.

🏨 Live out your mob-wife fantasies in Glasgow at House of Gods! ↗

Continue Your Scotland Winter Itinerary

Between cozy pubs, Christmas markets, hearty Scottish breakfasts, and wandering through the city’s incredible museums and historic sites, we found no shortage of amazing things to do in Glasgow in the winter.

Even though the weather was a bit cold (although the sun wouldn’t stop shining for us! ☀️), visiting in the off-season also meant fewer crowds, much lower accommodation prices, and a festive holiday atmosphere.

And for us, Glasgow was just the beginning of an incredible Scotland itinerary.

After our time in Glasgow, we continued on to Edinburgh for Hogmanay before heading up to the Isle of Skye, where we found snow-covered mountains, dramatic landscapes, and some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen in my life.

So if you’re planning a winter trip to Scotland, I’d definitely recommend turning Glasgow into the first stop of a much bigger adventure with my travel guides below!

22 Things to Do in Edinburgh in Winter for Solo Travelers

3 day Isle of Skye Tour from Edinburgh with Scotland’s Wild

Eating Edinburgh: My Review of Eating Europe’s Food Tour

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