Comparison · Edinburgh vs Glasgow · United Kingdom
Edinburgh vs Glasgow
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Colin, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and beaches; choose Glasgow for Free museums and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Glasgow is generally less expensive, and the two are about 67 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 67 km
- Less expensive
- Glasgow
- Best time for Edinburgh
- May–June and September
- Best time for Glasgow
- May–September
Side by side
| Edinburgh | Glasgow | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Known for | Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Edinburgh Festival Fringe | Free museums, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Live music |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$320 | $160–$280 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 19°C (66°F) | July, 19°C (66°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 7°C (45°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 13 | 14 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Beaches | Portobello Beach | — |
| Airports | EDI, GLA | GLA, PIK |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Edinburgh for…
Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and beaches. Edinburgh is built across volcanic hills between the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills, and its two UNESCO-listed halves sit side by side: the medieval Old Town strung along the Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood, and the Georgian grid of the New…
Choose Glasgow for…
Free museums and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, a former shipbuilding and trading powerhouse on the River Clyde whose Victorian wealth left grand sandstone streets, a medieval cathedral and an unusually generous set of free museums, from Kelvingrove to the Burrell…
Top sights compared
| # | Edinburgh | Glasgow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh Castle | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum |
| 2 | The Royal Mile | Glasgow Cathedral |
| 3 | St Giles' Cathedral | Glasgow Necropolis |
| 4 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | Riverside Museum |
| 5 | Arthur's Seat | Burrell Collection |
Food compared
| Edinburgh | Glasgow |
|---|---|
| Haggis, neeps and tatties | Full Scottish breakfast |
| Cullen skink | Square sausage roll |
| Full Scottish breakfast | Haggis, neeps and tatties |
| Scotch whisky | Chicken tikka masala and Glasgow curry |
Which is cheaper?
Glasgow is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $160–$280 per person there, against $180–$320 in Edinburgh (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Glasgow on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Edinburgh and Glasgow are about 67 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Edinburgh and 3 in Glasgow.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Edinburgh or Glasgow cheaper?
Glasgow is usually less expensive: about $160–$280 a day mid-range against $180–$320 (estimates).
+Is Edinburgh or Glasgow better for a first trip?
Pick Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and beaches, or Glasgow for Free museums and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
+How far is Edinburgh from Glasgow?
About 67 km in a straight line.