Best time to visit · Glasgow · United Kingdom
The best time to visit Glasgow
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Glasgow is May to September, when days are long and mild and outdoor festivals fill the parks, with April and May often the driest months. Glasgow's main sights are indoor museums, so it works year-round; January brings Celtic Connections and low hotel prices, while summer has the highest rates.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September
- Shoulder season
- April, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 19°C (66°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 7°C (45°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~16 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Glasgow has a mild, wet oceanic climate: cool summers rarely above 20 °C, damp winters that seldom drop far below freezing, and rain spread throughout the year, with long summer evenings and short winter days.
March–May
Spring
Lengthening days, blossom in the parks and often the driest weather of the year, with moderate prices outside Easter.
June–August
Summer
Light until late evening and the warmest weather, though rarely hot; festivals, outdoor concerts and the busiest, highest-priced hotels.
September–November
Autumn
Autumn colour and quieter museums in September, turning wet, windy and dark by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold, wet and very short days, but Christmas markets, Hogmanay, Celtic Connections and some of the year's lowest room rates.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | 2°C | 16 | 7.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C | 1°C | 13 | 9.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 9°C | 2°C | 14 | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 12°C | 4°C | 11 | 14.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 15°C | 6°C | 11 | 16.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 18°C | 9°C | 11 | 17.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 19°C | 11°C | 12 | 17 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 19°C | 11°C | 13 | 15 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 16°C | 9°C | 13 | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 13°C | 6°C | 16 | 10.3 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 9°C | 3°C | 15 | 8.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 7°C | 1°C | 15 | 7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Celtic Connections — folk, roots and world music festival (usually mid-January to early February); Burns Night suppers (25 January) |
| February | Glasgow Film Festival (usually late February to early March) |
| March | Glasgow International Comedy Festival (usually March) |
| April | Easter school holidays bring more families to the museums |
| June | West End Festival — music, parades and events around Byres Road (usually June) |
| July | TRNSMT music festival on Glasgow Green (usually July) |
| August | World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green (usually August) |
| September | Doors Open Days — free access to normally closed buildings (usually September) |
| November | Christmas markets and lights in George Square and St Enoch Square (usually from mid or late November) |
| December | Christmas markets continue (usually until late December); Hogmanay — New Year's Eve celebrations (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November, and the sights are quietest in January–March and October–November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Glasgow?
The best time to visit Glasgow is May to September, when days are long and mild and outdoor festivals fill the parks, with April and May often the driest months. Glasgow's main sights are indoor museums, so it works year-round; January brings Celtic Connections and low hotel prices, while summer has the highest rates.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Glasgow?
Usually in January–March and November. Cold, wet and dark by about 4pm, but museums are quiet and Celtic Connections fills venues with folk and roots music.
+What is the rainiest month in Glasgow?
January, with about 16 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Glasgow get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 19°C (66°F) and lows of 11°C (52°F).