Getting around · Glasgow · United Kingdom
Getting around Glasgow
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BrainiacBlink, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The city centre and Merchant City are walkable, and the West End is about 30 minutes on foot or a short Subway ride away. Glasgow's Subway loops through the centre, the West End and the south bank, while suburban trains from Central and Queen Street stations cover the Southside and day-trip destinations. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- GLA, PIK
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Subway day ticket
Ways to get around
Metro
The Subway, opened in 1896, is a single circular line with 15 stations running both ways round the loop in about 24 minutes. It links the city centre with the West End (Hillhead, Kelvinhall) and the south side of the river.
Use the Outer Circle or Inner Circle — whichever is fewer stops — since both directions reach every station.
Walking
Most central sights, from the cathedral to George Square and the Merchant City, are 10–20 minutes apart on foot, and the Clyde Walkway and River Kelvin paths connect the centre with the West End.
Bus
Buses run by several operators cover the whole city and are the main way to reach areas off the Subway, such as Dennistoun and parts of the Southside.
Contactless payment is accepted on most city buses.
Train
Suburban trains from Glasgow Central and Queen Street serve Pollokshaws West for the Burrell Collection, Mount Florida for Hampden, and Partick and Exhibition Centre for the West End and SEC.
Taxi
Black cabs can be hailed in the street or found at ranks outside Central and Queen Street stations, and ride-hailing apps also operate in the city.
Tickets and passes
Subway day ticket
An all-day ticket gives unlimited Subway travel and pays for itself after a few rides; it can be loaded on the smartcard.
From the airport
Glasgow Airport is about 13 km west of the city centre; the Glasgow Airport Express bus reaches the centre in roughly 15–25 minutes depending on traffic, and taxis take a similar time. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is about 50 km south-west and has its own railway station, with trains to Glasgow Central in under an hour. Edinburgh Airport is also usable, about an hour away by tram, train or bus.
Do you need a car?
No. Driving and parking in central Glasgow are a hassle and public transport covers the city. A car only helps for touring the Highlands, Argyll or the Ayrshire coast beyond the rail network.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Loch Lomond | About 45 minutes by train | Train from Glasgow Queen Street (low level) to Balloch |
| Edinburgh | About 50 minutes by train | Frequent trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley |
| Stirling | About 30–45 minutes by train | Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Stirling |
| New Lanark | About 1 hour by train and bus or taxi | Train from Glasgow Central to Lanark, then local bus or taxi |
| The Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel | About 45 minutes by car | Car, or train to Falkirk then local bus or taxi |
| Isle of Arran | About 2 hours by train and ferry | Train to the Ayrshire coast, then CalMac ferry to Brodick |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Glasgow?
No. Driving and parking in central Glasgow are a hassle and public transport covers the city. A car only helps for touring the Highlands, Argyll or the Ayrshire coast beyond the rail network.
+How do you get from the airport to Glasgow?
Glasgow Airport is about 13 km west of the city centre; the Glasgow Airport Express bus reaches the centre in roughly 15–25 minutes depending on traffic, and taxis take a similar time. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is about 50 km south-west and has its own railway station, with trains to Glasgow Central in under an hour. Edinburgh Airport is also usable, about an hour away by tram, train or bus.
+What is the best way to get around Glasgow?
Metro: The Subway, opened in 1896, is a single circular line with 15 stations running both ways round the loop in about 24 minutes. It links the city centre with the West End (Hillhead, Kelvinhall) and the south side of the river.