Transportation

Getting to Glasgow

Glasgow is located in west central Scotland and is the country's largest city. It is well connected with all the major cities within UK and overseas, and easy to reach by train, sea, road, and air.

Visit ScotRail and Avanti West Coast to book your tickets. Alternatively, to view all available routes from across the UK, check out the Trainline.

For more information on Scotland’s road network, visit Transport Scotland.

From Glasgow Airports to the City Centre

From Glasgow Airport: Glasgow Airport is the closest airport to the city centre. The easiest option is the express bus service from outside the terminal, which takes around 15 minutes. These buses are fully electric and run every 10 minutes. Visit Glasgow Airport and First Bus for more information.
From Glasgow Prestwick Airport: Glasgow Prestwick Airport is about 32 miles (51 km) from Glasgow. It is well connected to the city centre by both train and bus, making it a convenient alternative for travellers arriving there. Find out more at Glasgow Prestwick.

Connecting from Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport is around 39 miles (63 km) from Glasgow. A direct bus service runs from the airport to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station and usually takes about 1 hour. Head to Edinburgh Airport for more information.
Alternatively, there is a train service from Edinburgh Waverly and Edinburgh Haymarket stations directly to Glasgow Queen Street Station.

Connecting from London to Glasgow

By air, direct flights operate from London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, and Stansted to Glasgow Airport.
By train, Glasgow Central Station offers strong rail links to the south of the UK. Travellers can also choose the Caledonian Sleeper, an overnight service from London that provides a more comfortable long distance journey.

Connecting from Manchester to Glasgow

From Manchester, travellers can reach Glasgow by train, including regular direct services from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central. The average journey takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes. Find out more at Manchester Airport.

Connecting from Northern Ireland to Glasgow

From Northern Ireland, the main route is by sea. Ferries run from Belfast and Larne to Cairnryan in southwest Scotland. After arriving at Cairnryan, passengers can continue by bus to Glasgow city centre. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. Visit Stena Line for more information.

Getting Around Glasgow

Walk

Glasgow is a very walkable city, especially the city centre. You can easily explore it on foot while enjoying the city's beautiful buildings and architecture. Do not forget to look up as you walk around.

Bicycle

Glasgow has a cycle hire scheme run by Voi, making it easy to get around on two wheels. For inspiration on the best cycle routes in the city and surrounding areas, visit Sustrans.

Subway

The subway is one of the easiest ways to get around Glasgow city centre, the west end, and the southside. It runs every 4 minutes during peak times and takes just 24 minutes to complete a full circuit of its 15 stations.

You can simply tap your payment card when entering or exiting the subway stations to get the best possible fare prices or you can also pre-purchase different types of tickets depending upon usage. Visit Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for more information.

Train

Glasgow Central Station links the city by rail to the south and west, while Glasgow Queen Street Station connects Glasgow to the north and east, including Edinburgh. Visit ScotRail for routes and timetables.

If you need to travel between Central Station and Queen Street Station, they are within a 12 minute walk of each other. You can also use ScotRail's bus link service for easier transfers.

A Roundabout ticket gives unlimited travel for one day on both ScotRail and Subway services, covering more than 110 stations across the Greater Glasgow area. See SPT for more details.

Bus

First Bus Glasgow operates more than 80 routes across the city. Day tickets allow unlimited travel within your chosen area, while weekly tickets are a good option for longer stays.

You can buy and store tickets using the First Bus app, as well as plan your journey and track the next bus in real time.

First Bus also operates an express service between Glasgow city centre and Glasgow Airport, with a journey time of around 15 minutes.

City Sightseeing Bus

An open top sightseeing bus is a great way to explore Glasgow's main landmarks and attractions. City Sightseeing Glasgow offers two tour routes.

Red Route: Covers the city centre and west end, including Riverside Museum, Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, and the University of Glasgow.
Yellow Route: Covers the east and south of the city, including Barrowlands, Glasgow Science Centre, and The Burrell Collection.

The full tour lasts about 90 minutes. All tours are accessible, with one dedicated wheelchair space on the lower deck of each bus. Tickets are valid for 1 or 2 days and can be bought online, from the driver, or from pavement staff.

Taxi

Glasgow Taxis operates 5 and 6 seater cabs throughout the city. Uber is popularly used in Glasgow and you can book taxi through Uber app. Alternatively, If the yellow light is on, the taxi can also be hailed on the street. You can also book by phone on +44 (0) 141 429 70 70. Visit Glasgow Taxis for more information.

Saltire Private Hire is another useful option, especially for airport transfers. They also offer private tours in Glasgow and beyond for a more comfortable way to explore.