Glasgow Bus Guide 2026: Routes, Fares & Day Tickets

Quick answer: Glasgow bus fares changed on 7 September 2026, when a single fare on First Glasgow and McGill’s was capped at £2 across the Glasgow area, however far you go. Transport Scotland funds the cap, and child singles are £1.75 on First and £1.90 at McGill’s. From your fourth bus of the day, a day ticket works out cheaper, at £6.60 on First (City and Local zones) or £6.20 at McGill’s. First’s fare notice runs to 30 November 2026 and its cap page gives no end date, so check before you travel after that.

Last checked: 24 October 2026.

Glasgow’s bus network is big and it mostly works, but the fares and zones take a minute to get your head around. Here’s how to get about the city without overpaying.

Who runs the buses in Glasgow?

There are two main operators, and each sets its own tickets. The £2 single is the one price they share.

• First Glasgow (First Bus) runs routes right across the city and out to towns like East Kilbride, Hamilton and Motherwell.
• McGill’s runs services across Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire, plus its own Inverclyde zone. If you’re heading towards Paisley or Greenock, you could well be on a McGill’s bus.

A First ticket works on First buses and a McGill’s ticket works on McGill’s. If your regular route mixes both, that’s worth knowing before you buy a weekly pass, and the Glasgow Tripper further down covers both. Smaller operators, including Stagecoach, West Coast Motors, Whitelaws and Todd’s Travel, run some routes in the area too, and Transport Scotland lists them all in the £2 cap.

Glasgow bus fares and day ticket prices

The £2 single fare cap

From 7 September 2026, First says every single journey on its services across Glasgow and the surrounding areas is capped at £2, funded by Transport Scotland. McGill’s says the same for its services in the Strathclyde area. Transport Scotland’s list of areas takes in Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and the Ayrshires. You don’t have to live in Scotland to use it.

A few things catch folk out.

• It’s for singles only. First has stopped selling returns, so there and back is two £2 fares.
• Every bus is a separate fare, even when both are the same company’s. Change buses once and you’ve paid £4.
• Tell the driver where you’re going when you board. Transport Scotland asks for it, and so does McGill’s.
• McGill’s says its £2 ticket has to be bought on the bus, not in its app, for now.
• Child singles stay at £1.75 on First and £1.90 at McGill’s, because both are already under £2.
• The Glasgow Airport Express (the 500) is £2 for a single too. Our airport to city centre guide has the other ways in.

When does the £2 cap end?

First’s fare notice is marked effective from 7 September to 30 November 2026. First’s own cap page gives a start date and no end date, and Transport Scotland’s page doesn’t give one either. Transport Scotland’s page does say the Scottish Government is committed to bringing in legislation for a permanent nationwide £2 cap before the end of this Parliament. None of them says outright that the cap stops on 30 November, but if you’re planning travel after that, check First’s cap page first.

Ticket prices at a glance

Here are the headline prices for the two main operators, for adults unless it says otherwise. First’s prices changed on 7 September 2026.

First’s prices come from its fare-change notice and its student tickets page, and McGill’s from its Greater Glasgow tickets page. Student tickets need a valid student card. That’s a physical or digital matriculation card on First, and a matriculation card with a photo and an expiry date at McGill’s.

Prices change, so confirm the current fare at firstbus.co.uk/greater-glasgow or mcgillsbuses.co.uk. Three £2 singles come to £6, which is less than any adult day ticket in the table. From the fourth bus of the day, a City and Local or McGill’s day ticket wins, and First’s Network ticket (£8.60) wins from the fifth. A weekly ticket only starts to win at 12 trips a week on McGill’s (£23.90) and 15 on First (£28 in City and Local).

The First Bus zones, City, Local and Network

First Glasgow splits its area into City and Local zones, and your ticket has to cover where you’re going. First’s fare zone map shows where the lines fall. It’s dated 2019, but it’s the latest Glasgow one First links, so treat it as a guide.

• City zone covers Glasgow and the inner ring around it, including Paisley, Bishopbriggs, Rutherglen and Newton Mearns.
• Local zone covers the outer towns on that map, such as Dumbarton, Cumbernauld, Airdrie, Motherwell and Hamilton.
• Network is the dearer ticket that covers City and Local together, so you can cross between zones on one ticket.

City and Local day tickets are both £6.60, and a City ticket is fine for most everyday trips inside Glasgow. You only need Network if a journey crosses from one zone into the other. The £2 single doesn’t care about zones, so zones only matter for the day, week and 4-week tickets and the contactless caps.

Some outer areas have their own cheaper local tickets, so check before you buy. First’s fare notice lists a First Day for Dumbarton at £4.90. For Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill, First’s Central Lanarkshire zone map shows a First Day at £4.70 and a First Week at £22, both bought on the app.

One ticket for First and McGill’s, the Glasgow Tripper

If your week mixes operators, look at the Glasgow Tripper. It’s a bus-only ticket that works on First Glasgow, McGill’s, West Coast Motors, Stagecoach, Whitelaws and Todd’s Travel. You buy it in the First Glasgow, McGill’s or West Coast Motors app.

The Tripper site lists a day ticket at £7.20 (it runs out at 4am the next day), a week at £30 and 28 days at £95, with prices as at 22 February 2026. Flexi bundles of 3, 5 and 10 days are £18.50, £28 and £53.

It doesn’t cover N-numbered night buses, the 500 Airport Express or some school services. At £7.20 a day it costs more than a First City and Local day ticket (£6.60) or a McGill’s Day Saver (£6.20), so it only pays off if you really do mix operators.

The Tripper isn’t an SPT ticket. SPT’s ZoneCard page points bus-only travellers to it, but says SPT doesn’t deliver it and can’t give customer service for it. If you want bus, train and Subway on one ticket, ZoneCard covers ScotRail, the Subway and most buses in the zones you pick. Our Glasgow trains and ZoneCard guide covers it.

The First Bus app and contactless capping

This is the bit that saves you money, so don’t skip it. There are two easy ways to pay on First that both stop you overpaying.

Tap On, Tap Off contactless

Tap your bank card or phone on the driver’s machine when you get on, then tap off with the same card or phone when you leave. First’s Tap On, Tap Off page says you must tap off to get the best value fare. You’ll never pay more than £6.60 in a day in the City and Local zones (£8.60 on Network), or £28 in a week (£37.30 on Network). The week starts again every Monday.

In First’s own example, the first three buses of a day cost £2 each and the fourth costs 60p, which gets you to the £6.60 cap. First says the more you travel across the week, the cheaper the days become. Use the same card or phone every time, because each one counts as a separate ticket with its own cap. It doesn’t work for child, student or group tickets.

First’s contactless page says Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay all work, and American Express and Maestro don’t. McGill’s takes contactless for singles, returns and all-day tickets too, but its ways to pay page doesn’t mention a daily cap.

The First Bus app

The app sells mTickets, so you can buy weekly and monthly options in advance and scan them on your phone when you board. The 3-in-7, 5-in-7 and 15-in-28 bundles are app only, and they suit folk who don’t travel every day. Adult prices in City and Local are £17.60, £22.80 and £68.60, and on Network they’re £23.20, £30.10 and £90.10.

If you pay on the bus, First takes contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay and exact cash. Drivers can’t give change, so bring the right money if you’re paying cash.

Free and discounted travel

Scotland has free bus travel for young people and older people, and it works on First and McGill’s buses.

• Under 22s who live in Scotland travel free on nearly all local and long-distance bus services, with a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or a Young Scot NEC. Transport Scotland’s scheme covers ages 5 to 21, and under 5s travel free without a card. A parent or carer applies for under 16s. Anyone 16 or over applies for themselves.
• If you’re 60 or over and live in Scotland, you travel free on registered local and long-distance buses at any time of day with your NEC. Disabled people who meet Transport Scotland’s rules get it too.
• Apply at getyournec.scot or through your council. For the over 60s and disabled persons’ cards you can go through SPT too. Allow at least two weeks for the card to arrive.
• If you’re under 22 and don’t live in Scotland, you pay the normal fare, and the £2 cap helps.

Transport Scotland says premium-fare night buses, tours and group hire don’t take the card. First says under 22s with an NEC travel free on its night buses, and McGill’s says under 22s and over 60s do on its.

Night buses

Glasgow has night buses on Friday and Saturday nights, run by First and McGill’s. First runs four routes, and its route lists have all four starting at the Garage nightclub on Sauchiehall Street.

• N2 to Easterhouse via Glasgow Cross, Parkhead Cross, Shettleston and Baillieston
• N18 to Greenhills via Bridgeton, Rutherglen and East Kilbride
• N240 to Cleland via Parkhead Cross, Tollcross, Bellshill, Motherwell and Wishaw
• N267 to Hillhouse via the Gorbals, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Blantyre and Hamilton

McGill’s runs six more: the N3 to Pollok, N4 to Newton Mearns, N6 to Clydebank, N26 to Renfrew, N38 to Paisley and N60 to Drumchapel. McGill’s says its last buses run as late as 3.45am, with each route running every hour. Check the timetables on First’s night bus page and McGill’s night bus page before you rely on one, as routes and nights can change.

Stop changes from 23 October 2026

Glasgow City Council is bringing in new night bus hubs at selected city centre stops. From Friday 23 October 2026, First’s notice says the N2 and N240 stop on Union Street before Argyle Street. Both still stop on Renfield Street at Drury Street. The notice says all four First night routes use the Union Street stop, but the N18 and N267 have no stop changes, and the daytime 2 and 240 aren’t changing either.

What do night buses cost?

McGill’s says its night buses joined the £2 cap on Friday 2 October 2026, so a single on any of its six night routes is now £2, down from £5.70. That’s in a McGill’s news item, although its cap FAQ still says night buses aren’t covered and its online shop still lists the £5.70 single. Those look like leftovers from before the change, and the shop says to buy your ticket from the driver. First’s cap page doesn’t spell out whether its night buses count, and Transport Scotland’s rules leave out premium-fare night services, so check the fare with the driver before you pay.

First’s night bus page still lists a 6pm Plus evening ticket in its app, at £4.75 for City and Local and £6.00 for Network, valid from 6pm to 4.30am. But First’s September fare notice says its adult 6pm+ tickets are no longer on sale, so check the app before you count on one. The 500 Airport Express runs 24 hours a day, and First says the 77 now runs 24/7 too. McGill’s £2 night fare beats a taxi on price, and our Glasgow taxis guide covers the other way home.

Bus or Subway, which is better?

The Glasgow Subway is faster and you never sit in traffic, but it’s a single circle of 15 stations. If your trip is on the loop, say Buchanan Street to Hillhead, the Subway wins every time. An adult single is £1.80 with contactless or a Smartcard, SPT says, which is cheaper than the £2 bus fare. For anywhere off the loop, the bus is your option.

The Subway shuts early, though. SPT’s timetable page has it running 6.30am to 11.40pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6.12pm on Sundays, so the bus is what gets you home late. Plenty of folk use both, the Subway for the quick west end hop and the bus for everything else.

If you’re working out the overall cost of getting about, the bus is a big line in any Glasgow budget. Our cost of living in Glasgow guide puts transport in context alongside rent and bills. Driving instead? Check the Low Emission Zone rules and where to find free parking first, and if you’re new in town the moving to Glasgow guide covers the basics.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a bus fare in Glasgow?
A single adult fare on First Glasgow and McGill’s has been capped at £2 since 7 September 2026. Child singles are £1.75 on First and £1.90 at McGill’s. You pay a separate fare each time you change buses.

When does the £2 bus fare cap end?
First’s fare notice is marked “Effective 07/09/2026 – 30/11/2026”. First’s cap page and Transport Scotland’s page give no end date. Check First’s cap page before you travel after 30 November.

How much is a bus day ticket in Glasgow?
A First Glasgow FirstDay ticket is £6.60 for the City and Local zones or £8.60 for the wider Network. McGill’s Day Saver is £6.20. For adults, a City and Local or McGill’s day ticket only beats the £2 singles from your fourth bus of the day, and a First Network ticket from the fifth.

Can I use contactless on Glasgow buses?
Yes. On First, tap on and off with the same card or phone and your fares cap at £6.60 a day in City and Local (£8.60 on Network) and £28 a week (£37.30 on Network). McGill’s takes contactless for singles and all-day tickets too.

Does the £2 cap apply to McGill’s buses?
Yes, on McGill’s services in the Strathclyde area, and McGill’s says its night buses joined on 2 October 2026. McGill’s says the ticket has to be bought on the bus for now, and you should tell the driver where you’re going.

Does one ticket cover First and McGill’s?
No, not with a standard ticket. A First ticket works on First buses and a McGill’s ticket works on McGill’s. The Glasgow Tripper works on both (a day ticket was £7.20 in February 2026), but not on N-numbered night buses.

Is the bus free for young people in Glasgow?
Yes, if you’re under 22 and live in Scotland. You need an NEC or a Young Scot NEC, and under 5s travel free without a card. Apply at getyournec.scot, with a parent or carer applying for under 16s.

Do Glasgow buses run at night?
Yes, on Friday and Saturday nights. First runs the N2, N18, N240 and N267 from the city centre, and McGill’s runs the N3, N4, N6, N26, N38 and N60. The 500 Airport Express runs 24 hours.

What’s the cheapest way to get about by bus?
For a few trips a day, pay the £2 singles. Ten trips in a week is £20, which is less than the weekly tickets in the table above. If you take four or more buses in a day, tap on and off with contactless on First and let the daily cap do the work, or buy a day ticket.

How do I know which First Bus zone I’m in?
Glasgow and the inner ring sit in the City zone, the outer towns in the Local zone, and a Network ticket covers both. First’s fare zone map shows where the lines fall, though it’s dated 2019.

Fares and routes change. Always confirm the current price with First Glasgow or McGill’s, and check the cap rules with Transport Scotland.