Things to Do in Glasgow Between Commonwealth Games Events
Glasgow’s not a city where you sit about twiddling your thumbs between events. Even without the Games, there’s enough going on to fill a week. Got a few hours between sessions? Full rest day? Here’s what’s worth your time.
Glasgow 2026 Festival
The big one that a lot of folk coming for the sport don’t know about. The Glasgow 2026 Festival is the official cultural programme running alongside the Games. 163 projects spread across all 23 wards of the city, from 23 May right through to 9 August. Live music, theatre, visual art, community events, street performances. It’s not just concentrated in the city centre either. Every part of Glasgow gets something. Keep an eye on the official Glasgow 2026 website for the full programme.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
If you only do one thing outside the sport, make it Kelvingrove. It’s free, it’s world-class, and it’s right next to the bowling venue at Kelvingrove Park. The building itself is stunning. Red sandstone, proper grand. The collection inside covers everything from Salvador Dali’s Christ of Saint John of the Cross to a Spitfire hanging from the ceiling. There’s a natural history section, Scottish art, ancient Egypt, and an organ that gets played daily. You could spend an hour or a full afternoon. Genuinely one of the best free museums in the UK.
Riverside Museum
Another free one, and it’s right on the Clyde near the SEC campus, so if you’re heading to events at the Hydro, this is practically on your way. It’s Glasgow’s transport museum, designed by Zaha Hadid. Inside there’s everything from old Glasgow trams and locomotives to vintage cars and a full recreated 1900s Glasgow street. Outside, the Tall Ship Glenlee is moored on the river and you can go aboard. Brilliant for families and anyone with even a passing interest in how cities used to work.
Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis
This is medieval Glasgow. The cathedral dates back to the 1100s and it’s one of the few Scottish medieval churches to survive the Reformation more or less intact. The lower church is atmospheric in a way that’s hard to describe. Stone columns, filtered light, genuinely ancient.
Behind the cathedral, up on the hill, is the Glasgow Necropolis. It’s a Victorian cemetery modelled on Pere Lachaise in Paris, with elaborate monuments and tombs covering the hillside. The views over the city from the top are class. Free to visit, open all day, and one of the most photographed spots in Glasgow for good reason.
The Barras Market
Open weekends, and if you’re anywhere near Glasgow Green for events, you’re practically there already. The Barras is Glasgow’s famous market. It’s been going since the 1920s. These days it’s a mix of vintage finds, street food, local traders, and the occasional bit of absolute nonsense that you somehow end up buying. The Barras Art and Design centre (BAaD) hosts pop-up events, food markets, and live music too. It’s got a vibe you won’t find in any shopping centre.
Buchanan Street and the Style Mile
Glasgow’s a serious shopping city. Always has been. Buchanan Street is the main pedestrianised drag, running from the Royal Concert Hall down to St Enoch. Off it you’ve got the Princes Square arcade (gorgeous Art Deco interior), the Buchanan Galleries, and the Italian Centre in Merchant City for the higher-end stuff. The Style Mile stretches from there down through Argyle Street and the Trongate. If the weather’s decent, there are buskers and street performers the full length of it.
Glasgow Mural Trail
Glasgow has an official mural trail you can follow for free. Dozens of large-scale murals across the city centre and beyond. Everything from a giant portrait of Billy Connolly on the side of a building to photo-realistic wildlife. Pick up a map from the tourist information centre or follow the route on your phone. Brilliant way to explore parts of the city you might not otherwise wander into.
Pollok Park and the Burrell Collection
A wee bit further out, but worth the trip. Pollok Country Park is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. Highland cows, woodland walks, the lot. Inside the park sits the Burrell Collection, a world-class art museum that reopened in 2022 after a major refurbishment. Medieval art, Chinese ceramics, Impressionist paintings, tapestries. All free. Take the bus or the train to Pollokshaws West, you’ll be there in 20 minutes.
Day Trips
If you’ve got a full day between events, Scotland’s a small country and Glasgow’s well connected. Here are three that are easy to do:
- Loch Lomond. About 30 minutes by train to Balloch, right on the banks of the loch. Boat trips, walks, stunning scenery. It’s the gateway to the Trossachs and one of the most beautiful spots in Scotland. You can do it as a half-day trip easily.
- Stirling Castle. 45 minutes by train. One of Scotland’s most important historical sites, sitting on a volcanic crag overlooking the city. The Great Hall and the Renaissance palace interiors are outstanding. The Wallace Monument is nearby too if you fancy the climb.
- Edinburgh. 50 minutes by train, services every 15 minutes. Scotland’s capital is right there. Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, the National Museum. You could easily fill a day. Just don’t tell anyone from Glasgow I said it was worth visiting.
Nightlife
Glasgow’s nightlife needs no introduction to anyone who’s been before, but if this is your first time, you’re in for a good one.
- Ashton Lane. A cobbled lane in the West End packed with bars and restaurants. Fairy lights, outdoor seating when the weather allows, and the Grosvenor Cinema if you fancy a film. It’s the kind of place that looks like it belongs on a postcard but is actually just where folk go on a Tuesday night.
- Merchant City. More upmarket bars and cocktail spots. The area around Ingram Street and Wilson Street has a good concentration. It comes alive at the weekend.
- SWG3. Out in Finnieston, this is Glasgow’s go-to for live music, club nights, and cultural events. They’ll almost certainly have stuff on during the Games.
- Sub Club. If you’re into dance music, Sub Club is legendary. It’s been going since 1987 and it’s one of the longest-running underground clubs in the world. Saturday nights (Subculture) are iconic.
Glasgow is famously friendly on a night out. Just pace yourself. The locals don’t.
The Food Scene
Glasgow’s food scene has changed beyond recognition in the last ten years. We’ve put together a separate guide on where to eat and drink near the Games venues if you want specific recommendations. The short version: Finnieston is restaurant central, the Southside has some of the best independent places in the city, and Merchant City does evening dining well.
Make the Most of It
The Games are the main event, but Glasgow rewards exploration. Walk the streets, duck into a museum, sit in a park, find a pub. The Glasgow 2026 Festival means there’ll be something happening in practically every corner of the city all summer.
For the full rundown on everything Games-related, head to our Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games hub.
