Accommodation to Book in Glasgow for the Savvy Traveller
The modern art, the buzzing nightlife, the second-to-none architecture: everyone has a different reason to come to Glasgow, but it makes sense to choose your location wisely. There’s no better way to experience the best sights, attractions and landmarks of Scotland’s second city across Buchanan Street, George Square, City Chambers and Kelvingrove Park than swaggering around at street level, seeking out in-the-know hotspots and must-see locations in between. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay in Glasgow, bookable on Culture Trip.
1. Grasshoppers Glasgow
Hotel
2. Malmaison Glasgow
Hotel
No wonder artists, musicians and writers are obsessed with Glasgow – there’s a real sense that everyone is having a better time here. That’s easy to see if you stay at this former-church-turned-creative-hotel. The unmissable Mitchell Library is nearby, as is King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut (aka the best bijou live music venue in Britain), the fiercely independent Glasgow Film Theatre and the CCA, Glasgow’s chief creative hub. In fact, it’s such a highlight that before planning a stay, check out its listings for poetry, film nights, gigs and gatherings to ensure your arts schedule is aligned.
3. citizenM Glasgow
Hotel
Plum in the city centre – in the heart of Glasgow’s mini theatre land – this hip hotel is brimming with all sorts of life hacks. Once you skip through the self-service check-in terminals and open-plan canteen, you can duck outside to see what you really came for. Glasgow’s “style mile” Buchanan Street and swish Princes Square Mall are close at hand, while you’ll find a raft of restaurants and burger joints in all the arterial blocks in between. Afterwards, either the Theatre Royal or Pavilion Theatre beckon, or glam-up for a one-off special at the Royal Concert Hall.
5. Dakota Glasgow
Boutique Hotel, Chain Hotel, Hotel, Luxury
City centre nightlife: that’s why you’ve come here. You might even have heard the old adage that you can have more fun at a Glasgow funeral than at an Edinburgh wedding – and you’d be right. Start with a quick rendezvous over cocktails in the hotel’s Dakota Bar, or a flute of bubbles in the Champagne room, before venturing out under the bright city lights. Both Sauchiehall and Bath Streets are jammed with cocktail bars and clubs. To get you warmed up, try the Tiki Bar & Kitsch Inn, Slouch, Firewater, old-school pub The Griffin or legendary indie Shangri-La, Nice N Sleazy.
6. Point A Glasgow
Budget Hotel
Power showers, hairdryers, mood lighting, a jukebox and even an ironing room to help you look your best. Every little helps when there are so many sociable cafes, restaurants and bars oozing good-time vibes in this part of the city. Post-brekkie, take a walk to explore the city’s daytime dark side: start at Glasgow’s granite-stone Cathedral to see the tomb of Saint Mungo, the city’s patron saint. Then, continue to the Necropolis, a city of the dead regularly voted among the world’s most stirring cemeteries.
7. Grand Central Hotel
Hotel
Stay on the right track in your search for places to stay in Glasgow with this former railway hotel inside Central Station, which offers plenty of space to stash your shopping swag. Start with a spree at the gold-plated jewellery boutiques of the nearby Argyll Arcade, then circle back via the modish boutique in the Gallery of Modern Art to the hotel’s Champagne Central bar. Over sharing-board nibbles, see out the day in style with a bottle of Brut.
8. Motel One Glasgow
Hotel
Towering over Central Station, this good-looking address is rammed with industrial railway romance and close to an abundance of Glasgow city break essentials. Start with a bracing walk along the Clyde riverside to the People’s Palace and the urban lung of Glasgow Green, before returning via Royal Exchange Square and the unmissable Gallery of Modern Art. You could stop off in the thriving Merchant City along the way, or beeline your way back to the hotel for a beer or a brew in the sociable cafe-lounge on a vintage train-style quilted bench.
Looking for more places to stay in Scotland? Check out our guide to where to book your stay in Scotland for a local experience, bookable with Culture Trip.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.