Glasgow is a city of grand sandstone buildings, small music venues and pubs, where a rainy afternoon can quickly turn into something lively. You can spend the morning on art, eat your way through the West End’s cafés and finish the evening at a gig. It’s an obvious choice for a weekend of good food and music, but where to stay in Glasgow makes a real difference to how you experience it.
So where should you stay in Glasgow? Your choice of area matters most in the evening, when you need to get back from a restaurant or a concert. Here are my five picks for the best areas, with three good hotels in each.
Contents
Where to Stay in Glasgow: The Best Areas
- City Centre - best area for first-time visitors and shopping
- Merchant City - best area for restaurants and nightlife
- West End - best area for cafés, parks and museums
- Finnieston & SEC - best area for concerts and events
- Southside - best area for parks, the Burrell Collection and peace and quiet
Below, I go through the areas one by one with a map, transport, price level and three hotels in each. The prices come from searches for weekends in November and March for two people, and they rise sharply when big concerts and events are on in the city.
1. City Centre - best area for first-time visitors and shopping 🛍️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the middle of the centre around Buchanan Street, George Square and the two main railway stations, Central and Queen Street.
- 🚇 Transport: You can walk to most things. The Subway stops at Buchanan Street and St Enoch, and trains run from Central and Queen Street to the rest of Scotland and England.
- ✈️ Time from Glasgow Airport: Around 15 to 25 minutes on the Airport Express 500, which runs every 10 minutes around the clock and stops at Central Station and Queen Street. A single ticket costs £11.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to ££££. The three hotels below cost around £130 to £240 per night when I searched for weekends in November and March.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and busy until late. Keep an eye on your bag at the stations and on the busy shopping streets, and expect partying and noise around Sauchiehall Street at weekends.
The City Centre is the easiest base if you’re visiting Glasgow for the first time and want a bit of everything. The shopping streets of Buchanan Street, Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street, the railway stations and plenty of restaurants are all within reasonable walking distance of each other. On a two or three-night stay, it makes a difference that you can quickly pop back to the hotel with your shopping bags or grab an extra jumper when the weather turns.
Buchanan Street is a good reference point when you look at the map. To the east are George Square and Queen Street Station, while Central Station lies further to the south-west. The two stations serve different routes: most trains to Edinburgh and the Highlands leave from Queen Street, while trains to England depart from Central. If you’re heading on to the capital, my guide to where to stay in Edinburgh can help, and if you’re continuing south, I also have a guide to where to stay in London.
See hotels in the City Centre here.
I’d look for a hotel between the stations, or near Blythswood Square if your budget stretches a little further. You don’t need to be right on a shopping street to be central, and a side street often means a quieter night. Glasgow’s Subway links the centre with the West End from Buchanan Street and St Enoch, but it only runs in a loop and doesn’t cover the whole city.
The downside is that the centre can be busy and noisy in the evening, especially around Sauchiehall Street and the big bars at weekends. If you stay close to the stations, you should also expect crowds at rush hour. For a short weekend, though, it’s a small price to pay for having most things right on your doorstep.
Hotels in the City Centre
Dakota Glasgow - dark, elegant style by Blythswood Square
Dakota is on West Regent Street by Blythswood Square in the western part of the centre. The hotel has an understated style with dark colours, a grill restaurant and a bar, and the rooms have air conditioning and large showers. It’s the most expensive of my three suggestions here, and a few guests mention that the bathroom floors could be cleaner.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel’s location is ideal, the staff are fantastic and the decor is beautiful.”
See photos and book Dakota Glasgow here.
Native Glasgow - apartments with kitchens by George Square
Native is an aparthotel in the former headquarters of the Anchor Line shipping company on St Vincent Place, right by George Square. The apartments have a kitchen and dining area, and Queen Street Station is a few minutes’ walk away, so it suits a longer stay or onward trips around Scotland. On the other hand, you don’t get all the classic hotel facilities, which some guests miss.
From one review: “Lovely hotel! Great facilities, and so comfortable and stylish.”
See photos and book Native Glasgow here.
Motel One Glasgow - a practical base by Central Station
Motel One is on Oswald Street by Central Station and has modern rooms and the One Lounge, where you can have a coffee or a drink before heading out. It’s one of the city’s most reviewed hotels, with over 20,000 reviews on Booking.com, and also the cheapest of the three. The rooms are small, so if you’re travelling with large suitcases, things get cramped.
One guest highlights: “Good location, friendly and helpful staff and nice rooms.”
See photos and book Motel One Glasgow here.
2. Merchant City - best area for restaurants and nightlife 🍸
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Merchant City is the eastern part of the city centre. It’s a 5 to 15-minute walk to George Square and Buchanan Street, depending on the address.
- 🚆 Transport: You can walk to most places. Queen Street Station is a few minutes to the north-west, Argyle Street and High Street have local trains, and St Enoch Subway is to the west.
- ✈️ Time from Glasgow Airport: Around 25 to 35 minutes on the Airport Express 500 to Queen Street or North Hanover Street, followed by a short walk, or 20 to 25 minutes by taxi.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to £££. The three hotels below cost around £130 to £180 per night when I searched for weekends in November and March.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and lively. There are lots of people around the bars late in the evening, and some streets get noisy at weekends, so ask for a room away from the street if you’re a light sleeper.
Merchant City is my pick if restaurants, bars and evenings on foot are the main focus of your trip. You’re still staying centrally, but a little away from the busiest shopping streets. The old merchant buildings from the days of the tobacco lords give the streets their character, and places to eat and have a drink are never far apart.
I’d use Merchant Square on Candleriggs as a reference point and look at addresses around Ingram Street, Albion Street and the nearby side streets. From here you can find dinner without having to plan a bus journey first, which is handy when the weather changes and you’d rather stay in the neighbourhood. The Ramshorn church on Ingram Street and the old Tolbooth Steeple at Glasgow Cross are useful landmarks for finding your way around. Glasgow’s official tourism site People Make Glasgow has more ideas for restaurants and events in the city.
See hotels in Merchant City here.
Merchant City is part of the centre, so the boundary with the City Centre isn’t clear-cut. The ibis hotel below is on Miller Street, where the two areas meet, while Fraser Suites and The Social Hub are right in the middle of the neighbourhood. Use the map to find the street you’d most like to come home to, rather than choosing on the area’s name alone.
Being close to the nightlife is also the main compromise. A room facing a busy bar street can be noisier in the evening, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. On the other hand, you can manage a lot without public transport: George Square is to the north-west, and you can carry on east towards the cathedral or south towards Glasgow Green park. That makes Merchant City a strong alternative to the city centre when the food and evenings matter at least as much as the daytime sights.
Hotels in Merchant City
Fraser Suites Glasgow - apartments in a former bank building
Fraser Suites is on Albion Street in an old bank building in the heart of Merchant City, with apartments featuring a kitchenette and seating area, plus a small gym. It’s ideal for a longer stay when you’d like more space than a standard room. Several guests do mention that there can be street noise, especially at weekends.
One guest writes briefly on Booking.com: “Great hotel, I’ll definitely stay there again!”
See photos and book Fraser Suites Glasgow here.
The Social Hub Glasgow - a modern hotel with lively communal areas
The Social Hub is on Candleriggs and has a restaurant, bar, gym and games room with pool and table tennis, while the rooms have air conditioning and soundproofing. It suits a weekend away with friends where you’ll actually use the shared spaces, and with more than 10,000 reviews and a score of 8.8, it’s a safe choice. Some guests do find breakfast busy and short-staffed, though.
Another guest highlights: “Fantastic hotel. Great location, and the staff were so helpful.”
See photos and book The Social Hub Glasgow here.
ibis Styles Glasgow Centre George Square - a simple, central choice on the western edge of the area
This ibis Styles is on Miller Street, where Merchant City meets the rest of the centre, so you can walk both to the restaurants to the east and the shops around Buchanan Street. The décor has more colour and humour than the most basic chain hotels, and there’s a restaurant and bar. The rooms are small, so choose it if you mainly want the hotel to be an easy base.
One guest sums it up: “Good hotel, good location. Thumbs up.”
See photos and book ibis Styles George Square here.
3. West End - best area for cafés, parks and museums ☕
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Around 3 to 4 km west of George Square. On the Subway, it’s four stops from Buchanan Street to Kelvinbridge and five to Hillhead.
- 🚇 Transport: The Subway stops at Kelvinbridge, Hillhead and Kelvinhall. On Sundays it only runs from 10am until around 6pm, so late journeys home mean a bus or a taxi.
- ✈️ Time from Glasgow Airport: Around 20 minutes by taxi, or 40 to 50 minutes on the Airport Express 500 to the city centre and then the Subway on to the West End.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to ££££. The three hotels below cost around £125 to £310 per night when I searched for weekends in November and March.
- 👮 Safety: A quiet, safe area with lots of students. Stick to well-lit streets on late-night walks, and use the parks and the paths along the River Kelvin in daylight.
The West End is my top pick if you’d rather start the day in a café than on a shopping street. The university, Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic Gardens leave room for afternoons without a packed itinerary, and the area’s sandstone buildings are some of the most beautiful in Glasgow.
Byres Road is a good place to start. From here you can wander into the side streets, find somewhere to eat and carry on towards the university buildings or the Botanic Gardens. The little cobbled Ashton Lane is right by Hillhead Subway, if you’d like the evening to continue with food and a drink.
One of the best reasons to stay here is Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where general admission is free. You can combine a visit with a stroll through the park, and on a rainy day it’s nice to have a big museum in your own part of town.
See hotels in the West End here.
The West End is a large area, though, and the hotels below are spread across different parts of it. Kelvinbridge is handy for the Subway and the eastern side, while Hillhead suits Byres Road best. Hyndland and Devonshire Gardens further west are more secluded, but they also mean more walking or a bus.
I’d choose the West End for a slightly longer weekend with time for slow mornings. The area also works well as a gentle start or end to a road trip, and if you’re heading further north, you can read my guide to where to stay in the Scottish Highlands. Book based on the streets you’ll actually use, rather than just picking a hotel with West End in its name.
Hotels in the West End
One Devonshire Gardens a Hotel Du Vin - Victorian townhouses for a quiet couple’s weekend
Hotel du Vin occupies a row of Victorian townhouses on Great Western Road at the western end of the West End. It’s the area’s five-star luxury hotel, with individually designed rooms, a bistro and a bar where wine and whisky take centre stage. The location is secluded, so you’ll need to walk a fair way or take a bus to Byres Road, and some guests feel the rooms are starting to look a little worn.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything about the hotel is quality, from the room to the meals. The staff are friendly.”
See photos and book One Devonshire Gardens here.
Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel - large rooms by the Botanic Gardens
The Grosvenor sits on Grosvenor Terrace off Great Western Road, a few minutes’ walk from the Botanic Gardens and the northern end of Byres Road. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and classic hotel rooms, and Hillhead Subway is close by. Its score of 7.5 is the lowest in this guide, and several guests mention that the hotel feels a bit tired and that reception is understaffed.
From one review: “Good location. Large rooms and lovely and quiet.”
See photos and book Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel here.
Albion Hotel - a smaller hotel near Kelvinbridge Subway
The Albion is in an older townhouse on North Woodside Road, close to Great Western Road and Kelvinbridge Subway, so it’s easy to move between the West End and the city centre. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms and tea and coffee facilities, and the price is the lowest of the three. There’s no restaurant or bar, and a few guests mention noise from other guests late in the evening.
One guest praises the service: “Very good location for what I needed to do in the city. Excellent service from Diane and Gabriel.”
See photos and book Albion Hotel here.
4. Finnieston & SEC - best area for concerts and events 🎸
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Roughly 2 to 3 km west of the centre, which is a 25 to 40-minute walk along the river or via Argyle Street.
- 🚆 Transport: Exhibition Centre Station has local trains to Glasgow Central in just a few minutes, and buses run along Argyle Street. The Subway doesn’t come down here.
- ✈️ Time from Glasgow Airport: About 15 minutes by taxi, or around 40 minutes on the Airport Express 500 to Central Station and then the train on to Exhibition Centre.
- 💰 Price level: ££ to ££££. The three hotels below cost roughly £130 to £310 a night when I searched for weekends in November and March. Prices rise sharply when there are big concerts on.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but the streets get very busy after concerts. Plan your journey back, and watch out for cyclists on the riverside path.
For a concert at the OVO Hydro or an event at the Scottish Event Campus, this is where I’d start my hotel search. You can walk back afterwards, and the River Clyde is right on your doorstep for a stroll towards the centre or across the Clyde Arc, the curved bridge locals call the Squinty Bridge.
Finnieston has two sides. Restaurants, cocktail bars and pubs are mainly found on Argyle Street to the north, while the big, newer hotels sit down by the SEC and the river. The three hotels below belong to the latter group, so allow a 10 to 15-minute walk if you want dinner on the restaurant strip. If you’re coming by car, it’s handy that both the Courtyard and Radisson RED have on-site parking.
Check the current listings at the OVO Hydro before you compare hotels, because even a concert you’re not going to can push up prices across the whole city.
See hotels in Finnieston and near the SEC here.
For a regular first visit, though, I’d choose the City Centre. From here it’s further to the things you’ll probably want to see, and the area around the event halls feels more like a conference district than a street of little shops and cafés. The Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove are within walking distance if you have a free day. Exhibition Centre Station is a railway station rather than part of the Subway, so to reach the West End, the bus or a walk through Kelvingrove Park is often easiest.
If you’re still choosing a British music city, you can compare with my guides on where to stay in Manchester and where to stay in Liverpool. When it comes to where to stay in Glasgow, Finnieston and the SEC really come into their own when you’ve already got your ticket for the night.
Hotels in Finnieston & SEC
Radisson RED Glasgow - rooftop bar and a short walk home from the gig
Radisson RED is on Finnieston Quay, right by the river and the OVO Hydro, and has a rooftop bar with views over Glasgow, a restaurant and a gym. The rooms are colourful and modern, and some have river views, depending on the category. It was the most expensive of the three when I searched, and a few guests have been given a different bed type from the one they booked.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room was clean and comfortable. The staff were very efficient and couldn’t do enough to make our stay pleasant.”
See photos and book Radisson RED Glasgow here.
Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow SEC - a comfortable, practical choice by the SEC
The Courtyard is on Stobcross Road by the SEC and has air conditioning, a restaurant, a bar and a gym, and with a score of 8.9 it’s the best rated of the three. It suits you if a good bed and a short trip back matter more than distinctive décor. A few guests do mention noise from the air conditioning unit in the room, though.
Another guest sums it up: “Location, great atmosphere, comfortable beds, friendly and helpful staff. Everything I need in a hotel. Super!”
See photos and book Courtyard Glasgow SEC here.
Moxy Glasgow SEC - a relaxed base with a bar and games
Moxy is on Finnieston Street between the SEC and the restaurants on Argyle Street, and has a bar, a gym and communal areas with pool and board games. The style is informal, and it makes sense to meet downstairs before a night out rather than in your room. There’s no room service, but the price makes it the budget pick in the concert area.
From one review: “The staff were lovely and very accommodating. The hotel is really nice, the rooms are the perfect size and the beds are comfortable.”
See photos and book Moxy Glasgow SEC here.
5. Southside - best area for parks, the Burrell Collection and peace and quiet 🌳
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Around 3 to 5 km south of the centre, on the other side of the River Clyde. By local train, it takes about 10 minutes from Glasgow Central.
- 🚆 Transport: Local trains from Glasgow Central to stations such as Crosshill and Dumbreck, and buses along Pollokshaws Road. The Subway only stops on the northern edge of the area.
- ✈️ Time from Glasgow Airport: Around 20 to 25 minutes by taxi or car, or about 45 minutes on the Airport Express 500 to the centre and then the train onwards from Central.
- 💰 Price level: £ to £££. The three places below cost around £65 to £250 per night when I searched for a weekend in March.
- 👮 Safety: Mostly quiet residential neighbourhoods. As in the rest of the city, stick to well-lit streets in the evening and avoid the parks after dark.
The Southside is the collection of neighbourhoods south of the River Clyde, and it’s my pick if you want somewhere quiet, ideally have a car and don’t need to pop out to the shops every day. This is where you’ll find large Victorian villa districts such as Pollokshields, the Queen’s Park and Shawlands, where Pollokshaws Road is lined with cafés, bars and restaurants. It feels more like staying with the locals than in a tourist city.
The biggest reason to stay here is Pollok Country Park with the Burrell Collection, one of Scotland’s great art museums, which is free to visit. The collection ranges from medieval stained glass to Chinese ceramics, and the surrounding park is big enough for a whole morning on foot.
See hotels on the Southside here.
Queen’s Park sits on high ground, and from the top of the park you get a lovely view over the city. The southern edge of the park borders Shawlands, so you can walk straight from the park to dinner. The hotels below are spread out, though: Sherbrooke Castle in Pollokshields to the west, and Number 10 and Glades House in Crosshill east of the park, close to the local trains.
The Southside is also a good choice if Glasgow is the start of a road trip. All three places below have free on-site or street parking, so you avoid the expensive car parks in the centre. You can hire a car via Booking.com and find route ideas in my guide to a road trip in Scotland with Glencoe and the Isle of Skye.
The downside is the distance. In the evening you’ll need to take the train or a taxi back from the centre, and the main sights are further apart. For a short first weekend without a car, I’d therefore rather choose the City Centre or Merchant City.
Hotels on the Southside
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel - spend the night in a Scottish baronial castle
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel is on Sherbrooke Avenue in Pollokshields, in a Scottish baronial-style building known as a castle, and has a restaurant, bar, garden and free parking. Dumbreck Station is about a five-minute walk away, and Pollok Country Park is close by. There’s no lift, and some of the so-called garden rooms face the kitchen and the hotel’s back door.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautiful buildings, and the staff were friendly and polite. Nothing was too much trouble.”
See photos and book Sherbrooke Castle here.
Number 10 Hotel - a Victorian townhouse by Queen’s Park
Number 10 is on Queens Drive in a Victorian townhouse close to Queen’s Park and has a restaurant, bar and a garden with a terrace. It’s a few minutes’ walk to the local train and to a neighbourhood with shops and cafés, and street parking is free. The bar and dining room are small, and there’s no lift.
Another guest highlights: “Excellent location, very quiet but not too far to walk to the local shops and cafés.”
See photos and book Number 10 Hotel here.
Glades House - a budget guesthouse by Crosshill Station
Glades House is a guesthouse on Albert Road in Crosshill, just a two-minute walk from Crosshill Station, where trains run to Glasgow Central. There’s a shared kitchen, a garden and free parking, and the price was by far the lowest in the whole guide when I searched. There’s no lift, and a few guests complain about other guests slamming doors.
From a review: “The location is good and very easy to find from the station. The room was large and had everything I needed.”
See photos and book Glades House here.
Where not to stay in Glasgow?
For a first weekend, I’d avoid hotels far outside the central areas if the only advantage is a slightly lower price. Watch out in particular for hotels with Glasgow in their name that are actually by the airport in Paisley or next to the motorways, where you’ll need a taxi for everything. An airport hotel only makes sense around an early departure or a late arrival.
Nor would I choose an address in the middle of the nightlife around Sauchiehall Street and still expect complete peace and quiet. Look at the specific street, where the room is located and the latest reviews. Near the SEC, a low price should also be weighed against your plans, because without a concert the centre is the more convenient base.
The City Centre is my best all-round pick for your first trip to Glasgow. You get an easy arrival, plenty of hotels to choose from and short walks to shops and restaurants. Merchant City is the good alternative if evenings at the dinner table and in the bars matter more, without giving up a central location.
I’d choose the West End for cafés, parks and museums, while Finnieston and the SEC make most sense when a concert is the main reason for your trip. The Southside suits you if you want somewhere quiet, have a car or are coming mainly for the Burrell Collection.
If you land in Edinburgh instead, trains run to Glasgow several times an hour, and my guide to getting from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre will help you with the first leg. If you have an extra day, the sights in Edinburgh are only about an hour away by train.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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