Weekend in Glasgow

A self-guided walking route around the city centre and Merchant City, featuring over 30 large-scale murals by local and international artists. Highlights include the 'Smiley' by Sm

Tip: Start at the City Chambers in George Square – there's a free downloadable map on the council website. Go early on a weekday to avoid crowds in alleys. The murals change regularly, so some you saw online might be gone – part of the fun.

One of Scotland's finest medieval buildings, a largely 13th-century cathedral with stunning Gothic architecture and a crypt dating from the 1100s. It sits on the site of St Mungo's

Tip: Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Glasgow Necropolis – a Victorian cemetery with fantastic city views and no entry fee.

The city's oldest public park, dating from the 15th century. It's a large open space with the People's Palace museum, the Doulton Fountain (the world's largest terracotta fountain), and sports pitches

Tip: On a sunny weekend, grab food from a nearby deli and sit on the grass near the fountain. The People's Palace museum inside the park is free and tells Glasgow's social history well – its Winter Gardens glasshouse is a surprisingly good spot for a cuppa.

A 37-acre Victorian cemetery laid out in the 1830s, with over 50,000 burials and hundreds of elaborate monuments. It's essentially an outdoor sculpture park and offers sweeping views over the cathedra

Tip: It's steep in places – wear sturdy shoes. The best views are from the top around the John Knox statue. Benches are scarce, so bring a compact picnic if you want to linger.

A vast civic museum and art gallery with 22 themed galleries, displaying everything from natural history specimens to Old Masters. The building itself is a striking red sandstone landmark.

Tip: Pop into the cafe on the ground floor for decent coffee and cakes. The organ recital at 1pm daily (except Sundays) is a free bonus.