Glasgow

Largest and most populated Scottish city, Glasgow switched its declining industrial past for trendy capital status in over just a few years. One hour drive from Edinburgh, it is just as interesting as its neighbour. Younger and more inventive, it keeps attracting tourists eager for art and creation. Lively and abundant in music and art galleries, it especially offers many museums like the Burrell Collection, the vast Kelvingrove and Art Gallery museum and the Riverside Museum, a revolutionary space designed by Zaha Hadid to highlight the history of transportation.

From an architectural standpoint, the outline of the city buildings gives out the city's past: from Georgian classical façades and Victorian baroque palaces to red brick industrial buildings and futuristic high-rises. Constantly effervescent, the city grows noticeably bigger. It has always been a special and fertile ground for genius architects like Charles Rennies Mackintosh, local boy who originated the Scottish Art Nouveau. It is absolutely necessary to visit at least one building designed by this illustrious creator.

If you need to keep your eyes wide open, don't forget to do so with your ears. Glasgow is a city of music, listed as such in the UNESCO creative cities network. Take advantage of your stay to discover this music scene, for instance with a concert at the Barrowland Ballroom or SSE Hydro, a hall that welcomes 13,000.

Like many fashionable places, Glasgow is a perfect spot for shopping. It is in this respect one of the favourite hobbies of passing tourists in the Lowlands city. Glaswegians themselves are in the front seat to discover tomorrow's designers. Last but not least, and like every self-respecting major city, Glasgow stands proud food-wise. At an international level, you will find many addresses that mix traditional cuisine and cosmopolitan recipes. Assuredly, it has become a lair for food lovers!