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For many Scots, the cost of living crisis has made things such as a fun day trip out or a weekend activity less frequent than ever due to the rising prices of near enough everything.
Many will agree that they can’t afford to eat out or visit places such as the cinema or the bowling with their kids as often as they would like to due to the sheer cost of it. This has led to a surge in demand for more budget-friendly activity ideas.
Thankfully, Glasgow offers multiple places to visit and things to do for free that we often take for granted – or have maybe just forgotten how great they actually are.
So next time you find yourself bored at the weekend but you’re strapped for cash or wanting to spend a day out with the kids without breaking the bank, why not consider one of these activities.
For those who have never visited Kelvingrove before, it is a must-see Glasgow attraction. The historic museum, which opened its doors in 1901, is one of the last great museums of the Victorian era.
View 5 ImagesKelvingrove is one of Scotland’s top attractions(Image: Getty Images)
Situated in Kelvingrove Park in the west end of the city, the museum was revamped for three years from 2003 and reopened its doors in 2006 to the public with impressive exhibits combining natural history and fine art collections such as an original Salvador Dali painting.
A stand out feature in the museum is Sophie Cave’s Flying Heads installation. The museum is open seven days a week and is a great day out for people and families of all ages. Entry is free though you can give a donation at the entrance if you wish to.
You are just minutes from the heart of Kelvingrove Park too, a perfect place to get some fresh air after a wander around the museum.
Also located in the west end on Great Western Road is the Botanic Gardens. While the Botanic Gardens is a hotspot in Glasgow for sunbathing and picnics in the park when the better weather comes in, it also makes for a lovely walk and a free visit inside its glasshouses.
View 5 ImagesGlasgow’s Botanic Gardens is home to the famous Kibble Palace — a magnificent Victorian wrought iron glasshouse(Image: heasis / Getty Images)
Kibble Palace is a striking Victorian iron-framed glasshouse in the middle of the gardens that serves as a centre for tropical plants, tree ferns, and statues The site holds a collection of over 9,000 different plant species.
There are two other glasshouses also containing a variety of plants from around the world, and many other interesting finds around the Botanics – including a viewpoint of the old Botanic Gardens Train Station, which was closed to the public in 1939.
Entry to the grounds and the glasshouses is free.
The Glasgow Necropolis is a 37-acre Victorian style graveyard which is famed for its dramatic hilltop location, 3,500 elaborate monuments, and role as the final resting place for over 50,000 Glaswegians.
View 5 ImagesThe Glasgow Necropolis, a Victorian cemetery, holds around 50,000 graves and 3,500 monuments.(Image: Getty Images)
Established in 1833, it can be found up a steep hill behind Glasgow Cathedral and offers fantastic city views, iconic gothic architecture, and unique historic stories.
While guided tours of the Necropolis are available, entry is free and many view it as a scenic public space rather than just a grand graveyard.
Movie buffs may also recognise the Necropolis as one of the locations used for 2022 blockbuster The Batman, starring Robert Pattison as the Caped Crusader.
Glasgow City Chambers is located at the heart of the city in George Square. First opened in 1888, it acts as a civic palace and the headquarters of Glasgow City Council.
View 5 ImagesCity Chambers in George Square, Glasgow(Image: Getty Images)
The City Chambers is renowned for its luxurious interior, featuring Italian marble staircases, 1.5 million mosaic tiles, and the grand Banqueting Hall.
Tours are currently still free as of May 2026 and work on a first-come, first-served basis with tickets available at reception 30 minutes before.