Saturday

4) 10 A.M. Crypts and Gravestones

Find a counterpoint to ultramodern Glasgow at the city’s cathedral, a dark, Gothic structure that was originally dedicated in 1136, and whose lower crypt contains the tomb of the city’s patron saint, St. Mungo, who went to his reward in the early seventh century. The church retains several unusual features, including one of its original oak doors, said to have been scarred by bullets during one of the city’s numerous historical conflicts. Nearby, the ornate tombs and gravestones of the city’s 19th-century elite can make the hilltop Necropolis cemetery seem like a surprisingly uplifting place, at least on sunny mornings.

5) 11 A.M. Yarn Bombs

Pick up a local souvenir for your favorite knitter at the Queen of Purls, which stocks colorful yarns from the Scottish maker Jamieson’s of Shetland, as well as English, Icelandic and Finnish yarns, to say nothing of plain wool for those who spin their own. Not too far away, the Bargain Wool Shop stocks even more skeins in a small shop just across from the Barras Market, a love-it-or-hate-it weekend destination for fans of antiques, bric-a-brac and vintage clothing.

The UFO-like SSE Hydro Arena. Credit Andy Haslam for The New York Times



6) 1 P.M. Unexpected Eats

Most people come to the Center for Contemporary Arts to check out the quirky artistic exhibitions, though the food at the in-house Saramago Café — rich beet and portobello bourguignon (£9.75); a salad of roasted butternut squash with cucumber, pomegranate and mint, covered with a lemony harissa dressing (£7.50) — is often just as unorthodox. (Only later, you might realize that everything on the inventive menu is vegan). Take in one of the oft-changing exhibits, peek in the print studio or simply enjoy the spacious 1868 building designed by Glasgow’s greatest neoclassical architect, Alexander “Greek” Thomson, before shopping for illustration and arts-focused titles at the ground floor’s Aye-Aye Books on your way out.

7) 2 P.M. Small Producers

Head to the Kelvinbridge subway station and walk west along Great Western Road to discover some of the city’s most interesting shops. Start off among the rare whiskies, wines and craft beers at Valhalla’s Goat before going through the racks of rather glamorous used clothing at the nearby Glasgow Vintage Company. Farther down the street you’ll find used collectibles and rare first editions, often on local subjects, at family-owned Caledonia Books, as well as unusual British- and Scandinavian-made design and lifestyle products at trendy Hoos.

8) 4 P.M. Rippling Waves

It’s not just the classic architecture that makes Glasgow beautiful. Several large modern buildings also brighten the skyline, including the SEC Armadillo amphitheater and the UFO-like SSE Hydro Arena, both designed by Foster and Partners. Even more remarkable is the Riverside Museum, a Zaha Hadid construction from 2011 with a roof that resembles waves of water, a fitting motif considering the waterside location. Inside, the museum’s collection of more than 3,000 historic cars, trams and motorcycles almost feels like a bonus. (As with most Glasgow museums, entry is free.) A free shuttle bus service operates in summer months, though it’s a relatively easy walk from either the Partick or Kelvinhall subway stations the rest of the year, as the building’s rippling rooftop — and the soaring masts of the Glasgow-built tall ship Glenlee moored just behind it — create a perfect landmark to aid your journey.

At Shilling, one of the city’s newest brewpubs, you can try excellent house craft brews. Credit Andy Haslam for The New York Times



9) 6:30 P.M. Mysterious Flavors

There are enough great restaurants in town to keep you from having to go anywhere twice. One worth several revisits is Kimchi Cult, a hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant on a small street in the West End. Korean classics like bibimbap rice bowls (£7) and fluffy Taiwanese bao steamed buns (£4) compete with new-style kimchi-bacon cheeseburgers (£8) and French fries topped with bulgogi barbecue beef (£7), all served with pickled vegetables. If you don’t have the chance to taste the incomprehensibly crispy fried chicken (£7), available either slathered with sweet and tangy soy-garlic glaze or dressed with tart and piquant gochujang hot sauce, you now have your reason to return. Dinner for two is about £30, including soft drinks.)

10) 9 P.M. Church-Going

Stroll past the shops, bars and restaurants of bustling Byres Road until you hit Great Western Road and your next destination: the former Kelvinside Parish Church, built in 1862, which is enjoying new life as Oran Mor, a combination pub, restaurant, dance club and concert venue. Start at the Whisky Bar, where the patient staff will ask your preferences and offer a fitting dram from one of the hundreds of available bottles, including many rarities. Later, you can stay up late in the Club Room in the former church crypt, where house and R&B D.J.s keep the dance floor moving until 3 a.m.