Dating is hard at the best of times, but it’s even harder when you want to avoid all the same tired spots without eating into next month’s rent. But luckily Glasgow has plenty to offer for a romantic date night, so you won’t have to date déjà vu. From cosy pubs to trendy restaurants, from fascinating museums to picturesque parks, Glasgow is brimming with exciting date ideas that cater to every taste and a student budget. Here’s the low down on the 34 best date ideas in Glasgow that are guaranteed to make your next romantic rendezvous unforgettable. So, if you’re looking to impress your significant other or want to plan a special date, read on for some inspiration!

34 best date ideas in Glasgow

Take your pick from museums and hidden bars to scenic spots in parks, live music venues and other top places for a date in Glasgow. We’ve found 20 date ideas in Glasgow to help keep the romance fresh, or for those who need last-minute inspiration for date night.

1. Immerse yourself in history at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

A trip to the museum is the ideal date idea for anyone who wants to show off their cultural side, and, in Glasgow, there’s no better place to do it than one of the most famous museums in the country. Situated in a spectacular building on the banks of the River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is home to dozens of historical exhibits, scientific wonders, and stand-out art exhibitions that you can spend the whole day exploring. Entry is free, though due to COVID-19 restrictions, you need to book tickets in advance, which you can do on their website.

2. Head to a hidden bar

There are lots of hidden bars in Glasgow that make for a romantic and intimate date idea. The one in the picture is Sloans, which is a cute and cosy vintage pub tucked behind an archway. It’s got a beer garden and several floors, one of which is called the ‘Grand Ballroom’. If you want a fun date idea, why not try their events like Musical Bingo, quiz night or film night.

3. Grab a slice of Paesano Pizza

Nothing says the West End like Paesano: a student favourite, this Neapolitan restaurant brings authenticity without breaking the budget. Prices start from just £6.50 per pizza, and they’re made to order with quality Italian ingredients. The cosy atmosphere on Great Western Road is the perfect place to enjoy a cheap date night in Glasgow – and some quality pizza!

4. Revisit the classics at the Grosvenor Cinema

You might think the cinema is a well-worn date idea, but, as one of our best date ideas in Glasgow, the Grosvenor is not your ordinary cinema. This beautiful independent theatre is at the heart of the West End’s trendy Ashton Lane and shows a regular mix of new releases, cult classics, and seasonal favourites, so there’s no worry about finding something that you’ll both enjoy. The cinema is also connected to a sister café, so why not grab a couple of drinks or a bite to eat before your film?

5. Feed the ducks during golden hour at Kelvingrove Park

An emerald paradise in the summer and an atmospheric wonderland in the winter, Kelvingrove Park is by far the best place for a romantic stroll through the trees and is one of our best date ideas in Glasgow. The classic Victorian Park surrounds the river Kelvin – home to many species of duck, swan, and heron, and the steady ascent up to Park Circus offers stunning views of the city and the University of Glasgow. When the weather’s nice, it’s also the perfect place for a couple’s picnic out in the sun, or during golden hour for added romance. Find more top attractions in Glasgow to explore if you’re looking to get to know the city more on your date.

6. Have the last laugh at The Stand

Next on our list of the best date ideas in Glasgow is The Stand. The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow offers improv and stand-up comedy nights at affordable prices and is a great alternative to the usual evening spent with a date. Being such a small venue, and often hosting established comics like Kevin Bridges testing out new material, tickets sell out fast – so this is one for a date you can plan in advance! Prices vary by the act, but The Stand commits to providing affordable events to keep comedy accessible, and also offers a student discount.

7. Enjoy the holy trio at A Play, A Pie, and a Pint

Food, drink and entertainment all in one – what more could you ask for for a date night in Glasgow? Based at the Òran Mór in Glasgow’s West End, A Play, A Pie and A Pint has been described as the cultural bedrock of the Scottish theatre industry, providing a platform for the country’s newest writers to make their name. It’s also the perfect afternoon: against the backdrop of the ‘Mór’s converted church building, you can enjoy some of the best new theatres Scotland has to offer, with a drink (beer, wine, or soft drink) and a pie (or veggie quiche, or vegan sausage roll) included in your ticket price. With a valid student card, you can also enjoy discounts Sunday-Friday, and get 2-4-1 deals on student tickets on their weekly Student Tuesdays!

8. Experience the magic of GlasGlow

If you’re out on a date around the end of October until mid-November, GlasGlow is a captivating light show like no other that makes for one of the best date ideas in Glasgow. Hosted yearly in the Botanic Gardens, this immersive experience includes a street food market, laser shows, and plenty of insta-worthy backdrops. Tickets for adults are less than £20, but are even cheaper if you go mid-week.

9. Enjoy drinks by the river at Inn Deep

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Inn Deep is another student favourite venue: with its cheap food and drink, great riverside location, and modern dive-bar-style aesthetic, you’ll never fail to impress when taking your date here. It’s definitely one of the best date ideas in Glasgow that’s also super simple and affordable. The bar is open day and night with indoor and outdoor seating, and entrance either from the Kelvin Walkway by the river or at street level on Great Western Road. As one of our best date ideas in Glasgow, it is also renowned for being dog-friendly, with free water and biscuits on offer, so you could both bring yours along if you really wanted to go full 101 Dalmatians – or just bond over a spot of dog-watching.

10. Get lunch and cocktails on a budget in Bar Soba

With its amazing street-style food and expertly-crafted cocktails, Bar Soba is one of Glasgow’s favourite bars and one of our top date ideas in Glasgow. With not one, but three venues to choose from Merchant City, Mitchell Lane, and Byres Road, they offer a great range of Asian and European cuisines from Thai to Japanese to Scottish. If you’re a student you can enjoy 40% off food and 20% off drinks from Thursday to Sunday with a discount card – which you can order online in the restaurant and have set up in time for your bill!

11. Find your new favourite in Glasgow’s second-hand bookshops

If there’s one thing Glasgow does well, it’s bookshops. Exploring the vintage titles in these quaint little venues is a great way to get to know your date – and pick up some new reading material. Caledonia Books on Great Western Road and Voltaire & Rousseau on Otago Lane have a wide range of fiction, classics, poetry, biography, and more on offer, so there is something for everyone.

12. An evening of tapas and cocktails in Finnieston

Finnieston is Glasgow’s up-and-coming trendy neighbourhood, and a hub of some of the city’s best bars, restaurants, and cafes. With its sultry dim lighting, Rioja on Argyle Street is a popular venue late into the night, offering a fancy but affordable selection of wine and tapas, and a wide range of cocktails to choose from. This authentic Basque restaurant is the perfect one of Finnieston’s gems to take a first date in Glasgow (or second, or third…). Or head to THE Finnieston restaurant and bar for cocktails or bespoke beer!

13. Head to the theatre for a fiver

Who said a theatre date in Glasgow couldn’t be cheap? Now you can go for £5 if you’re aged between 14 and 26.  The National Theatre Scotland has special-priced ticket deals for an unusual date idea in Glasgow. They hold performances in random places like a ferry or park, making it that much more special.

14. Head to the funfair at Fayre Play

Recently opened Fayre Play is an adults only fun fair in Glasgow. It’s a great date idea that promises fun and entertainment, so you won’t even have to worry if there’s no banter! You can grab themed cocktails as you play games and go on rides. There’s also lots of great food – including for vegans and veggies too. It’s just £14.50 for 90 minutes play time, which is enough to play their 9 games twice!

15. Curl up in Tchai-Ovna House of Tea

If you’re looking for a more chilled-out date idea in Glasgow, then Tchai-Ovna House of Tea is the perfect best-kept-secret of Otago Lane for you. Scotland’s first speciality tea house offers a wide range of over 80 loose-leaf teas, which you can even buy to make at home, as well as café snacks such as cakes, toast, and sandwiches. The cosy venue also occasionally hosts gigs and poetry readings, so it’s certainly somewhere you could visit more than once with your date.

16. Break the ice in the Baltic ice bar

If you’re looking for somewhere a lot more chilled to have your date, then it doesn’t get much cooler than Baltic: Glasgow’s very own ice bar. Everything in this bar is made from ice – yes, even the glasses! You can choose from various packages to make your date night one to remember, but if you’re looking for an affordable date idea in Glasgow, then you can buy a basic entry ticket for £9 – which includes one ice cocktail each.

17. See behind the scenes with a Tennent’s brewery tour

Tennent’s brewery tour is the perfect date idea in Glasgow for beer fans. But whether you’re big beer drinkers or not, you can’t live in Glasgow and avoid the shadow of that red T. So why not take a date down to the Caledonian brewery site to see where the magic happens? You’ll receive a tour of the heritage site, exploring the beer’s history since 1556, before moving on to the brewery itself and finally ending with a crisp pint of your own! Tours run every day of the week, and ticket prices are fixed at £12.50 per person.

18. Go for a stroll in the Botanics

Next on our list of the best date ideas in Glasgow is the Botanic Gardens. The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are a spectacular collection of flora from all around the world, with winding paths to stroll along with your date, and grassy open spaces perfect for picnics. The gardens are also host to a resident ice cream van if you fancy a sweet treat and two glasshouses with even more tropical wonders to explore, from exotic cacti to towering palms. One of the glasshouses also occasionally hosts a plant sale, where you can pick up some gorgeous succulents for less than £3! The grounds are open year-round from 7 am to dusk (usually around 9 pm in the summer and 7 pm in the winter), and the glasshouses from 10 am to 6 pm in the summer and 4:15 pm in the winter.

19. Say “I could have done that!” at the GoMA

If you or your date are big fans of modern art, then this one of the ideal date night ideas in Glasgow for you to spend your romantic afternoon out. If you’re not such big fans of modern art, it’s still a great way to bond over your mutual confusion and exclamations of “how is that even art!?” – so it’s a win-win either way. Situated right in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre, the Gallery of Modern Art is home to dozens of cutting-edge exhibitions and spectacular sculptures that you can spend the whole day exploring. Entry is free, which is obviously a great date idea for Glasgow students.

20. Flaunt your brains at the Glasgow Science Centre

The Glasgow Science Centre is a great date idea in Glasgow – even if it doesn’t go so well, you can be guaranteed to have learned something by the end of it! The centre hosts loads of exciting events and exhibits year-round, plus an on-site café where you can grab a coffee and a bite during your trip. Tickets are only available in advance, and you can book them via the GSC’s website. Entry is £12 for adults or £10 for students and is valid all day until 5 pm.

21. Cocktails at The Spiritualist

If you’re looking for somewhere fancy to impress your date, then look no further than The Spiritualist for memorable date night ideas in Glasgow. Located in the centre of Glasgow, this enchanting bar and restaurant offers an atmospheric place to linger and chat during the day, or enjoy attractive cocktails in the evening. Its chic but unique décor makes it somewhere neither of you will ever forget – and with spirits and cocktails starting from £3.65 and £8 respectively, you get this extraordinary experience at an affordable price.

21. A Stroll in Glasgow’s Necropolis

Take a walk through Glasgow’s famous Victorian cemetery. This may not seem all that romantic, but this cemetery has many old statues and monuments dedicated to the memory of several Victorian figures.

The scenery and surroundings would make the perfect place for a romantic picnic or a stroll.

22. Make a Reservation for The Art Lovers Cafe

Found within Bellahouston Park, The Art Lovers Cafe is for those passionate about all things artistic. There is afternoon tea and self-guided tours of the house available.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a famous Scottish architect designed the building. His creation was then built in 1996. The house is a dedication to his work. This stunning house and park have the perfect scenery for a romantic afternoon outing.

23. Complete the Game ‘Romantic Glasgow’ created by Questo

Questo have created multiple ‘open-air escape games’ in Glasgow. This game is created for couples and together you will solve puzzles and cryptic codes that will take you to multiple romantic hot spots in Glasgow.

The game will take you up to an hour to complete. You will visit up to ten of Glasgow’s most charming places if you guess all the clues correctly. If you are a couple who seeks adventure, get started now!

24. Challenge each other at Golf Fang Crazy Golf

Head over to the popular mini golf bar, Golf Fang! This crazy golf bar invites all adults for cocktails, street food and a live DJ as well as a thrilling golfing experience.

The bar is decorated in neon coloured street art, giving the place a modern twist! It has been growing increasingly popular in recent times. This golfing bar makes for the perfect night out for you and your partner if you are looking for something a bit different to your usual dates!

Find more inspiration with our top low-key date ideas that are super chill but super fun.

Now, here are our top 10 cheap date ideas if you’re looking for something romantic to do on a budget!

When it comes to dating, working around a budget can be tricky – how do you find something to do together that is fun and affordable at the same time? Luckily, Glasgow has plenty of fantastic options for couples who don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a day out. Here are 10 cheap date ideas in Glasgow to keep the romance alive without sacrificing your rent.

1. Have a picnic at Glasgow Green

Address: Greendyke Street, Saltmarket, Glasgow, G1 5DB

Nice weather in Glasgow is rare – celebrate it with a free trip to Glasgow Green, the oldest park in the city. It sits on 136 acres of land, meaning it is the perfect place to have a picnic or go on a romantic stroll. The park is also home to its own array of attractions, such as the 44 meter tall Nelson monument, the scenic Doulton fountain and the People’s Palace, so there is plenty for the two of you to explore.

2. See a movie at the Grosvenor Cinema

Address: 24 Ashton Lane, Hillhead, Glasgow, G12 8SJ

Do movie night with a twist at The Grosvenor; situated right in the heart of the West End’s famous Ashton Lane, this small two-screen cinema shows everything from blockbuster hits and old cult classics to live screenings of ballets and plays, offering tickets for under £10. The comfy couches, bustling bar and casual atmosphere, create a perfect intimate cinema experience you just don’t get at a multiplex.

3. Admire some art together at the GoMA

Address: 111 Queen Street, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, G1 3AH

The Gallery of Modern Art, also known as the GoMA, is a great way to do something different that is both free and fun. The gallery showcases amazing contemporary artwork from all over the world and exhibits change frequently, so you can have a unique and exciting experience every time you visit. There is also a lovely café for tea breaks, and a library if you fancy a browse.

4. Laugh together at the Rotunda Comedy Club

Address: 28 Tunnel Street, Glasgow, G3 8HL

They say couples who laugh together stay together – so why not make your next date night a funny one at one of the city’s comedy clubs? The Rotunda Club is one of the best places for laughs in Glasgow, with some great headline acts and tickets from as little as £3 for students. Drop-in any Thursday, Friday or Saturday night for a cocktail and a giggle, and you’re sure to have a stand-up evening!

5. Rent a city bicycle

Take advantage of some rare Scottish sunshine and go for a little bike ride through Glasgow. Nextbike offers cheap bike rentals of 700 bikes in 70 different locations throughout the city, starting at just £1 for the first half an hour. There are more than 300km of cycleways in Glasgow, and plenty of attractions to pass, like Kelvingrove and the Botanic Gardens – it’s a great way to get some fresh air and explore the city together on two wheels.

6. Visit the Glasgow Cathedral

Address: Castle Street, Glasgow, G4 0QZ

If you’re planning a trip to Glasgow, the St Mungo’s Cathedral is a must-see. The Cathedral is the oldest building in Glasgow, and the oldest cathedral in the whole of mainland Scotland – every brick and stained glass windowpane is rich with history and significance. It is free to enter, and there are plenty of tombs and shrines to explore and spaces for prayer or reflection. And the Glasgow Northern Necropolis is just a five-minute walk away, with over 3,500 monuments and a maze of walkways to get lost in.

7. Have a drink at Nice n Sleazy’s

Address: 421 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G3 3LG

Glasgow is packed full of amazing bars, but Nice n Sleazy’s does the boozy night out in style, with its poster-covered walls, cosy booths and cocktails starting at just £3.50. Sleazy’s has so much to offer, from their free Big Sleazy Quiz every Tuesday to Sleazyoke, their monthly karaoke nights. It also becomes a cracking music venue on selected nights, with obscure bands coming from all over for the chance to play there. Once you go, Sleazy, you don’t go back!

8. Visit the Christmas Markets

When winter rolls around, a visit to the Glasgow Christmas Markets at St Enoch Square and George Square is the best way to get into the festive spirit. The many stalls offer plenty of hot food and mulled wine for a cold December night, and it’s a great place to do some joint Christmas shopping or get some cute photos together. And a ride on the iconic pop-up Ferris wheel is an absolute must.

9. Have a day out at the Science Centre

Address: 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, G51 1EA

The Science Centre is more than just a family destination; it can also be a fun trip for couples who fancy doing something a bit different. For as little as £8.60 for students, you can explore the hundreds of interactive exhibits on display, and you can add on a trip to the in-house IMAX, home to the biggest screen in Scotland. The real gem, however, is the planetarium – because what’s more romantic than watching the stars with your significant other?

10. Unleash your inner child at Laser Quest

Address: 124 Portman Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, G41 1EJ

You’re never too old to get your battle gear on and challenge your significant other to a game of laser tag. Laser Quest is everything you’d hope it would be, from the billowing smoke to the flashing lights to the sci-fi style battleground, and it’s cheap to play, starting at only £5 per person. Test your teamwork by fighting together, or get competitive and fight each other!