How To Get From Glasgow Airport To The City Centre In 2024
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Looking For Answers On How To Get From Glasgow Airport To City Centre? Use this article as your comprehensive guide.
Glasgow International Airport is located near one of Scotland's main motorways, the M8, which allows it to be only a 15-minute drive at off-peak times to get from the airport to the city centre or vice-versa.
There are a number of options to get from one to the other and that's why I've put together this article, which combines all the options in an easy-to-understand guide.
From the comfiest option to the cheapest option, or the nonsensical option to the wild card option, here’s everything you need to know about how to get from Glasgow Airport to the city centre.
This post is all about How To Get From Glasgow Airport To City Centre.
Table Of Contents:
How To Get From Glasgow Airport To City Centre
In a rush? Book two of the best options online:
- Private Taxi Transfer From Glasgow Airport To City Centre | book here
- Bus Transfer From Glasgow Airport To City Centre | book here
By Taxi | The Comfort Option
For maximum comfort and convenience, then opt to get a taxi from Glasgow Airport to the city centre, or vice-versa.
A taxi will cost about £20-30, which is double the price of taking the bus but it does mean that you'll be dropped off directly at your hotel!
During off-peak times, then this taxi journey should only take about 15-20 minutes. However, at rush hour, this taxi journey will take drastically longer, probably more towards 45-minutes. Make sure you take this into account, especially if you have a flight to catch!
The Glasgow airport taxi rank is located directly outside the terminal building. You don't need to prebook either.
Alternatively, if you wanted you could book a taxi in advance here for up to 3 people at £14.39 each.
The airport is open to all operators (including Uber), so you don't need to get any of the taxis already waiting at the taxi rank. Instead, you are free to organise your own transfer with another company.
If you know someone in Glasgow, you could get them to pick you up outside the main terminal building in car park 2. However, it is worth noting that up to 15 minutes in the express pick-up and drop-off zones costs £5.50 and every minute thereafter costs £1.
By Bus | The Cheapest Option
To get from Glasgow Airport to the city centre by bus, then you can jump on the Glasgow Airport Express service 500, which you can get from stance 1 outside the terminal building.
This bus also stops at Bothwell Street, North Hanover Street and then eventually, Buchanan Bus station, allowing you get off at the stop closest to your hotel.
If you are going from the city centre to Glasgow Airport by bus, then you can catch the Glasgow Airport Express service 500 from stance 46 at Buchanan Bus Station.
On the way to the airport, the bus also stops at North Hanover Street, St Vincent Place, St Vincent Street, and Waterloo Street.
The bus journey takes 15 minutes at off-peak times. At rush hours, this journey time can double or even, triple. So, make sure you don't leave it to the last minute!
It costs £10 for an adult one-way ticket, making it a budget-friendly transport option. If you are going to be returning back to the airport, then you could opt to get an open return ticket, which is only £16. It's worth noting that you can pay by card or cash on the bus.
The Glasgow Airport Express service 500 departs every 12-15 minutes from 4.30am - midnight. You can book your tickets in advance for the Glasgow Airport Express service 500 here.
By Bus + Train | The Nonsensical Option
This bus and train option doesn't make much sense at all, especially when there are much easier ways to get to and from Glasgow Airport. However, I wanted to include it, so you could weigh up all the options.
That being said, this option is also the cheapest by 95 pence!
From Glasgow Airport, take the 757 McGill's bus to Paisley Gilmour Street. From here, go to Paisley Gilmour Street Station and take the train to Glasgow Central station. If going from the city centre to the airport, just reverse these directions.
The total journey time for this option takes 26 mins (not accounting for transfer and waiting times) and would cost £9.05.
Hire A Car | The Wild Card Option
Are you planning on travelling around Scotland? Then, you could hire a car.
There are several car rental companies to choose from at Glasgow Airport. Some of which are located in the terminal and others located outside to the left when leaving the terminal building, about a 5-minute walk away.
This post is all about How To Get From Glasgow Airport To City Centre.
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