Start the day by meandering through Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens, where palms and tropical blossoms flourish in vast, airy glasshouses. From there, stroll through the beautifully lush Kelvingrove Park to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum where the work of the Scottish Colourists, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and the “Glasgow Boys” take pride of place.

Take your pick of pubs on nearby Argyle Street for lunch then walk to the Riverside Museum to spend a nostalgic afternoon admiring vintage vehicles and locomotives inside architect Zaha Hadid’s impressive glass and metal building. The equally impressive Clyde-built sailing ship Glenlee is berthed alongside, and another historic vessel, the Clyde steamer Queen Mary II, is undergoing restoration nearby.

Finish your day of exploration in style by boarding a speedboat for a high-speed evening cruise with a view of the Clyde and its bridges and brash new waterfront district from the river. Once back on dry land, choose from a stylish and eclectic range of dishes at Oran Mor’s Brasserie Restaurant. The fun doesn’t stop there; this legendary venue in a former church also hosts live music, comedy and club nights.

Start the day with a peek into everyday life in Glasgow’s not-so-distant past at the Tenement House. Find more insights into the lives of ordinary Glaswegians at the People’s Palace, then walk across Glasgow Green to stop for lunch at The Winged Ox Bar and Kitchen at St Luke’s and browse vintage stalls at The Barras.

Pay your respects to St Mungo, the city’s patron saint, at his tomb in the crypt of 13th-century Glasgow Cathedral, then join a guided walk around the hilly Necropolis, which is filled with grandiose monuments to the city’s great and wealthy. Back at street level, take in street art along the City Centre Mural Trail on your way to the Gallery of Modern Art, an ever-growing collection of cutting-edge work by Glasgow-based artists.

For a change of cultural pace, enjoy an evening at the Theatre Royal, home of Scottish Opera. For after-show dinner and drinks, book a table at late-night restaurant Ubiquitous Chip on buzzy Ashton Lane in Glasgow’s West End. Don’t be fooled by its seemingly casual vibe – its innovative menu features regional Scottish produce such as venison haggis, champit tatties and neep cream, and the wine list is a cut above the rest.