In a review of the first Glasgow International Art Fair (www.glasgowinternational.org) in April 2005, the Guardian critic declared that "Glasgow is the only city in Britain that has a strong enough community of resident artists to approach an international standing independent of London." The number and quality of galleries and museums bears this out.

The Burrell Collection has just over 9,000 pieces bequeathed to the city by shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944. Works include Degas, Cézanne, and Rodin, plus medieval tapestries and silverwork (Pollok Country Park; 44-141-287-2550; www.glasgowmuseums.com). Expanded, revamped, and reopened in 2006, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is the most-visited museum in Scotland. Exhibits range from Dalí's haunting Christ of St. John of the Cross to a Spitfire buzzing over the top of a stuffed giraffe. It has all the Titian, Rembrandt, and Impressionist paintings that a serious art buff could wish for, but it wears its learning lightly and an unexpected atmosphere of fun pervades the place (Argyle St.; 44-141-276-9599; www.glasgowmuseums.com).The unmissable Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is in a beautiful neoclassical building in the city center. It has featured work by Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Grayson Perry, and Rachel Whiteread (Royal Exchange Square; 44-141-229-1996; www.glasgowmuseums.com). The cutting-edge Centre for Contemporary Arts features visual art, performance, film, and music. There's also a rather excellent café-bar (350 Sauchiehall St.; 44-141-352-4900; www.cca-glasgow.com; closed Sundays and Mondays). The Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery and Theatre hosts a fascinating, eccentric show of Russian artst Eduard Bersudsky's automatons made of everything from carved wood to tiny bits of old scrap metal. Call or check the website for performance times—they need to be seen in action (64 Osborne St.; 44-141-552-7080; www.sharmanka.com; closed Saturdays). Of the scores of independent galleries, many of them centered on Parnie and King streets, the Glasgow Print Studio (48 King St.; 44-141-552-0704; www.gpsart.co.uk; closed Sundays and Mondays) and the Transmission Gallery (45 King St.; 44-141-552-7141; www.transmissiongallery.org; closed Sundays, Mondays, and throughout August) are notable as crucibles of the late-20th-century scene. If you are planning to visit in April, then look out for the annual Glasgow Art Fair held in George Square: The largest event of its kind in the U.K. outside London, it attracts big-name international artists and dealers (www.glasgowartfair.com).

One of the pioneers of the Modern movement, architect and celebrated local son Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928) is as essential to Glasgow's fabric as Gaudí is to Barcelona. His Art Nouveau work was influenced by Scottish and Japanese traditions, and as a designer, architect, and artist, he took as much care with the interior as the exterior of his buildings, right down to the furniture, lighting, and artwork. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh center at The Lighthouse, Scotland's National Architecture and Design Center, is a good place to start a tour of his buildings around the city. The building, designed by the artist, originally housed the Glasgow Herald and it attracts top-notch visiting exhibitions—and the views of the city are impressive (11 Mitchell Lane; 44-141-221-6362; www.thelighthouse.co.uk). His masterpiece, the Glasgow School of Art, is not to be missed (167 Renfrew St.; 44-141-353-4500; www.gsa.ac.uk), nor is his House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park, which was completed in 1996 based on plans he drew up in 1901 (10 Dumbreck Rd.; 44-141-353-4770; www.houseforanartlover.co.uk; call ahead for weekday hours from Oct-March). There are also the Willow Tea Rooms (217 Sauchiehall St. and 97 Buchanan St.; 44-141-332-0521 or 44-141-204-5242; www.willowtearooms.co.uk) and the Scotland Street School Museum, which presents the changing face of Scottish education from the Victorian era through to the 1960s (225 Scotland St.; 44-141-287-0500; www.glasgowmuseums.com; closed October–March). A reconstruction of the architect's own home is part of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow—which, incidentally, also owns the best James McNeill Whistler collection outside the U.S. (University of Glasgow; 44-414-330-4221; www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk; closed Sundays).

Opened in 2001, the four-story Glasgow Science Centre is a fun museum that holds interactive exhibits, a planetarium, Scotland's only IMAX theater, and the Glasgow Tower, Scotland's tallest freestanding structure (50 Pacific Quay; 44-871-540-1000; www.glasgowsciencecentre.org). From a Clydeside dock near the Science Centre, Loch Lomond Seaplanes runs ten-seat Cesfnas for journeys up the West Coast (44-143-667-5030; www.lochlomondseaplanes.com). Book a couple of months in advance in the summer. Options include a 30-minute flight with views over Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (approx $200 per person) and a one-hour flight to Northern Argyll that includes a quick stopover at one of the area's many lochs (approx $370). The People's Palace and Winter Gardens provides an informed and fun social context to the city. It's connected to the Victorian Winter Garden glasshouse, where you can sit amidst the greenery and have a cup of tea—very civilized (Glasgow Green; 44-141-271-2951; www.glasgowmuseums.com). At Clydebuilt, part of the Scottish Maritime Museum, you can board the oldest Clyde-built ship, operate a real steam engine, and take a virtual turn at being a river pilot (Braehead Shopping Centre, Kings Inch Rd.; 44-141-886-1013; www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/renfrew.htm). Or, clear up the mystery of the bagpipes at the National Piping Centre (30–34 McPhater St., Cowcaddens; 44-141-353-0220; www.thepipingcentre.co.uk).

For art museums, see our Art entry.

Dating back to 1841, City Halls reopened in January 2006 following major renovation and is now the place to hear classical music in the city. It's home to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (Candleriggs; 44-141-353-8000; www.glasgowcityhalls.com). Housed in a modern sandstone-clad building, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is mainly a classical music venue but also hosts the folk and roots Celtic Connections Festival every January (2 Sauchiehall St.; 44-141-353-8000; www.grch.com). Located just steps from Glasgow Cross, the Tron Theatre—you'll know it by its beautiful 16th-century church steeple—is a top stop for strong contemporary theater (63 Trongate; 44-141-552-4267; www.tron.co.uk). In the rapidly redeveloping Gorbals area, the venerable Citizen's Theatre played host to Alan Cumming and Robert Carlyle in their early careers. (119 Gorbals St.; 44 141 429 0022; www.citz.co.uk).