Unlike Edinburgh, Glasgow and Glaswegians are very down-to-earth. If the cities of Scotland were the children in a family, Glasgow would be the black sheep, as it is renowned for its rough and ready face and many Scots fear Glaswegians as they are famed for being tough. Don’t let this put you off…. this is what most people love about Glasgow.

I have been to both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Edinburgh is classy, traditional and quaint….Glasgow is loud, bold and stylish. I prefer Glasgow. One of the things I like most about the city are the shops. Shopping in Glasgow is much easier than in Edinburgh because they are all located on Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. This constitutes the heart of the city centre.

The city is perhaps most famous for its University of Glasgow which dates back to 1451. Not only is it renowned for its teaching and prestige, but also its beautiful architecture. I was in Glasgow at the start of September and was wandering around the grounds. I got talking to some of the staff and they took me on a tour of the building. It really is worth seeing.

After visiting the university, I went to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which isn’t far. This museum is an excellent place to go if you want to save money…..because it is absolutely free of charge!! I don’t remember the museum being very big, so perhaps you could spend a couple of hours there. On leaving the museum, I would recommend passing by Kelvingrove Park which is perfect for relaxing in the summer or squirrel watching and talking a breath of fresh air in the winter.

As the evening draws near you can look for somewhere good to have a bite to eat. There are lots of restaurants so you can be sure to find somewhere good. Try to order typical Scottish food at a traditional restaurant – pubs are usually your best bet for cheap food and the chance to try Scottish cuisine. If you like clubbing, Glasgow has lots of great bars, pubs and clubs so don’t miss trying them out.

I have travelled around Scotland and I would highly recommend visiting this part of the world if you like learning about different cultures. The main gateway to Scotland is via Edinburgh Airport. However, international flights also fly into Glasgow International Airport. Public transport between the cities is very good…I would recommend buying the cheapest airline tickets you find, either to Glasgow or Edinburgh and then taking a bus to your destination.

Edinburgh has always been a city I have wanted to visit ever since I saw Braveheart. I think most people see pictures of the charming capital of Scotland and imagine jetting off to the northern hemisphere to see the ancient castles, Highlands and cobble streets.

By luck I was sent on a business trip to Edinburgh last January. The company I work for organised and paid my flights with British Airways, as well as my accommodation at a 4-star hotel. I was also given a spending allowance for food and transport everyday. It was almost too good to be true. When I got my work schedule my worst fears were confirmed – I would be working nearly all day. However, I was still determined to make the most of my free trip to Edinburgh and I would sightsee even if it did mean that my photographs would be taken in the dark.

When I travel somewhere new I always ask locals where I should eat. It doesn’t matter where I am, the bus, the airport, a shop, a taxi….I just love to chat to locals and find out where to go. They do know best. One of the restaurants I was recommended was The Witchery by the Castle. This restaurant is rather expensive (the 3 course menu costs £30, the 2 course Theatre Supper Menu costs £14.95), but it is one of the finest in the city and it has welcomed celebrities as famous as Ewan MacGregor, Catherine Zeta Jones and Pierce Brosnan. Here you can sample some of the best Scottish dishes. It is a very romantic restaurant with a beautiful decor and the setting couldn’t be better as it is located right beside Edinburgh Castle. If you have just purchased airline tickets to Edinburgh start saving so that you can enjoy a meal at The Witchery.

Mike Myers used to have a sketch on SNL where he played a Scottish guy who used to say that if it wasn’t Scottish it was “shite.” Well, if it’s not Aberdeen, it’s shite! The third largest city in Scotland and an international hub that regularly sees cheap flights coming in and out on a daily basis, Aberdeen is the chief seaport on the north eastern coast of the country. Commonly referred to as The Granite City, the Silver City or the Flower of Scotland, due to the fact that it is packed full of parks, gardens and floral displays, Aberdeen is considered by many travelers coming into the city on cheap flights as one of the most beautiful cities in the UK.

While it is quite a bit smaller than Glasgow or Edinburgh, the harbor and beaches make for a distinctly different feeling than the central Scottish cities, and when considering the fact that it has some of the oldest university buildings in Europe, including King’s College, which was founded in 1495, it really does have quite a bit of history to boast about. It’s an amazing city that should really be visited when you are in Scotland.

What’s even better is that from Aberdeen you can get anywhere! As an international hub, visitors can easily book cheap flights to London, Belfast, Paris, as well as almost any other city around the world. Considering the fact that modern Aberdeen has been transformed into the new oil capital of Europe, thanks to the supply of crude oil from the North Sea wells, there are more people coming here to live than there are leaving to visit other destinations. While English is mostly spoken, it is important to understand that local dialects are an important part of the cultural history of Scotland and the chances are you are likely to encounter various dialects while touring the city, so be prepared for some strange sounding accents and unfamiliar words.