Forget Edinburgh — we stayed in Glasgow. It was cheaper and less touristy, with gorgeous gardens and architecture.

Glasgow is beautiful, too

Edinburgh is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Glasgow is just as beautiful, but you need to know where to go.

Buchanan Street, flanked by pretty Victorian and Edwardian buildings, is the perfect pedestrian promenade for shoppers. Ashton Lane in the West End is our favorite evening spot. It’s a cute, cobble-stoned alley with a twinkly-lit ceiling surrounded by restaurants, pubs, and a small movie theater.

The Glasgow Cathedral, with its signature spires and iconic green roof, is impressive no matter how many times you’ve seen it. The nearby Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery with fantastic views of the city from its summit.

Pollok Country Park in Glasgow’s Southside is the city’s largest park and probably the most beautiful. At the same time, a tranquil stroll along the River Kelvin Walkway in the West End is a picturesque woodland escape for adventure-loving families.

Glasgow University is another worthwhile attraction. With its Gothic-revival-style architecture, Harry Potter fans will feel like they’re stepping into Hogwarts.

Glasgow is cheaper than Edinburgh

Glasgow offers cheaper accommodations and more affordable food options. We stayed at hotels in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the former being substantially cheaper.

And while there are plenty of amazing, award-winning restaurants in Glasgow, the city is also the Gregg’s capital of the UK, which is a cheap and cheerful bakery chain known for their flaky, savory pastries and sweet treats. We found ourselves there for morning coffee and bacon rolls more times than we’d like to admit.

If you’re on a budget, Glasgow is the clear winner.

It’s hard to beat a football match in Glasgow

Two Glasgow teams, Celtic and Rangers, are the most successful (and popular) soccer teams in Scotland. Book tickets in advance to catch a game at either Parkhead or Ibrox. The players on the pitch will undoubtedly entertain, but the supporters will provide an experience your family will never forget.

Glasgow is friendly, less crowded, and not as touristy

After a crowdsourced campaign in 2013 consulted thousands of people, “People Make Glasgow” became the official city brand slogan. Strangers in Glasgow don’t really feel like strangers for long.

Glasgow is also known for its humor, perfectly illustrated by the city’s Duke of Wellington statue. For over 40 years, this iconic figure has sported an orange traffic cone on its head. I got such a kick out of it as a kid, and now my son does, too.

And while Edinburgh is a smaller city, it attracts more tourists than Glasgow. In Edinburgh, we dodged the crowds as we walked up and down the Royal Mile and around other tourist hot spots. Glasgow was a breath of fresh air and easier to explore with a kid.