Glasgow Airport is served by several bus routes. There is no train service to the airport.
Taxis and a large number of car hire companies are of course also available.
Car rental
Car rental outlets can be found in the garages directly opposite the terminal, which can be reached by a pedestrian marked path.
Weekly rental rates in the summer season are around 220 gbp.
Renting a car is the best option if you are planning a road-trip around Scotland.
Bus to Glasgow
Glasgow city centre can be reached by two bus routes operated by First.
Line 500 Airport Express
The fastest service to the city centre is the 500 bus.
The service runs from the airport via the motorway, stopping at only 3 stops in the centre (such as Central and Queen Street railway stations) and terminating at the main Buchanan Bus Station.
Where to buy tickets and how much do they cost?
There is a special fare on the 500 line which is higher than other public transport lines.
- 10 gbp - One-way
- 16 gbp - return (you can take any service within 28 days of your first journey)
- 15 gbp - all day for the 500 line and all Glasgow city buses
You can buy tickets in the following ways.
- First Glasgow mobile app
- Online via Flibco.com
- Contactless card on boarding with the driver (you attach the card to the reader on boarding and alighting)
- Cash from the driver
If you pay by contactless card, your daily limit 15 gbp will automatically be added and no more will be charged to your card on that calendar day.
Timetable
- Frequency - 10 to 15 minutes (60 minutes at night)
- Journey time - 20 minutes
- Operating hours - 24/7
- Official Information: firstbus.co.uk/airport-express
Line 77
The slower route to the city centre (bus station) runs through the outskirts of Glasgow and takes an hour. The bus makes many stops into the city centre, stopping at all the stations and finishing at Buchanan Bus Station.
In the direction from the centre, only every 3rd service runs to the airport. The rest terminate at Breahad station.
Where to buy tickets and how much do they cost?
The regular fare applies on the 77 line and therefore the ride is cheaper than the 500 line. However, the airport is located in the "Local" zone and therefore fares are slightly more expensive than travelling only in the "City" zone.
- 2,85 gbp - one-way
- 5,40 gbp - all day for all zones and all lines (except line 500)
Tickets can be purchased in the following ways.
- First Glasgow mobile app
- Contactless card on boarding with the driver (you attach the card to the reader on boarding and alighting)
- Cash from the driver
If you pay with a contactless card, your daily limit 5,40 gbp will automatically be added and no more will be charged to your card on that calendar day.
Timetable
- Frequency - 60 minutes
- Journey time - 70 minutes
- Last bus from the airport - 22:19
- First bus from Buchanan Station - 5:20am (7:20am Saturday, 8:20am Sunday)
- Official Information: firstbus.co.uk/journey-planner
Bus to trains - Paisley, Clydebank
The nearest train station is approximately 1.5 miles southbound in Paisley.
A direct link between the terminal and Paisley is provided by McGill's bus 757. Most services continue on to Clydebank, north-west of Glasgow, where you can change trains.
Single tickets are not sold on the 757 buses, only day tickets.
You can purchase a ticket by simply attaching your contactless card to the reader when you board or via McGill's mobile app.
- Price - 5,70 gbp (all day)
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Journey time - 15 minutes (Paisley), 50 minutes (Clydebank)
- Last bus from airport to Paisley - 22:45
- Last bus from airport to Clydebank - 22:14
- First bus from Paisley - 6:00am (7:00am on Sundays)
- First bus from Clydebank - 6:00am (7:00am on Sunday)
- Timetable: mcgillsbuses.co.uk/757
Trains - directions and tickets
You can also get to central Glasgow from either station, but it's always quicker and cheaper to get direct buses from the airport.
- From Paisley station - direction Ardrossan Harbour, Ayr, Largs, Wemyss Bay, Gourock, Irvine, Prestwick Airport, Port Glasgow, Glasgow Central
- From Clydebank Station - direction Balloch, Helensburgh, Dumbarton, Dalmuir
The best way to find timetables and online tickets is via Trainline.
Train Tickets - Thetrainline.com
Citylink's intercity service 915 also stops directly at the airport and runs to popular tourist spots such as Loch Lomond, Fort William (Ben Nevis) and Isleof Sky. The service runs twice daily. Timetable.
Taxi, Uber
Official airport taxis are white in colour and there are always plenty waiting outside the terminal. There is no need to book a taxi in advance, just walk outside the terminal and get in the first car that is available.
Taxis always run according to the meter and payment can be made by card or cash.
Often significantly cheaper fares are offered by taxis via the Uber mobile app.
Approximate prices from Glasgow Airport are as follows:
| Destinations | Taxi | Uber |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow - Buchanan Bus Station | 20 gbp | 16 gbp |
| Glasgow - Central | 19 gbp | 14 gbp |
| Paisley - train station | 10 gbp | 5 gbp |
Bus direction Isle of Skye and Campbeltown
Citylink coaches also stop at the airport.
For information, timetables and online ticketing, visit citylink.co.uk.
- Line 915 - to Isle of Skye (Portree, Uig), Fort William, Loch Lomond, Tyndrum and more
- Runs twice daily
- Prices on Skye from 56,50 gbp
- Line 926 - direction Inveraray, Campbeltown
- Runs 1x daily
- Prices to Campbeltown from 45 gbp
Perhaps I should just add that the timetables in the article for the 77 line are for weekdays only at these times. On Saturdays the first service runs at 8:27, the last at 22:19. And on Sundays the first service runs at 9:26, the last at 22:19 see photo.