All systems By city Glasgow Subway
Heavy metro
Glasgow Subway
A single circular line, six and a half miles round, serving the city centre and the West End. Because every journey costs the same, the ticketing is the simplest in Britain — the only real decision is single versus day ticket.
Which ticket should you buy?
Photo: Rept0n1x · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ticket options
Single
£1.80
Best for One trip
Same price whether you go one stop or eleven.
Return
£3.50
Best for There and back
Marginally cheaper than two singles.
All Day ticket
£4.40
Best for Three or more journeys
The break-even is the third trip. Contactless capping arrives at the same total.
Weekly season
£17.80
Best for Longer stays
Requires a Subway Smartcard, issued free at station windows.
Roundabout (Subway + ScotRail)
£8.20
Best for Day trips to Paisley or the coast
Off-peak only. Combines the Subway with local trains across Strathclyde.
Fares checked May 2026. Confirm on the operator’s own fares page before you buy.
Where you tap
Tap in and tap out. Forgetting to tap out means the journey is recorded as incomplete and charged at the maximum fare for where you started.
Is the day ticket worth it?
Comparing the Single at £1.80 with the All Day ticket at £4.40. The day ticket becomes the cheaper choice from your third journey onwards.
| Journeys in a day | Singles cost | Against the day ticket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £1.80 | £2.60 cheaper |
| 2 | £3.60 | 80p cheaper |
| 3 | £5.40 | £1.00 more |
| 4 | £7.20 | £2.80 more |
How to pay
- Contactless at the gateline, with a daily cap
- Smartcard (the Subway Smartcard) for season tickets
- Ticket machines and staffed windows at every station
Concessions
- Under 5s travel free.
- Under 22s resident in Scotland travel free with a National Entitlement Card — visitors are not eligible.
- Students can buy discounted season tickets with a matriculation card.
Worth knowing
- The last trains are early by metro standards — around 23:30 Monday to Saturday and 18:00 on Sundays. Check before an evening out.
- The two directions are signed "Inner Circle" and "Outer Circle" rather than by destination; pick whichever gives fewer stops.
- Buchanan Street is the interchange for Queen Street rail; Partick connects to ScotRail for the west.
Photos
Common questions
- How much is a single on the Glasgow Subway?
- The cheapest single listed is £1.80 (Single).
- Is a day ticket worth it on the Glasgow Subway?
- It pays for itself on your third journey. The All Day ticket costs £4.40 and the Single £1.80, so 3 singles come to £5.40.
- Do I need to tap out on the Glasgow Subway?
- Tap in and tap out. Forgetting to tap out means the journey is recorded as incomplete and charged at the maximum fare for where you started.
- Can I pay with a contactless card on the Glasgow Subway?
- Yes. Contactless at the gateline, with a daily cap.
- What do children pay on the Glasgow Subway?
- Under 5s travel free.