The cheapest way into Glasgow is the 500 Airport Express bus, an adult single £11, reaching the city centre in about 15 minutes and running 24 hours a day. Glasgow Airport has no railway station of its own, so buses do the heavy lifting, with the nearest train a short hop away at Paisley Gilmour Street. Prices checked August 2026.
The 500 Airport Express
The 500 is the airport's main link to the city, operated by First Glasgow (First Bus) under contract to the airport. It runs direct via the M8 to the city centre and on to Buchanan Bus Station, calling near Glasgow Central on the way.
- Fares (adult): single £11, day ticket £16.50, return £17.50. Child single £6.50 (day £9, return £10.50). A group of up to 5 is £31 single or £43 return.
- Journey time: about 15 minutes to the city centre and around 25 minutes to the Buchanan Bus Station terminus.
- Frequency and hours: up to every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day.
- Where to catch it: the airport forecourt at Stance 1, arriving in the city at Buchanan Bus Station Stance 46 via Glasgow Central.
The fleet was upgraded from 2025 to battery-electric buses with leather seats, USB charging and free WiFi. Some older travel blogs still quote £9 or £15 fares, but the First Bus fares above are the current ones.
The nearest train: Paisley Gilmour Street
There is no station at the airport, but Paisley Gilmour Street is only about 1.5 to 2 miles away and sits on a busy line into Glasgow Central, with trains taking around 10 minutes. To reach it you can take a short taxi (about 4 to 5 minutes, roughly £10 to £13) or the McGill's 757 bus. This is a useful route if your final destination is on the rail network south or west of Glasgow rather than the city centre itself.
McGill's 757 bus
The McGill's 757 runs between Paisley, Glasgow Airport and Clydebank via Shortroods, Inchinnan Business Park and Erskine, using airport Stance 7. It is handy for a cheaper local hop, including the connection to Paisley Gilmour Street for the train. The single fare is a typical local bus fare of a few pounds, worth confirming with the driver or the McGill's app as fares can change.
Trams, metro and coaches
Glasgow has no tram or metro serving the airport, and the Glasgow Subway does not reach it either, so do not plan around one. For long-distance travel, Scottish Citylink coaches connect through Buchanan Bus Station in the city rather than running a direct airport service, so the usual pattern is the 500 into town and an onward coach from there.
At a glance
| Mode | Fare | Time to city | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Airport Express | £11 single | ~15 min | up to every 10 min, 24h |
| Taxi to Paisley Gilmour St + train | ~£10 to £13 taxi, then rail | ~10 min train | frequent trains |
| McGill's 757 (to Paisley/Clydebank) | a few pounds (indicative) | via Paisley | daytime service |
When a taxi is worth it
Public transport is cheapest and, on the 500, genuinely fast and frequent around the clock. A taxi still makes sense if you are in a group with luggage, if your destination is away from the bus route, or if you simply want the door rather than a city-centre stop. If you are being collected by car, the drop-off page explains the forecourt charge and the free alternative.
Public transport FAQs
What is the cheapest way from Glasgow Airport to the city centre? The 500 Airport Express bus, an adult single £11, taking about 15 minutes and running 24 hours a day up to every 10 minutes.
Is there a train at Glasgow Airport? No. The airport has no station. The nearest is Paisley Gilmour Street, about 1.5 to 2 miles away, from where trains reach Glasgow Central in around 10 minutes.
How often does the 500 bus run? Up to every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, from Stance 1 on the airport forecourt.
Does the airport bus run at night? Yes. The 500 Airport Express runs 24 hours a day, which makes it a reliable option for early or late flights.
More: Overview, Taxis, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, FAQs.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Glasgow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Glasgow Airport website before you travel.