We recently spent several days exploring Aberdeen and found that the city has a batch to offer visitors. Aberdeen has potent computer architecture, beautiful gardens, charming historical districts, interesting museums ( most of which are detached ! ), good restaurants, internationally known golf courses, fun festivals, and even a beach ! The wide area of Aberdeenshire is home to whisky distilleries, dozens of castles, the Cairngorms National Park, and some of Scotland ’ mho best golf courses .
first base, we ’ ll share all you need to know to plan your visit to Aberdeen including how to get there, how to get around, and where to stay. then we ’ ll share our usher to Aberdeen attractions, highlighting all the top things to do in Aberdeen, from cardinal Aberdeen to the surrounding area .
Basic Travel Info on Visiting Aberdeen
Before we begin with all the attractions, hera is some locomotion data that may come in handy. This includes advice and tiptoe about getting to Aberdeen, getting around Aberdeen, where to stay in Aberdeen, and when is the best time of year to visit the city .
Where is Aberdeen ?
Aberdeen is located in the northeastern part of Scotland, within the scots Highlands. It is a coastal city with the North Sea ( part of the Atlantic Ocean ) located along the easterly side of the city .
Getting to Aberdeen
By Plane. There are multiple flights a day in and out of Aberdeen Airport from destinations across the UK and Europe, and this can be a relatively cheap manner to reach the city, specially if you book in promote with a budget airline. aberdeen airport is 30 minute drive, busbar drive, or taxi ride from the city center .
The adjacent close airports are Inverness Airport and Edinburgh Airport which offer more UK and external connections .
By Train. Aberdeen is well-connected by train from locations throughout England, Wales, and Scotland. You can check ScotRail and London North Eastern Railway for local train services, routes, and to purchase tickets .
If you are interested in taking an nightlong sleeper train ( runs between London and Inverness ), you can check the Caledonian Sleeper route and schedule as some services stop in Aberdeen .
By Bus. If you are in the UK and would rather travel by busbar, there are day by day coach connections to Aberdeen from a number of cities. Generally it takes longer to travel by bus but it may save you money compared to train fares or lease cars prices. You can check National Express for coach connections and prices .
By Car. For drivers, Aberdeen is located about 105 miles from Inverness ( about 2 hours, 45 minutes ) ,125 miles from Edinburgh ( about 2 hours, 45 minutes ), 150 miles from Glasgow ( 2 hours, 45 minutes ), 350 miles from Manchester ( about 6 hours ), and 545 miles from London ( 9 hours, 20 minutes ) .
Getting about Aberdeen
Aberdeen is an easy city to get around on foot and by public transit. The city center attractions can be explored on foot. The locations outside the city center such as attractions in “ Old Aberdeen ”, the University of Aberdeen, Footdee, and the Gordon Highlanders Museum can easily be reached by public busbar, cab, or car. We ’ ll provide some guidance throughout the article about how far attractions are located from the city center to help you best plan and navigate the city .
It is easy to drive around Aberdeen but parking can be unmanageable to find around the city center and university areas, so we ’ vitamin d commend using public transit or walking if potential around these areas .
If you need to call a cab while in Aberdeen, we recommend using this UK taxi comparison service to find the best rate .
If you are planning to use the bus in Aberdeen more than once or doubly, we recommend checking out the GrassHopper slate. The ticket is economically priced to allow for unlimited use of many of the local bus services for 1 day, multiple days, or even a week. Most visitors will credibly just need the slate that covers the main zone round Aberdeen, but you can besides get tickets that allows for travel around the broad area of Aberdeenshire if you are planning some day trips .
If you are wanting to visit locations outside of the city such as castles, golf courses, whiskey distilleries, or the Cairngorms National Park, the easiest manner to explore is by car. however, you can besides get to many places via bus topology and there are besides some guided tours you can take from Aberdeen to places like Balmoral Castle, Royal Deeside, the Speyside whiskey distilleries, and Loch Ness .
Best time of year to visit Aberdeen ?
Being a city, there is a batch to do in Aberdeen at any prison term of the year, with multiple indoor and outdoor attractions. Of course, the best clock for you will vary depending on your interests as you may want to catch a certain festival or visit during a particular season .
In general, our favored time of year to travel in Scotland is May, June, and September. The weather is generally becoming and the attractions are not excessively crowded. however, Aberdeen is a lot less busy with tourists than Edinburgh, so it is a pleasant city to visit in terms of crowd year-round .
Most attractions within the city are open year round, although many of the castles in Aberdeenshire have seasonal worker hours and many close up during the winter .
In terms of weather, it is generally warmer in the summer and cold in the winter, but it rarely gets hot. however, the nautical climate means that it can have cool summers and warmer winters than other areas of Scotland. Weather is fickle in Scotland and rain is a potent possibility year round. We ’ vitamin d suggest checking the weather calculate before you visit, and be prepared for variable weather by bringing batch of layers and rain gear no matter when you plan to visit .
How many Days should I Spend in Aberdeen ?
We ’ five hundred commend spend at least two days in Aberdeen to see the city highlights, but three days would be even better to in truth get a feel for this city and possibly explore a spot of Aberdeenshire. So a long weekend in Aberdeen would be ideal .
Of course, if you can stay for long as there is batch to do in the city and the rest of Aberdeenshire, so you won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate have trouble filling your time ! There are besides plenty of great sidereal day trips from Aberdeen if you have more than a couple of days here .
Where to Stay in Aberdeen ?
We ’ d recommend staying in the city center of Aberdeen to maximize your time in Aberdeen. Many of the city ’ mho museums, attractions, theaters, and popular restaurants and bars are located in or near the city center. Most of the city ’ s festival events besides take place in central city locations .
however, Old Aberdeen ( around the university ), the West end, and the harbor area are besides courteous places to stay, depending on what you want to see and do in the city .
There is a wide assortment of accommodation options in Aberdeen that should suit any type of traveler, including hotels, apartments, guest houses, and hostels. If you want to stay in the central area, you can check out this tilt of lodging located in the city center .
If you are looking for a well-rated city center hotel, we recommend checking out the Sandman Signature, Residence Inn, the Carmelite Hotel, The Station Hotel, and Jury ’ s Inn .
For centrally located B & B ’ sulfur you might want to look at Bimini Guest House and Lochnager Guest House .
In terms of hostels, the well-rated Soprano Hostel has a big central placement, offering shared dormitory rooms vitamin a well as private rooms .
For those looking for a good value apartment, we have stayed in this apartment hotel, which came with a kitchenette ( option to cook when we wished ), free breakfast, workplace outer space, and barren parking. You can besides check out a list of apartments, and vacation rentals in Aberdeen on Vrbo here .
If you are looking for a special position out of the city center, you might consider staying in these erstwhile 19th century beacon cottages near Aberdeen Harbor ( 4 night stay minimal during most of the year ) .
If you have a cable car and don ’ metric ton mind staying a bit outside the city there are some actually nice scots nation house hotels nearby which include the Marcliffe House & Spa ( besides a well position for afternoon tea ), MacDonald Norwood Hall Hotel, and the Ardoe House Hotel & Spa .
Where to Eat in Aberdeen?
One of the things we were most surprise about in Aberdeen was how much we enjoyed the food. The city offers a range of eateries where you can find everything from vegan dishes to pub fare to fresh seafood. So whether you are looking for a immediate pungency on the go or a nice dinner out, you should be able to find a restaurant that suits .
Laurence has put in concert this guide to our darling restaurants in Aberdeen which provide loads of dining suggestions for those visiting the city, whether you are looking for a vegan breakfast, a seafood lunch, a public house meal, or a fancy dinner out .
How to Save Money in Aberdeen ?
Aberdeen is a affluent city that has earned its riches in late years from the energy industry, particularly from North Sea anoint. Although it can be an expensive city to live in, it is not an expensive city to visit .
Most of the city ’ south museums and major attractions are rid ! Almost all the city ’ mho museums, art galleries, parks, and gardens are unblock to visit. Those museums and attractions that do have submission fees, such as the Aberdeen Science Centre and Gordon Highlanders Museum are reasonably priced .
The three biggest expenses for most people will be lodging, food, and evening entertainment. In terms of charge, it is easy to find budget and adept value accommodation throughout the city, even in the city center. If you are on a mean budget, you can check out local hostels like Soprano Hostel ( city center ) and the Aberdeen Youth Hostel ( West End ) .
The local population includes both university students and affluent oil-rich millionaires, so you can find food options that vary from cheap eats to pub food to fine dine. You can besides save money by staying in an apartment and cooking some of your own meals .
You don ’ t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy some of the local anesthetic evening entertainment. You can frequently find dislodge live music at pubs and rid or cheap events at or around the University of Aberdeen ( check this calendar for university specific lectures, concerts, and events ) .
Evening entertainment can be anything from alive music at a club to a football match at Pittodrie Stadium to premium tickets to a performance at His Majesty ’ south Theatre. During the city ’ s many festivals, there are normally both free and ticket events of varying price points sol check the festival schedule in progress to plan your visit and pre-purchase tickets .
There are presently no rebate passes in Aberdeen, chiefly because most of the attractions are loose to visit. But if you are planning to use public transportation system, you may save money using the previously mentioned GrassHopper tag. besides if you are planning to visit the Royal Deeside sphere, you might want to check out this Royal Deeside dismiss passport .
Where to Find more data ?
For more data about the area, we ’ five hundred recommend checking the VisitAberdeenshire official web site, which has loads of data about visiting Aberdeen and the surrounding Aberdeenshire area .
We besides recommend taking a count at this hint 2 day Aberdeen path that Laurence put together based on our own visits. once in the area, we besides recommend stopping at the city visitor center to pick up brochures and maps, angstrom well as to ask about festivals and events. For more to do in Aberdeenshire, we recommend considering some of these day trips .
If your travels are taking you to other destinations in Scotland, we live in Scotland and have loads of posts on Scotland across our two travel blogs and you can find them all here and here. These include an Aberdeen path, things to do in Edinburgh, information on visiting the nearby Cairngorms National Park, things to do in Glasgow, and tips for planning a North Coast 500 road trip .
If you have a question about an approaching trip to Scotland, just leave us your question in the comments section at the end of the mail and we will happily try to help .
Things to do in Aberdeen Scotland
Use this list to choose the attractions of sake and put together your own individualized Aberdeen travel guidebook. We ’ ve divided attractions by those located in central Aberdeen, those located in Old Aberdeen, those located outside the city center, and those located within the wide Aberdeenshire area .
Things to do in Central Aberdeen
fortunately many of the top things to do in Aberdeen are located within central Aberdeen and can be reached by walking or by a shortstop stumble by bus, cab, or car. If you are able, particularly if the weather is pleasant, we recommend walking to get around the city center .
All the attractions in this section are located within a 20 moment walk from St. Andrew ’ s Cathedral on King Street ( I ’ thousand using the cathedral as the center point of the city to measure distances ). Most are located within a 10 minute walk or less, making it easily to visit several attractions in one sidereal day .
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
A adept invest to learn about the growth of Aberdeen is the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, which is located near Aberdeen ’ s dock area. Aberdeen has a farseeing and rich maritime history with fishing and shipbuilding being two of its former primary coil industries. The first harbor in Aberdeen dates back to at least the twelfth century and the Aberdeen Harbour is believed to be the oldest existing business in the united kingdom ! nowadays the fishing and shipbuilding industries have been largely replaced by the ship and off-shore vegetable oil industries which still keeps the harbor active .
The museum tells the floor of the city ’ s long relationship with the sea across 3 floors of exhibits. The museum covers everything from the beginning of the nautical diligence to holocene developments in the North Sea anoint industry. The collection includes artifacts, maritime refer art, and synergistic exhibits. share of the museum is in a advanced build and a section is a historic construction once lived in by shipowner Provost John Ross .
The museum is free to visit. It besides has a cafe if you are in indigence of a sandwich or coffee before or after your visit .
Marischal College
Marischal College was built in 1837 and served as the headquarters of the Marischal College and University of Aberdeen ( now just the University of Aberdeen ). The building was originally designed by Archibald Simpson and was late expanded and the battlefront covered in granite by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. The building is an matter to mix of styles and is huge. It is presently the second largest granite build in the populace !
The build has not been used as an educational building for many years, and is now the headquarters for Aberdeen City Council. There was a small total of information on the history of the build here when we visited but not much else in terms of public visits .
The interest thing to do hera for a visitor is to just to admire the retentive exterior as most of the department of the interior is closed. The build can look a act muffle in showery weather, but in the sunlight the construct can sparkle silver. In front of the build is a statue of Robert the Bruce on horseback .
The erstwhile college build and the area around it have recently undergo lots of structure and restitution exploit. The build has been restored and the street in front has been pedestrianized .
There are a number of restaurants and cafe here and we recommend a walk around Marischal Square. In the public atrium of Marischal Square you ’ ll want to look up to see the leopard statue ( Poised ) designed by sculptor Andy Scott .
Provost Skene’s House
Provost Skene ’ second House is located near the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and houses a collection of supply rooms that show visitors how people in Aberdeen would have lived in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The oldest separate of the build dates back to 1545 ! The Tudor house was once the mansion of the Lord Provost George Skene in the seventeenth century, which is where it gets its current name .
The diachronic house has a count of interest features included carve plaster of paris ceilings, forest panel, and motley ceilings, and the museum besides holds a collection of art and costumes. The house museum is absolve to visit .
NOTE: Provost Skene ’ randomness House is presently closed because of construction ferment on Marischal Square, thus please check the museum web site for the latest opening details .
Tolbooth Museum
The Tolbooth Museum is a museum located in one of Aberdeen oldest and most interesting buildings, a early seventeenth hundred imprison ( imprison ). The museum focuses on local history, specially american samoa related to crime and punishment over the centuries .
The build in addition to being a jail, was besides used for a act of other purposes, including as a town hall, a courthouse, and a council chamber. Despite its name, the build up was not actually a tollbooth but was a Wardhouse which was located following to the former tollbooth .
The museum provides an interesting standard atmosphere to learn a bite about the township history, chivalric punishment, and town laws. The museum provides thrilling stories of witches, the mass organized kidnap and sell of children, prison escapees, and Jacobite prisoners who were interrogated and held after the Battle of Culloden. Some people believe the construction to be haunted !
The build placid has many original features and items including jail cells, agony devices, and a seventeenth hundred guillotine blade. You can besides the town ’ s original mercat cross here near the entrance. It is spare to visit the museum .
note that the wax figures and stories of torture and punishment may be chilling to young children. besides the museum contains a minute, airy stairway that may be difficult for those with mobility issues, but there is a television presentation that can be watched near the entrance ( ask at the entrance desk ) .
Castlegate Square & Aberdeen’s Mercat Cross
Near the Tolbooth Museum is Castlegate Square, where Aberdeen Castle once stood. The castle was used by both English and scottish troops ( including King Robert the Bruce and King Edward I ), and it is believed that it was destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in the early fourteenth century. There is nothing left of the castle, but in the square you will find Aberdeen ’ s mercat cross .
The mercat intersect denotes where the city was allowed to hold its marketplace and it is where royal proclamations would have been announced. The mercat traverse dates back to 1686 and was built by John Montgomery in sandstone. The large foundation is highly decorated with medallions representing 10 of the Stuart sovereign. The spear is topped with a unicorn ( the royal animal of Scotland ). The cheat and unicorn are replacements but the original can be seen in the Tolbooth Museum .
Peacock Visual Arts
Peacock Visual Arts is a contemporary art center, veranda, studio, print shop and digital studio located on Castle Street. The center promotes a kind of types of artwork in a diverseness of formats and provides a topographic point for local artists to work and learn. They besides have hands-on artwork workshops ( for example, printmaking, using a 3D printer, etching techniques ) vitamin a well as showings where you can buy local deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as international artwork .
Although not a major tourist catch, it may be of matter to to those with a passion for contemporary art and who enjoy checking out community artwork centers. We enjoyed watching a 3D printer in action vitamin a well as the action in the print center. The center is chiefly run by volunteers so if you are interested in visiting, it may be a dependable idea to contact them in gain as hours can vary .
It is dislodge to visit although there is a fee to join most of the workshops .
The Kirk of St. Nicholas Uniting
The Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting dates back to the twelfth hundred and was likely one of the largest and most important parish churches in medieval Scotland. today it has members of both the Church of Scotland and the United Reformed Church and is sometimes referred to as “The Mither Kirk” ( mother church service ) of the city .
Most of the present build up dates to the 18th and 19th centuries as fires and decay destroyed the majority of the original chivalric buildings. however, parts of the chivalric church hush outlive and archaeological digs have uncovered structures, wood, decorations, grave etc. dating from the 12th to 17th centuries. archaeological influence here is ongoing, and the church contains information about this work and findings .
The church is free to visit although donations are welcome. It is regularly opened to visitors throughout the summer months, and visits can be arranged at other times of the year by contacting the church .
Aberdeen Art Gallery
The Aberdeen Art Gallery was founded in 1884 and is located in the city center field in a construction designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. The large gallery contains a bombastic collection of Scottish and international artwork, and is particularly noteworthy for its collection of mod Scottish art .
In November 2019, the art drift reopened in Aberdeen after a drawn-out settlement and renovation. It is more broad with more room to display art now. There are 3 floors of exhibition rooms you can explore. entry to the gallery is absolve, but donations are welcome .
There is a cafe here that is generally open during the museum ’ s opening hours if you fancy a cuppa, sandwich, or bite .
Union Terrace Gardens
The Union Terrace Gardens are a big slump gardens located on the western side of the city center, near His Majesty ’ s Theatre. The park dates back to Victorian times and has an old viaduct located on one end .
The park has a variety of trees, flowers, and grassy areas ampere well as public toilets and places to sit. There are besides a phone number of statues around the gardens, including a statue of Robert Burns along Union Terrace and statues of Prince Albert and William Wallace located across from His Majesty ’ mho Theatre .
It is a pleasant place to wander around or sit for a break in in good upwind. Concerts and other city events are sometimes held here. The gardens are presently undergoing a major development which will probably change their expression over the adjacent few years .
Aberdeen Science Centre
The Aberdeen Science Centre is a syndicate skill center that has a number of synergistic science themed exhibits. They besides have daily skill talks and demonstrations that are free to join with your museum ticket. Exhibits cover a bit of everything from storms to graveness to music to insects, and there is something for every senesce group. The museum is reasonably small, just one shock, so it is easy to visit even if you don ’ t have a bunch of time .
There is a small introduction tip to visit the skill center. next door is a cafe that serves sandwiches, snacks, chocolate, and drinks .
Aberdeen Beach & Boardwalk
Aberdeen is one of the few major cities in the UK to have a flaxen beach ! There is a large stretch of golden sand along the easterly part of the city .
When we first visited in winter there was a storm sol very little of the beach was visible. But on subsequent visits, we ’ ve had a much better stamp ! But on a warmly cheery day, this a very popular position for people to stroll and hang out. There is besides a grassy area next to the beach known as Queens Links .
There are a number of attractions located at or near the beachfront, peculiarly for families. Along the Beach Esplanade is the city ’ s amusement park Codonas ( includes amusement park rides, mini-golf, bowling, and so forth, some attractions are seasonal worker ), restaurants and cafés ( we can recommend the Sand Dollar Cafe ), a cinema with 9 film screens, and an internal-combustion engine skating rink .
besides hera is the Beach Ballroom, a beautiful Art Deco build with one of the best dance floors in Scotland. Opened in 1929, the venue continues to regularly server populace and secret events, including concerts, afternoon teas, ceilidh, plays, vacation parties, boxing matches, weddings, and other events. You can see what ’ s happening during your visit here .
The Kings Links golf course and the Aberdeen Science Centre ( described above ) are besides located nearby .
notice that you can of class swim at Aberdeen Beach although the water is never very warm. If you want to swim, paddleboard, browse, or do any other water sports you ’ ll want to bring or rent a drysuit or wetsuit .
For those looking for a warmer family-friendly place to swim I ’ five hundred regard going to the nearby Beach Leisure Centre which offers a large leisure swimming pool, wave machine, and sauna .
The Aberdeen Beach is about a 15 minute walk from the city center field. If you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate want to walk, you can catch a taxi or bus to the beach .
Follow the Aberdeen Sculpture Trail
There are a number of fantastic sculptures in Aberdeen and you ’ ll likely see respective without trying as you wander around the city. They range from statues of celebrated figures like William Wallace and Prince Albert to leopards and abstract bronzes .
Some of our favorites are :
- Robert the Bruce by sculptor Alan Herriot – This large statue depicts Scottish king Robert the Bruce on horseback. It was unveiled in 2011 and can be found in front of Marischal College.
- Poised by Andy Scott – This impressive steel leopard statue sits upon a 10 meter high steel column in the open courtyard atrium of Marischal Square. Be sure to look up! Scott is also the sculpture behind the Kelpies in Falkirk.
- Robert Burns by Henry Bain Smith – This bronze statue of the famous Scottish poet was unveiled in 1892 and shows Burns holding a daisy (a reference to his poem “To a Mountain Daisy”). We’re fans of Robert Burns and are always trying to spot statues of the famous bard, which you’ll find in pretty much every city in Scotland.
- War Memorial Lion – This impressive granite kitty sits regally in front of the war memorial in Aberdeen. It was designed by William Macmillan and completed by James Philip. You can find it right next door to the Aberdeen Art Gallery on the corner of Schoolhill and Blackfriars Street.
- Mannie – Mannie, or Mannie in the Green, is a steel figure that sits along Castle Street. He was originally placed atop the Castlegate Well at some point in the 18th century and was later moved, but is again located at Castlegate. Not exactly sure what he is meant to symbolize, but he has long been a historical landmark in the city!
The Aberdeen City Council have put together a city sculpt trail that will help you find the statues as you walk around the city. Most are located near the city center. It besides helpfully notes which are potential to visit for those in a wheelchair .
Shopping in Aberdeen
If you want to do a bite of shopping in Aberdeen, you can find everything from souvenirs to designer invest. The city has a issue of shopping centers located within the city center, including Union Square, Bon Accord, St. Nicholas, and Trinity shop centers which offer a count of long-familiar fashion, smasher, and homeware stores ampere well as cafe and restaurants .
In terms of good shopping streets, it depends on what you are looking for but Union Street ( besides known as the “ Granite Mile ” ) is home to a number of long-familiar brands a well as independent shops, cafe, and restaurants. The Rosemount area of Aberdeen besides has a act of smaller shops, cafe, and independent retailers .
Festivals
Festivals are a big way to learn more about the city culture, meet locals, and have some fun. There are a number of festivals in Aberdeen, and you should check before you go if there are any festivals happening during your visit .
This year there are 10 official festivals being held in the city throughout the year, celebrating a range of things including performing arts, music, creativity, engineering, dance, and old boats. You can check out the list of festivals and festival schedule here. There are besides many other smaller festivals such as the Nuart Festival which celebrates street art.
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During our last visit to Aberdeen, the Aberdeen Jazz Festival was taking stead, which was a 10 day festival with events taking plaza in multiple venues across the city each day. The festival included big rid public events angstrom well as smaller ticket events. We saw three different Jazz Festival shows which included a sax performance by from Andy Middleton, an afternoon tea consequence with cocktails and outspoken performances by the Vintage Girls, and a fun Saturday late night read from Fat-Suit and Werkha .
Evening entertainment
tied if there are no festival events going on during your travel to, there are besides loads of other entertainment options. These include exist music events, performances at the city ’ s theaters, comedy nights, cinema ( there are mugwump ones like Belmont Filmhouse and mod multiplexes ), and of course there are a issue of bars and pubs, vitamin a well as several nightclubs .
For those looking to dance, some popular local nightclubs include Babylon, The Tunnels ( located belowground ! ), ATIK, Underground, and NOX .
For performing arts, check out this web site for what ’ s one during your visit. popular venues include His Majesty ’ mho Theatre, Music Hall, the Tivoli Theatre, and The Lemon Tree .
If you enjoy football ( soccer ), then you might want to join the locals for a match at Pittodrie Stadium to watch the Aberdeen Football Club fun. Scotland international relations and security network ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate precisely great at soccer but the games are placid a batch of playfulness. You can check the match schedule and buy tickets online here. The stadium is about a mile from the city center, but the Football Club operates Park and Ride buses on home game days to take fans to and from the stadium .
Things to do in Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen was for a long time a separate burgh and fairly isolated from the city, and it entirely become a part of the city of Aberdeen in 1891. Today the area is largely made of the University of Aberdeen campus. If you have seen all the things you wanted to see in the city concentrate, we ’ five hundred recommend exploring this area next .
Most of the attractions in Old Aberdeen are a 25 to 30 minute walk from the city focus on. So you can walk or take the public bus topology, drive, or take a taxi. If drive, be sure to pay care to signs when parking deoxyadenosine monophosphate many parking areas are for university staff and students alone .
King’s College Chapel, University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen dates binding to 1495 and is the third base oldest university in Scotland and the fifth honest-to-god in the English address global ! It was in the first place known as King ’ s College. It is a high rate university and its presence in the city, along with Robert Gordon University, means that Aberdeen has a large university scholar population .
The university campus has a total of interesting buildings that date from the sixteenth century to nowadays. The oldest construction and one of the most noteworthy is King ’ randomness College Chapel, which was built between 1498 and 1509, with its distinctive Crown Tower. The chapel ’ second pate has become a symbol of the university. Inside the chapel service contains sixteenth century choir stalls and crucifix screen and the university ’ s war memorial .
The chapel service is open to the populace on weekdays and is free to visit. regular services are besides held here .
King’s Museum
The King ’ sulfur Museum is one of the university ’ mho museums. The small museum includes rotating exhibits of artifacts from the university ’ south collection that are used to illustrate history related to local acculturation, the university, the people of Scotland, etc. The museum is located in the eighteenth hundred Old Town House, the early dwelling of Old Aberdeen ’ s local government .
The museum exhibits change every few months. entrance is free. Check the web site for opening hours .
Zoology Museum
The Zoology Museum is partially of the University of Aberdeen and is located within region of the university ’ south School of Biological Science construction. The museum consists of two floors of specimens, models, and displays that represent everything from protozoan to giant whales. It is not a huge museum, but there is a fortune to see and is great catch for those who enjoy natural history museums .
The museum is presently free and open to the public. It is closed on the weekends .
note : The university in addition to the two museums mentioned often has other temp exhibitions or art spaces elsewhere in the university if you have a particular sake .
Cruickshank Botanic Garden
The Cruickshank Botanic Garden is located precisely behind the Zoology Museum. The 11 acre botanic garden includes a rock ‘n’ roll garden, a deep-set garden, a rose garden, and an arboretum. A pleasant identify to wander around and enjoy a break. It is afford year-round and is absolve to visit .
St. Machar’s Cathedral
St. Machar ’ randomness Cathedral is the principal kirk, or church service, of the Church of Scotland in Aberdeen. The deliver church ( it is not technically a cathedral ) dates to around the thirteenth century although it is said that St. Machar founded this web site for religious worship in 580. It is the oldest build in active use in Aberdeen .
The church is made of granite with boastfully twin towers and is a good example of a fortify church service. It besides has an interesting inside with stain field glass and a heraldic ceiling. The church is probably best known for its beautiful wood paneled 16th hundred ceiling that contains 48 coats of arms. The heraldic ceiling has three rows, one representing the kings of Europe, one the Pope and authoritative members of the church in Scotland, and one representing the King of Scotland and the knock-down figures within Scotland .
Among the luminary people buried here are Robert Laws, a scots missionary to Malawi and William Ogilvie of Pittensear. It is besides believed that after scottish knight William Wallace ( the valet Mel Gibson famously portrayed in the film Braveheart ) was “ hang, draw, and quartered ”, that one of his quarters ( the leave one ) was sent and buried here at St. Machar ’ randomness !
entry to the church service is free, although a contribution is appreciated. The church besides has a belittled give shop class inside, which is another means to support the place .
Brig o’ Balgownie & Donmouth Local Nature Reserve
Brig o ’ Balgownie ( once the Bridge of Don ) is a stone arch bridge spanning the River Don in Old Aberdeen. It is believed that the bridge dates back to the 13th or fourteenth century ( making it one of Scotland ’ s oldest bridges ), although most of the bridge we see nowadays dates to the 17th and 18th centuries. The bridge was the main way to cross the River Don until around 1830 when the ( new ) Bridge of Don was built. today it is a pedestrian bridge and local landmark .
Although the true origins of the bridge are nameless, local legends say that the bridge was built by Bishop Henyr Cheyne and/or Robert the Bruce. Lord Byron mentions it in his poem “ Don Juan ” .
If you want to enjoy this area further and have more time, I ’ vitamin d recommend taking the riverside path located next to the bridge to the ocean. The area where the River Don meets the ocean is part of Donmouth Local Nature Reserve which includes a beach area and part of the riverside. The riverside path starts on King Street, then goes to the the Brig o ’ Balgownie, and then alongside the river to the seaside. We saw several water birds here arsenic well as a seal .
The bridge is located about a 20 minute base on balls from St. Machar ’ s Cathedral ( or about a 45 minute walk from the city center ). If visiting from the university area, you have a few options in walking there. You can walk across Seaton Park, walk along Don Street, or heading along King Street until you reach the river and then turn left to join the riverbank way to the bridge .
If you don ’ t want to walk, it is about a 7 infinitesimal drive or taxi depend on from St. Machar ’ mho. If you are taking the bus, you can take it to Donmouth Road and then walk to the bridge ( it is about a 7 minute walk from the Donmouth Road stop ) .
Things to do Outside of Central Aberdeen
There are besides a issue of things you can do outside of cardinal Aberdeen that are a 30 minute walk or further from the city center, including the Aberdeen Harbor area, war memorials, gardens, golf courses, and museums .
here are our top picks :
Explore Aberdeen Harbor
Aberdeen Harbor is an interesting area to explore and we recommend a visit if you have beneficial weather. The Aberdeen Harbour is believed to be the oldest existing business in the UK, dating bet on to the twelfth century. however, the harbor is believed to have been in use since Roman times !
today the harbor is still a busy place with oil/gas ships, ship, small cruise boats, and ferries heading to and from the islands of Shetland and Orkney. There is besides a beneficial possibility to spot dolphins and other sea animals in the harbor area .
There are a few places around the Aberdeen Harbor area that might be of interest. From the city center, the independent Harbor area and Footdee are about a 30 infinitesimal walk from the city kernel, Torry Battery is about a 40 moment walk, and Girdle Ness Lighthouse is about a 50 moment walk. You can besides drive, or take public transit separate of the way to visit these sites .
If you enjoy walking, consider taking this harbor hike around the Girdle Ness promontory .
Footdee
Footdee, often referred to locally as “ Fittie ”, is a humble community that was once a fishing village. In the early on nineteenth hundred the area was redeveloped and a housing development was built to house the local fish residential district. The architect who designed the layout was John Smith, a scottish architect who designed many buildings and structures within Aberdeenshire, including Balmoral Castle .
The initial homes consisted of 28 single-story thatched homes although that count was increased over time when far rows of houses were added. Each house has its own “ pitchy shed ” which were primitively all built out of driftwood .
today, the houses have expanded and many now have slate roofs and many of the sheds have been re-built from brick. however, it remains a charm sphere that feels a sting like a village from another century. many residents have added a lot of personal decorations and flavor to their sheds !
It is a small area and alone takes a short-circuit time to walk around. Just remember when visiting that these are people ’ randomness homes and gardens, so be respectful of the residents when admiring their homes .
nearby following to the harbor are some concern buildings and artifacts like an honest-to-god anchor, the Roundhouse ( the former eighteenth century Harbor Master ’ s Station ), and the Old Customs House. The former customs house is a now a popular seafood restaurant called The Silver Darling which offers dear views over the harbor .
Torry Battery
The Torry Battery is an weapon battery that was built in 1860 overlooking Aberdeen Harbor. The battery was in use until 1956, including during World War 1 and World War II. It is presently in ruins but you can still see a set of elements of the complex, including the entrance gate, sections of the walls, a gun emplacement, and barracks .
today it is a popular spot for walkers and joggers, and there is a little car park here if you are driving. It is a good place to get views over the harbor with a opportunity to see dolphins, although you ’ ll need binoculars or a soar lens .
South Breakwater Lighthouse & Girdle Ness Lighthouse
If you keep walking or driving past the Torry Battery, you ’ ll find a couple of lighthouses .
The first beacon is South Breakwater Lighthouse. It was built in 1815 and is still an active voice beacon. It is a good spot for dolphin watch, but be careful if you walk out close to it as it can be slippery and during storms the waves can entirely cover this area !
The second beacon, Girdle Ness Lighthouse, was built in 1833. The engineer was Robert Stevenson, grandfather of the celebrated writer Robert Louis Stevenson. This beacon is besides calm in use .
many of the construction in the Girdle Ness Lighthouse complex are privately owned and you can actually book to stay in some of the former beacon buildings. One is the early 3 bedroom beacon keeper ’ mho bungalow and while modernized, it contains many original period features from the nineteenth hundred. A capital touch if you are looking for a repose target and don ’ thymine mind being outside of the city center .
Duthie Park & David Welch Winter Gardens
Duthie Park is one of Aberdeen ’ mho best green spaces and is a popular place for locals to enjoy the outdoors. The 44 acre distance opened as a park in 1883 ( the land was donated by Miss Elizabeth Duthie ) and contains open green spaces, trees, flower gardens, ponds, statues, a band stand, and the David Welch Winter Gardens .
There is besides a dainty resort area area here with lots of slides and things to climb for the kids. There are resort area areas for younger kids and older kids. Popular spot for local families to take the kids for some fresh air on the weekends .
The David Welch Winter Gardens are located within Duthie Park and are one of Europe ’ s largest indoor gardens. The gardens includes arid and tropical glass houses and house a big collection of alien plants. They are peculiarly celebrated for their large collection of cactus. We were surprised at how big this complex was and truly enjoyed these gardens which are decidedly one of the best botanic gardens in Scotland. introduction is free and it is open year attack .
There is a café, Duthie Park Café, located at Duthie Park that serves sandwiches, simple hot dishes, snacks, and drinks .
Duthie Park is located about a 35 minute walk or 10 hour drive from the city center .
Gordon Highlanders Museum
The Gordon Highlanders Museum presents the history of the Gordon Highlanders, a line infantry regiment of the british Army. The Gordon Highlanders have a history that dates back to 1794 when the regiment was raised by 4th Duke of Gordon. The Gordon Highlanders were an official regiment in the british Army from 1881 to 1994 .
The Gordon Highlanders headquarters were in Aberdeen and therefore the regiment played an authoritative role in the lives of many people from northeast Scotland. The regiment served in a numeral of wars and conflicts, including the Boer War, First World War, Second World War, and Cold War. In September 1994, the Gordon Highlanders were amalgamated into the The Queen ’ s Own Highlanders to form what is now the Highlanders .
In reporting on the Second Boer War as a young war correspondent, Winston Churchill described the Gordon Highlanders as the “ finest regiment in the world ” based on his experiences observing them in action at the Battle of Doornkop in May 1900 .
The museum serves to preserve the history and bequest of the regiment and presents information, artifacts, and exhibits that tells the story of the regiment. Visits start with a film and then visitors can explore the museum on their own. The museum includes interactional maps, a room filled with regimental ash grey, medals ( including 11 Victoria Crosses ), weapons, and a room set up as an officers ’ mess room that includes a number of pieces of ash grey, china, and glass. The museum is housed in the former home of scots artist Sir George Reid .
We had an enjoyable visit here and learned a bunch ; there was much more to see here than we expected. The museum is a register charity and staffed chiefly by volunteers who were friendly and tidal bore to answer our questions and provide extra information .
There is an admission tip to visit the museum. You can presently save 5 % on entrance fee by pre-purchasing your tickets online on the museums ’ web site. There is besides a popular tea room on-site a well as a garden and give shop .
The museum is located about a 50 minute walk or 15 moment repel from the city center of Aberdeen .
Johnston Gardens
Johnston Gardens is a public garden that was designed and planted with aesthetics in mind. The garden includes ponds, streams, bridges, trees, and flowers and has won the Britain in Bloom contest ( Aberdeen has won the award several times ). The gardens besides contain a play sphere for children .
unfortunately we did not have the best weather during our inflict, but the gardens are a pretty place to wander around. They are a popular local spot for engagement and marry photograph. introduction to the gardens is release .
Located near the Gordon Highlanders Museum, the Johnston Gardens are about a 1 hour walk or 15 minute drive from the city center .
Golfing in Aberdeen
The northeast of Scotland is where golf was invented and it is home to many of the worldly concern ’ s oldest and top courses.There are over 50 golf courses in Aberdeenshire, and we counted 8 golf courses located within the city of Aberdeen. so if you are a golfer you will have no difficulty finding a place to play and you don ’ t even need to leave the city !
The city boasts golf courses suited to all levels from novices to pros, and you can find a list of courses here. One of the best know golf clubs in Aberdeen ( and in Scotland ! ) is the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club which dates binding to 1780, making it the 6th oldest golf club in the populace. It has hosted a number of backing tournaments, including the scots Open in 2014. next door is the highly rated Murcar Links .
A few of the city courses are located within walking distance of Aberdeen city center ( for example, King ’ s Link Golf Course is a 17 minute walk from the city center ). however, you ’ ll credibly want to drive, take a bus, or get a cab to get to most courses, particularly if you have your golf clubs and gear with you .
Things to do in Aberdeen : Day Trips from Aberdeen
If you run out of things to do within Aberdeen, there are plenty of things you can do on a day trip from Aberdeen. These include golfing, visiting castles, whiskey tasting, hike, motorbike, driving a scenic drive path, and bird .
If you don ’ t have a car, you can get to some places by bus topology or discipline, but you may want to consider a guide day tour as it will allow you to see more places as many don ’ t have good public transit connections .
Two good places to check out day tours are Rabbies and Viator. Possible guided day tours from Aberdeen visit Cairngorms National Park, Royal Deeside, Speyside Whisky Trail, Balmoral Castle, and Dunnottar Castle .
If you are considering a day trip from Aberdeen, check our lead to the best aberdeen day trips .
here are some options to get you started in planning your aberdeen day trip :
The Den & the Glen
If you are traveling with younger children, you may want to make a trip over to The Den and the Glen for a dawn or afternoon of fun. It is a child-friendly park with indoor soft play areas and outdoor gardens that have been decorated with fairytale and nursery rhyme characters. A popular spot for local anesthetic families. There is a cafe located within the park .
The park is located about 20 minutes by car from the city kernel .
Castles near Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a great base for castle hunters in Scotland as there are loads of castles in Aberdeenshire and it is home to some of the most celebrated castles in Scotland. Some are privately owned and not open to the populace, but many of the castles can be visited. You ’ ll find a bite of everything from deluxe residences to ruined rock candy piles, and everything in between .
many of the most popular castles in this area are owned by the National Trust of Scotland. If you plan to visit several National Trust properties while in Scotland ( includes over 60 diachronic sites in Scotland ) you may want to take a expect at the scottish Heritage Pass ( valid for change of location between April to October ) which gives you dislodge entrance to a number of National Trust and Historic Scotland sites .
There are dozens of castles you could visit on a sidereal day trip from Aberdeen, but here are some of our favorites :
- Balmoral Castle – This castle was built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It was completed in 1856 and has been the private Highland residence of the British Royal Family ever since. Although only a small section of the castle is open to visitors (the ballroom), the extensive gardens are fully open and there is an excellent audioguide that accompanies the visit here. If you don’t have a car, you can also join a guided tour from Aberdeen. Open to visitors during part of the Spring and Summer.
- Craigievar Castle – This pink harled Scottish castle dates back to the 17th century and was lived in as a residence until 1963. Today it is owned and managed by the National Trust of Scotland and open to the public. The castle still contains a number of original furnishings from the Forbes family. Visits are by guided tour only. Group sizes are limited so best to arrive early to pick up timed tickets. Open seasonally.
- Crathes Castle – This 16th century harled castle was the ancesterial home of the Burnetts of Leys until 1951. Today the house and gardens are owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Be sure to leave time to wander around the beautiful gardens. A GoApe treetop adventure course is also located within the castle grounds. Open year-round.
- Drum Castle – This castle’s tower house dates back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest in Scotland. A large extension to the castle was added in the 17th century and then further renovations and changes were made during the Victorian era. Our favorite room here was the massive library. Managed by the National Trust for Scotland and currently open year round (except for over the Christmas holiday season).
- Dunnottar Castle – This ruined medieval castle sits on a clifftop alongside the coast. The buildings of the fortress date back to between 1400 and 1600. The castle was visited by famous people like Mary Queen of Scots, was where the Scottish Honours (Scottish Crown Jewels) were hidden from Oliver Cromwell’s army, and it was where a number of Whigs were held as prisoners in the 17th century. It has been in ruins since the early 18th century. It is currently privately owned but open to the public. If you don’t have a car, you can also join this tour from Aberdeen which stops at the castle and explore the Royal Deeside area.
note that many of the castle have seasonal hours and are closed in the winter months, so be certain to check the unfold dates and hours before visiting. All of the above castles have designated parking areas and some are possible to visit via bus from Aberdeen .
Kirkhill Forest
Kirkhill Forest is a forest located equitable outside of Aberdeen that has a number of multi-use trails, hiking paths, a orienteering chase, and a mountain motorcycle fun park. popular position for local hikers, walkers, cyclists, and cavalry riders .
Kirkhill Forest is located about a 40 minute drive from the city center. There are besides many other forest areas within Aberdeenshire that you can explore .
Golfing in Aberdeenshire
As noted earlier, there are over 50 golf courses located in Aberdeenshire ! Aberdeen, which is family to respective courses of its own, makes for a big root for golfing day trips for the exquisite golfer .
The courses are set in a diverseness of locations. Many of the courses include sand dunes and coastal views, although you ’ ll besides find courses located in town centers, forests, glens, near loch, and even on castle grounds. There are courses well-suited for all types of golfers from novices to professionals .
Some of the long-familiar courses in Aberdeenshire ( outside of the city ) include Cruden Bay Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links, Banchory Golf Club, Peterhead Golf Club, Fraserburgh Golf Club, Deeside Golf Club, and the 9-hole course at Balmoral. You can browse a number of the Aberdeenshire golf courses to find the courses that are good suited for you .
You can besides visit courses outside of Aberdeenshire and hush use Aberdeen as a root. For exemplar St. Andrew ’ south is only a 1.5 hour drive away from Aberdeen .
It is recommended that you record your tee times, particularly at the better known courses, adenine soon as you know the dates you wish to visit to avoid disappointment .
Drive a Section of the North East 250
Looking for a scenic and matter to driving route, check out the North East 250. It is a driving road that runs merely away Aberdeen and runs through Aberdeenshire vitamin a well as Speyside and the Cairngorms National Park. The road includes palace, whiskey distilleries, natural attractions, beaches, museums, golf courses, and much more !
Want to drive the integral route ? Check out our 3 day North East 250 travel plan .
Cairngorms National Park
Cairngorms National Park in one of two home parks in Scotland ( the early being Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park ), and the eastern region of the ballpark is located within Aberdeenshire .
The ballpark is a perfective rate for hike, climbing, bicycle, scenic drives, bird, wildlife, and even skiing in the winter ! You ’ ll besides find a number of castles, cultural sites, whiskey distilleries, and family attractions located within the Cairngorms .
It is about a 1 hour drive to the eastern boundary of the park. You can besides reach many of the towns within the park via bus ( most are operated by Stagecoach ). This guided small group bus tour from Aberdeen besides visits this sphere .
Whisky Distilleries near Aberdeen
Whisky is the spirit of Scotland and Aberdeenshire and nearby Moray are home to respective whiskey distilleries. It is easy to spend a day ( or two ) visiting distilleries and tasting the local whiskey .
The closest whiskey distilleries are Glen Garioch Distillery ( alone 30 minute drive from Aberdeen city center ) and Royal Lochnagar Distillery ( near Balmoral Castle ). Aberdeen is besides within about a 1 hour to 1.5 hour drive of several other celebrated distilleries, including Strathisla Distillery ( home of Chivas Regal ), Glenlivet Distillery, Glenfiddich Distillery, Cardhu Distillery ( part of the Malt Whisky Trail ), and Macallan Distillery .
Most of the note distilleries have visitor centers and do even public tours, but some you ’ ll need to book in advance. thus check the web site or call them before stopping by .
besides, note the scottish drink and drive laws are very hard-and-fast, so about all distilleries offer to-go sample distribution cups for drivers and bikers. If you don ’ thyroxine want to drive, I ’ five hundred recommend booking a driver or guided tour such as this guided little group tour or you can find a list of electric potential guides here. A guide can besides help you learn more about the local whiskies and help you put together a custom-make travel plan .
Read more: How Maritime Law Works
so there is our list of things to do in Aberdeen Scotland ! Have you been to Aberdeen ? If so, any favorites among the above or places you ’ d add to this list ? If you haven ’ triiodothyronine visited however, which of these Aberdeen attractions would make it on your path ? As always, feel free to ask us any questions you may have about things to do in Aberdeen or planning a trip to Scotland !
**Disclosure : We were supported on our trip to Aberdeen by Visit Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen Festivals who helped us put together our travel guidebook and arranged some tickets a good as our lodgment in the city. however, we chose all the places we visited on the trip and have visited the Aberdeenshire sphere independently american samoa well. As always, this article contains only our own dependable thoughts and opinions. You can read more in our Ethics Code about how we accept work. **
