P&J Live, Aberdeen
© VisitAberdeenshire / Damian Shields
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Aberdeen
The city of Aberdeen sits on the north east coast of Scotland. Aberdeen is famous for its stunning, sparkling, granite buildings and monuments, the central beach and dolphins and the warming tones of 'Doric', the local Scots dialect you'll hear in the streets.
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Things to do in Aberdeen
Look out for the incredible architecture, parks and gardens as you browse independent shops, galleries and eateries.
10 Hidden Gems in Aberdeen
Explore the secret spots & attractions of Aberdeen, from Dracula-themed bars and atmospheric buildings, to dolphin spotting by the harbour.
10 things to see & do in Aberdeen for free
Discover amazing things to see & do in Aberdeen for free. Including museums, gardens, family friendly attractions, and more!
Culture & Arts in Aberdeen
Visit Aberdeen to celebrate ancient traditions and spark new ones at a vibrant year-round calendar of festivals and events.
Scotland's top architecture: Aberdeenshire
Discover some of Aberdeen's architectural gems
Doric Phrases & Their Meanings
Our guide to this colourful Scots dialect will help you make the most of your next visit to northeast Scotland!
Inspiration for Aberdeen breaks
The Sandman Hotel
Places to stay
We’ve got hundreds of hotels, self-catering options and holiday apartments for your city break.
Belmont Street, Aberdeen
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Tours, routes and trails
Explore the history of Aberdeen and surrounding Aberdeenshire, or find a walking tour to take in the landscapes. Choose to travel by public transport and get a discount at some nearby attractions.
Map of Aberdeen
Check Featured Places for ideas on what to see and do from dolphin spotting to amazing architecture. Or find accommodation, events and food & drink to help plan your trip.
Explore Aberdeen
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Travel to and around Aberdeen
Getting to Aberdeen
Bus and coach
There are many frequent and affordable bus services that travel from various main cities to Aberdeen daily.
Train
Aberdeen’s railway station, right in the heart of the city, has frequent fast and reliable services to and from major cities.
LNER trains run along the east coast from cities such as Edinburgh, York, Newcastle and London.
Scotrail provides an express rail service direct to Aberdeen from many major cities.
Aberdeen can also be reached overnight from London on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Driving
Aberdeen is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
There are many car hire companies operatiing in Aberdeen.
Flying
Fly into Aberdeen International Airport which is about 6 miles from the city centre.
The region is well connected globally with daily flights to all major airports including London Heathrow, Paris and Amsterdam. The international airport also has many direct routes to most UK cities as well as many key European destinations.
Or fly to one of Scotland's airports and journey up to Aberdeen by bus, or train.
Ferry
Ferries travel regularly from Orkney and Shetland.
Aberdeen Ferry Terminal is located at Jamieson's Quay across from Union Square and the Aberdeen Railway Station.
Getting around Aberdeen
Cycling
You can easily rent a Big Issue e-bike in Aberdeen. Pay as you go for £1 every 7 minutes or subscriptions start from £20 a month.
Walking
Aberdeen is easily explored on foot with most key attractions within walking distance of each other. Attractions beyond the city centre can be reached cost effectively by public transport and again explored further by foot.
Bus and coach
First Group operate regular buses across the city of Aberdeen while Stagecoach Bluebird's buses link the towns and villages in Aberdeenshire.
GrassHOPPER passes let you hop on and off within a certain zone. Find out more on GrassHOPPER ticket prices and how to use them.
Tours
Want to relax and let someone else drive?
Book a tour and hear from a knowledgeable local tour guide as they highlight points of interest, stop off at the best hidden gems and visit the iconic landmarks you’ve heard all about.
Taxi
There are several taxi companies operating in Aberdeenshire.
Vehicle hire
There are several car hire companies operating in Aberdeen.
What's on in Aberdeen
Highland dancers at The Ballater Highland Games
© VisitScotland / David N Anderson
Events
Find out what's on in Aberdeen with local events and festivals including theatre, music, food and drink and family-friendly events.
Places to eat in Aberdeen
Find ideas on where to try Scottish food & drink in Aberdeen.
Foodstory café, Aberdeen
Food & Drink ideas
There's a great selection of places to eat in Aberdeen city.
Explore further
4 Days
Car
Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail
Discover Scotland's magnificent north east coastline on this four day trail in Aberdeenshire.
6 Days
Car
Scotland's Castle Trail
Discover the most famous and dramatic castles in the north east with our incredible 6-day itinerary.
3 Days
Car
Speyside's Malt Whisky Trail
Follow this 3-day itinerary around some of Speyside's top whisky attractions in the north east of Scotland.
Day Trips & Tours from Aberdeen
Explore the beautiful north east region with day tripping inspiration from Aberdeen, by car, bus and train!
A tip from your local expert
VisitScotland Information Centre
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Help and advice
You can also get advice from our accredited iKnow partners, with excellent local expertise, travel advice and insider tips about must-see attractions and great accommodation in the local area.
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