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Aberdeen
The city of Aberdeen sits on the north east coast of Scotland. It's a place where the harbour meets the city centre, where you may just see the harbour's resident pod of dolphins playing in the waters or enjoy a beach stroll alongside some serious shopping.
Aberdeen is famous for its stunning, sparkling, granite buildings and monuments which shimmer in the sunlight 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
Within the city itself, you can explore the beach and enjoy watersports and wildlife. You can explore the independent shops, galleries and eateries. Take a walk to admire the architecture, parks and gardens.
Scotland's top architecture: Aberdeenshire
Discover some of Aberdeen's architectural gems
8 fascinating tales behind Aberdeen's historic sites
Delve into the captivating history behind some of the city’s iconic attractions, and uncover hidden sites.
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10 things to see & do in Aberdeen for free
Discover amazing things to see & do in Aberdeen for free.
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
Check out our ideas for short breaks in Aberdeen with things to see & do, places to stay and food & drink suggestions.

Union Terrace Gardens
Unique experiences
Get to know Aberdeen at these hidden gem attractions, or learn about the local dialect.
Map of Aberdeen
Explore places to go
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Travel to and around Aberdeen
Getting to Aberdeen
Train
Aberdeen’s railway station is based in the heart of the city.
Travel on one of the hourly trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh or use the east coast line to travel from cities such as York or Newcastle.
Driving
Aberdeen is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow and less than 3 hours from Inverness.
Flying
Aberdeen International Airport is 6 miles from the city centre.
There are direct routes to most UK cities and key European destinations, with daily flights including London Heathrow, Paris and Amsterdam.
Ferry
Ferries travel regularly to/from the Scottish Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
Aberdeen Ferry Terminal is located at Jamieson's Quay across from Union Square and the Aberdeen Railway Station.
Getting around Aberdeen
Bus and coach
First Group run a number of bus services across the city while Stagecoach Bluebird's buses link the towns and villages in Aberdeenshire.
Travel passes
Grasshopper passes are available in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Stagecoach and FirstBus. Please note this pass is best used when hopping on and off the bus within a zone, and single destination tickets may sometimes be a cheaper option.
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.
Tours
Take in the scenic surroundings and hear from a knowledgeable local tour guide – all from the comfort of your privately hired chauffeur driven transport.
Vehicle hire
Hire your own vehicle for the freedom to explore at your own pace. Choose from a car, mini bus or personal motor-home.
Taxi
There are several taxi companies that operate in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire.
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
Explore the wider area of Aberdeenshire.

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Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail
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Scotland's Castle Trail
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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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