Aberdeen Maritime Museum
- Home
- Places to go
- Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
With rolling hills, open farmland and towering mountains in the west and sweeping beaches, coastal cliffs and panoramic skies in the east, Aberdeenshire has plenty of room for you to relax and breathe.
Located on the north-east coast of Scotland, Aberdeenshire is the area in and around Aberdeen city and stretches from the Banffshire coast in the north all the way around to St Cyrus National Nature Reserve in the east, featuring beautiful coastlines, pretty seaside towns, rugged cliffs and sandy bays. There are hundreds of attractions and hidden gems dotted across the region, including centuries-old distilleries, fantastic parklands and golf courses, ancient castles, sparkling rivers and more.
Find experiences
JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.
Travel to and around
Aberdeenshire is easily accessible by car, train, bus and plane so you'll be able to get here no matter where you are travelling from, and while you here it's easy to travel around.
Getting to
Bus and coach
If you'd rather let someone else take the wheel, sit back, relax and take in the scenic views as you travel to Aberdeenshire by bus. There are many frequent and affordable bus services that travel from various main cities to Aberdeen daily.
Train
There are various railway lines that travel to Aberdeen from various locations across the UK, and you can also get the train from Aberdeen to many other cities and towns in Scotland.
Driving
You can hire a car from several airports and major cities.
Check out Aberdeen Airport Car Hire
Other car hire options in Aberdeen: Enterprise, Arnold Clark, Hertz
Flying
Fly into Aberdeen International Airport from a number of destinations, or fly to Edinburgh Airport and journey up to Aberdeen by car, bus, or train. There are also several other airports in Scotland that you can choose to fly to, including Glasgow, Inverness, Glasgow Prestwick, and Dundee.
Getting around
Bus and coach
First Group operate a high frequency network of services across the city while Stagecoach Bluebird's buses link the towns and villages in Aberdeenshire. Grasshopper passes are available in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Stagecoach and FirstBus.
Places to stay

Camping at Glen Dye Cabins
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
Accommodation ideas
Accommodation in this region is as varied and diverse as they come. Want a self-catering lodge where the whole family can relax? A hostel for your walking group? A hotel with a spa for a relaxing break for two? There are a whole range of places to stay in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
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.
Find our iKnow Partners in this areaPlaces to eat
Glenfiddich Distillery
Food & Drink Ideas
Enjoy local food and drink experiences in Aberdeenshire, including Aberdeen Angus Beef, fresh seafood, famous whisky and more.
Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire map
Explore Aberdeenshire
Get friendly and helpful advice for your trip at our iCentres.
Loading
Javascript is needed to show this map.
Javascript is needed to show this map.
Things to do in Aberdeenshire
Check out these perfect places to start exploring Aberdeenshire. Capture the history on the castle trail, take a walk along the coast for stunning views, and don't forget to sample a drop of whisky!

Scotland's top architecture: Aberdeenshire
Discover some of Aberdeen's architectural gems

Beaches in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire beaches are some of the most picturesque in Scotland.

Parks and gardens in Aberdeenshire
Explore award-winning parks and gardens in Aberdeenshire.

Shopping in Aberdeenshire
There's plenty shopping opportunities in the region, including five shopping centres.

Craigievar Castle
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
What is Aberdeenshire known for?
The region boasts no fewer than 300 castles, ruins and stately homes; more than 50 classic, unspoilt golf courses; and an abundance of whisky distilleries, as well as UK’s largest National Park along with some of the best places to spot dolphins.
Unique experiences

Bridge over the Clunie Water in Braemar
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Only in Aberdeenshire
From the most famous and best Highland games in the world to one of the best places to spot dolphins, there is no shortage of unique experiences in Aberdeenshire.
Routes, Trails & Tours

A couple exploring Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
Get exploring
Touring is a great way to make your way through the must-see list of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. From road trips with coastal views to walking tours with iconic city centre sites and incredible cycling paths, the region offers something different to do for everyone.

P&J Live
© Visit Aberdeenshire / Damian Shields
Events
From amazing musical shows and spectacular festivals to fascinating exhibitions and virtual readings, there is always lots of things to do in Aberdeenshire.
Other things you might like

8 Hidden Gems in Aberdeen

7 Quirky Aberdeen Streets with Great Places to stay
8 fascinating tales behind Aberdeen's historic sites

Scotland's Landscapes, Scenery & Nature Spots
Cairngorms National Park
Dundee & Angus
The Highlands
Perthshire
City Breaks
Scotland in your inbox
Subscribe to our newsletter and we'll email you with unique attractions, exciting trip ideas and visitor offers.