Amazing 16 Things to See and Activities to Do in Aberdeen, Scotland

August 29, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 2357 Views

Aberdeen is a city in Scotland. It is situated on the North East coast of the British Isle. Some of the most fun things to do in Aberdeen include exploring Scottish History, and Maritime History, admiring granite architecture, enjoying beaches, and hiking through the natural wonders of the Scottish coast. It is a wonderful coastal city with a historic harbor. Many of the best places to visit in Aberdeen revolve around shipbuilding, maritime trade, and naval warfare history of the city. Aberdeen owes much of its prosperity to its port and harbor.

The region was given a charter by William the Lion in 1179, but the history of human settlement at the site goes back 8,000 years. There are a few Aberdeen tourist attractions like the city’s museum where you can learn about the early history of the city. In 1319, the city was given the Great Charter by Robert the Bruce. Aberdeen saw great development between the 18th and 20th centuries. Majority of historically significant things to see in Aberdeen hail from this time period.

The city is called Granite City owing to the grey granite used in the construction of several historic buildings. Aberdeen is quite close to a large granite quarry and hence the material was easily accessible to the city. Many people explore the city through the “Granite City” tour for Aberdeen sightseeing. This tour takes you on a walking or bicycle tour of 30 buildings, monuments and statues. You will encounter some of the most wonderful places to see in Aberdeen including St. Machar’s Cathedral, Provost Skene’s House, His Majesty’s Theatre, Old Town House, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Church of St. Nicholas Uniting, and King’s College Chapel.

Aside from history, the city also has a variety of modern entertainment facilities for indoor activities to do in Aberdeen. There are amusement parks, public parks, theatres, recreational centers, and more. The city also has amazing golf courses and large public parks for recreation.

Outside the city, you get to explore coastal attractions, cliffs, hills, lakes, and forests for outdoor activities to do in Aberdeen such as hiking, trekking, camping, fishing, and so on. The beaches near Aberdeen are also quite popular tourist attractions. Aside from sunbathing and leisure activities, these coastal attractions also offer a variety of beach sports and water sports facilities.

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Table of Contents

Top 16 Tourist Places to Visit in Aberdeen in 3 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Duthie Park

Spread over an area of 44 acres, this park sits on the bank of river Dee. The park is known for housed several types of gardens and collections of plants originating from different parts of the world. It is a place for fun things to do in Aberdeen for families. You would need about an hour to tour this park.

2. William Wallace Statue

The statue of William Wallace was erected in 1888 to honor his valor and fight for Scottish Independence. The statue was sculpted by William Stevenson. You won’t need a few minutes to see this statue when you visit Aberdeen.

3. Aberdeen Maritime Museum

This museum is situated on the historic Shiprow, close to the harbor. The museum focuses on the sea-faring history of the city and the significance of its port. It is one of the most important historical places to visit in Aberdeen. The exhibits in the museum cover history of ship-building, sailing, historical ships, naval battles, fishing, port, and maritime technology. You will need an hour from Aberdeen sightseeing to tour this museum.

I suggest you should book a Guided Walking and Food Tour in Aberdeen.

4. The Tolbooth Museum

Built-in 1629, this building served as a jail during the 17th century and onwards. Today it houses a museum dedicated to the history of the building and the prison. It is popular among things to see in Aberdeen as one of the most haunted places in the city. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

5. Aberdeen Beach

This beautiful golden sand beach stretches from the harbor all the way to the mouth of river Don. It is one of the best beaches near Aberdeen. The beach is popular for a lot of outdoor activities to do in Aberdeen including sunbathing, surfing, windsurfing, and coastal hikes. The beach also has amusement areas and restaurants. You can easily spend a couple of hours from Aberdeen travel to explore the pleasures of this beach.

6. Satrosphere Science Centre

This museum and exhibition center is dedicated to encouraging and educating children about various branches of science. The museum has several interactive exhibits for children concerning scientific disciplines such as cosmology, zoology, geography, geology, and so on. It is one of the most popular Aberdeen tourist attractions for families. You will need at least an hour to tour this center.

Day 2

1. King’s College Chapel

Founded in 1495, King’s College is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK. It is iconic for its gothic revival architecture and the crown tower. The crown-style monument atop the tower is one of the most photographed structures in the city. The Chapel of the college was built in the 15th century and was renovated in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The chapel is known among Aberdeen attractions for its historical and cultural significance. You will need 15 to 20 minutes to tour the chapel and an hour if you choose to tour the campus of the university.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Historical Walking Tour in Aberdeen.

2. Seaton Park

Situated on the edge of river Don, this is one of the biggest parks in the city. The park has green spaces, picnic spots, and sports facilities. It is one of the places to go in Aberdeen to relax. You can easily spend a few minutes at this park.

3. Aberdeen Art Gallery

Housed in one of the city’s finest granite buildings, this art gallery has a collection spanning 700 years. It is one of the best places to see in Aberdeen for art enthusiasts. The gallery primarily focuses on creations by Scottish artists but also features a few works by international artists. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this gallery.

I suggest you should book a Guided Street Art Walking Tour in Aberdeen.

4. Granite Architecture (Architecture of Aberdeen)

The Granite trail is a sequence of about 30 Aberdeen sights. These include buildings, statues, cemeteries, bridges, townhouses, churches, government buildings, and more. Owing to the city’s proximity to a granite quarry, many of the buildings in Aberdeen have used granite as the primary building material. Aberdeen has often been called the Granite City owing to this phenomenon. Some of the prominent landmarks on this trail include Marischal College, Town House, Salvation Army Citadel, His Majesty’s Theatre, Church of St. Mark, Central Library, and so on. This trail allows you to explore a variety of buildings and monuments which were built using granite, but at different points in the city’s history. You will need 3 to 4 hours to complete this entire trail.

5. Union Terrace Gardens

This public park dates back to 1879 and has facilities for a lot of outdoor activities to do in Aberdeen. The park has green spaces, walking trails, sports facilities, picnic spots, and more. You can easily spend an hour or so enjoying recreational activities at this park.

6. Footdee (Fitty)

Situated at the foot of river Dee, this harbor used to be a fishing village. It is included among the places to visit in Aberdeen for historical sightseeing. You will see several 19th-century houses and harbor warehouses. It is also a top spot for dolphin sightings. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this place.

Day 3

1. Old Aberdeen

The old town of Aberdeen is home to numerous historical attractions including Crown Tower, Old Town House, University Library, St. Machar Cathedral, Kings Museum, and so on. It is also home to the majority of granite buildings that the city is famous for. The old town is also well known for several restaurants, clubs, and bars. Loitering the streets for dining, street food, drinking and general hobnobbing are among the best things to do in Aberdeen at night. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring this area.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Walking Tour of Old Aberdeen.

2. The Gordon Highlanders Museum

This museum delves into the history of the Gordon Highlanders regiment. The museum explored the history of the regiment and the prominent battles they took part in. One of the most interesting things to see in Aberdeen, an actual Nazi flag snatched from Hitler’s own car, is displayed in this museum. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this museum.

I suggest you should Get your Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket to The Gordon Highlanders Museum in advance.

3. King’s Museum

Part of the King’s College, this museum holds a large variety of artifacts originating from different parts of the world and from different periods in history. The museum is also known among Aberdeen tourist attractions for its events such as Night at the Museum, European Night at the Museum, and Festival of Museums. You will need about an hour to tour this museum when you visit Aberdeen.

4. University of Aberdeen Zoology Museum

This museum has a large collection of representations of animals in form of taxidermy, skeletons, skins, models, and fluid-preserved specimens. Some of the highlight animals represented at this museum include tiger, whale, python, tortoise, jellyfish, lion, shark, and so on. You will need an hour or so from Aberdeen travel to tour this museum.

If you are looking for more Aberdeen attractions, check out the section below. We have put together an exhaustive list of places and activities to explore in and around the city.

Things to do in Aberdeen

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Salvation Army Citadel
St. Mark’s Church
Crown Tower
King’s Museum
St. Machar’s Cathedral
The Gordon Highlanders Museum
Provost Skene’s House
Tolbooth Museum
Zoology Museum
Dunnottar Castle
Crathes Castle
Craigievar Castle
Drum Castle
Balmoral Castle
Torry Battery
Blairs Museum
Aberdeen Arts Center
Church of St. Nicholas Uniting
Statue of William Wallace
Girdle Ness Lighthouse
St. Andrew Cathedral Church
Dyce Symbol Stones
St. Mary of Assumption Cathedral
Queen’s Cross Church
Greyfriars Church
Wallace Tower
Rubislaw Granite Quarry
Queen Victoria Statue
Ruthven Barracks

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Aberdeen

Mount Cairngorms National Park
Donmouth Local Nature Reserve
Brimmond Hill
Kirkhill Forest
Kincorth Hill
Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve
Nigg Bay
Den of Maidencraig
Tyrebagger Hill
Greyhope Bay
Carnie Woods
Highland Wildlife Park
Bullers of Buchan
RSPB Scotland Troup Head
RSPB Scotland Fowlsheugh
Mount Keen
Bennachie Hills

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Aberdeen

Union Terrace Garden
Cruickshank Botanic Garden
David Welch Winter Gardens
Johnston Garden
Belmont Picturehouse Cinema
Satrosphere Science Center
Duthie Park
Codona’s Amusement Park
Hazlehead Park
Seaton Park Aberdeen
The Den & Glen
Deeside Way
Wynford Farm Park
Westburn Park
Victoria Park
Jump in Adventure Park
Linx Ice Arena
Hayfield Riding
City of Aberdeen Distillery
Grosvener Casino
Aberdeen Breakout Games
Piper Alpha Memorial Garden
Persley Walled Garden
The Locked Door Escape Games
Westfield Park
Walker Park
Stewart Park
Glenshee Ski Center
Lecht Ski Center
Landmark Forest Adventure Park
Glencoe Mountain Resort
Nevis Range Mountain Resort

Shopping in Aberdeen

Trinity Center
Bon Accord Center
Union Square
The Academy
St. Nicholas Center
Aberdeen County Fair
Aberdeen Market

Beaches & Islands in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Beach
Stonehaven Beach
Saint Cyrus Beach
Balmedie Beach
Newburgh Beach
South Donmouth Beach
Greyhope Beach
Blackdog Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Aberdeen

Hiking
Camping
Fishing
Boat Cruise
Water Sports
Cruden Bay beach
Horseback Riding Tours
Walking Tour
Bicycle Tour

Sightseeing in Aberdeen

Marischal College
Town House
Union Street
His Majesty’s Theatre
Central Library
Footdee Harbour
Old Aberdeen
Aberdeen Harbour
Brig o’ Balgownie
Bridge of Dee
Union Bridge
The Bridge of Don
King George IV Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Aberdeen

Beautiful Mountain
Tripple Kirks
Books and Beans
Revolution Bar
Cafe Contour
Th Wild Boar
The Coffee House
Siberia
Foodstory
Cafe Drummond’s
Cafe 52
O’Niels
Musa Art & Music Cafe
Ma Camerons
Little Italy
Old School House
Chinatown
Slain’s Castle
Lahore Karahi
Enigma
Prince of Wales
Kury
Old Blackfrairs
La Lombarda
Tonic
The Moonrings
Soul
Royal Thai
Illicit Still
Moonfish Cafe
Nazma Tandoori
Tippling House

Where to Stay in Aberdeen?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Aberdeen. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Aberdeen.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Aberdeen

How to Reach Aberdeen?

By Air

Aberdeen International Airport is situated about 11 km northwest of the city center. You can get direct flights to visit Aberdeen from Riga, Burgas, London, Newcastle, Wick, Manchester, Geneva, Birmingham, Amsterdam, Belfast, Bristol, Dublin, Norwich, Oslo, Copenhagen and several other European cities. You can get buses and cabs to reach places to visit in Aberdeen from the airport.

By Road

You can get direct trains to reach Aberdeen from several cities in the UK including London, Newcastle, York, Carlisle, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Inverness. The tickets can be purchased online or at the station.

The bus network for Aberdeen travel is far more widespread. You can get direct or connecting buses from several cities, towns, and villages in Scotland and the UK to Aberdeen.

If you are planning to reach Aberdeen by road, you should head for routes A90, A96, or A956.

By Water

You can get boats from Lerwick, Shetland, and Kirkwall to visit Aberdeen.

Image Reference

Duthie Park – Iain Middleton-Duff / Flickr
William Wallace Statue – Axis12002 / Wikimedia Commons
Aberdeen Maritime Museum – Oyoyoy / Wikimedia Commons
The Tolbooth Museum – dun_deagh / Flickr
Aberdeen Beach – Bernt Rostad / Flickr
Satrosphere Science Centre – Colin Smith / geograph.org.uk / Wikimedia Commons
King’s College Chapel – Devinberg / Wikimedia Commons
Seaton Park – ALEX / PixaBay
Aberdeen Art Gallery – Bill Harrison / geograph.org.uk / Wikimedia Commons
Granite Architecture (Architecture of Aberdeen) – Tom Parnell / Flickr
Union Terrace Gardens – Iain Middleton-Duff / Flickr
Footdee (Fitty) – John Lord / Flickr
Old Aberdeen – Verino77 / Flickr
The Gordon Highlanders Museum – AlasdairW / Wikimedia Commons
King’s Museum – Nick Bramhall / Flickr
University of Aberdeen Zoology Museum – Sagaciousphil / Wikimedia Commons