Aberdeen City Guide: 16+ Things to do in Aberdeen

Aberdeen – or the Granite City – lies on the north-east coast of Scotland and is Scotland’s third-largest city. Think fascinating architecture, vibrant street art and a lively pub & restaurant scene. But thanks to its seaside location, bustling ferry port and surrounding hillsides, Aberdeen is also a true gem for adventurous souls. Check out my favourite things to do in Aberdeen in this city guide.

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To me, Aberdeen captures a spirit of adventure. It sits right by the sea and is the starting point of long ferry journeys to Orkney and Shetland. But of course, the city is well worth a visit in its own right!

I recently spent a sunny December weekend in Aberdeen to try everything the city has to offer at Christmas time. Watch my travel video about this trip here – the video is available exclusively to members of the Wild for Scotland Social Club 🐬 and it’s super-easy to join! Or you can buy access to the video on its own for a few pounds.

This was by far not my first visit to the city, so believe me when I say: there is a lot to do & see in Aberdeen!

I hope that my Aberdeen City Guide is a useful resource for when you plan your own trip to the Granite City of Scotland.

How to get to Aberdeen

There are direct train connections to Aberdeen from Glasgow and Edinburgh. From Glasgow, the journey takes about 2.5 hours and I paid £14.70 one way when I booked my tickets in advance without a Railcard. Of course, you can also drive, but note that there is a Low-Emission-Zone in the city (LEZ) which restricts some vehicles, and you have to pay for parking.

Where to stay in Aberdeen

Even though I visited a friend, I booked a B&B for 2 nights. I searched mostly on AirBnB and picked Butler’s Guesthouse – mostly because it’s only a 10-minute walk from Aberdeen train station. In December 2024, I paid £100 for 2 nights in a double room (single occupancy) with my own shower & toilet, and a basic continental breakfast in the morning.

My hosts couldn’t have been more accommodating, giving me early check-in, providing plant-based milk & butter options at breakfast and even allowing me to store my bags in the breakfast room after check-out on my last day.

The location was great for walking around the city centre and being near buses to some of the further-out locations I visited like Culter and Old Aberdeen.

Other recommended places to stay are Sandman Signature Hotel & Spa or the historic Maryculter House on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Getting around Aberdeen

I mostly explored Aberdeen on foot and by bus.

The city centre is very walkable and even the beach is only about 30 minutes walk from town.

For further locations on our itinerary, I took local buses operated by First Bus. I used Google Maps to navigate the schedule and tapped my phone to pay for fares contactless.

Things to do in Aberdeen

Here are some of my highlights in Aberdeen, many of which I managed to squeeze into my winter weekend in the city.

A walk around Old Aberdeen

Old Aberdeen is the oldest part of the city and a walk here is among my favourite things to do in Aberdeen.

Today, Old Aberdeen is the home of the University of Aberdeen. I took the First Bus 19 to get here from the city centre.

Since this neighbourhood is much older than the rest, it’s quite different in terms of its architecture. Less granite, more sandstone; smaller buildings and lots of cobbled lanes. It’s a beautiful part of Aberdeen for a stroll!

Don’t miss St Machar’s Cathedral with its unique flat wooden roof and beautifully restored stain-glass windows!

The tower of the University of Aberdeen — King’s College, University of Aberdeen

St. Machar Cathedral and big flowers at Seaton Park in Aberdeen — King’s College, University of Aberdeen

Seaton Park & Bridge of Balgownie

Behind the cathedral lies Seaton Park, a beautiful botanical garden. Cross it and you’ll eventually reach the Bridge of Balgownie, a picturesque stone bridge across the River Don.

This tiny neighbourhood is postcard pretty and mustn’t be left out in any Aberdeen itinerary.

Donmouth Nature Reserve

The woodland on either side of the Bridge of Balgownie, stretching towards the sea, is known as the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve. Seals often rest on the wee island in the middle, and you can also see lots of species of birds.

On the southern end of the big road bridge, you can continue your walk towards the dunes of Aberdeen Beach and take shelter in one of the bird hides along the shore.

A stroll around Fittie

Footdee – or “Fittie” as it’s called by the locals – is a historic fishing village between Aberdeen’s harbour and the beach. There are only a few rows of stone cottages, but the residents make a huge effort to keep the neighbourhood colourful and quirky.

Spend some time exploring the little lanes, colourful gardens and decorations between the seaside cottages. It’s beautiful!

Crafts at Second Home Cafe

Second Home offers a monthly rotating “Creative Menu”. Every month you can choose from several different crafts and for a small fee, all materials are provided to you.

Since I visited in December, all crafts on offer had a Christmas theme. I painted some tapered candles and my friend painted a ceramic bauble for her Christmas tree. We also had delicious cakes and coffee here.

Go for a walk along Aberdeen Beach

The golden sands of Aberdeen Beach stretch from Footdee and the harbour towards the River Don further north.

There is a spacious promenade where you can find food trucks, scenic benches and steps down to the water. If you’re brave, you can join the local swimmers for a dip in the cold water!

A session at Seabiscuit Sauna

We booked an hour-long session at Seabiscuit Sauna by Aberdeen Beach. You can hire out the whole sauna or just book one seat per person, which is what we did.

This is a Lithuanian-style sauna, which means it isn’t quite as hot as a Finnish sauna, and the heat is more steamy than dry. Debbie the sauna attendant is always at hand to add water to the stones, cool you down with birch and oak branches or give you a tree-wash massage. Watch the video and you’ll know what I mean 😅

The sauna is right on the Beach Esplanade and the sea is just a few steps away – mind you, the water is very cold though!

Afternoon Tea at Maryculter House

Maryculter House is a historic hotel in a wee village just outside Aberdeen. The building has been used for hospitality for centuries and the oldest existing part is the beautiful Great Hall.

Afternoon tea here is fancy but costs only £25, which compared to some fancy afternoon teas in Edinburgh is an absolute steal!

If you drive to Aberdeen, Maryculter House would also be a lovely place to stay – but it is a bit remote. We took the First bus 19 from Aberdeen to Peterculter and from there, a friend who was also joining the tea, picked us up and drove the rest.

Aberdeen Christmas Market

The Aberdeen Christmas Market is arguably the best Christmas market in Scotland – at least from what I’ve seen. The main Christmas Village is full of fun rides and food stalls, but the main event is the craft market inside Marischal College. This part is only open on weekends, from Friday to Sunday. Marischal College is the HQ of the local council and normally, the pretty courtyard is not open to the public.

Inside the courtyard, there are several rows of wooden cabins filled with local crafts and treats. It’s a nice place to pick up some Christmas presents or treat yourself to a steamy cup of hot cider (or two)!

A few more things to do in Aberdeen:

Visit the Aberdeen Maritime Museum near the harbour
Visit the Aberdeen Art Gallery
Join a guided street art tour with Nuart Aberdeen (summer only)
Go dolphin spotting at Greyhope Bay

A mural near the harbour on the Nuart street art trail in Aberdeen

Day Trips from Aberdeen

There are countless places to visit on a day trip from Aberdeen.

If you travel by public transport, take the bus or train to Stonehaven. Visit the historic harbour, get an ice cream and stroll along the promenade, or do the coastal walk to the ruins of Dunnottar Castle. Use my Stonehaven guide to plan your trip.

Need inspiration? Listen to my podcast episode about Stonehaven, called ‘The Land Awakens‘!

Explore the Cairngorms National Park, especially, the area known as Royal Deeside. Many villages in the Royal Deeside are accessible by bus from Aberdeen, including Ballater and Braemar. But for some hikes, you require a car to reach the trailhead. Use my Cairngorms travel guide for day trip ideas.

One of my favourite places to visit in this part of the Cairngorms National Park is Mar Lodge Estate – listen to my podcast episode about it.

Spend time on the coast: Go for a walk to see puffins and waterfalls at the Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve. Dig your toes in the sands of Balmedie Beach. Walk to the see the seal colony on Newburgh Beach. Or visit the cliffs at the Bullers of Buchan.

Visit some of the castles on the Scottish Castle Trail through Aberdeenshire, like Crathes Castle, Castle Fraser, Craigievar Castle or Balmoral – a private Royal Residence in Scotland.

My Aberdeenshire itinerary contains many more ideas and suggestions for things to do in Aberdeenshire and day trips from Aberdeen.