Aberdeen, often referred to as "The Flower of Scotland" due to its many parks and gardens, lies in a picturesque spot on the North Sea between the Rivers Dee and Don. The capital of the Grampian Region, Aberdeen is Scotland's biggest fishing port, an important center for offshore oil, and the ferry terminus for the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

Tourists can enjoy its two miles of sandy beaches, superb golf courses, shop-lined streets, theatrical and dance performances, concerts by top-class orchestras, and a variety of arts festivals during the summer months. Regardless of when you visit, there are always plenty of things to do in Aberdeen by day or night.

1. What makes Aberdeen unique?
2. Aberdeen's popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Aberdeen
4. Sports in Aberdeen
5. Food in Aberdeen
6. Shopping Centres and Markets in Aberdeen
7. Aberdeen living costs
8. Festivals and Events in Aberdeen
9. Travel in and around Aberdeen
10. Explore the UK from Aberdeen

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1. What makes Aberdeen unique?

Aberdeen is one of the oldest cities in the UK, a huge urban centre in Scotland and a key piece of the UK’s national infrastructure, but a lot of people don’t realise how truly interesting and unique “The Silver City” really is.

Aberdeen has long been famous for its 45 parks and gardens, and citywide floral displays which include two million roses, eleven million daffodils and three million crocuses. The city has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom 'Best City' award ten times, the overall Scotland in Bloom competition twenty times and the large city category every year since 1968.

One of the reasons for Aberdeen’s growth and prosperity over the years has been North Sea oil. Aberdeen has repeatedly been rated the safest city in the UK by personal financial firm Provident, using a survey of UK residents which took Granite City to the top of the polls for safety.

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2. Aberdeen's popular attractions

Aberdeen is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Within this wonderful place are numerous spots you can not miss, including:

• St. Machar’s Cathedral. This beautiful architecture is believed to occupy the site of a small Celtic chapel erected by St. Machar in AD 581.
• The University and King’s College of Aberdeen. Founded in 1494, this education institution received its charter from King James IV. One of its identifying features includes a huge tower and a stone replica of the imperial crown of Charlemagne.
• Brig o'Balgownie. Scotland’s oldest bridge
• The Tolbooth Museum. Aberdeen's oldest building and home to a museum with fascinating displays on the development of crime and punishment.
• The Mercat Cross. This elaborate and highly decorated medieval symbol of Aberdeen's right to hold a market was built in 1686 by the city's guild of merchants.
• Duthie Park and David Welch Winter Gardens. One of Europe's largest indoor gardens, filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world.
• Aberdeen Art Gallery. Built in 1884, this building houses a comprehensive collection of 17th- to 20th-century paintings.
• Provost Skene’s House. The oldest standing residence in Aberdeen that now houses an excellent museum with displays of locally excavated artifacts, religious paintings, and period costumes.
• Crathes Castle. A classic Scottish baronial-style castle with a notable collection of artworks.
• Aberdeen Maritime Museum. One of the most popular places that highlights excellent collections of photos, and paintings documenting the development of the Dee estuary's port, as well as the arduous life of whale-hunters, herring fishermen, and North Sea traders.
• Craigievar Castle. This delightful pink castle with its small towers was supposedly the inspiration for the castle motif adopted by Walt Disney.
• Balmoral Castle. Queen Elizabeth II's summer residence in Scotland has come to embody the Neo-baronial style of the Victorian era.
• Cruickshank Botanic Gardens. Established in 1898, this open space highlights include interesting alpine and subtropical collections, as well as a delightful rock and water garden.

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3. Nightlife in Aberdeen

Aberdeen’s evening scene can be enjoyed at one of the many traditional pubs, craft beer taverns or lavish cocktail bars. Soul Bar is an impressive space, converted from a historic church and still retains some of its original features including stained glass windows, high ceilings and church organ.

Another place you can visit is The Noose & Monkey, located right in the cultural soul of Aberdeen. They offer a high-quality service and a delicious menu, comprising fresh local produce. You can definitely enjoy an excellent range of mouthwatering main dishes and a fine lunch menu, to be enjoyed within a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. On the last Friday of every month the bar hosts live blues nights. It is also home to a delectable range of over 70 gins offering a delicious variety of classic cocktails, along with your favourite ales.

There is also a popular club scene with eight different clubs covering a wide genre of music and themes from the 80s and 90s to R&B and dance. Club Tropicana and Vogue are the perfect destinations for a fun night out, playing the greatest hits of the 80’s & 90’s - get ready to dance all night. For those looking for something a little more trendy, NOX and Babylon are amongst the city’s most sophisticated and fashionable clubs.

Looking for something a bit underground? The Tunnels, quietly nestled under Union Street, has become one of the city’s best live music venues. Aberdonian Emeli Sande held an intimate gig here, she used to regularly play at the venue when she was starting out.

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4. Sports in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is home to Aberdeen Football Club founded in 1903. Its major success was winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983 and three Scottish Premier League Championships between 1980 and 1986. The club's stadium is Pittodrie which was Britain's first all-seater stadium. Aberdeen is also home to three Commonwealth Games swimmers.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• Aberdeen Sports Village
• Torry Outdoor Sports Centre
• David Lloyd Aberdeen
• Bridge of Don Swimming Pool
• Sheddocksley Sports Centre
• Northfield Outdoor Sports Centre

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5. Food in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a great place for you to be spoilt with great Michelin star restaurants, an array of excellent fine dining experiences and dietary types.

For a kid-friendly and casual dining, a visit to Rustico is the perfect place. This ’50s-style trattoria spans across several floors and always seems busy but, thanks to its neat little alcoves, it is as suitable for date nights as for party nights. A family-run Italian, its portion sizes are generous, waiting staff are notably friendly and the menu is extensive. Highlights include linguine with king prawns and parma ham sautéed in white wine, saffron and garlic; homemade pork ragu with rigatoni; and Sicilian-style lamb meatloaf.

Offering al fresco dining, outdoor heaters and blankets, Cafe 52 is the most continental of Aberdeen restaurants. Now in its 23rd year, it is a favourite spot for locals and tourists alike. The menu features a mix of meat and vegetarian options, including dishes such as curried hake tartiflette with cream and goat’s cheese and marinated Scottish beef with chermoula.

If you are after a 100% vegan experience, then you need to head to Bonobo Café. This was the first 100% vegan cafe in Aberdeen, and it is a workers co-operative too. They serve great breakfast and lunch options, as well as wraps, sandwiches and loads of cake choices. Most items are organic, and they also have raw and gluten-free options.

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6. Shopping Centres and Markets in Aberdeen

With five shopping centres coupled with boutiques and independent retailers, there are plenty of shopping opportunities to treat a loved one or yourself, just remember to leave space in your suitcase!

Across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire you will find shops with quirky gifts and creative crafts. Whether you are after food and drink gifts, special pieces of artwork or Scottish clothing, you will be certain to find a shop here with souvenirs to take home as a memento of your visit.

Well-known for its shopping offer, the city’s Union Square has over 50 top high-street stores, including MAC, BOSS, Apple and ZARA along with 30 restaurants providing tastes from all over the world. There is even a 10-screen cinema to catch the latest releases and events that feel like you are in the movie itself with a 4DX experience.

Nearby, the connecting Trinity Shopping Centre is home to Primark, Debenhams and Schuh, amongst many other shops. Step onto Union Street and head across to adjacent Belmont Street where you will find bars lining the cobbles and leading you to the nearby Bon Accord Centre which has over 65 fashion, beauty and homeware stores.

When venturing around the shops, make sure to stop by the Belmont Street Market which takes place on the last Saturday of every month, giving you the prime opportunity to taste local food and buy some unique items to take home. The shops aren’t only found in the city centre, make a visit to Aberdeen’s well-established west end and Rosemount shopping areas which are full of independent retailers, creating a perfect spot for discovering special treasures.

Aberdeen’s charming streets are lined with designer outlets, whisky and gin shops, quaint cafes including the popular vegan Foodstory, which now has its own shop upstairs bursting with vegan and eco-friendly products. In Aberdeenshire, discover charming towns and villages with an abundance of local shops selling quality souvenirs and gifts, including The Butterworth Gallery and The Spotty Bag Shop.

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7. Aberdeen living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way ticket (local transport): £2.65
• Meal out: £13.50
• Fast food (McDonald’s): £5.80
• Gasoline (1 Litre): £1.26
• Cinema ticket: £9.00

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8. Festivals and Events in Aberdeen

Aberdeen has a number of eclectic festivals and events throughout the year, including:

• SPECTRA. Aberdeen’s award-winning festival of light that celebrates the North-East Scotland's rich coast and waters.
• Granite Noir. Aberdeen’s very own crime writing festival.
• Aberdeen Restaurant Week. 30 restaurants in Aberdeen will be offering a two course lunch menu for £10 and a three course dinner menu for £20.
• Aberdeen Jazz Festival. A festival to celebrate the appreciation of jazz music that is taking place at multiple venues over the city centre.
• Inverurie Beer Festival. Satisfy your stomach with delicious produce from street food vendors washed down with a wide selection beer, cider, gin, rum, vodka and prosecco.
• DolphinFest. One of the best places in Europe to spot wild bottlenose dolphins.
• Nuart Festival. One of Aberdeen’s most celebrated events where international and local artists come together to create unique pieces inspired by the region’s history and heritage.
• Scottish Traditional Boat Festival. Take in the aroma of fresh cooked fish as you listen to lively music and watch competitive sailing on the open seas.
• Stonehaven Folk Festival. An event where you can try out this aquatic take on a Scottish dance.
• Turriff Show. Attending Scotland's largest two day agricultural show where over 300 outdoor and indoor trade stands, you can see a selection of horse events, dog shows and highland dancing.
• Tour of Britain. This is the UK’s most prestigious cycle race where cycling professionals race across the UK in eight stages stopping in different locations en-route to its final destination of Aberdeen.

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9. Travel in and around Aberdeen

Aberdeen Airport (ABZ), at Dyce in the north of the city, serves domestic and international destinations including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Scandinavian countries.

By rail

Aberdeen railway station is on the main UK rail network and Abellio ScotRail has frequent direct trains to major cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Virgin Trains East Coast and the Caledonian Sleeper operate direct trains to London. The UK's longest direct rail journey runs from Aberdeen to Penzance, operated by CrossCountry.

By car

There are six major roads in and out of the city. The A90 is the main arterial route into the city from the north and south, linking Aberdeen to Edinburgh, Dundee, Brechin and Perth in the south and Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh in the north. The A96 links Elgin and Inverness and the north west. The A93 is the main route to the west, heading towards Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms.

After Braemar, it turns south, providing an alternative tourist route to Perth. The A944 also heads west, through Westhill and on to Alford. The A92 is used as a tourist route, connecting the towns of Montrose and Arbroath and on the east coast. The A947 exits the city at Dyce and goes on to Newmachar, Oldmeldrum and Turriff finally ending at Banff and Macduff.

By ferry

Aberdeen Harbour is important as the largest in the north of Scotland and as a ferry route to Orkney and Shetland. Established in 1136, it has been referred to as the oldest business in Britain.

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10. Explore the UK from Aberdeen

Aberdeen is an ideal base for you to start exploring neighbouring cities, towns, and the rest of the UK. Especially when it comprises iconic cities such as Edinburgh, there are always opportunities to plan exciting day trips or getaway with friends and family.

Dundee

Dundee, the fourth largest city in Scotland, spreads along the north bank of the Firth of Tay at the foot of Balgary Hill. Once a major port, the city's waterfront is well worth visiting and has since become a commercial and cultural hub that includes an excellent maritime museum complete with preserved vessels and a science center. Dundee has also become a popular place for entertainment, and in the Old Town center you can enjoy the city's food scene, as well as shopping.

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Peterhead

Peterhead, in the far north-east of Scotland, is a busy fishing port and the home of Dracula! Being one of the busiest fishing ports in Europe with over 400 boats and a bustling daily fishmarket, plus a 100-berth leisure marina, this is a perfect location for you to take a family trip or an exploration trip with friends. Here, you can visit the many excellent landmarks and beautiful architecture that withholds the place's historical and cultural heritage.

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Inverness

In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness is surrounded by a wealth of places to visit. From naturally beautiful areas like Loch Ness to man-made marvels like Cawdor Castle, the scope of things to see and do can be dizzying.

Even though much of this mountainous region is uninhabited, it does boast many lovely small towns and villages. One of the top things to do is drive along the coast to the pretty seaside town of Dornoch, noted for its cathedral and castle ruins, as well as its Royal Dornoch golf courses. The Scottish Highlands' castles are some of the major tourist attractions.