Things to do in Aberdeen
Stroll through the cobbled streets of Old Aberdeen to 6th-century St Machar's Cathedral. Along the Esplanade there's fun on Aberdeen Beach and hands-on science at Satrosphere. Discover regimental history at the Gordon Highlander Museum in the West End, and the city's seafaring past at the Maritime Museum in the city centre. Nature lovers shouldn't miss the glorious floral colours of the Winter Gardens on the South Side. Most attractions are open from 10am-5pm daily.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Seafaring history
The Aberdeen Maritime Museum explores the vital role played by the North Sea
in the development of the city's shipbuilding, fishing and oil industries.
Located in the city centre on the historic Shiprow, the museum enjoys great
views of the harbour.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12pm-3pm
Address
Shiprow, Aberdeen, AB11 5BY
Telephone
+44 (0) 1224 337 700
Transport
First Bus Services 1, 2, 11 to Union Street at Broad Street
Website
Provost Skene's House
An architectural history
This attraction is named for a rich merchant who was Lord Provost of Aberdeen
from 1676 to 1685. It's a museum, off Broad Street, with period rooms and
artifacts of domestic life. Provost Skene's kitchen has been converted into
a café.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free admission
Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Address
Guestrow, Aberdeen AB10 1AS, Grampian
Telephone
+44 (0)1224 641 086
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Classical and contemporary art
Neoclassical Aberdeen Art Gallery was designed by local architect Alexander
Marshall MacKenzie and opened in 1885. Today its impressive art collection
ranges from the Impressionists and Scottish Colourists to contemporary
crafts and local silverware. It also hosts a programme of special
exhibitions.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 2pm-5pm
Address
Schoolhill, Aberdeen, AB10 1FQ
Telephone
+44 (0) 1224 523700
Peacock Visual Arts Gallery
Contemporary art exhibitions
Peacock Visual Arts Gallery in the city centre is Aberdeen's leading
contemporary arts organisation, hosting temporary exhibitions by national
and international artists. Join one of the talks, debates and workshops,
which offer the public the chance to interact with the artists.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Tue-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm
Address
21, Castle Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5BQ
Telephone
+44 (0) 1224 639 539
Gordon Highlanders Museum
Scottish regiment exhibition
The Gordon Highlanders Museum in the West End offers an informative and
evocative journey through the dramatic 200-year history of the regiment.
Exhibitions include personal testimonies, interactive maps, original film
footage, uniforms, medals and weapons.
E-mail this item
Cost
£4
Opening Hours
Apr-Oct Tue-Sat 10am-4.30pm, Sun 12.30pm-4.30pm; Nov, Feb & Mar Tue-Sat 10am-4pm
Address
St Lukes, Viewfield Road, Aberdeen, AB15 7XH
Telephone
+44 (0) 1224 311200
Haddo House
Historic house
Built in 1732 by William Adam for the Gordon family, Haddo House in Tarves
combines Georgian architecture with Victorian interiors. Highlights include
its collection of paintings, stables and terraced gardens. An avenue of lime
trees leads to Haddo Country Park.
E-mail this item
Cost
Haddo House £8.50
Opening Hours
Haddo House Jul-Aug 11.30am-4.30pm; Sep-Oct Fri-Mon 11am-4.30pm
Address
Mains of Haddo, Tarves AB41 7EQ, Grampian
Telephone
+44 (0) 1651 851664
Transport
Stagecoach service 290/291 to Tarves
Website
Satrosphere
Interactive science centre
Satrosphere on the Beach Links offers a fascinating insight into all things
scientific. Founded in 1989, visitors can delve into a world of exploration
and discovery through a range of hands-on exhibits, experiments, workshops
and shows.
E-mail this item
Cost
£5.75; children & concessions £4.50
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-5pm
Address
The Tramsheds, 179 Constitution Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5TU
Telephone
+44 (0) 1224 640340
Stonehaven
Fishing village
Stonehaven is close to Aberdeen but a world away from bustling city life.
This quiet fishing village is popular with tourists, thanks to its
picturesque harbour, pebbled beaches and the UK's only Olympic-sized, Art
Deco, heated, open-air swimming pool.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free; Pool £4.60
Opening Hours
24 hours daily; Pool: Jun-Sep: Mon-Fri 1pm-7.30pm; Sat & Sun 10am-6pm
Address
Stonehaven, Grampian, AB39
Aberdeen Beach
Seaside entertainment
Aberdeen's clean, sandy beach stretches two miles with an Esplanade alongside
that makes for a refreshing walk. There are also various entertainment
options along the seafront, including a funfair, multiplex cinema, leisure
centre with fun pool and ice rink.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
24 hours daily
Address
Beach Esplanade, AB24 5NS
Transport
First Bus service 14 to Beach Esplanade
St Machar's Cathedral
Sixth-century church
Located in the heart of cobbled Old Aberdeen, St Machar's Cathedral dates
back to 580AD, when Machar, accompanying St Columba of Iona, founded a
church there. Now the Church of Scotland's Cathedral in Aberdeen, it has a
resplendent history. Listen out for the bells, located in the south
tower.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Apr-Oct daily 9am-5pm; Nov-Mar daily 10am-4pm; Sunday services 11am & 6pm
Address
The Chanonry, Old Aberdeen, AB24 1RQ
Telephone
+44 (0) 1224 485 988
Winter Gardens
Floral gem
One of Scotland's top free attractions, the Winter Gardens on the South Side
in Duthie Park is worth visiting at any time of the year. Highlights include
the Japanese Gardens, the Antipodean plants in the Flora Hall and the
largest cacti collection in Britain.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily 9.30am-6.30pm (until 4.30pm Nov-Mar)
Address
Duthie Park, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen, AB11 7TH
Telephone
+ 44 (0) 1224 523201
Transport
Bus Service 17 to Polmuir Road
Website
Balmoral Castle
Royal residence
Stately granite Balmoral Castle on Royal Deeside has been the Scottish home
of the Royal Family since 1856. The grounds, gardens and exhibitions are
open to the public from March until August (when Queen Elizabeth II and the
Duke of Edinburgh arrive).
E-mail this item
Cost
£7; concessions £6; children £3
Opening Hours
Apr-Jul daily 10am-5pm
Address
Ballater (by Crathie), Grampian, AB35 5TB
Telephone
+44 (0) 13397 42534
Dunnottar Castle
Cliff-top fortress ruins
The ruins of Dunnottar Castle, a dramatic cliff-top fortress, near Stonehaven
date back to the fourth century. Look out for the War Memorial on nearby
Black Hill, which affords 360-degree views of the castle and bay.
E-mail this item
Cost
£5; children £1
Opening Hours
Good Fri-Jun & end Sep-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; end June-Sep daily 9am-6pm; Nov-Good Fri: Fri-Mon 10.30am-sunset
Address
Just off the A92 (south of Stonehaven), Stonehaven AB32 7AW, Grampian
Telephone
+44 (0) 1330 860223
Cairngorms National Park
Mountain landscape
Cairngorms National Park is Scotland's largest, covering 3800 square
kilometres of the Highlands and Grampian regions. With mountains and glens,
rivers and lochs, forest and moorland, it is a popular destination for
hillwalking, climbing, skiing, mountain-biking and fishing.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
24 hours daily
Address
(Cairngorms National Park Authority), 14, The Square, Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HG
Telephone
+44 (0) 1479 873535
Malt Whisky Trail
Distillery tours
The Malt Whisky Trail is dotted around the glens of scenic Speyside with
seven working distilleries making up the route, including Glenfiddich and
Strathisla, home to Chivas Regal. Each tour reveals the complex art of malt
whisky blending and offers samples of the finished product.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free-£5
Opening Hours
Various
Address
Speyside
