Whether you are looking to emerge yourself in Scottish history, experience the vivacious Scottish nightlife or spend your time shopping, Aberdeen has it all.
As the third largest city in Scotland by population and recognised for its relations to the oil industry, Aberdeen is an increasingly popular place to visit with lots going on around the city. This city is one of the best places to see in Scotland and you won't regret adding it to your itinerary.
Check out our list of unmissable things to do in Aberdeen below:
1. Visit the Beach
Although Aberdeen is not known for its amazing weather but the beaches are still one of the nicest places to visit.
Codona’s Amusement Park, situated in Sunset Boulevard, is a popular place for families. With both indoor and outdoor amusements such as; rollercoasters, an aerial assault course, bowling and a betting area - there is something for everyone. As well as this, there are indoor and outdoor ‘Adventure golf’ courses and several cafes and diners to stop in.
The Beach Esplanade is a lovely place to go for a walk or cycle and watch all the boats out at sea. You can go for a walk along the sand and dip your toes in the (very cold!) sea and there are many cafes and restaurants, perfect for an ice cream on a sunny day or a cosy lunch during winter. With a cinema nearby too, the beach is filled with fun things to do.
2. Shopping
Aberdeen has four large shopping centres in the city centre; the Bon Accord centre, the St Nicholas centre, the Trinity centre and most recently, Union Square.
Union Square is particularly popular as the shops are open later into the evening and there are a variety of restaurants as well as a cinema and hotel located inside.
Union Square is also connected to both the rail and bus stations in Aberdeen. This means it is easy to access if you are travelling into Aberdeen from outside of the city.
Aberdeen also has a popular shopping street, Union Street, so if you are coming to Aberdeen to shop you will not be disappointed!
3. Art Gallery & Museums
Aberdeen Art Gallery is the largest public gallery in the North of Scotland. Positioned in the centre of town, this can offer a break from the busy shopping centres and streets of the city. This peaceful gallery has a range of different exhibitions and collections by different artists on show, as well as free lunchtime concerts and talks.
The Maritime museum, located near to the harbour, has exhibitions on the offshore oil industry, shipbuilding and fishing which give you an insight into the history of Aberdeen’s relationship with the North Sea. Other museums in Aberdeen include The Tolbooth Museum and Provost Skene’s House. If you wish to explore the history of Aberdeen, these are just a few of the many places that may be of interest.
4. See a Show
Aberdeen has three main venues to see live entertainment. His Majesty’s Theatre is a spectacular building and the theatre attracts many popular shows.
From opera to musicals, ballet to pantomime, many large theatre companies come to perform here. The Music Hall and the Lemon Tree are other popular venues in Aberdeen, where live music and comedians perform frequently.
Aberdeen is a city in which creativity thrives and there is always something happening around the city!
5. Watch a Football Match
Aberdeen Football Club’s home stadium, Pittodrie, is located near to the beach.
As one of the largest football grounds in Scotland, Pittodrie can seat up to 22,199 people. Not only is it home to Aberdeen FC, but international football matches are sometimes played here too.
Matches are always busy with supporters, so traffic around the ground and surrounding areas can be bad. If using public transport, buses from Union Street will take you nearby.
6. Nightlife
As a popular city for students, it comes as no surprise that there is a vibrant nightlife in Aberdeen.
From small cosy pubs to large nightclubs, you are sure to find somewhere that suits you. Institute, Garage and Underground are a few of the nightclubs in Aberdeen which are usually popular.
There are many bars where live music is performed and in some places food is served until late. Nightlife at the weekend is particularly busy year round, but weeknights can be busy too - especially with students during term time.
By Catriona KIdd
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