20 Top Attractions & Things To Do in Aberdeen Scotland

Even though Aberdeen is known as the oil capital of Europe, it is so much more to the people who live there. There’s always something new to find in the Granite City, which has medieval castles on the edges and a diverse social scene in the middle.

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Set against Scotland’s rough northeastern coast, Aberdeen is surrounded by dramatic landscapes full of history, like gothic castles and pretty royal burghs. Back in the city, where the granite buildings shine in the sun, there are plenty of restaurants, galleries, museums, and theaters to choose from. Young people keep the bars busy enough to compete with the bigger cities in Scotland. There’s more to Aberdeen than meets the eye. Here are the top things to see and do in this unique city.

At one of the Shire’s beautiful castles, you can live out your own fairy tale.

When you leave Aberdeen, all roads lead to the rolling countryside, and you’ll probably pass by one of the county’s impressive castles. Don’t leave it up to chance; instead, pack a ploughman’s lunch and head to Dunnottar Castle, a large, ruined medieval fortress south of Stonehaven that sits on a rocky headland. If you like castles that look like Disney castles, you should look at Craigievar Castle. It’s a pink, turreted treasure that Sleeping Beauty herself would be proud of.

Things To Do in Aberdeen Scotland - Travel Pixy — Dunnottar Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland. | Photo by Andre Goncalves/Shutterstock

Visit BrewDog’s biggest brewery.

Few people know that BrewDog was born in Aberdeenshire, but the people who started it couldn’t be happier about their roots. In fact, Ellon is still home to BrewDog’s biggest brewery, which now offers DogWalk tours to its loyal fans. Take the number 60 bus from the city center of Aberdeen, which goes along the beautiful coast, and spend the afternoon exploring the modern eco-brewery. At the end of the day, have a pint of the most recent batch of beer in the DogTap tap room.

Balmedie Beach has sand dunes you can climb.

There are several beautiful beaches in the area around Aberdeen. Even though it’s worth going to Newburgh to see the over 400 seals that gather there, Balmedie is the most popular beach in Aberdeen. Set aside an entire afternoon to feel the fine golden sand between your toes. You won’t want to leave this unexpected paradise.

At The Lemon Tree, you can dance until dawn.

Going to your first concert at The Lemon Tree is almost like a rite of passage for young Aberdonians, but this place is popular with more than just angsty teenagers. The venue, which has been around since the 1930s, gives new bands a chance to get their feet wet on the professional circuit. Radiohead, Biffy Clyro, and Emeli Sandé, who is from the area, all played here before they became famous.

Take a stroll back in time in Old Aberdeen

Old Aberdeen’s leafy suburbs are like a Dickens story come to life. They are connected by winding, cobbled streets and have some of the most beautiful architecture in the city. St Machar’s Cathedral is the best example of this. You might also see students rushing around with books and cups of coffee from Kilau, the caffeine institution. This is because Old Aberdeen is also where the city’s namesake university is located. King’s College is another important building in the city.

At 21Crimes, you can admit your faults.

If you want to be part of a small group, 21Crimes is the place for you. Not surprisingly, not much is known about Aberdeen’s first and only secret bar. You’ll have to put together clues to figure out where it is, but that’s not the only problem you’ll have to solve to get in. At the door, you will also be asked for a passkey, which changes often and is shown for a short time on the bar’s Instagram page. Even though it sounds like a lot of work, it’s worth it for the expertly-mixed cocktails, comfortable lounges, and smug feeling you get when you walk through the door.

Breakneck is the place to go to laugh.

The Aberdeen comedy scene used to have to move from place to place. Before Breakneck came along, that was the case. Now, people who want to be comedians and people who are already comedians gather at the King Street place from Thursday to Sunday to make you laugh. After that, walk across the street to the underground pub Illicit Still to eat traditional Scottish food and try the best craft beers from the area.

At Books and Beans, you can read poetry and eat pancakes.

Belmont Street is known as Aberdeen’s best place to go out at night, but it feels very different during the day. Books and Beans is in the middle of the cobbled back street. The walls of this quirky cafe are covered with books from every genre, and the coffee is strong and the pancakes are piled high. Just relax in one of the armchairs and watch the world go by.

At Belmont Filmhouse, you can see an independent movie.

Even though there are a lot of chain movie theaters that show the latest blockbusters, true movie fans will enjoy the quiet of the Belmont Filmhouse. The arts cinema, which is right next to Books and Beans, shows both big-name movies and smaller, independent movies. You shouldn’t expect any extras; just great service, great snacks, and an unbeatable movie-going experience.

At Eat on the Green, you can learn what “fine dining” means.

Even though it’s not the easiest place to get to, Eat on the Green is the best restaurant in Aberdeen. This is why many locals haven’t tried it yet. The food in the square’s old post office is well worth the 35-minute drive to Udny Green, a small village north of the city with a well-kept lawn. Udny Green is a “chocolate-box” village with just a few houses. Eat on the Green was created by Craig Wilson, who has become known as “The Kilted Chef.” It has helped Scottish food become popular around the world. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up at a table with Sir Sean Connery, who plays James Bond in many movies.

Hazlehead Park has a maze you can get lost in.

Aberdeen is a city with a lot of well-kept parks, and Hazlehead is one that you absolutely must see. With more than 180 hectares of beautiful green grass, there are many great places to picnic. After eating cheese sandwiches and getting an ice cream from the very popular cafe, you could try to find your way through Scotland’s oldest hedge-lined maze and see how long it takes you.

Silver Darling, Footdee is a good place to eat seafood.

If there’s one thing Aberdeen does well, it’s seafood, and Silver Darling is the best place to get the catch of the day. Footdee, or “Fittie” as the locals call it, is an old fishing village at the east end of the working harbor of the city. This is where you’ll find it. It looks like a life-size time capsule, with its cast-iron lampposts and crooked houses. Get there at sunset and ask for a table by the panoramic window so you can watch the sun go down over the North Sea. It will be a moment you’ll never forget.

At the Winter Gardens, you can feel like you’re in the tropics.

Aberdeen isn’t known for its hot weather, but the Winter Gardens more than make up for this. The Winter Gardens are the most beautiful part of Duthie Park. They are a set of twisting and turning greenhouses that are home to some of the most exotic plants in the world. Modern buildings lead to the original building made of cast iron, which hasn’t changed since it was built in the early 1900s.

By bike, you can see the old railroad track.

Because it has quiet, leafy side streets, Aberdeen isn’t too hard to get around by bike. If, on the other hand, cycling on the road makes you nervous, Deeside Way, or “the old railway line,” is a great place for a leisurely ride. Get in touch with beCyCle, a program that gives away free bikes that have been fixed up, and then head to Duthie Park, where the route starts. From the park in the middle of Aberdeen to the beautiful village of Banchory, the sanded path follows the line of the Old Royal Deeside Railway. Woods and rolling farmland make a beautiful backdrop for the path.

Get on the train and go to Stonehaven

Stonehaven is a cute seaside village that is only 17 minutes by train from the center of Aberdeen. It is a popular place for families to spend the day. There are white cottages and wooden curiosity shops all around the harbor. Anyone walking along the promenade will tell you that you have to stop at Aunty Betty’s candy and ice cream shop. If you’re feeling brave, you might even want to swim in the only lido in the area.

Go to Foodstory to fill up.

In Aberdeen, cafes are a big business, and Foodstory is one of the best. This artsy restaurant, which is tucked away at the west end of Union Street and has reclaimed furniture and an industrial look, opened in 2013 with help from Kickstarter. Since then, it has been serving tasty vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan food at reasonable prices and in an open environment.

Look at the city’s Nuart with awe.

Nuart Aberdeen is an international public art festival that started in 2017. It gives street artists places around the city to show their work, which is often huge. During the summer, there are free, guided tours that leave from The Green in the city center, go for about a mile, and last about an hour and a half. But if you want to go your own way, the site also has an up-to-date map that you can download.

At The Blue Lamp, you can listen to smooth jazz.

One of the best places to see live music in Aberdeen is hidden behind a paneled door on Gallowgate that doesn’t look like much. The only way to find The Blue Lamp is by the cobalt glass lamp that hangs above the door. It is a cozy spot that is only lit by candles and has jazz acts from all over the world.

The Closet is a place to look at old clothes.

You can shop in a mix of high-street and designer stores in Aberdeen, but The Closet, a long-running vintage fashion emporium, is the real hidden gem of the city’s shopping scene. There are men’s and women’s pieces from different decades, like faux-croc top-handle bags from the 1950s, psychedelic mini dresses from the 1960s, and fringed suede jackets from the 1970s.

Soak up some culture at one of Aberdeen’s many theaters or galleries.

When it comes to culture, the Granite City has a lot to offer. Recently, millions of pounds have been spent to improve many of its arts venues. In all its decadent, gold-gilded glory, His Majesty’s Theatre is home to many plays and musicals, most of which are on tour from London’s west end. The Tivoli is a Grade A-listed theater that was carefully renovated in 2009. The Music Hall, which was built in 1822 by the well-known architect Archibald Simpson, is the place to go if you like opera and orchestras.

The Maritime Museum, which has won a lot of awards, is a must-see for anyone interested in how the city is connected to the sea. It is popular with people of all ages because it has a lot of hands-on exhibits. The Aberdeen Art Gallery is in a good spot at the top of Belmont Street. It’s made of pink stone, which makes it stand out from the city’s grey buildings. It has works by famous artists from the 18th century to the present day. Works by French Impressionist painters Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, as well as an installation by Tracey Emin and a piece by Richard Wright, are among the show’s highlights.

Topic: 20 Top Attractions & Things To Do in Aberdeen Scotland

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