Scotland

Aberdeen holidays

Sat on a sweeping stretch of Scottish coastline, Aberdeen packs a lot into its compact centre. Walk the cobbled streets of its sparkling granite old town, stroll city beaches and spot scudding dolphins in the harbour. Head out into the surrounding area to feast your eyes on cute coastal villages, the magnificent Cairngorms and no less than 263 historic castles under Aberdeenshire’s big skies.

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The Granite City’s charms are hard to resist

Known for the hard graft of its North Sea oil and fishing industries, Aberdeenshire is also the perfect place for some downtime, thanks to a plethora of leisure and cultural treats within stunning settings. 

You can feed your curiosity in museums and galleries, take on challenging golf courses, hike windswept cliffs, moors, mountains and ancient Caledonian forests, and sip local craft beer and whisky. Discover a warm welcome among Aberdeen’s cool granite edifices – book your flights to Aberdeen now.

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Best hotels in Aberdeen for all types of traveller

The pleasantly affordable Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen City Centre is just a ten-minute walk from the stylish Union Street. This central Aberdeen hotel is a good choice for golfers as it’s just three miles away from Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.  Also reasonably priced is Park Inn by Radisson Aberdeen, again close to Union Street, in the centre of town. For another affordable yet stylish city-centre hotel there’s the Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen. You can even bring your four-legged friend to this dog-friendly hotel. 

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Aberdeen holiday FAQs

  1. Dolphin, whale and otter spotting at Greyhope Bay Centre is one of the top things to do  in Aberdeen. The centre itself offers stunning coastal views and is billed as the UK’s number one place to spot dolphins with an 80 per cent chance of seeing one on any given day.
  2. The serene Cruden Bay offers vast skies, pristine sandy beaches and picturesque fishing harbours. Golfers can tee off at Cruden Bay Golf Club, which offers coastal panoramas and views of Slains Castle – said to be the place of Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula. The nearby Bullers of Buchan is a wonderland where cliffs meet the sea to provide a haven for seabirds including puffins.
  3. Cairngorms National Park is a playground for nature lovers and adventurers. Twice the size of the Lake District, it’s home to lochs, Munros and castles, and offers activities including walking, cycling, deer spotting and skiing.
  4. Hire a car and take on the mighty curves of the east coast on the Angus Coastal Route linking Aberdeen to Dundee. Pass charming towns, nature reserves and views of the grey outlines of the Grampian Mountains to the west and sparkling North Sea to the east.
  5. Head west to the picturesque towns of Ballater and Braemar and you might even spot a royal close to their Balmoral Castle residence. There are more castles to discover nearby, including Corgarff Castle, which is set against a stunning backdrop of mountains and forests. Hit the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail to discover the mesmerising Dunnottar Castle. Set atop a 160-foot rock and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, it’s as dramatic as it is haunting. You can discover 19 of Aberdeenshire’s most dramatic castles along the Castle Trail.
  6. For a shot of culture, get into the spirit of the region’s whisky production. Aberdeenshire distilleries might have gone under the radar when compared with Speyside and its famous Malt Whisky Trail, but there are several worth checking out within an hour’s drive from Aberdeen. You can find out more by navigating the Secret Malts of Aberdeenshire trail.
  7. It’s not only the whisky  that flows in Aberdeenshire; the area has much to offer when it comes to craft beer. It’s home to the BrewDog brewery, which is open for tours and tastings, while you can also check out central Aberdeen’s ‘craft beer kilometre’ of bars. If your preferred brew is coffee rather than beer, the city is gaining a reputation for high-end coffee shops, too.
  8. Aberdeen Art Gallery boasts a fine collection spanning 700 years, including works by the likes of Francis Bacon, Tracy Emin, Claude Monet and Barbara Hepworth. You can download an app containing a free digital guide to help you make sense of the venue’s 18 collections galleries.
  • Aberdeen is bursting to its compact granite seams with history, and with some great hotels on offer, it makes for the perfect city break. Learn about how the creation of the city’s thoroughfare, Union Street, nearly bankrupted the city, take a tour using the Aberdeen History Trail or head to the Bridge of Dee – a beautiful granite and sandstone   bridge built in 1527, and in 1639 was the site of the battle between the Scottish Presbyterian movement and Charles I’s army. Stay five minutes’ drive from its seven arches, at the four-star Aberdeen Macdonald Norwood Hall, which features old-style wood panelling, log fires and sweeping staircases. 
  • Aberdeen’s other famous bridge, the Brig o' Balgownie,   has a gothic arch that spans 12 metres across the River Don in Old Aberdeen and was completed under Robert the Bruce. For a scenic route, follow the river path through Seaton Park, where you can also kayak along the river.
  • Old Aberdeen grew from when monks and scholars, traders and travellers settled the area. Around its oldest parts you’ll find the 14th Century St Machar’s Cathedral and you can follow cobbled roads to the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, while Aberdeen University’s Zoology Museum sits on newer streets.
  • Head to Aberdeen’s beach – you might not want to take a dip in the cool North Sea waters, but you’ll find lots to do including the Star Ballroom and Codona’s, an amusement park complete with a Ferris wheel for that bit of nostalgia. If you want to take in some epic views and crisp sea air, head to Cove Bay where you’ll find stunning panoramas from the rugged cliffs that surround an old fishing harbour.
  • If you want to see Aberdeen’s main attractions, staying around the central Union Square is a good option. Here you’ll find many treats worth checking out.
  • Housed in a historical railway arch, City of Aberdeen Distillery and Gin School is Aberdeen’s first distillery for over 75 years, and its first gin school. Stay nearby at Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen
  • Family-friendly options in Aberdeen include the Aberdeen Science Centre and the David Welch Winter Gardens at Duthie Park, one of Europe’s  largest indoor gardens. Head to Hazlehead Park on the outskirts of the city for Scotland’s oldest maze.
  • Aberdeenshire has 165 miles of coastline, with beaches aplenty for building sandcastles and paddling, and water sports including surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking. If you fancy a spot of sand boarding, head to Balmedie Beach, just north of the city.
  • Aberdeen hosts bags of great festivals including the urban lights festival Spectra, the Aberdeen Highland Games and the Nuart Aberdeen street art festival. Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art Event Complex Aberdeen (also known as P&J Live), hosts regular music and theatre shows.
  • For a unique spa break in Aberdeen, head to a float room, where you’ll be suspended in water and feel weightless while surrounded by darkness and soothing sounds. You’ll find Scotland’s first one in the Bridge of Don area. If it’s a hotel with a well-equipped spa you’re after, then why not try Hilton Aberdeen TECA? It’s located at the Event Complex, near the airport. 

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