City of Aberdeen, Scotland Visitor Guide - What to Do, What to See

The great city of Aberdeen, the third most populous in all of Scotland, is nestled in a picturesque location along the coast of the North Sea and also happens to be the country's largest fishing port. Known fondly as the Golden Sands, the Silver City or the Granite City, Aberdeen is home to many major attractions that appeal to a wide ranges of tastes and interests.

If you're interested in fine dining, some popular restaurants in Aberdeen include the Foyer Restaurant and Gallery located in the Copthorne Hotel and offering delicious cuisine along with great service, exquisite views, and fine works of art. Other favorites include the Rustico, specializing in Italian food, and Restaurant 21 on Market Street featuring reasonably priced foods and drinks.

In terms of culture, Aberdeen is home to a variety of interesting things to see and do ranging from the performing arts to museums and art galleries to many different live music venues, like the numerous bars along the infamous Belmont Street. Also regularly drawing large crowds every year are The Aberdeen Jazz Festival and The Aberdeen International Youth Festival, which is the largest festival in the entire world featuring young performers.

Other popular festivals in Aberdeen Scotland include French Week, Bon-Accord Week, the Alternative Festival and the German Festival.

The city is also home to one of country's most successful football teams, the acclaimed Aberdeen Football Club, also known by several nicknames like The Dandies, The Dons, and The Reds, who were formed back in 1903 and compete today in the Scottish Premier League.

You also won't want to miss the beauty of the Cruickshank Botanic Gardens at the University of Aberdeen that houses an impressive array of plant life as well as a gorgeous water garden and arboretum. Admission is free and expect to spend at least an hour seeing everything at the gardens.

The Marischal Museum, also at the University of Aberdeen, is where you'll see more than 80,000 different items related to Scottish history or pieces of fine art and a collection of unique archeological finds.

Also offering free admission is the Aberdeen Art Gallery/James Dun's House at 61 Schoolhill and home to a widely varied collection of art including modern, impressionism, as well as many works from some of Scotland's most revered artists. The gallery is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and is closed on Mondays.

While you're in Aberdeen you may also want to visit the biggest parish church in all of Scotland, St. Nicholas Church located on George Street and is actually two different chapels featuring beautiful wall tapestries and intricate wooden carvings that date from the 1600s.

As if all of this weren't enough, Aberdeen also boasts a total of 45 parks, gardens, and displays of colorful flowers causing the city to be the recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's "Best City" award and Scotland's In Bloom competition many times throughout the years.

Visit Duthie Park located on the northern bank of the Dee River and you'll have your pick of activities and sights to see including golf courses, areas for horseback riding, playing football, walking, picnicking, boating, fishing, and just enjoying all of the sights and sounds of nature.

When it comes to visiting Aberdeen Scotland, perhaps the best time of year to go, if you're interested in warm weather, is between the months of June and September. Since the city is situated on the coast, you can expect cool, windy conditions frequently.

Overall, Aberdeen offers so much to see, do and experience that it's simply a city that has to be seen firsthand to truly be appreciated for all its wonder.
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