Aberdeen, Scotland: A 3-Day Itinerary and Travel Guide

When planning a trip to Scotland, cities like Edinburgh and even Inverness often get most of the attention. However, Aberdeen deserves a spot on your Scotland itinerary.

Aberdeen is full of charm, fun places to explore, and is a great base city to do day trips. I recently spent three days in Aberdeen and it turned out to be a wonderful city to explore.

Known as the Granite City, Aberdeen felt different from other Scottish cities. It’s distinctive grey granite buildings give the downtown area a unique appearance

During my 3-days in Aberdeen I explored the city centre, walked the coast, strolled through parks, and even ventured outside the city to see Scottish castles.

In this guide, I’ll share how I spent three days in Aberdeen, my recommended things to do and see, the castles I visited, and where I stayed. I’ve included practical tips to help you plan your own visit to Aberdeen.

Table of Contents

Aberdeen Travel Guide at a Glance

📍 Location
Northeast Scotland, United Kingdom

🛬 Nearest Airport
Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ)

☀️ Best Time to Visit
May-September for longer days

💷 Currency
British Pound (GBP)

📆 Recommended Stay
2-3 days

🚗 Getting Around
Walking, Bus, Train, Rental Car

🧏‍♂️ Language
English

🔌Electricity
Type G, 230V

Is Aberdeen Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! I think Aberdeen is well worth visiting, particularly if you want to experience a different side of Scotland beyond popular destinations like Edinburgh and Glasgow.

While Aberdeen might not receive the same attention as Scotland’s larger cities, it does offer a nice combination of history, architecture, coastal scenery, and easy access to some of Scotland’s most beautiful castles and countryside.

I spent three days in Aberdeen, and felt like I explored a good portion of the city and even had the opportunity to visit nearby castles like Dunnottar Castle and Fraser Castle.

Aberdeen was walkable, felt safe, and gave me a great first impression of Scotland. Three days was a great introduction to the city and gave me plenty of reasons to recommend adding Aberdeen to your Scotland itinerary.

Where is Aberdeen?

Aberdeen is located in northeast Scotland, along the coast of the North Sea. Aberdeen is roughly 125 miles north of Edinburgh.

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city and is referred to as the Granite City because of the distinctive grey granite used in many of the buildings, it’s quite unique!

Getting to Aberdeen

Getting to Aberdeen is pretty straight forward. I’ll be honest, I only flew into Aberdeen and drove around Aberdeen but did not take a train.

This trip was a part of a larger family trip and a few family members arrived by train from Edinburgh. From their accounts, the train ride was easy, smooth, and recommended.

By Air

Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) is located about seven miles northwest of Aberdeen’s city centre.

I flew in to Aberdeen International Airport from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) via the their national flag carrier, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

There are several ways to reach downtown Aberdeen from the airport, including buses, taxis, or rental cars.

Our first day, we took a taxi from the airport to the Marcliffe Hotel, where we were staying at. The journey was around 25-30 minutes to the hotel, and roughly the same to get to the city centre.

By Train

Based on dropping off friends and family at the train station and talking to them, traveling by train is a convenient way to reach Aberdeen.

The city’s station is centrally located and is connected to major cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and London.

From Edinburgh, a train ride to Aberdeen is around 2.5 hours.

By Car

If you are planning a Scotland road trip, driving to Aberdeen is a great option. The city is connected by the A90 from the south and A96 toward Inverness.

Having a rental car also makes it easier to explore surrounding areas and attractions like Dunnottar Castle.

We had a rental car on the second day of our 3 days in Aberdeen. I had a Renault Trafic Extra which is literally a minibus. I drove around Aberdeen without any issues.

Keep in mind, I currently live in Japan and driving on the left is natural to me.

Getting Around Aberdeen

Getting around Aberdeen is relatively easy, you don’t necessarily need a rental car if you are planning to explore the city.

Downtown Aberdeen is walkable and the local buses are a great way to get to the main attractions and popular sights.

When I visited Aberdeen, the first day, I relied on using the local buses, which were pretty easy to figure out, comfortable, and they got me close enough to every place I wanted to visit in Aberdeen.

Each time I got on the bus, I paid at the entrance with my credit card. They were double-decker style and fairly comfortable.

The buses around Aberdeen are numbered and drive certain routes. For instance, near the Marcliffe Hotel to the University of Aberdeen, I hopped on Bus #19 and took it all the way to the Sir Duncan Rice Library stop.

3-Day Aberdeen Itinerary

I spent a solid 3-days in Aberdeen. It gave me enough time to get a feel for the city and explore some of its more famous attractions and districts.

Although, I didn’t cover everything, like museums, this itinerary is based on my trip and recommendations. Feel free to follow my itinerary or break it down to what you want to see based on your trip.

Aberdeen Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1: Discover Downtown and Old Aberdeen

Granite architecture, historic streets, and attractions.

Day 2: Beachfront and Fraser Castle

North Sea coastline, Footdee, Beach Front, Duthie Park, and Fraser Castle.

Day 3: Aberdeenshire, Dunnottar Castle Day Trip

Dunnottar Castle and Stonehaven as a day trip from Aberdeen.

Day 1: Discover Downtown and Old Aberdeen

I started my itinerary in Aberdeen at St. Machar’s Cathedral. I traveled here from the Marcliffe Hotel via bus. I highly recommend this cathedral as it’s from the 12-th century and the interior is stunning to see.

From St Machar’s Cathedral I made my way down High St to the University of Aberdeen.

The university quarter has a completely different atmosphere from the rest of Aberdeen, with cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and the architecture of the university is beautiful.

After spending about an hour at the University area, I took a bus to the William Wallace Statue.

Around the William Wallace Statue, you can walk Union Terrace Gardens before making your way to Belmont and Union St in Aberdeen.

There are plenty of restaurants and pubs on Belmont St. and shopping on Union St.

For lunch I visited a Pub called the TripleKirks, at the corner of Schoolhill and Belmont St. Here I actually got my first fish & chips in Scotland and local Beer. Both were fantastic!

Afterwards, I went to Slains Bar, I just couldn’t pass it up. Slains Bar is a pub located in an old Gothic Church. The whole church was converted into a pub!

Honestly, the food was just ok, but the atmosphere makes it worth at least stopping in for a pint of Tennent’s (a local Scottish lager).

Before calling it a day, I backtracked toward St Machar’s Cathedral because I wanted to see the Brig o’Balgownie. I felt I wouldn’t have time for this the next day. But visiting the bridge can easily be combined with St Machar’s Cathedral.

Brig o’Balgownie is said to be the oldest bridge in Scotland. It’s a 13th-century bridge that crosses the River Don.

From here, I grabbed an Uber back to the Marcliffe Hotel.

Day 2: Beachfront and Fraser Castle

For my second day, I started the day at Footdee. It’s a cute fishing village by Footdee Beach. There was a free carpark here right by the Aberdeen Dock Labourers War Memorial.

Walking the long sandy beach was a great way to start the day and honestly one of the highlights of Aberdeen.

I visited Aberdeen in October, so of course the weather was somewhat chilly, I could only imagine how cold the waters of the North Sea are here. To my surprise, I saw a ton of people rushing into the sea to swim.

Of course, those people are crazy but we soon found out why so many people were diving into the ocean. There are saunas lining the road. So people would go in the sauna and then do a cold plunge!

There were food trucks lining the road at the beach front too, it was an awesome place to spend time at for both tourists and locals.

We then drove to Duthie Park based on my Uber drivers recommendations. Duthie Park is a large city park with beautiful trails, a large green space, and gardens.

After spending time at Duthie Park, we drove about 40 minutes to Castle Fraser. Castle Fraser is surrounded by beautiful countryside and offers a glimpse into Scotland’s historic castle heritage.

We walked the grounds of Castle Fraser and toured the inside. It’s a lovely castle and highly recommended, especially if you are staying in Aberdeen.

Day 3: Dunnottar and Stonehaven Day Trip

One of the best things about Aberdeen is it’s location. You can easily drive to places like Edinburgh or Inverness from here, or do what we did and visit nearby castles and fishing villages.

We visited Dunnottar Castle and Stonehaven as a day trip from Aberdeen. The castle itself was only about 30-40 minutes from Aberdeen, but it deserves an entire day to explore the ruins, enjoy the scenery, and wander Stonehaven.

Allow plenty of time to explore Dunnottar Castle, the ruins were much bigger then I expected. I then hiked from the castle ruins to Stonehaven. Stonehaven is a cute fishing village on the coast.

On our final day in Aberdeen, we made a reservation at a restaurant in Footdee called the Silver Darling. It’s a seafood restaurant that was very good!

Where to Stay in Aberdeen

We stayed 3-nights at the luxurious Marcliffe Hotel and I highly recommend it, based on your travel budget.

The Marcliffe Hotel is a five-star hotel located just outside Aberdeen.

The Marcliffe Hotel is one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed at and the customer service was simply wonderful.

If you want to splurge a bit on your trip to Scotland, I highly recommend staying at the Marcliffe Hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Aberdeen

Is Aberdeen, Scotland worth visiting?

Absolutely! Aberdeen is worth visiting if you enjoy unique architecture, Scottish history, coastal views, and exploring castles. Aberdeen is known as the Granite City and offers a different atmosphere then other Scottish cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow.

How many days do you need in Aberdeen?

I recommend at least 2-3 days in Aberdeen. Two days is enough to explore the downtown area, Old Aberdeen, and the beachfront. With a third day, you can venture outside the city to visit nearby attractions like Dunnottar Castle.

What is Aberdeen famous for?

Aberdeen is best known as the Granite City, because its distinctive grey granite architecture on almost every building. Aberdeen is also famous for its historic university, maritime heritage, and coastline.

Final Thoughts: Is Aberdeen Worth Adding to Your Scotland Itinerary?

After spending three days in Aberdeen, I Can definitely say it’s a city well worth considering when planning a trip to Scotland.

I found Aberdeen to be small enough to navigate, walkable, and had a wonderful mix of history, architecture, scenery, and opportunities to explore beyond the city.

If you are planning a Scotland itinerary and have a few extra days, I’d encourage you to viit Aberdeen. Here you can find beautiful beaches, historic landmarks, and a unique atmosphere. Trust me, there is plenty to keep you busy.

Three days game me a great introduction to the Granite City. Add Aberdeen to your Scotland itinerary. Take some time to explore and discover what makes this area of Scotland so special.

Have you been to Aberdeen or have anything to add that I missed? Let me know if the comments for next time. Safe travels!

Aberdeen Travel Guide at a Glance

Is Aberdeen Worth Visiting?

Where is Aberdeen?