20 Things to do in Aberdeen on a weekend break

Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland, is known as the Granite City, yet colourful street art and painted doors brighten up the streets. We discovered plenty of things to do in Aberdeen, including the ancient university quarter and long sandy beach.

With trendy cafes and restaurants, Aberdeen makes the ideal destination for a weekend break in Scotland. For my weekend in Aberdeen I was off to discover some of the best known sights and hidden treasures of the city, armed with tips from local bloggers. 

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1. Aberdeen things to do – The Nuart Aberdeen Street Art Murals

Being from Bristol where street art is a big thing, I’m always on the alert for other great street art destinations. So my street art antenna were buzzing when I heard about Nuart Aberdeen. The first festival took place in 2017 with the walls of the city becoming a blank canvas for international artists to create murals and art installations. Since then the festival has become an annual event.

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Read more on the Nuart Aberdeen website to learn about the murals and stories of the artists that created them. You can also make your own tour, which is what I did on my first morning, using the Nuart Aberdeen Streetart map to find the locations of major murals from the past two year’s festivals.

It’s one of the fun things to do in Aberdeen. I found several of the murals on Union Row close to my hotel including the interesting unicorn collage of recycled plastics by Bordallo II. Another interesting mural was the striking girl looking out from Aberdeen Market by Herakut.

If street art is your thing, we can recommend taking this Aberdeen street art guided walking tour.

2. Painted Doors Aberdeen – street art in the side streets

Even better, Aberdeen has another street art project adding colour to the streets. The Painted Doors Aberdeen artworks caught my eye as I walked from the bus station to my hotel.

The project started in 2016 with Aberdeen Inspired’s Summer of Art project. Twelve artists were invited to paint doors in some of the city’s side streets, with lots more being added since then.

As I walked around the city I enjoyed spotting and photographing the doors which added some life and color to the granite of the buildings. It’s definitely one of the more unusual things to do in Aberdeen. I used the Painted Doors Aberdeen Map to discover more locations and identify the artists for each piece too.

3. Boutique hotels in Aberdeen – stay at Park Inn Hotel Aberdeen

For my weekend break in Aberdeen I was staying at the Park Inn Hotel in Aberdeen. The hotel is well located just off Union Street, one of the main places to visit in Aberdeen. It’s a modern boutique hotel with 185 rooms and colourful and contemporary in style. Park Inn Hotel Aberdeen makes an excellent base for a short break while sightseeing in Aberdeen.

My bedroom on the 6th floor had fantastic views over the city. I could understand why Aberdeen is often known as The Granite City or the Silver City, since the buildings both old and new are constructed of granite from local quarries. There was nothing grey about the hotel however, which was decorated in warm and welcoming shades, with reds and yellows in the bedroom.

Colourful decor at Park Inn Hotel Aberdeen

The public area was pink and purple with a zing of colour from the artworks in the bar area just off the lobby. My bedroom was spacious and comfortable with modern furnishings and clean lines in the bathroom.

There was open hanging space for my clothes but the only fault I could find was the lack of enclosed storage. It seemed the room was designed for those passing through who don’t have much to unpack.

There were some luxuries like a Nespresso machine and some nice toiletries in the bathroom. I was pleased to find refillable soap and shower gel to reduce waste. The breakfast offered an excellent spread and the business lounge was a more private area on the ground floor with coffee, wine and snacks available throughout the day.

Although the Park Inn Aberdeen is a large hotel, the colourful furnishings definitely gave more more of a ’boutique’ feel and I’d certainly recommend this as a place to stay on your visit to Aberdeen.

4. A walk down Union street – Aberdeen’s Granite mile

One of the first things I love to do on a weekend break is to just go for a walk around the neighbourhood. It gives me a feel for the place and allows me to orientate myself to some of the major sites. At the start of my 2 days in Aberdeen I explored along Union Street, one of the main city streets that’s known as Aberdeen’s Granite Mile.

Although Union Street itself is full of mainstream shops, it was the side streets and neighbourhoods leading off it that were most interesting and curious. Along Thistle Street were gift shops and clothing boutiques, with the indie coffee shop Food Story that I visited later.

Close by on Union Row I found several of the best Nuart street art murals. As I reached Union Terrace with the statue of Edward VII, I could see the views down to Union Terrace Gardens. Beyond were the rooftops of Belmont Street, known for its bars, clubs and nightlife.

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The rich history of Aberdeen

Steep steps led down to the Market area where I later had dinner at Café 52. I walked through the Kirkyard of St Nicholas church and along the alley of Correction Wynd. There’s a strong sense of history in Aberdeen’s cobbled streets and narrow alleys now mixed among the modern shopping centres.

To get a good feel for Aberdeen’s rich history we recommend this 2 hour Aberdeen Historical walking tour.

5. Castlegate Aberdeen and the Mercat Cross

At the furthest end of Union Street I reached Castlegate. At the centre of this open square is the Mercat Cross, a landmark that is one of the best known places to go in Aberdeen.

The Mercat Cross of any Scottish town or city would traditionally mark the heart of the burgh. Aberdeen’s cross dates back to the 17th century, the sandstone carved with symbols of Scottish royalty and topped with a royal unicorn.

In the same square there’s a splendid statue to the Gordon Highlanders who have the Gordon Highlander’s Museum in the west end of Aberdeen, and the Tolbooth Museum, formerly Aberdeen’s 17th century jail.

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6. The Beach at Aberdeen

From Castlegate, my wanderings took me down Beach Boulevard to Aberdeen Beach. It was a surprise since I was unaware that Aberdeen had a beach at all, let alone such a nice one! The sun was shining although it was a chilly autumn day where you needed to be well wrapped up. I walked along the beach esplanade set slightly down from the road where I was a little more protected from the wind.

The beach was backed by patches of Marram grass with a line of breakwaters, their wooden posts standing above the water. Dog walkers and kite flyers were enjoying the beach, dodging the waves throwing up spray against the stretches of concrete breakwater.

Along the road, the shops and cafes were backed by a fun-fair. I saw plenty of ice cream parlours and stopped for lunch at The Pier.

Continuing along the esplanade, I headed towards the mouth of the River Dee. This is where the big ships from the Port of Aberdeen enter the ocean. Before long I reached Foot Dee, better known locally as Fittie, another well known place to see in Aberdeen.

7. Foot Dee or Fittie – the pretty cottages and sheds in Aberdeen

Several people had recommended I visit Fittie, a small area of pretty fishermen’s cottages. The houses are built in blocks, facing inwards to protect them from the wind coming from the sea. Cottage squares were laid out in the early 1800s to rehouse local fishing families. The neighbourhood was later expanded so that there are now dwellings built around four squares.

In the communal squares are tarry sheds built for storage so that each house had its own shed. They were originally built of driftwood and timber. But over the years the sheds have been expanded, rebuilt and embellished, until some are almost cottages in their own right.

Each shed has its own colourful and quirky style. Owners seeming to compete with their plant pots, garden gnomes and other decoration, making the area a charming place to photograph. Thanks to blogger Anastasia of Natbees Travel for the tip!

8. Cute Cafes in Aberdeen for breakfast, brunch or lunch

There are no shortage of cute cafes in Aberdeen for breakfast, brunch or lunch. I’ll just mention a couple that I tried that I especially enjoyed. FoodStory was a café that kept cropping up.

It’s a friendly, easy going place with a semi-industrial feel combined with warm salvaged wood and natural materials. With healthy food and great coffee, it’s veggie and vegan friendly while not ruling out meat entirely.

This is the sort of place you could set up your laptop or chat with a friend over fluffy pancakes, with wholesome toppings, which is exactly what we did! Their shop area sells organic veg, their own baked breads and other organic products, while the upstairs space hosts events and workshops.

Where to eat near the beach in Aberdeen

For lunch by the beach I stopped at The Pier and enjoyed a baked potato with salad and cheesy topping. It was a busy, friendly place serving breakfast and brunch, through to ice creams in the afternoon and burgers, nachos and sharing plates on some evenings.

I was fascinated by the home-made Stovies offered on the specials board. A bit of research told me this was a dish made from the leftover roast meat, minced up with onions and potatoes.

Ice Cream in Aberdeen

On my second afternoon in Aberdeen after I’d spent the afternoon in Stonehaven and Dunnottar castle, I returned to the city on a rainy afternoon. In the end gave up trying to photograph anything and retired to Mackie’s of Scotland, an ice cream parlour that sells the local Mackie’s ice cream. The name of the parlour is due to it being 19.2 miles from the family farm where the Mackie’s ice cream started.

Mackie’s of Scotland is tucked away in the courtyard of a new Marischal Square development close to Marischal College. I enjoyed a scoop of Scottish Tablet flavour (a bit like butterscotch toffee) topped with caramel sauce which they told me was one of their most popular.

As you come out, look up to see the steel mesh leopard sculpture by Scottish Kelpies artist Andy Scott that glitters on a pillar 10 meters above the ground.

Other cafes that were recommended to me although I didn’t have time to visit were Cafe Cognito and So NYC… Aberdeen.

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9. Restaurants in Aberdeen – Seafood & local dishes

After my walk along the beach and around Fittie I noticed a restaurant, The Silver Darling. It’s located just by the channel where the ships come and go from Aberdeen port. I’d seen recommendations for their seafood and local dishes and on the off chance I decided to go in for an early supper.

It was a lovely place with the restaurant on the first floor of the old Customs House, giving a great view of the ships passing in the channel or out to sea.

The menu here is mainly seafood and I ordered a couple of starters to try. My dish of Cullen Skink was a creamy soup made with smoked haddock, followed by a plate of Shetland scallops with celeriac puree and a glass of white wine.

It was all delicious and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant, which was relaxed but something a little bit special, with striking views at sunset.

Dinner in Aberdeen

On my second night I took a recommendation for Cafe 52, a friendly brasserie style restaurant with a menu heavily based on seasonal and local produce. I ordered butter fried coley with Holburn apple and fennel salad with crayfish which was delicious. The thick piece of fish was cooked to perfection resting on the pretty vegetables with garlic and kale dressing.

The puddings are created by Mrs. B, the owner’s mother using lots of fruits from her garden. I was so intrigued by the wine soaked pear with a Roquefort and pickled walnut ice cream on the menu that I had to order it. The desert was an early taste of Christmas, but the Roquefort in an ice cream didn’t work for me, although I had to admire the inventiveness.

I enjoyed the artwork on the walls of the restaurant and the young waitress who welcomed me in from the rain with great kindness and concern.

Pubs and bars in Aberdeen

Because I was travelling on my own, I didn’t fancy hanging out in bars and clubs in the evening and was too tired anyway after covering most of the city on foot. However I want to suggest a couple of places that you might enjoy if you are out of an evening.

I passed by The Stag just off Union Street and thought that it was exactly the kind of slightly polished-up but traditional style pub where one might retire for a pint or G&T.

If you enjoy the craft beer scene, look no further than Brewdog, which has two bars in the city. The company actually started in Aberdeen at their Castlegate bar near Marischal Square. There’s always a great atmosphere there and although I can’t say I’m a huge beer drinker, I have been known to down a bottle of Punk IPA.

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When exploring the cocktail and bar scene, look out for the local gins such as Porters, Esker and Teasmith. I was recommended the Orchid cocktail bar which was close to my hotel for inventive cocktails.

10. A trip on the train to Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire

On the second day of my trip to Aberdeen, I’d already covered quite a bit of the city and was looking for some other things to do near Aberdeen. The countryside of Aberdeenshire is beautiful and one of the easiest day trips from Aberdeen is to take the train to Stonehaven. This small town offers a pretty fishing harbour and coastal walks.

Stonehaven is only 30 minutes by train with at least 2 trains per hour. From the station I walked down to the town centre and then along the promenade by the stony beach. I admired the interesting metal sculptures of ships and a lighthouse on the shore, from local artist Jim Malcolm.

The tide was out as I walked around the pretty fishing harbour. Small sailing craft were resting on the muddy bottom with a pungent seaside smell of seaweed and ozone in the air. The sky was grey and the wind chilly but the painted boats and colourful buoys brightened up the scene.

In summer there’s an open air swimming pool along the seafront and you might try the award winning Bay Fish & Chips. Or stop at the attractive traditional bar of the Marine Hotel for a wee dram. Look out for the 17th century Tolbooth on the harbour. It was a courthouse and prison in the past but now open as a local museum.

11. A walk along the coast to Dunnottar castle

From the harbor at Stonehaven, I followed the signpost pointing between the cottages and up the hill towards Dunnottar castle. This makes a great extension to a visit to Stonehaven. Even if you don’t walk all the way to the castle I recommend you take the path up onto the headland for views over the harbour.

Then perhaps a walk a little further to the War Memorial that sits on top of the hill. I learned from the information plaque that Scots accounted for 20% of the UK’s war dead in the First World War, a disproportionate number compared to their population.

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Ruins of Dunnottar Castle

It was a beautiful walk on the clifftop path to Dunnottar which took around 30 minutes. The castle ruins made a romantic sight on the headland overlooking the beach, with water on three sides. Dunnottar castle was the home of the Earls Marischal.

A fortress has stood on this spot since the 3rd Century and the tower house was completed in the 14th Century. If you’d rather take a tour from Aberdeen of the castle and surrounding area, we recommend this 1-day tour to Dunnottar Castle from Aberdeen.

I didn’t have time to visit inside the castle itself, which is accessed along a path that leads down the slope almost to beach level and then up some steep steps. Instead I admired from a distance and then retraced my steps back to Stonehaven to take the train back to Aberdeen in the afternoon.

Another castle to visit in the area is Slains Castle at Cruden Bay which is said to be the place that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

12. Provost Skene’s House and other historic buildings

The following day I spend my time exploring more of the Granite City of Aberdeen including the Old Aberdeen area around the University. There are lots of historic buildings around the city and one that I especially admired as it seemed to be a bit of a time capsule surround by more modern architecture was the Provost Skene’s House.

It’s close to Marischal College but now almost enclosed by the Marischal Square development. Medieval stone walls and turrets contrast with the glass modern office buildings nearby.

The house was built in the 16th century and owned by George Skene who was Provost of Aberdeen, the city leader between 1676 and 1685. It was restored and is now a city museum, furnished in the historic style of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

13. Marischal College in Aberdeen

A few minutes away is Marischal College, another notable historic building and Aberdeen landmark. The College was founded as a University by the 5th Earl of Marischal in 1593. Two separate colleges of Kings College and Marischal College were merged together to form Aberdeen University in 1860.

The granite spires and turrets are not as old as you might think, since the present building was constructed in the 1840s on the site of older buildings that were demolished.

Since most of the Aberdeen University is based around Kings College, the Marischal College building was leased by the university to become the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. You can walk through the main entrance to admire the inner courtyard beyond which is open to public visits during working hours.

To get a good feel for Aberdeen’s rich history we recommend this 2 hour Aberdeen Historical walking tour.

14. Visiting the Museums in Aberdeen

I have to admit that although I normally enjoy visiting local museums to discover more about a place, I didn’t manage to visit a single one on my trip to Aberdeen. The weather was mostly sunny so I was enjoying wandering the city, absorbing the atmosphere and taking that walk along the beach and to Dunnottar castle.

But just for completeness, I’ll tell you about a few of the Aberdeen museums that you might enjoy if you visit – always good to know for a rainy day!

Aberdeen Maritime Museum – Close to the port this covers Aberdeen’s relationship with the sea, including the longstanding shipbuilding industry and the more recent arrival of the North Sea gas and oil industry that underpins Aberdeen’s economy.

The Tolbooth Museum – Located in the former 17th century city jail, the Tolbooth Museum in Stonehaven covers crime and punishment in Scotland and you can see the old 17th and 18th century jail cells.

Kings Museum – Part of the University of Aberdeen campus in Old Aberdeen, this small museum houses the University’s collection with changing exhibitions.

Gordon Highlander’s Museum – In the West End of Aberdeen, the museum covers the 200 year old history of Scotland’s Gordon Highlanders Regiment, from the Napoleonic Wars, India, Afghanistan and South Africa, through to both World Wars and the Cold War.

15. A wander around Old Aberdeen

The area of Old Aberdeen surrounds the campus of Aberdeen University which is centred around Kings College. I was shown around the area by blogger friend Anastasia of Natbees Travel who had studied for her PhD at Aberdeen University and was able to share her old haunts.

Old Aberdeen was originally a separate Burgh set a little way out of the city centre. You may like to take the bus as it is otherwise a 30-40 minute walk to get there. There are lots of historic houses and narrow cobbled streets and lanes to explore, that bustle with students.

I recommend that you wander around for a bit just to soak up the atmosphere. Explore some of the hidden corners of this area, before homing in on the major sites. Check out this Aberdeen historical walking tour if you prefer a guided experience.

16. Kings College – the ancient heart of Aberdeen University

One of the key things to do in Old Aberdeen is visit Kings College, which is the heart of Aberdeen University. When it was founded in the 15th century, Kings College was the entire university. You can walk through the quad with the college chapel on one side.

The chapel tower is notable for being topped by a closed crown. It symbolised imperial rule that supported Scotland’s claim for universal dominion, not being in any way reliant on the English crown.

When I was there, the creepers on the side of the buildings were in full autumn color and attracting lots of photographs. You can also visit the Kings College chapel although I think I was too distracted by taking pretty photos of the autumn leaves and forgot to take a look!

17. Aberdeen University library and that view!

Always looking out for some “Hidden Treasures” I was pleased to get a tip from blogger friend Anastasia to visit the Aberdeen University library, for the views from the top floor.

The Sir Duncan Rice library which opened in 2012 is striking outside and inside. Student study areas are arranged around a central atrium, enabling you to look up or down through the building.

Remember to bring your photo ID so that you can register for a visitor pass at the ground floor desk. Then take the lift to the top floor for views towards the sea from the glass sided rooms.

18. Cruickshank Botanic garden in Old Aberdeen

We continued our walk across the busy A978 main road by the Kings Museum into the area known as The Canonry. Tucked behind the university science labs is the Cruickshank Botanic Garden. This peaceful 11 acre garden is open to the public, for a stroll through the ornamental trees and herbaceous borders. We recommend finding a quiet spot to sit on a bench in the sun.

19. St Machar cathedral Aberdeen and the Chanonry

Further down The Chanonry we found St Machar Cathedral. This beautiful 14th century church is not actually a cathedral since it has not been the seat of a bishop since 1690. The church was originally larger and if you go outside the building, you can see the walls enclosing where the chancel would have extended.

The body of Sir William Wallace is said to be buried here following his execution in 1305. He was hung, drawn and quartered and parts of his body sent throughout Scotland.

The church is famous for the beautiful wooden ceiling, covered with heraldic shields. The volunteer guide was able to tell us the hidden stories behind the shields that tell a tale of the Scottish crown asserting its independence from the English throne. If you have time, you might like to walk through Seaton Park which is next to the church.

20. The views from the Torry Battery in Aberdeen

One place that I ran out of time to visit was the Torry Battery across the harbour channel from Fittie. It’s a defensive artillery battery that was last used in World War II. From here you can get a great view back on the Aberdeen harbour and watch the dolphins that sometimes come to play at the mouth of the harbour channel.

I had lots of fun on my 3 day weekend break to Aberdeen, and I hope I’ve showed you some of the cool things to do in Aberdeen; the popular highlights but some of the more local “Hidden Treasures” too.

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More Hotels in Aberdeen

More information for planning your trip to Aberdeen

Visit the Aberdeen Airport website for all the information you need when travelling to and from this airport. It’s easy to get to and from Aberdeen Airport on the Stagecoach Jet 727 bus service one way. If you prefer a taxi airport transfer, look at this Aberdeen private taxi airport transfer service.

Check out the Visit Aberdeenshire website for more information to help plan your visit to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Looking for a hotel in Aberdeen? Check prices here

If you need airport parking, check out the best deals at award winning airport parking company APH

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Photo Credit: Torry Battery by Tristan Ferris on Flickr

I received complimentary flights, hotel stay and activities from Fly BMI and Park Inn Aberdeen as part of a sponsored* visit to Aberdeen to highlight the Hidden Treasures of Aberdeen.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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