Things to Do in Aberdeen

Another fairytale like castle on the countryside of Aberdeen! Winding staircases, turrets and towers, ornate ceilings and sculpted yew trees are some of the unique feature of this magnificent castle. The surrounding garden area has colorful herbaceous borders and yew hedges, making the site a great location for a family day out. Walk through the woodland to get the feel of Scottish countryside or take a look at the 16th century tower house located in the garden region. For snacks, walk up to the cafe within the premise. For children, separate playing area is also designated to enjoy their own time. 

Scotland has some of the most mesmerizing castles along the countryside. Among the lot, Craigievar Castle is one of them. Almost out of a fairytale story, the castle is said to be the finest example of Scottish Baronial architecture. The overall appearance of the castle looks as if it has grown naturally out of the rolling hills. Today, the castle houses exclusive collection of family portraits by Jameson and Raeburn, ethnic furniture, 20th century old ceramics collection by Cecilia, Lady Sempill.

After visiting castle you can take any one of the trails in the grounds to see the splendid view of the castle. 

History says, Aberdeen had a long relation with the North Sea. If you wish to know some captivating stories related to the sea, visit this award winning museum named Aberdeen Marine Museum. Situated on the historic Shiprow, this beautiful museum was built in 1593. A visit to this museum will take you on a historical journey of the booming fishing industry of the city to the present flourishing oil industry of the city. Within the museum, you can see displays belonging to the North Boats, oil industry and marine industry and clipper ships. The new section of the exhibition includes Aberdeen Harbour gallery and displays belonging to the fishing techniques and also techniques related to parking ship at the harbour.

A great place for visitors belonging to different age groups and to get a stunning view of the busy harbour!

Situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city, there is a picturesque small fishing village named Footdee or Fittie. Built in mid 19th century and designed by John Smith, the striking feature of this village is the cottages which are square in shape, low at height and inwardly faced, with backs faced towards the ocean. It was done in such a way so as to save the cottage and the inhabitants from the storm. Previously the cottages were the residence of the fishermen and their fisherfolk families. However, at present only few of the fishermen stay in this village and thus the region has become inactive with fishing occupation. When you visit the village, you can still see women sitting and repairing nets while having good gossip amongst themselves. Take a walk through the paths of the village; you will come across some beautiful gardens as well. Speak with the fishermen and you might come across some interesting stories of their life.

Visit one of the largest indoor gardens of Europe, located within Duthie park. You might be surprised to see so many people visiting the park everyday. It is because of the majestic floral paradise that you get see throughout the year. Take a tour within this indoor park and you will come across some rare, exotic plants from every corner of the world. Visit the primary attractions of the park - the Temperate House, Corridor of Perfumes, Victorian Corridor, Fern House, Tropical House, Japanese Garden and Arid House. Among these, the specialty of the Arid House is, it has the largest collection of cacti and Succulents in Britain. It also has the world’s only ‘talking cactus’. Thus, it can well be assumed as to why this winter garden is considered as the most visited gardens in Scotland.

A flat sand blue flag beach with a stunning sea spread infront, is how Balmedie beach can be described. It stretches from 14 miles from River Don at Aberdeen to the mouth of the River Ythan.There is a boardwalk path leading to the sand dunes. Take a stroll on the walk and enjoy the serene beauty of the beach. If you are travelling with your family, pack your picnic basket and enjoy the food in the picnic area of the beach. Once you are done with your meal, you can go for window shopping at the shops located near the beach. For sanitation, a public toilet is also available on the beach.

Thus, you can say that the beach is fully equipped for a family to spend atleast half a day. 

It is one of the two named theatre around the world, opened in 1906 in Aberdeen. The theatre is popular for holding some of the best theatre production like classical drama, musical dram as well as dance drama. It has a seating arrangement of around 1470 people. The striking feature of the theatre is its interior décor with fine details made of 23 carat gold and wrapped with luxurious crimson velvet. The entire theatre is said to be built of granite. If you have enough time from your traveling schedule, try to attend at least one of the performances of the theatre to experience its magnificent acoustic.

This beautiful park, covering 44 acres was donated by Miss Duthie in 1880 and that’s how the park got it’s name. However, the park was opened for public visit in 1883. Take a tour into the park and you can see many architectural artefacts like fountains, ponds, statues and a bandstand. The entire park is divided into different climatic regions, like, Tropical, Arid, Japanese and Mediterranean region. The best part of this park is that it has a separate picnic area where you can enjoy a nice picnic with your kids. You can even go for boating in the ponds. The ride will take you to the cricket area of the lawns. There is a separate play area designated only for kids, right beside the car park. This play area has some beautiful playhouses that look exactly like a fairytale.

The biggest attraction of the park is David Welch Winter Gardens, located within the park. It is said to be one of the biggest indoor gardens of Europe and third most visited garden of Scotland.

This museum is referred as a 5-star Visit Scotland attraction, located at the posh west-end of Aberdeen. Housed in the former residence of famous Scottish artist named Sir George Reid, the museum displays the historical story of the “Finest Regiment of the World” which is around 200 years old. The museum itself has achieved multiple awards as the best venue of Scotland where host of events like conference, weddings are still being conducted. It is a great place for a day-out with families and friends. Till date, the museum is an independent self-financed body, governed by charitable trust.

The entire museum is divided into three sections:

• The main exhibition: Displays the rich history of the Regiment from the Napoleonic War.
• The Armoury: Displaying weapons belonging to late 18th century.
• The Silver Room: Displays regimental silver which played a vital role in the British Military.

After visiting all the historical places, if you and your kids are looking for something different, come to Codonas Amusement park. It is the best amusement park of Aberdeen where you get to enjoy leisure amenities, sports activities like adventure golf and get to enjoy many other exciting rides. Each and every ride of the park is a must-ride. Hence, with your kids you will be able to enjoy a fun few hours without even bothered about time.

However, if the rides make you hungry, head off to the cafes and restaurant within the park where you can enjoy a nice meal and some homebakes for refreshment. 

Located in the old town region of Aberdeen, St. Machar’s Cathedral is a Presbyterian church without any bishop or cathedrals. Technically, this church is not a cathedral but is often referred as that. Due to this distinction, this church has often been considered as one of the reason in the past to have caused a serious conflict where Scotland, England and Ireland got involved. The present building you see now dates back to early 15th century and it is famous for its heraldic ceiling. Its architectural design follows the style of the earliest renaissance buildings of Scotland with certain influence of Tuscany’s architecture.

The church is open throughout the year. Whether you are a religious person or not you can spend few minutes in the calm ambience of the church, leave a prayer on the prayer tree and light a votive candle.

This stunning castle is located around 25 kilometers away from the city. Till date it is considered as the lavish castle of Scottish baronial tower houses. It was built in 1575 by Michael Fraser, the 6th laired. The unique feature of the castle is its ‘z-pattern’. Within the castle, you can see decorated Great Hall, family portraits, centuries old furniture, curtains and many such important belongings of the Fraser family.

The garden area laid in front of the castle, adds up to its beauty. After visiting the castle, take a stroll in the garden to see beautiful shrubs and flowers plants. 

It is considered as one of the popular recreational areas of the city. A short journey from the center of the city, will take you to this beautiful beach which is away from the bustling city life. The striking feature of the beach is its golden sand and the long curve length of the beach lies between the harbour and the River Don’s mouth. The beach is children friendly. Hence you can let your kids play in their own way. You can also enjoy a picnic in the designated picnic area.

A nice place for weekend gateway! 

It is one of the must-see places of Aberdeen that speaks about the history of the famous Irvine family. The castle displays the stories dating back to 1323, when the castle and the estate were granted to William de Irwyn by King Robert the Bruce. Explore the castle in your own way and take a look at to the interior décor that has a renaissance influence. In the garden area, you can see beautiful flower plants. For relaxation, step inside the tea room that is set in the castle’s old kitchen. Explore the trails, located in the outdoor region and walk through the woods. A visit to this beautiful castle will offer enjoyment to visitors of all age groups.

This beautiful house is located in one of the amazing sites of the northeastern region of Aberdeen. The outer appearance of the house looks like a luxury Baroque mansion. History says, it was built in 18th century by William Adam. In the interior, the House was available for exclusive dinner for around 50 people.

Take a look into its classical interior decor. It house masterpieces like the National Galleries of Scotland, paintings by El Greco, Ramsay and Raeburn.

Till date, the Duff House organizes exclusive dinner parties and corporate events.