Granite city, the castles of Royal Deeside and the clifftop ruin of Dunnottar
Aberdeen is Scotland's third-largest city, on the North Sea between the mouths of the Dee and the Don. Much of the centre was built from locally quarried grey granite, which gives it the name Granite City. Old Aberdeen, to the north, has King's College, founded in 1495, and St Machar's Cathedral; the harbour, the beach and the fishing cottages of Footdee are a short walk from Union Street.
West of the city the A93 follows the River Dee through Royal Deeside, past Crathes and Drum castles to Banchory, Aboyne, Ballater and Braemar, with Balmoral between the last two. Ballater and Braemar are inside the Cairngorms National Park. To the south, Stonehaven has a harbour, an open-air seawater pool and the cliff-top ruin of Dunnottar Castle.
Buurten
Each area has its own mini guide with 52 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
Granite streets, museums, the harbour, the beach and Old Aberdeen
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Castles, Balmoral and the Cairngorms villages of the Dee valley
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Harbour town, open-air seawater pool and the cliff-top ruin of Dunnottar
Open de minigids →Bezienswaardigheden
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Granite Gothic Revival college building founded in 1593, now the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council.
Sixteenth-century castle east of Banchory, with a designed landscape and gardens, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
Ruined fortress of the Earls Marischal on a rock surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven.
The city art gallery on Schoolhill, run by Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums.
Castle between Peterculter and Banchory, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
Late 16th-century courthouse and prison on the harbour, the oldest building in Stonehaven, now a local museum.
Maritime museum on the historic Shiprow, near the city harbour.
Z-plan castle north of the Dee, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
1 / 12Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
Aberdeen Beach and Queens LinksBeach, Aberdeen city
Stonehaven Open Air PoolSwimming pool, Stonehaven and DunnottarPractical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Reisroutes
Korte routes die de buurten met elkaar verbinden.
Hoe komt u er
Aberdeen has an airport north-west of the city, a railway station beside the Union Square shopping centre with the bus station on its far side, and an overnight ferry port for Orkney and Shetland. Always check the operator for current times, fares and disruption.
Aberdeen International Airport is at Dyce, north-west of the city. The airport describes the Jet 727 as the official bus to the city centre, every 15 minutes; it gives no journey time. Dyce railway station, on the line to Inverness, is about two miles from the terminal by taxi or bus.
Aberdeen station is on Guild Street at Union Square and is managed by ScotRail; National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms. ScotRail runs trains from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, LNER and CrossCountry run through trains from England, and the Caledonian Sleeper comes from London Euston. Stonehaven is on the line south towards Dundee.
Union Square Bus Station is on the far side of the Union Square shopping centre from the railway station. Stagecoach Bluebird runs buses across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including Deeside and Stonehaven; use Traveline Scotland for current timetables.
NorthLink Ferries sails overnight from Aberdeen harbour to Lerwick in Shetland, with regular calls at Kirkwall in Orkney.
Deeside villages are spread along about 50 miles of the A93; buses run along the valley, but a car gives more freedom for the castles away from the main road.
Union Street, Marischal College, the Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum are within a short walk of each other. The harbour, Footdee and the beach lie east of the centre, and Old Aberdeen is a bus ride or a longer walk north.
First Aberdeen runs most city buses, and Stagecoach Bluebird runs services out to Deeside, Stonehaven and the rest of the shire from Union Square Bus Station. Plan with Traveline Scotland.
The A93 follows the Dee from Aberdeen through Banchory, Aboyne, Ballater and Braemar, then climbs over the Cairnwell Pass towards Perth. Castles away from the main road, such as Craigievar, are easier to reach by car.
Stonehaven station is on the main line south of Aberdeen. Dunnottar Castle is about 1.6 miles from the town, along a coastal path.
ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)
Beste tijd om te gaan
The north-east is cool and breezy all year. Many castles and Balmoral open only in the warmer months, so check each official site before you go.
Braemar Castle opens in April; RSPB Fowlsheugh, south of Stonehaven, has its seabird colony from May to early August.
The longest days, the open-air pool in Stonehaven and the busiest time on Deeside. Book rooms early.
The Braemar Gathering is on the first Saturday of September and the Deeside woods turn colour. Some attractions close at the end of October.
Short days and many castles closed, but the city museums stay open and Stonehaven sees in the New Year with its Fireballs ceremony.
Highland games held in Braemar since 1832, in the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. The organisers say tickets go on sale on 1 February 2027.
Braemar Gathering →About 40 people swing fireballs along the High Street for around 20 minutes, followed by fireworks. Crowds gather from 10pm and the street can close once full.
Stonehaven Fireballs →Veelgestelde vragen
Aberdeen Airport describes the Jet 727 bus as its official service to the city centre, every 15 minutes. Dyce railway station is about two miles from the terminal, by taxi or bus.
Balmoral's grounds, gardens, shop and restaurant open on set days, and interior and Land Rover tours must be booked in advance. The opening days change through the year, so check the Balmoral website.
The castle's website says it is 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven. It can close at short notice in bad weather, so check before you set out.
Partly. Ballater and Braemar are inside the national park; Banchory and Aboyne are further east, outside it.
On the first Saturday of September each year. The next one is on Saturday 4 September 2027, according to the organisers.
Nearby places
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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