Scotland · getting around

Getting around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

We have not yet assessed getting around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Facts last checked Oct 25, 2026. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

Stations, bridges and harbours from our guide where we hold a photo; each links to the area page that lists it.

Paying for local transport in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

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)

Without a car

Getting here

By air

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. 1

Aberdeen Airport: buses and coaches (opens in new tab) · Aberdeen Airport: trains (opens in new tab)

By train

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. 2

National Rail: Aberdeen station (opens in new tab) · ScotRail (opens in new tab) · LNER (opens in new tab) · Caledonian Sleeper (opens in new tab)

By bus and coach

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. 3

Stagecoach North Scotland (opens in new tab) · Traveline Scotland (opens in new tab)

By ferry

NorthLink Ferries sails overnight from Aberdeen harbour to Lerwick in Shetland, with regular calls at Kirkwall in Orkney. 4

NorthLink Ferries (opens in new tab) · Ports and ferries (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

On foot in Aberdeen

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.

Buses

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.

Driving on Deeside

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.

Train to Stonehaven

Stonehaven station is on the main line south of Aberdeen. Dunnottar Castle is about 1.6 miles from the town, along a coastal path.

Stops near each area

From our area guides (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

Aberdeen city
  • Aberdeen: ScotRail, LNER, CrossCountry, Caledonian Sleeper. Main station on Guild Street at Union Square; step-free access to all platforms, according to National Rail
  • Union Square Bus Station: Stagecoach Bluebird and other operators. On the far side of the Union Square shopping centre from the railway station
  • Jet 727 airport bus: Aberdeen Airport to the city centre. Every 15 minutes, according to the airport
  • Dyce: ScotRail. Station about two miles from the airport terminal, on the line to Inverness

Aberdeen city: getting there

Royal Deeside
  • Banchory: Stagecoach Bluebird buses from Aberdeen. About 18 miles west of Aberdeen on the A93; no railway station
  • Ballater: Stagecoach Bluebird buses from Aberdeen. The old railway terminus closed in 1966; buses stop in the village
  • Braemar: Stagecoach Bluebird buses via Ballater. About 58 miles from Aberdeen; check Traveline Scotland for current times

Royal Deeside: getting there

Stonehaven and Dunnottar
  • Stonehaven: ScotRail. Station on Station Road, managed by ScotRail; some step-free access to all platforms, according to National Rail
  • Stonehaven town centre: Stagecoach Bluebird buses from Aberdeen. Check Traveline Scotland for current routes and times

Stonehaven and Dunnottar: getting there

No schedules or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

We hold no sourced driving notes for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire beyond the general rules.

General rules (driving on the left, licenses, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centers, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a schedule; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to other regions
To or fromStraight lineFastest train (National Rail)Notes

Figures retrieved Oct 25, 2026 for the intercity data. Schedules change.

Official links

More on Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire without a car?

We have not yet assessed getting around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Do I need to check a driving zone in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?

We found no charging or low emission zone for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.

Sources

Fetched and read on Oct 25, 2026. Rules, prices and schedules change: check the source before you rely on it. Where a page blocked automated access we say so and link it.

  1. Aberdeen Airport: buses and coaches (opens in new tab), aberdeenairport.com
  2. National Rail: Aberdeen station (opens in new tab), nationalrail.co.uk
  3. Stagecoach North Scotland (opens in new tab), stagecoachbus.com
  4. NorthLink Ferries (opens in new tab), northlinkferries.co.uk