Aberdeen Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat

Aberdeen is Scotland's granite city, built from silver-grey stone that sparkles in the sun, with a busy working harbour, two miles of sandy beach and the cobbled lanes of Old Aberdeen. It is less visited than Edinburgh or Glasgow, which is part of the appeal, and it is the gateway to Royal Deeside, where castles line the river valley towards Balmoral and the Cairngorms.

How long to stay

Two nights is enough for the city: a day around the harbour, the museums and the beach, and a day in Old Aberdeen and the parks. Add at least one more night for Royal Deeside or the clifftop castle at Dunnottar. Aberdeen is on the main line from Edinburgh, and the Deeside villages are an easy drive west.

Where to stay in Aberdeen

Stay near Union Street and the harbour for walking access to almost everything, or on the western side of the city for quieter country house hotels. Our Aberdeen hotels page lists them all.

Special stays

Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, a five-star in its own grounds on the western edge of the city, has formal gardens and a well-regarded restaurant, and is rated 4.6 on Google. Malmaison Aberdeen occupies a converted Victorian granite building on Queens Road, with a brasserie and bar. DoubleTree by Hilton Aberdeen Treetops is a four-star set in wooded grounds.

Central and dog-friendly

ibis Aberdeen Centre - Quayside on Shiprow has harbour views and accepts dogs, and Siberia Bar & Hotel on Belmont Street also welcomes dogs, right in the centre. Sandman Signature Aberdeen has spacious rooms, some with kitchenettes.

With children

Palm Court Hotel is a small hotel near Hazlehead Park with an indoor pool and on-site parking. North of the city, The Cock and Bull is a six-room pub-hotel better known for its restaurant, and it accepts dogs.

Things to do in Aberdeen

See our Aberdeen attractions page for everything.

The Aberdeen Maritime Museum on Shiprow overlooks the harbour and covers shipbuilding, fishing and the North Sea oil industry. Aberdeen Art Gallery has painting from the 18th to 20th centuries and Scottish metalwork in a fine granite building, and The Gordon Highlanders Museum, rated 4.8 on Google, traces two centuries of the regiment. With children, Aberdeen Science Centre is hands-on and fully indoors.

At the mouth of the harbour, the old fishing village of Footdee, or Fittie, is a cluster of tiny cottages worth a detour, and dolphins are often seen from the harbour walls. North of the centre, Old Aberdeen has King's College and St Machar's Cathedral, next to Seaton Park, which runs down to the River Don. Hazlehead Park on the west side has woodland walks and a playground, and Balmedie Beach, just north of the city, is a long sandy beach backed by dunes.

Royal Deeside begins just west of the city. Crathes Castle near Banchory has painted ceilings, turrets and ancient yew hedges, and Castle Fraser has a medieval great hall and views from the tower top.

Where to eat

Aberdeen's seafood is the thing to try. Silver Darling serves fish and shellfish in a former customs house at the harbour mouth. Cafe Andaluz is a good tapas choice, and Muzo's Turkish Kitchen is one of the best-rated restaurants in the city. For an evening out, His Majesty's Theatre is a grand Edwardian playhouse. More on our Aberdeen restaurants page.

A two-day plan

Day one

Walk Union Street and the granite buildings around Marischal College, then spend the late morning at the Maritime Museum. After lunch, walk out to Footdee and the harbour mouth to look for dolphins, then follow the beach esplanade north. Eat seafood at the harbour.

Day two

Explore Old Aberdeen, King's College and St Machar's Cathedral in the morning, then walk through Seaton Park by the river. In the afternoon, visit the Art Gallery, or drive to Crathes Castle for the gardens.

Day trips from Aberdeen

Stonehaven is a harbour town with a clifftop walk to the ruins of Dunnottar Castle, one of the most dramatic sights in Scotland. Ballater is the heart of Royal Deeside, close to Balmoral and the Cairngorms, and Aboyne is another pleasant Deeside village. Alford has the Grampian Transport Museum, and Montrose sits on a tidal basin rich in birdlife.

Camping and cottages near Aberdeen

Deeside Holiday Park is a riverside park south-west of the city with glamping, a bar and restaurant, a playground and dogs welcome. Silverbank Caravan Park at Banchory is a Deeside touring park with a shop and electric hook-ups, and Queen Elizabeth Park is on the seafront at Stonehaven. See camping near Aberdeen or cottages near Aberdeen.

Practical tips

The North Sea coast can be breezy even in summer, so pack layers. Aberdeen suits our guides to UK city breaks without flying and castles and historic staycations, and the coast is good for wildlife and nature breaks.