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There’s more to the Granite City than just oil and oily fish, with Scotland’s third largest conurbation as chock full of charm as it is history.
Transformed from a series of fishing hamlets into a city proper by Robert the Bruce in 1319, Aberdeen became an important centre for trade over the centuries. This rich heritage is clearly visible today in its many majestic civic buildings and modern, cosmopolitan feel.
Nowadays you’re as likely to rub shoulders with sustainability students as you are oil barons, and organic farmers markets replace traditional fish stalls as the city works hard to become the green capital of Scotland.
Despite its somewhat remote location, the city also feels strangely cosmopolitan with a bustling café culture, a great selection of shops and restaurants, and theatres and concert halls aplenty. It also enjoys a surprisingly mild climate given its northerly location with around 1,454 hours of sunshine a year – 7% higher than the Scottish average.
Aberdeen Airport is located in Dyce around 6 miles north of the city and each year bustles with more than 3 million passengers taking flights to a range of national and international destinations.
As well as providing a base for BMI’s regional operations, the airport also houses the main heliport for the UK’s offshore oil industry and has 3 terminals dedicated to North Sea helicopter operations.
The airport is currently undergoing a £10m expansion programme to transform it into a ‘truly international gateway’ to the north of Scotland. The hope is that the expansion will help to attract around 2 million visitors to the region by 2030 as well as creating thousands of new jobs for the local economy.
Destinations and airlines
Given its extreme north easterly location, it’s no surprise that Aberdeen Airport serves destinations in Scandinavia and the Scottish islands as well as more traditional central and southern European routes. It’s also popular with flights to other UK cities such as London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle, given the fact that the equivalent train journey would take such a long time.
Airlines and tour operators currently using the airport include KLM, BMI, British Airways, Thomas Cook and Thomson, as well as low budget carriers Ryanair, Easy Jet and Flybe.
Airport facilities
Whether you choose to pick up a quick latte in Costa, a hearty breakfast in The Kitchen or a sandwich and a cheeky glass of wine in The Globe, Aberdeen Airport’s restaurants and bars cater for most tastes right around the clock.
The shopping’s a little more limited but in addition to the usual selection of retailers, idle passengers have the opportunity to browse and purchase an original selection of paintings and drawings courtesy of The Art Shop.
If you’re keen to change money or relax away from the heaving masses, you can do that too with bureau de change and executive lounge facilities available.
Before flying from Aberdeen Airport, it’s worth checking the airport’s website for discount vouchers for its shops and restaurants. You might just save yourself some of your all important holiday spends!
Transport links
Aberdeen Airport is well served by public transport from the city centre, with a direct bus service departing regularly from Guild Street bus station. You can also take the train from Aberdeen’s central station to Dyce during the week where a shuttle bus service waits to take passengers on to the airport.
By road you can easily access the site via the A96 with a taxi from the city centre setting you back around £15. If you decide to take your car, why not try our Cheap Airport Parking which takes all the hassle out of arriving and departing from the airport.
If you’d like to travel south to Glasgow or Edinburgh on arrival at Aberdeen Airport, you can easily do so by taking a bus or taxi to Aberdeen city centre and picking up a train from the central railway station. Services depart regularly, taking around 2.5 hours.
Aberdeen Airport offers motorists a choice of long stay, short stay, off-site parking through a selection of approved, licensed vendors.
One of the most popular providers, Aberdeen Airparks, offer secure, modern parking facilities around a mile from the terminal building, while Aberdeen Longstay Parking provide spaces aplenty on-site.
Thanks in part to the regular influx of business travellers related to the oil and petroleum industry, Aberdeen has a very good choice of high quality accommodation.
If you’d like something upmarket in the city centre, try the Aberdeen Copthorne, The Caledonian by Thistle or The Atholl, all of which have a four star rating. Perhaps a more rural setting is your thing, if so you might like to try the magnificent Castle Hotel in Huntly or Kildrummy Castle Hotel.
Travellers on a shoestring should head to either the Holiday Inn Aberdeen West or the Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Exhibition where decent quality rooms can be got for £50 a night. If you’d like to save even more cash, you could try Aberdeen’s youth hostel based in a lovely old building on Queen’s Road.
For a city with a population of less than quarter of a million, Aberdeen has a diverse selection of restaurants and eateries.
For top quality locally caught fish and seafood, try Silver Darling nestled in a former customs house in the port or the wonderfully rustic Tolbooth, just a short drive away in Stonehaven. For more international tastes, there’s the Nargile on Forest Avenue serving a delicious selection of authentic African and Middle Eastern cuisine or the delightfully intimate French restaurant Café Boheme.
If you’d like to sample traditional Scottish cuisine in a cosy pub setting, you might like to try the quirky Cock and Bull in Balmedie or Eat on the Green in Udny Green.
A more cheap and cheerful option which is always popular with the locals is freshly caught Aberdeen fish and chips. If this sounds tempting, try the award-winning Ashvale on Great Western Road.
Aberdeen is well equipped for culture vultures and those with a nose for history. Soak up some modern art at the inspiring Lost Gallery, explore the life of a 17th century Laird at Leith Hall and Garden or catch some live music or comedy at the celebrated Lemon Tree.
No trip to Scotland would be complete without a trip to a traditional whisky distillery either, and visitors to Aberdeen are spoilt with no less than three right on their doorstep. Choose from Fettercairn Distillery (01561 340205) - one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland - Glendronach Distillery or the famous Glen Garioch Distillery.
If spirits aren’t your thing, get out into the great outdoors - there’s literally miles of wild, highland countryside and coastline to explore. Take a guided walk with Walk Deeside or hire a mountain bike from Cycle Highlands and strike out in search of adventure.
If you’d like to get up close and personal with some of Britain’s rarest breeds of cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats and poultry, try Doonies Farm. Doonies is always a big hit with children as they’re encouraged to feed and pet the animals on the farm.
For a decent selection high street shops, you’re best advised to head to the Bon Accord Centre on George Street. Here mainstays such as Next, Boots and Top Shop can be found along with a large John Lewis and more upmarket retailers such as Radley, Kurt Geiger and Jo Malone.
If you’d like to browse what Aberdeen has in the way of antiques, try the centrally located Aberdeen Antique Centre or the upmarket Thistle Antiques in Aberdeen’s West End. There are also a couple of good little vintage shops in the city centre in The Closet on Jopps Lane and Retrospect on St Andrew Street.
Aberdeen also has a thriving street market scene with a large international market taking place three times a year on Union Terrace.
As a lively student city, Aberdeen has a great selection of pubs, bars and other night spots.
If you’re into traditional taverns, try The Old Blackfriars on Castlegate or Aitchies Ale House on Trinity Street. If you’d like to sample a few of the local whiskies on the other hand, try the oddly named but well regarded Grill on Union Street.
Aberdeen’s also got a good range of night clubs if you’d like to carry on partying come last orders. Give the quirky subterranean Tunnels a whirl for the very best in live music and djs or head down to Club Snafu for an eclectic mix of house, electronica and indie.