I absolutely love Scotland! I have made no secret of how I want to explore more of this gorgeous country and last month I got the chance to do just that. I got three days to explore the city of Aberdeen and the surrounding countryside of Aberdeenshire. But if you only have one day to spend in the city then here’s how to get the most out of 24 hours in the Aberdeen.
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This post is in collaboration with VisitAberdeenshire but all thoughts, opinions and images are my own.
Located on Scotland’s north east coast, Aberdeen is an old city that is steeped in history. The city began as two separate burgh’s and today is the third most populous city in Scotland. That said, it has long been overlooked on the list of Scottish travel destinations in favour of the likes of Edinburgh or the Scottish Highlands. But that is all changing and Aberdeen is quickly becoming one of the must see places to visit, and rightly so! There is so much to see and do in the city that make it very much worthwhile adding to your travel list. For those of you located in the UK, Aberdeen is only a short hour plane journey away which makes it ideal for a weekend trip away. There are dozens of other places across Europe who offer quick, direct connections to Aberdeen so it isn’t just a weekend away for those of us living in the UK.
Admire The Architecture of Marischal College
Begin your 24 hours in Aberdeen at Marischal College. Dating back to 1593, it’s home to the City Council’s headquarters and is the second largest granite building in the world! On the sunny day that I had whilst visiting it really sparkled in the light. It’s such an impressive place and a fantastic introduction to the incredible architecture in Aberdeen. Marischal College overlooks Marischal Square, just a minutes walk from one of the best museums – Provost Skene’s House which is due to reopen next year after undergoing refurbishment. This museum displays period rooms which explore seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth-century life, all situated inside one of the oldest buildings in the city which dates back to 1545.
Explore Aberdeen’s Nuart
The Nuart Aberdeen Festival which takes place annually, celebrates street art and local creatives who come together to produce some incredible pieces of art! Since its creation in 2017, Nuart Aberdeen has produced some of the most interesting street art out there and is almost like an open-air art gallery. Dotted all over the city, you will be sure to catch pieces as you wander the cities streets! Below are some of my favourites.
Discover Aberdeen’s Old Town
This is my personal favourite and possibly the most picturesque part of the city. Old Aberdeen is packed full of charming cobblestoned streets and historic architecture. Not to mention gorgeous gated houses! There is no shortage of things to see in this part of the city. You can wander the University grounds, explore Kings College, discover the 15th century St Machar’s Cathedral or wander into Seaton Park to escape into peace and tranquility along the River Don.
Drink Craft Beer At BrewDog
After a couple of hours wandering the beautiful streets of Aberdeen you will probably be in want of a drink. BrewDog is a multinational brewery and pub chain that originated in Scotland back in 2007. With a passion for great craft beer, there is nowhere better to sample some. I visited BrewDog on Castlegate where the staff were extremely friendly! I’m not particularly a beer drinker but they were incredibly helpful in assisting me in finding a beer to suit my tastes. Apparently there is a beer to suit everyones taste and I was surprised at the sheer variety of flavours just from the small selection the I sampled. No one was alike. I sampled some fruity ones with tones of mango, grapefruit and passionfruit but settled on one with notes reminiscent of wine and champagne and I have to admit, I would gladly order it again. You could easily while away a while afternoon here taste testing!
Marvel at the best Aberdeen Churches
From the imposing St Machar’s Cathedral to the lesser-known city centre churches, there’s no shortage of wonderful ancient churches to discover in Aberdeen. Kirk of St. Nicholas is at the heart of Aberdeen and you can discover how its origins lie in the 12th century. A ten minute walk away is St. Mary’s Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Aberdeen which is well worth a visit.
However, you can’t leave Aberdeen without walking through the doors of St Machar’s Cathedral. Perched high on a bank above the river Don in Old Aberdeen, there has been a place of worship on this site since 580AD. A large stone carved with a Celtic cross, believed to have been from the original church on this site is now on display inside St Machar’s. It became a Cathedral in the 1130’s and the building that we see today dates largely to the 15th century, making it the oldest building in active use in the city. The wooden ceiling is particularly impressive, as are the stained glass windows which are described as one of Scotland’s ‘must see’ treasures. I received a warm welcome on my visit and wandered up onto the viewing gallery where I got a fantastic view of the church below. Not to mention the stained glass windows!
Visit one of Aberdeen’s many public parks
Duthie Park is situated a little out of the centre of Aberdeen but is only a short bus journey away. Or a half hour walk if you fancy the fresh air! The park was donated to the city of Aberdeen in 1880 by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie and is home to one of Europe’s largest indoor gardens – The David Welch Winter Gardens. The park is open 9:30am-5:30pm from March until October or 9:30am-4:30pm during the winter months of November through to February.
To get there by bus, head to Union Square Bus Station and catch the 7, 7B or X7 bus to Duthie Park, Ferryhill.
Another fantastic public park is Seaton Park, located along the River Don and situated just next to St Machar’s Cathedral. This 27-hectare park was purchased by the Council in 1947 from Major Hay and has been much loved ever since. Have a wander up to the walled garden or down to the oldest medieval bridge in Scotland, Brig o’ Balgownie.
Uncover Aberdeen’s Hidden Gems
Aberdeen has a multitude of best kept secrets, but if I can recommend one particular hidden gem to you it would be Footdee. Known locally as ‘Fittie’, this quirky corner of the city is located near the beach, along the waterfront. This historic fishing quarter is made up of brightly painted cottages with fabulous floral gardens adorned with gnomes. Footdee really was unexpected! Hidden amongst industrial buildings, this ‘village’ is very much in a world of its own.
Sample Some Incredible Local Food
The food scene in Aberdeen is fantastic, providing an array of restaurants using locally sourced ingredients all cooked to perfection. In fact, there are a total of 9 restaurants in the city featured in the Michelin Guide, all championing local ingredients. Whether or not you want to book yourself a table at one of these incredible restaurants is up to you, but there are countless other eateries offering superb food. One such is Howies Restaurant, just a ten minute walk towards Aberdeen’s west end. Founded in 1990, Howies is a family owned restaurant collection with a strong passion for cooking ingredients direct from nature’s larder. I personally recommend you try the pork dish but I don’t think you could put a step wrong with anything off the menu!
If you’re looking for somewhere a little more low key yet still offering great food then I would recommend incorporating a lunch into your beer tasting at BrewDog on Castlegate. I’d happily eat there any day of the week! I opted for a spicy Korean burger which turned out to be the best burger I have had in a very long time, although I found it very hard to decide what to choose from on the menu as it all sounded utterly delicious.
Ending the trip on a belly full of good grub was the perfect way for me to end my time in Aberdeen before a short hours flight home. I think it’s so easy to forget how much you can squeeze into 24 hours and Aberdeen has so much to discover. Given how quick and easy it is to get there, I can safely say I will be returning to explore more of this incredible city!
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