Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the third largest city in Scotland and an administrative center of Aberdeenshire council. It is located between the mouths of River Don and River Dee and was founded in 893 AD. Aberdeen is a main port and trade center in the northeast part of the country due to its strategic position. It is known as 'The Granite City' as well as ‘The Oil Capital of Europe’ because of its proximity to the North Sea oil reserves.

Aberdeen is famous also as the ‘Flower of the North’. It is rightfully so because of its impressive parks, enchanting gardens and wonderful botanic exhibitions welcoming their visitors with nearly 2 million roses, 11 million yellow narcissuses and 3 million crocuses. One of the top attractions in Aberdeen are the Winter Gardens at Duthie Park. The park is home of the breathtaking Rose Mountain too. Besides its flowers, Aberdeen can be proud with its museums and galleries that present vast information about the city, its people and its glorious history.  

An Aberdeen visit can start with the Marischal Museum located in the marvelous granite building of Marschal College representing scenes from the lifestyle of the northeastern areas of the country. The Tolbooth Museum on the other hand preserves the entire history of the city. The strong relationship between Aberdeen and the sea is well presented at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum which greets its visitors with art and handcraft exhibits. This award winning museum is dedicated to the fishing, the shipbuilding and the oil production in the region.

Besides history, Aberdeen offers a lot of culture and art too. The city is a thriving art scene full of wonderful Scottish impressionists’ works as well as contemporary exhibits at the Art Gallery located in Schoolhill.

Old Aberdeen also possesses a magnetism that provides for a feeling of being in an oasis full of tranquility opposing the noises and the traffic from the busy central areas. Old Aberdeen has formed as completely independent city unit which has developed around River Don. Old Aberdeen is mostly associated with the University of Aberdeen and King’s College recognizable for its crown of towers.   The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1494.

Provost Skene's House is the oldest ‘city house’ and should be considered one of the architectural jewels in the heart of Aberdeen. Among the other major sites of the city would be the University Botanic Garden, one of the three cathedrals of the city as well as Seaton Park and its paths leading to the bridge over River Don.

Its charm Aberdeen owes also to the many attractions available at the Aberdeen beach. The beach offers a two-mile long coastline and thus the city has the status of a sea resort. The modern entertainments include Codona’s Amusement Park with its indoor and outdoor rides, many city bars, cafeterias, restaurants, the King’s Links golf course, the Pittodrie Stadium home to the Aberdeen football club, Beach Leisure Centre and Linx Ice Arena. The Footdee area located at the end of the beach was a fishermen town and has an excellent position for all port activities.

There are plenty of impressive sites around the city too. The Doonies Rare Breeds Farm located in the town of Nigg is popular for its unique animals. Aberdeen is known also as the ‘Mecca for Shopaholics’ for its huge amount of famous brands shops, boutiques, malls and markets.