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Major city · United Kingdom

AberdeenObar Dheathain

Give Aberdeen 2 nights as a base for Aberdeenshire castles and coast, not as a city break on its own: the granite centre is a half-day.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short, grey days; midwinter light roughly 8:30am–3:30pm)
Airport
ABZ
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Aberdeen is Scotland's third city, a granite harbour town on the north-east coast, 2 h 30 min by train from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The centre is compact and walkable; the real draw is what surrounds it — castles, whisky, golf, Royal Deeside and a two-mile beach. Two nights covers the city and one day out; three or more makes it a proper base.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Aberdeen, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • BeerPint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, first mileabout £3.40 (≈ US$5), then about £2 (≈ US$3) per mile
  • Metro or bus rideCity bus single fare£1.70 (≈ US$3)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
  • Museum or sight ticketCastle or museum entry£5–18 (≈ US$7–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£22 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £160 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Granite architecture and Union StreetAberdeen Beach and FootdeeNorth Sea oil industryGateway to Aberdeenshire castles and Royal Deeside
Airports
ABZ Aberdeen International Airport (Dyce) (7 miles (11 km) northwest of the centre; Jet 727 bus to Union Square every 10–30 min, about 30 min, £3.70 single / £6.50 return)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Aberdeen: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

1°C

13 rd

Feb

7°C

1°C

11 rd

Mar

9°C

2°C

12 rd

Apr

11°C

4°C

11 rd

May

14°C

6°C

10 rd

Jun

16°C

9°C

11 rd

Jul

19°C

11°C

12 rd

Aug

18°C

11°C

12 rd

Sep

16°C

9°C

11 rd

Oct

13°C

6°C

14 rd

Nov

9°C

3°C

14 rd

Dec

7°C

1°C

14 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is compact and best on foot, though Union Street alone is a mile long. First Aberdeen buses cover the city (cash, contactless or mTicket); Stagecoach serves the wider county. Taxis are metered and registered — Uber does not operate here. Cycling is workable outside the centre; there is no bike-share scheme.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Train from Aberdeen to Stonehaven, about 20 min, then a coastal walk to the castle

Cliff-top ruin above the sea; the walk from town adds 30–40 min each way.

Banchory and Royal Deeside

go

Door to door: About 45 min by bus

Stagecoach bus or the Deeside Way cycle and walking route

River Dee valley; the old railway line is flat and good for bikes.

Ballater and Balmoral

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Bus or car via the A93 up the Dee valley

Best with a car; Balmoral estate has seasonal opening — check dates.

Peterhead

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Stagecoach bus north along the coast

Working port and prison museum; a half-day at most.

Fraserburgh

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

Bus north via the A90 and A952

Long haul for a fishing town and beach; better as a stop en route north.

Methlick

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus or car north-west of the city

Village base for Haddo House and country walks; check opening before going.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

City centre / Union Street

Walk to the station, bus station, ferry terminal and main sights; best for a short stay without a car.

Union Square and the harbour

Transport hub on the doorstep: rail, bus, NorthLink ferries and the retail complex. Practical for one-night stops.

Old Aberdeen

University quarter by the River Don, quieter and greener; 20–25 min by bus from the centre.

Beach and Footdee

Esplanade hotels and sea air; 20–30 min walk from Union Street, good for the beach and the funfair end.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
£75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
High
£130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × £110£220
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £85£340
Jet 727 airport bus, both ways2 × £10£20
First Aberdeen day ticket2 × £4£9
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£61
Trip total≈ £167 per person per day, bed included£666≈ US$900

2026 estimate in pounds; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Pint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
City bus single fare£1.70 (≈ US$3)
Taxi, first mileabout £3.40 (≈ US$5), then about £2 (≈ US$3) per mile
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
Castle or museum entry£5–18 (≈ US$7–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Aberdeen is a low-crime city by UK standards; the practical risks are weather, dark winter afternoons and late-night taxi queues. Stick to lit streets around Union Street and the Castlegate after closing time.
  • The city centre is a Low Emission Zone: a £60 (≈ US$80) penalty applies to non-compliant vehicles, so check your car before driving in.
  • Midwinter daylight is short (roughly 8:30am–3:30pm) and haar or dreich weather can close in for days — pack waterproofs.
  • Taxis are hard to find at pub closing time; queue at a rank or phone ahead and expect a wait.
  • The North Sea is cold year-round: surfing and swimming need a wetsuit.
  • Some former direct airport buses to Stonehaven, Montrose and Peterhead have been axed — check current routes.

Emergency numbers

Police and Fire/Ambulance
999
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AberdeenObar Dheathain

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police and Fire/Ambulance999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Aberdeen; the US consulate-general is in Edinburgh and most others are in London (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • ABZ airport → Union Square, Jet 727: £3.70 (≈ US$5) single, £6.50 (≈ US$9) return, about 30 min
  • Taxi airport → city centre: about £25 (≈ US$35)
  • Train Aberdeen → Edinburgh: about 2 h 30 min, hourly; fare varies by booking time

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you (standard English; Doric is spoken locally)
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
  • Cheers — Cheers (common local thanks)

Doric, the local Scots dialect, is strong in the countryside and can defeat machine translation.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Aberdeen. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short, grey days; midwinter light roughly 8:30am–3:30pm) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ABZ: Jet 727 timings, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Union Street and Castlegate, Union Terrace Gardens, Old Aberdeen, the beach and Footdee.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Marischal College, Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen Beach, Footdee) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Day-trip fixtures for Stonehaven, Deeside and the north coast so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources