Making the most of Aberdeen
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Aberdeen Railway Station, in Guild Street at the town centre, is 500 meters west of the harbour and a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Taxis are usually available on the station rank, and rideshare options include Uber, Lyft and ComCab. The city centre is about 1.2 km from the harbour.
Cruise vessels normally berth at Telford Dock, Victoria Dock or Albert Basin. The harbour expansion completed in 2020 allows large vessels alongside the 1400 meters quay. Balmoral Quay, part of the expansion, is farther from the city centre at about 3.2 km.
Aberdeen (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain) is Scotland’s third-largest city, with about 202,000 people. It is Aberdeenshire’s county town and the north-east of Scotland’s chief seaport. Older buildings of grey, sometimes sparkling stone have earned it the names "Granite City" and "Silver City", while its parks, gardens and floral displays have led to "Flower of Scotland". Today it is also Europe’s Oil Capital, owing to North Sea crude oil, and stands on a…
Almost every visitor attraction is within easy walking distance: the Art Gallery, Marischal College, Provost Ross’s House, Maritime Museum, shopping malls, Provost Skene’s House, harbour and Union Street. Other Aberdeen attractions include the 5* Gordon Highlander Museum and Aberdeen Science Center.
Getting around
Pedestrian maps are placed at several points of interest around the city centre. They are particularly useful for navigating its rather random, irregular layout and show where to go to catch a particular bus.
Nearby places
Explore the Aberdeenshire countryside, Scotland’s Castle Country, including striking Crathes Castle and neighbouring Craigievar Castle, both noted for magnificent painted ceilings. Castle Fraser has historic furnishings, paintings and fine embroidery, while Dunnottar, south of Stonehaven, is one of Scotland’s best-known castles: a dramatic cliff-top ruin.
Whisky enthusiasts can head to Moray, where some of the world’s most famous malts are made, including Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Benromach and Glen Grant. In the region, visit Elgin Cathedral, Baxters of Speyside or the Moray Firth Wildlife center (Spey Bay).
Food and shopping
Excellent shops and department stores, including three major shopping malls, sit among the impressive architecture of mile-long Union Street.
Money
The pound (£) is used throughout the UK, and pounds are also called quid. Scottish bank notes are not well received elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATMs), also known as “holes in the wall”, are widespread and normally dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is spoken throughout the country, sometimes with strong regional accents.
Most cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.
The local emergency number is 999; the EU-wide 112 also works.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours are generally:
Small stores open 6 or 7 days a week, usually 10am–6pm. Larger stores generally remain open until 9PM, while hyper marts are often open 24/7.