Making the most of Dundee
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
The dock is within a short walk of the town centre. Ships longer than 240 meters anchor in the river.
In North East Scotland, Dundee is Scotland's 4th largest city and is a little more than 800 years old. It is known as Scotland's sunniest city.
Dundee stands beside the River Tay, Scotland's longest river, and is home to RRS Discovery, the vessel built in 1901 for Captain Scott's Antarctic journey. Attractions include the McManus Art Gallery & Museum, Science Center, Frigate Unicorn and Transport Museum.
A £1 billion waterfront regeneration master plan began in 2001 to reconnect the Waterfront with the city centre and is expected to take 30 years to complete. Its showpiece is the Dundee Victoria & Albert Museum, opened in 2018 at a cost of £80 million: a striking purpose-built riverside museum intended as Scotland's international centre of design.
Getting around
Dundee is an excellent city to explore on foot. A highlight is the climb up Dundee Law, an extinct volcano whose 572 ft summit has tremendous views across the city and surrounding area.
Dundee has engaging places to both fascinate and entertain. See the McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum, learn about Captain Robert Falcon Scott's pioneering Antarctic polar exploration aboard RRS Discovery, watch a Victorian jute mill in operation at Verdant Works - Scotland's Jute Museum, or visit Dundee Science Centre.
Nearby places
The seaside suburb of Broughty Ferry has a strong choice of pubs and restaurants, although they quickly fill on summer evenings. Overlooking the sea, Broughty Castle & Museum is also well worth visiting.
Money
The pound (£) is used throughout the UK, and pounds may be called quid. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM), also known as 'holes in the wall', are very widely available and usually issue £10 and £20 notes.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is spoken across the country, sometimes with heavy accents.
Most cafes and restaurants provide free WiFi.
For emergencies, use 999 locally; the EU-wide 112 can be used too.
Opening Hours and
General shopping hours are as follows:
Small shops open 6 or 7 days weekly, usually 10am - 6pm. Larger shops generally remain open until 9PM, while Hypermarts often operate 24/7.