For anyone planning on staying for a long weekend there is lots to do in Aberdeen and the surrounding area. We have put together a few ideas for you
Aberdeen
Pubs and bars
Aberdeen has lots of pubs and bars to linger in over a pint. As students in Aberdeen we spent a lot of time going from pub to pub trying to find a quiet one, in which to study. Here are a few we used to frequent:
Provost Skene's House
This museum in the centre of Aberdeen is housed in the 16th century town house of the Provost of Aberdeen. As well as a museum the coffee shop in the downstairs cellar bar is excellent. There is more info on it's own website.
Duthie Park & Winter Gardens
A large park near the centre of Aberdeen, with winter gardens that include the largest collection of cacti in Britain! Aberdeen City Council have a website for the park where you can find out more.
St Machar's Cathedral
Located close to the heart of old Aberdeen, our old stomping grounds as students is this historic cathedral. See the St Machar's Cathedral website for more info than we could give you.
More Information
Of course their is much more to see in Aberdeen. Try the Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums or the Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Tourist websites for more information about attractions in the city. The List is a Scottish listings magazine that might also be useful.
Surrounding Area
Castles
If you’re hiring a car some of the nearby castles are beautiful. In particular Drum Castle and Crathes Castle, both run by the National Trust for Scotland are the closest and well worth a visit.
Whisky
No trip to Scotland would be complete without visiting a distillery. There are a few working distilleries close to Aberdeen; such as Fettercairn or Glen Garioch. If you have more time on your hands you could go a bit further and take a trip through Speyside following The Malt Whisky Trail.
More Information
Being students we couldn't afford to divert precious time from our studies to go touring about the countryside when we lived in Aberdeen. For more comprehensive information you should visit the Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Tourist website. This site lists the tourist trails and attractions that the local area has to offer much better than we could.