Must-see attractions in Aberdeen

  • Aberdeen Maritime Museum

    Aberdeen

    Overlooking the nautical bustle of Aberdeen harbour is the Maritime Museum, centred on a three-storey replica of a North Sea oil-production platform,…

  • Gordon Highlanders Museum

    Aberdeen

    This excellent museum records the history of one of the British Army's most famous fighting units, described by Winston Churchill as 'the finest regiment…

  • Marischal College

    Aberdeen

    Marischal College, founded in 1593 by the 5th Earl Marischal, merged with King's College (founded 1495) in 1860 to create the modern University of…

  • Aberdeen Art Gallery

    Aberdeen

    Behind the grand facade of Aberdeen Art Gallery (closed for a major redevelopment until early 2019) is a cool, marble-lined space exhibiting the work of…

  • Provost Skene's House

    Aberdeen

    This late-medieval turreted town house was occupied in the 17th century by the provost (Scottish equivalent of a mayor) Sir George Skene. It was also…

  • St Machar's Cathedral

    Aberdeen

    The 15th-century St Machar's, with its massive twin towers, is a rare example of a fortified cathedral. According to legend, St Machar was ordered to…

  • St Nicholas Church

    Aberdeen

    On the northern side of Union St, 300m west of Castlegate, is St Nicholas Church, the so-called 'Mither Kirk' (Mother Church) of Aberdeen. The granite…

  • King’s College Chapel

    Aberdeen

    It was here that Bishop Elphinstone established King's College, Aberdeen's first university (and Scotland's third), in 1495. The 16th-century college…

  • Old Town House

    Aberdeen

    At the north end of High St, the Old Town House now hosts a visitor centre with information and exhibits on the history of Old Aberdeen. It also houses…

  • Aberdeen Science Centre

    Aberdeen

    Halfway between the beach and the city centre is this hands-on, interactive science centre. Until 2020 they're temporarily based at the even more central…

  • Salvation Army Citadel

    Aberdeen

    The Baronial heap towering over the eastern end of Castle St is the Salvation Army Citadel (the local HQ of the Salvation Army), which was modelled on…

  • Mercat Cross

    Aberdeen

    The 17th-century Mercat Cross bears a sculpted frieze of portraits of Stuart monarchs.