Aberdeen is a city in Scotland popularly known as the Granite City or the Silver City with the Golden Sands. It is the third largest city in Scotland with human settlement of over more than 8,000 years. Located at the mouth of River Dee and Don, Aberdeen is capital of the Grampian Highlands offering stunning view of sea-cliffs, misty moors and green forests. In between mid-18th and 20th century, Aberdeen houses were constructed of local grey granite stones, whose mica deposits made them sparkle as silver. Agriculture dominated the economy of Aberdeen then. But now it has turned its focus towards oil production with discovery of North Sea oil in 1970s, for which it has also grabbed the name of Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe. The prosperous cosmopolitan city has also earned the credit of being adorned with the trophy of “Britain in Bloom” 10 times winning the title of “The Flower of Scotland.”
Aberdeen has been attracting tourists every year because of its radiant granite buildings which add grace to the city. The superb beaches and the spectacular fishing villages not only provide beautiful scenic beauty but also calm atmosphere to enjoy the serenity of the place. Several Scottish castles like Drum Castle, Crathes Castle, Castle Fraser and many more also give you an opportunity to know the historical culture of the city. You can also get lively by watching the activities of herds of dolphin in the Moray Coast.
Some of the famous places to visit during your visit to Aberdeen are:
- Elgin Cathedral- Dating back to the 13th century, Elgin Castle is one of the beautiful medieval buildings and is a great piece of architecture.
- The Gordon Highlanders Museum- It is the museum which holds the memoirs of Gordon Highlanders and also exhibits a real flag of Nazi. You can also watch the history of the regiment in a small theater in the museum.
- Cairngorms National Park- Cairngorms National Park is a wonderful park in Grampian Highlands and is a beautiful setting with natural beauty where you can encounter different species of flora and fauna.
- Aberdeen Maritime Museum- This museum exhibits some of the magnificent displays and models of offshore oil industry, fishing and ship building activities. The museum also includes house of Provost Ross which was built in 1593.
- Aberdeen Art Gallery- The gallery has a great collection of decorative art which hails from the period of 19th and 20th century.
In Aberdeen you can purchase several Scottish goods and international branded products from various boutiques. You can look out for articles like fine art, pottery and ceramics products, jewellery and traditional knitwears. You can also visit in Aberdeen some craft shops, galleries and shopping centers, traditional German and farmers markets.
Some of the important shopping markets or streets in Aberdeen are:
- High Street, the main shopping centre in Aberdeen
- Bon Accord
- Aberdeen’s Country Fair
- The Galleria Shopping Centre
From Dyce Airport which is 7 miles away from the Aberdeen city you can get regular flight services to various cities of Scotland and Great Britain. From Aberdeen station which is situated in the middle of the town, you can train to other major cities of United Kingdom. Buses are also available from Aberdeen to other major cities of UK.
If you want to get around in Aberdeen, you can choose from rental cars, bikes, taxis and buses which offer easiest way of transportation. Taxis are available from Back Wynd, Market Street and the railway station. The local train also runs within the city and can connect you to the Dyce, Inverurie, Portlethen and Stonehaven.