Cheap flights to Aberdeen

Quick summary

Why track Aberdeen with SniperAir

You don't need to compare prices every day

Airport and getting into town

An airport about 11 km out, linked to the centre by bus

Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN, ES) and Wikipedia (FR, EN, DE); timetables change, so check them before you travel. We give no fares.

Aberdeen is Scotland's third-largest city, with just under 200,000 people in the main urban area and about 220,000 counting neighbouring localities (2020 figures per Wikipedia EN). It lies on the north-east coast, about 190 km north of Edinburgh, between the mouths of the Dee and the Don. From Edinburgh or Glasgow a train leaves every hour and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes; Inverness is roughly two hours away by train, and a sleeper train runs from London Euston.

Landmarks and sights

A granite city, a sandy beach and a fishing harbour

Aberdeen is best explored on foot in the centre, then by bus to the old university and the seafront. Its grey granite, which sparkles in the sun thanks to the mica, gives the city its nickname, the Granite City. Three places are illustrated; others are described in text only.

Marischal College

On Broad Street, Marischal College is one of the largest granite buildings in the country, its facade bristling with pinnacles and spires. It was founded in 1593 and merged with King's College in 1860 to form the University of Aberdeen. Today the council has its offices there, and the facade is best admired from the square.

King's College Chapel

In the old town to the north, King's College was founded in 1494 by Bishop Elphinstone; its chapel, finished in 1505, is topped by a stone crown that dominates the High Street. It is the only building left from the original foundation, according to Wikipedia (DE). The university dates from 1495, making it one of Scotland's oldest.

The harbour and the pier

Aberdeen harbour is one of the busiest in northern Britain, with supply vessels and fishing boats. Near the entrance concrete piers run out to sea, and offshore a wind farm can be seen. You can watch the scene from the beach or from the fishing village of Footdee, laid out in 1809, and in summer boat trips sometimes spot dolphins.

Union Street, cathedral and parks, in text

Union Street, a mile long, is the main thoroughfare, lined with granite buildings of varied styles. St Machar's Cathedral, in the old town, has two west towers topped with sandstone spires. The sandy beach stretches for about three kilometres with an esplanade, and Duthie Park holds the Winter Gardens, large tropical glasshouses. Girdle Ness lighthouse, from 1833, marks the south side of the Dee estuary.

Museums and culture

Maritime history, fine art and old houses

The Maritime Museum

Set near the harbour on Shiprow, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum tells the story of the city's relationship with the sea, from fishing to trade and oil, with models of ships and platforms. Wikivoyage (EN) recommends it first if time is short and lists entry as free; check before you go.

The Art Gallery

Aberdeen Art Gallery, in a Victorian building with a large marble and granite hall, shows modern art, Impressionists and Scottish painters, plus temporary exhibitions. Wikivoyage (EN) lists entry as free, which we could not cross-check: check before you go.

Old houses and military memory

Provost Skene's House, dating from 1545, is the oldest surviving house in the city, in a small courtyard near Broad Street. The Gordon Highlanders Museum, in a Victorian painter's house, traces the regiment's history; the Aberdeen Science Centre, in the old tram depot, suits families. We give no ticket prices.

Food and drink

Fish, morning butteries and the pubs of Belmont Street

Specialities

The Aberdeen buttery, or rowie, is a salty pastry halfway between a croissant and a pancake, eaten plain, with butter or with jam; you mostly find it in bakeries. Fresh fish, notably as fish and chips, naturally takes pride of place in a port city.

Where to eat

The centre has restaurants of every cuisine, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese or Pakistani, and a wide choice of cafés. A traditional fish restaurant, a little out of the centre, is cited by Wikivoyage (EN) as worth the trip. Many places serve dinner early.

Bars and nightlife

Belmont Street, north of Union Street, is the pub street, some set in former churches or schools. At weekends noisy revellers can spoil the mood: stay alert at night, per Wikivoyage (EN).

Getting around

A compact centre, buses and trains into Aberdeenshire

On foot

The centre is walkable, and it is the best way to appreciate the granite architecture. Union Street is about a mile long: for the old town, the beach or Duthie Park, a bus is useful.

Buses and taxis

First buses serve the city; routes 1 and 2 link the south, Union Square and the old university. Taxis wait at the station and in the centre; do not count on hailing one in the street at night, per Wikivoyage (EN). Uber was not operating there when that source was written.

Further afield

Stonehaven, a picturesque fishing village about 20 km to the south, and its Dunnottar Castle can be reached by train or bus. Further on, Crathes Castle, Balmoral and the Cairngorms National Park are easier by car along the castle trail.

Budget and precautions

British price levels, a dearer city in oil-industry weeks

Price level

Aberdeen is a prosperous, oil-driven city: lodging can be costly when engineers and conferences fill the hotels, while weekends are often quieter. The currency is the pound sterling (GBP). We give no figures, as we could not cross-check them on two independent open sources.

Flying

The flight is the most variable item. SniperAir tracks fares to ABZ and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Inverness (INV), about two hours by train, is another gateway to northern Scotland.

Entry and precautions

The United Kingdom is outside the Schengen area: entry requirements, including any electronic travel authorisation, depend on your nationality, so check the official sites. Aberdeen is broadly safe, but avoid the outlying districts named by Wikivoyage (EN) after dark, and take care with alcohol at weekends.

When to go

A cool oceanic climate, bright summers

Aberdeen has an oceanic climate, with cool summers and mild, rainy winters according to Wikipedia (EN): milder than you would expect at this latitude, yet statistically the coldest large city in the UK. We give no precise temperatures, as we could not cross-check them; check the forecast before you go. From May to September is the most pleasant period, with very long summer evenings.

By length of stay

What to do in Aberdeen depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Aberdeen in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Aberdeen