AIBU to tell everyone how wonderful Aberdeen is

[Tr1skel1on]

Long story but ended up on our family holiday in Aberdeen for a week. Had no idea what to expect.

I wasn't expecting Aberdeen to steal my heart! My grumpy teenager wants to live in Aberdeen.

I have one more day in this amazing city, we've done all the obvious things, any locals have any suggestions what I should do tomorrow?

Thank you

I’m Scottish and have travelled (about 2 hours) to Aberdeen via train for a couple of events before. Everyone, is absolutely bloody lovely and couldn’t be more helpful with directions/advising where to go for meals etc. I had a lovely experience both times too, OP.

If you are saying Fraserburgh is a good day for a day trip then you are clearly at the wind-up.

Aberdeen is the most dull, grey and depressing place. And that's in the "height" of summer.

The Aberdonians also hate Glaswegians with a passion and are generally extremely rude and obnoxious.

I lived in Aberdeen for 4 years as a student (almost 20 years ago!) So I have a soft spot for it. Old Aberdeen is definitely worth a visit, the University campus has a cobbled, pretty high street. The Auld Toon Bakery STILL does the best macaroni pies ever (or it did when we re-visited about 4 years ago). St Machars cathedral is nearby, it's tiny. Then a walk out to Bridge Of Don from there. It's very pretty. There's an odd little village called Footdee ('Fittie') near the harbour/beach which is sweet.

I agree that the city centre seemed a bit run-down when I was there alone few years back but I wouldn't describe it as "grim"!

YABU. Been once years ago. It was freezing. Coldest I've ever been. And not that nice. Miserable place. Would never want to go back.

I live in Aberdeen but I'm not from there. I actually really like it. I'm guessing you've been to the Art Gallery and Maritime museum by now? There's also a little exhibition space in the University library that's worth catching.

It does get dark early in winter alright so you need to get out in the daylight for a walk. But it's a nice size city to live in.

Some of the castles in the area are lovely! Craigievar and Fyvie are well worth a visit!

My family emigrated from Aberdeen to Edinburgh in the 1970s. My mum said it was great having yoghurt for the first time 😂

Aberdeen has changed since then and has a much more diverse feel, but there's no escaping the barren bleakness of Union Street. Codonas is a living hell but there are nice (expensive) cafes on the beachfront.

You can't beat Aberdeen beach so don't try. Wrap up and get walking. If you meet any strangers just say 'foos yer doos' and you'll be fine.

If you haven't been to the revamped art gallery, check it out. It's beside the fab bars Nandos of Belmont Street so your teens might be willing.

Loads of Aberdonians moan about Union Gardens but I think they've done a lovely job, it's a perfect place to sit and enjoy your sandwich.

What's the name of that unusual, slightly artistic seaside town near Aberdeen?

And one last linguistic note: don't be offended if someone in Aberdeen describes their dinner as 'fine'. Fine in Aberdeen means delicious. Affa fine means truly outstanding and nae affa fine means horrible.

Catterline. I spent a childhood New Year there, it was magical.

I find all that grey stone so depressing, it was rainy when I was there so maybe better when the weather is nicer, but my enduring memory was bleakness!

My son studied at the Uni and really liked it and we enjoyed visits there. We were lucky to see lots of dolphins at the harbour on our last visit.

Actually I now realise I'm thinking of Footdee, and it's right in Aberdeen!

I went once, about 20 years ago. I can't say it made a great impression tbh. Very grey, and bloody cold even in August!

You get about 5 summer days a year … lovely and sunny until the haar rolls in.

Castles are about the best things - Drum, Crathes, Fyvie, Cragievar, Dunnottar.

Or a walk up Bennachie or around Loch Muick.

I had to go to Aberdeen for work, it was near Christmas and had a lovely market on. It was dark by about 2pm 😆 but I really enjoyed my time there, friendly people, loved the buildings. Alcohol was banned in the trains with signs everywhere.

If you've run out of things to do after less than a week you've probably realised why other people don't rate it very highly OP.

DH's best friend lived in Aberdeen for several years, and I rather like but the handful of times we visited for the w/e or longer.

We had a few meals in a tiny Italian deli that had about 4 tables for after hours dining. It was delicious!! This was 15 or more years ago though. Googling now, suggests it may have been Pasta Plus in Rosemount Place.

I love Aberdeen

Glad you’re having a great holiday OP!
There’s a really good vegan bakery on Castle street if you’re about the town and fancy a wee something

My home town, although I don’t live there right now. You may have seen decorated hares around the city and beyond. The link shows a map of where they are located. Might be worth a look at the trail to see if there are any areas you have not seen yet https://www.thebighop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Big-Hop-Trial-Map_0.4-1.pdf

Dolphin watching is good too if you have not done that, and if you like walking and beaches, there’s simply miles of those.

Glad you and your son are enjoying it OP. It’s nice to see some Aberdeen love.

House of Dun is a really interesting Scottish NT property to visit and close to Dunottar castle.

<whispers> I like Aberdeen too.

if you haven’t already been these are all actually in Aberdeen City

Greyhope Bay - lovely cafe and almost guaranteed sightings of dolphins, cafe is built into Torry Battery
Revamped Art Gallery is a great bad weather option
if you have kids Hazlehead, Duthie or Seaton Parks are nice. Johnston Gardens is small but nice.
Also mostly for kids Dry ski slope, Transition Extreme for BMX and climbing wall. Jump in trampoline place. Innoflate inflatable place. Codonas is a bit grim and I think expensive for what it is but kids seems to love it.
Footdee or Old Aberdeen for nice bits to walk arround.
If you like museums there is the Maritime Museum, Zoological Museum, Tollbooth Museum and the Gordon Highlanders Museum.

there is more but that is what I can think of off the top of my head.

We had a few hours there to kill this summer while waiting to board the Orkney ferry, so decided to take a walk around town, and so glad we did. The highlight for us was Provost Skene‘s House, which also had an exhibition about famous Aberdonians (Annie Lennox for instance, never knew that). We were pretty impressed, but that might have been because we had fairly low expectations beforehand - and it was a beautiful, bright August day. Not sure I‘d want to be based there for a whole week.